Are Chihuahuas Good with Kids?

If you have kids and you want to have Chihuahuas or vice versa, it’s good to ask: are Chihuahuas good with kids?

Chihuahuas are small and have expressive big eyes and big ears. But despite their small stature, they have big personalities. Too big in fact that they may deem as too much for your little children.

That said, could your Chihuahua and your small kids coexist in the same space?

Chihuahua’s Temperament

In order to fully understand why people keep asking this question, we have to know about the Chihuahua’s temperament.

If there are two words that can describe a Chihuahua, it would be loyal and fearless.

These dogs love their owners and are very eager to please. They love shadowing their humans—going anywhere their owners will go to. Since they are small, they can easily fit in big bags and purses so you can bring them anywhere.

However, these dogs can also be very energetic. You can leave them in your yard and they’d run and play for as long as they can.

But Chihuahuas are also known to be fearless little dogs. Unless you have trained them to be social, they don’t mix well with other breeds of dogs. If they are going to socialize, it would only be with their fellow Chihuahuas.

Chihuahuas are temperamental. If they don’t like a stranger, they won’t hesitate to bark at them. If they are mixed with other dogs, they’d even bark at ones that are ten times bigger than them.

These dogs are also jealous. It’s not a surprise that they’d bark and growl at anyone and anything that goes near their human.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnAeGTkAuJY

Can Chihuahuas and Kids Coexist?

Aside from other dogs, Chihuahuas seem to dislike little kids as well. There are many instances wherein a little Chi has yipped at and growled at kids.

In addition, small kids do not really have that much idea about taking care of dogs, especially smaller breeds.

They may end up playing roughly with your pup. Your kids may find your pup too cute and may hug them a little too tightly. They may get growled at and your kids may throw them away suddenly.

Rough playing can lead to serious injuries which can be bad for your dog and your kid.

That said, can Chihuahuas and kids actually coexist in the same place?

While the odds may not be in favor of this kind of situation, it’s actually possible. In fact, there are many instances wherein families with small kids have adopted or bought Chihuahuas. There may be growling and snapping sometimes, so just be alert.

Dog Training

Train your Chihuahua to avoid any unruly behaviors toward your small children. Aside from basic commands, you should also teach them how to be social with both kids and other dogs.

The best time to introduce them to young kids is when they’re still puppies. They are more receptive at that age. Also, the longer they are exposed to kids, the more familiar they will be with them.

When training your little pup, be sure you are present at all times. Do it in a calm place where your pup can be comfortable.

Most of all, make sure that you’re training them with a well-behaved kid as well. A bad experience can create bad memories for your dog. They’d end up being more aggressive as ever.

Train your Kids

You should also train your kids and not just your dogs.

While you may have trained your pup, chihuahuas won’t completely change. They may feel more at ease around children but they can be aggressive when your child handles them roughly.

That said, you should talk well to your kids about small dogs. Enforce gently playing and handling dogs. Show to your kids the right way to pet and handle your dog.

You can let your kids handle your dog but ensure you are always with them to supervise them. Don’t be afraid of telling them “no” if they start getting rough with the pups. Show a good example and never be rough with your dogs.

Chances are, your kids will do the same.

It’s also good to set rules around the house regarding playing with dogs. For example, your kids should never play with your dogs while they are eating.

Most importantly, you should always keep an eye on your dog and your kid when they’re together. This is most important if your kid is younger than 11 or 12 years old.

Conclusion

Are Chihuahuas good with kids? They can be!

But to make it easier around the house, it’s best that you don’t get a Chihuahua when you have young kids. These dogs are best for people who live alone or in a family of adults.

However, when it’s inevitable to have kids and Chihuahuas on the same space, make sure your child understands the situation and your pet is trained.