Chihuahua Personality

The chihuahua personality is one of the most unique traits of this toy breed. Like humans, each dog is an individual and can have different personalities (shy, outgoing, etc.), but there are general personality traits for chihuahua dogs. Some of these traits can be seen as a positive, some as a negative.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the chihuahua personality as "terrier-like". But what exactly does "terrier-like" mean? This can be described as intelligent and loyal, along with bold and confident. Chihuahuas have a very alert nature and are suspicious of strangers. This makes it an excellent watchdog. Chihuahuas are very sensitive, and thrive on affection and companionship. They are very clannish, preferring the company of their own breed to other dog breeds.

This "terrier-like" personality makes the Chihuahua not for everyone, because of their clannish tendencies and suspiciousness of other people. But the curiosity, intelligence and extreme loyalty of the breed make them an excellent pet for the elderly, individuals and disabled people.

The Chihuahua was bred to be a companion dog to man. They are extremely affectionate with their owners and do not like to