Are you wondering if Chihuahuas are protective?

If so…

Great news:

In this short informative article you’ll discover:

Table of contents

Chihuahuas are protective (of their owners). They guard you and easily stand up to other bigger dogs. But Chihuahuas can be overprotective, too. They do this by showing aggression against other people and pets. They yap, growl, bite and show dominant behavior.

Chihuahuas are so protective because they see you as family. If you treat them well, they will reciprocate by protecting you. However, this may be a result of small dog syndrome. That’s how they compensate for their small size by being aggressive. Or you may have reinforced the behavior.

Dogs have always been pack animals. In the wild, dogs in a pack have higher chances of survival. That’s because they could protect each other from other predators.

Hunting was also easier because they could hunt larger prey.

At night, they slept in close quarters to keep warm and stay safe. The leader slept at the top and the subordinates at the leader’s feet. 

This behavior was passed down to the dogs of today. So you may notice your Chihuahua sleeping on your feet. 

That’s because your Chihuahua looks at you as a leader. They recognize you as the one who tells them what to do. You’re the one who feeds them and takes care of their needs. 

Their natural instinct kicks in, hence the need to protect you. Even at the cost of their own life.

Take Manchas for example. This Chihuahua from California died protecting a 4-year-old from Pit Bulls. 

Another Chihuahua named Fifi died protecting children from a dog in North Salem.

A Chihuahua named Pockets saved her family twice! The first time, she woke up her owner who was having a stroke.  

The second time, Pockets shielded her body to protect the owner’s grandchild from a rattlesnake. Unfortunately, the venom killed her. 

The same thing happened to a 10-year-old Chihuahua named Cooper. He died saving his owner by wrestling with a venomous snake. 

But not all heroic deeds end in death.

For example, a Chihuahua named Chloe saved her family from a house fire. And now her family looks at her as their hero. 

These are just the ‘small’ ways Chihuahuas show their appreciation. 

Once your Chihuahua forms an attachment with you, their goal is to protect you. That’s with the help of their sensitive nose. They can smell chemical changes in your body. 

That’s why they know when you are scared, happy, nervous or sick. They know when you need protection. 

Isn’t that amazing?

You might also like: Are Chihuahuas Friendly, Loving and Nice? 9 Facts Revealed

What you sow, is what you reap. Sometimes you may not be aware of this.

First, watch this Thai commercial:

This commercial is a bit exaggerated, but true. With just one good act, the dog repaid it in many ways. 

If you take care of your dog’s needs, they’ll repay you many times over. Even if it means endangering their own lives. Dogs are selfless that way. 

Do you have a good relationship with your Chihuahua? 

If yes, then you’ve found a best friend for life.

Are you familiar with the short-man syndrome? It’s when short men show aggressiveness to compensate for their lack of height. 

Could this syndrome exist among small dogs? 

This has piqued the interest of some researchers. Perhaps the curiosity arose from witnessing confrontations between small and big dogs. 

The small dog barks and advances and looks ready to pounce. But the big dog doesn’t do anything to show they’re the boss. 

In finding out the answers, the University of Sydney conducted a study. They gathered data from 8301 dogs belonging to 80 breeds. 

The results showed that small dogs are more aggressive regardless of bred. 

They exhibit undesirable behaviors. Like mounting people and objects and being noisy. 

The study also noted that ‘the shorter the dogs, the less controllable their behavior is…’

Reading tip: 101 Funny Chihuahua Memes: I Challenge You Not To Laugh

It’s tough taking care of a dog abused by their previous owners. 

For some dogs, the trauma made them more aggressive. As such, it will take time for the dog to trust anyone. Especially a new owner. 

If you adopted a dog that came from an abusive owner, bless your good heart. It will be challenging and requires lots of patience. 

But keep on treating them well. Sooner or later, they’ll warm up to you. And since dogs are smart, they will reciprocate the kindness you show. 

The best way to do that is to protect you.

As dog owners, it won’t be your intention to encourage bad behaviors. But sometimes, you commit the mistake without realizing it. 

Let’s say you have a Chihuahua and a Labrador. 

You know how big a Lab can get compared to a Chihuahua’s tiny size. If they fight, you’re more likely to scold the Lab and pet the Chihuahua. 

That’s because the Lab is bigger and can maul the Chihuahua easily. 

But why is it not the other way around? Why not scold the Chihuahua and pet the Lab? 

The University of Sydney’s study has an interesting take on this. The researchers deemed this as unwelcome and dangerous in large dogs. 

So you tell the Lab to ‘Stop.’ Meanwhile, you pick up your Chihuahua and stroke their head. 

Now let’s say you only have a Chihuahua for a pet. You reinforce bad behaviors in other ways. 

Here’s an example: 

You think it’s cute how a tiny dog can be so feisty. 

Another factor here is when you consciously approve of the behavior. Your Chi snaps at your friends and you let it. 

Here’s another way you reinforce the behavior: during your walks, you let them snap at strangers. At the dog park, you let your Chi bully the other dogs. 

Isn’t it funny seeing how your Chi can send big dogs running? That’s because they’re protecting you, right?  

But not reprimanding them sends the wrong message. Your Chihuahua ends up being overindulged. 

And that reinforces their bad behavior.

We modify behavior for the following purposes: 

There are many techniques to do this. These include habituation, extinction, response substitution and punishment. 

Caution: Don’t use punishment. It could traumatize your Chihuahua and make them fearful or more aggressive. 

In truth, these techniques are not hard. But behavior modification requires a lot of time and effort. 

You need to keep doing the technique until your Chihuahua learns.

Socialization and training must begin early on. This is to avoid their protective nature from becoming a problem. 

If you want them to have a calm, protective behavior, they must see it in you. And they will respond to what they see in you. 

However, your Chihuahua may become aggressive toward people outside your family. To prevent such cases, your Chihuahua must undergo regular training.

No matter how cute it appears, do not tolerate bad behavior. Whether it is excessive barking, nipping or biting. 

Your dog needs to understand what is a real threat and what is not. 

As soon as your Chihuahua displays bad behavior, address it responsibly. Do not let them snap at strangers. And prevent them from being aggressive toward other family members. 

Note: A well-treated dog comes to their owner’s defense.