Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Chihuahuas Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Chihuahuas Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Chihuahuas Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Chihuahuas Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Chihuahuas Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Chihuahuas Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Chihuahuas Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Chihuahuas Easy to Train?
- Do Chihuahuas Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Chihuahuas Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Chihuahuas have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Chihuahuas Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Chihuahuas Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Chihuahuas Playful? What is the Energy Level of Chihuahuas
- Conclusion on Chihuahua Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Chihuahua
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Chihuahua out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Chihuahua based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Chihuahua breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Chihuahua by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Chihuahua.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Chihuahua for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Chihuahua.
The summary table below shows the score of the Chihuahua for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Dog Directed Fear | 85.8 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 80.6 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 74.3 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 71.8 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 67.8 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 67.5 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 65.0 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 62.7 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 55.6 percent |
Excitability | 53.2 percent |
Stubbornness | 53.1 percent |
Energy Level | 50.3 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 36.7 percent |
Prey Drive | 26.5 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Chihuahua`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Chihuahua, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Chihuahua.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Chihuahuas Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Chihuahuas are very much aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for aggression towards strangers.
The Chihuahua ranks number 10 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 67.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much aggressive towards strangers just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
7 | Belgian Malinois | 72.5 % |
8 | Pekingese | 71.3 % |
9 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 68.5 % |
10 | Chihuahua | 67.8 % |
11 | Parson Russell Terrier | 64.3 % |
12 | Anatolian Shepherd | 63.4 % |
13 | Standard Schnauzer | 63.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Chihuahuas Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Chihuahuas are very much aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.
The Chihuahua ranks number 18 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has an owner-directed-aggression score of 36.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
15 | Bull Terrier | 41.0 % |
16 | Dachshund | 40.0 % |
17 | Cairn Terrier | 38.2 % |
18 | Chihuahua | 36.7 % |
19 | Tibetan Terrier | 36.5 % |
20 | Dalmatian | 36.1 % |
21 | Bearded Collie | 34.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Chihuahuas Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Chihuahuas are very much aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for aggression towards other dogs.
The Chihuahua ranks number 13 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a dog-directed aggression score of 71.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much dog-aggressive just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
10 | Australian Silky Terrier | 74.9 % |
11 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 73.0 % |
12 | Pekingese | 72.3 % |
13 | Chihuahua | 71.8 % |
14 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 70.3 % |
15 | Pit Bull | 69.7 % |
16 | Miniature Pinscher | 69.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Chihuahuas Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Chihuahuas are very much fearful of strangers.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for fear of strangers.
The Chihuahua ranks number 5 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a stranger-directed-fear score of 80.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 100.0 % |
2 | Chinese Crested | 94.1 % |
3 | American Eskimo Dog | 82.5 % |
4 | Italian Greyhound | 80.9 % |
5 | Chihuahua | 80.6 % |
6 | Miniature Pinscher | 75.6 % |
7 | Dingo | 68.9 % |
8 | Rat Terrier | 64.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Chihuahuas Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Chihuahuas are very much fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for fear of other dogs.
The Chihuahua ranks number 4 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a dog-directed-fear score of 85.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much other-dog-fearful just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 100.0 % |
2 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 93.3 % |
3 | Chinese Crested | 87.8 % |
4 | Chihuahua | 85.8 % |
5 | Lhasa Apso | 77.9 % |
6 | Basenji | 76.5 % |
7 | Miniature Pinscher | 71.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Chihuahuas Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Chihuahuas are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for non-social fear.
The Chihuahua ranks number 6 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a nonsocial-fear score of 65.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
3 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 68.0 % |
4 | English Bulldog | 66.7 % |
5 | Italian Greyhound | 65.9 % |
6 | Chihuahua | 65.0 % |
7 | Parson Russell Terrier | 64.0 % |
8 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 63.9 % |
9 | American Bulldog | 62.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Chihuahuas Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Chihuahuas are very much competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high on dog rivalry.
The Chihuahua ranks number 17 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a dog-rivalry score of 62.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much competition-driven just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
14 | Standard Schnauzer | 72.4 % |
15 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 71.2 % |
16 | American Eskimo Dog | 68.0 % |
17 | Chihuahua | 62.7 % |
18 | Jack Russell Terrier | 61.7 % |
19 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 61.3 % |
20 | Shiba Inu | 60.5 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Chihuahuas Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Chihuahuas are not easy to train.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very low for trainability.
The Chihuahua ranks number 104 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the trainability of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a trainability score of 46.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
101 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 50.0 % |
102 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 48.6 % |
103 | Lhasa Apso | 47.8 % |
104 | Chihuahua | 46.9 % |
105 | Dachshund | 46.6 % |
106 | Saint Bernard | 46.5 % |
107 | Pug | 45.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Chihuahua is and how the intelligence of the Chihuahua affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Chihuahua is.
Do Chihuahuas Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Chihuahuas are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The Chihuahua ranks number 110 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a chasing score of 26.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
107 | Basset Hound | 27.9 % |
108 | Shetland Sheepdog | 27.1 % |
109 | Saint Bernard | 27.0 % |
110 | Chihuahua | 26.5 % |
111 | Chinese Crested | 26.2 % |
112 | French Bulldog | 25.1 % |
113 | English Bulldog | 24.0 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Chihuahuas Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Chihuahuas are very much attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Chihuahua ranks number 18 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 74.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
15 | Yorkshire Terrier | 75.1 % |
16 | Gordon Setter | 74.7 % |
17 | Belgian Malinois | 74.4 % |
18 | Chihuahua | 74.3 % |
19 | English Bulldog | 73.9 % |
20 | Maltese | 72.5 % |
21 | Doberman Pinscher | 72.3 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Chihuahuas have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Chihuahuas are very much prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Chihuahua ranks number 23 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a separation anxiety score of 55.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
20 | Alaskan Husky | 57.3 % |
21 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 56.6 % |
22 | American Eskimo Dog | 56.5 % |
23 | Chihuahua | 55.6 % |
24 | Redbone Coonhound | 54.1 % |
25 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 54.0 % |
26 | Parson Russell Terrier | 53.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Chihuahuas Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Chihuahuas are very much touch-sensitive.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks very high for touch sensitivity.
The Chihuahua ranks number 5 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has a touch-sensitivity score of 67.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 100.0 % |
2 | Miniature Pinscher | 82.6 % |
3 | Pekingese | 79.9 % |
4 | Australian Silky Terrier | 75.6 % |
5 | Chihuahua | 67.5 % |
6 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 64.8 % |
7 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 61.7 % |
8 | Shiba Inu | 56.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Chihuahuas Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Chihuahuas are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Chihuahua ranks high for excitability.
The Chihuahua ranks number 35 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has an excitability score of 53.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
32 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 53.9 % |
33 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 53.7 % |
34 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 53.5 % |
35 | Chihuahua | 53.2 % |
36 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 53.0 % |
37 | Gordon Setter | 52.8 % |
38 | Yorkshire Terrier | 52.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Chihuahuas Playful? What is the Energy Level of Chihuahuas
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Chihuahuas are a little bit energetic.
This is because the Chihuahua ranks low for energy level.
The Chihuahua ranks number 81 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 119 Chihuahua owners reported on the temperament of their Chihuahua in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chihuahua has an energy-level score of 50.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Chihuahua are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
78 | Bichon Frise | 51.9 % |
79 | Golden Retriever | 51.5 % |
80 | Samoyed | 51.0 % |
81 | Chihuahua | 50.3 % |
82 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 48.3 % |
83 | Shih Tzu | 48.3 % |
84 | Chinese Crested | 48.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Chihuahua Temperament
The temperament of your Chihuahua comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Chihuahua is exposed to.
You cannot change your Chihuahua`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Chihuahua to.
Exposing your Chihuahua to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Chihuahua to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Chihuahua`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Chihuahua.
If you think the Chihuahua is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Chihuahuas cost and Chihuahua puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Chihuahua breeders in the United States and the prices of their Chihuahua puppies.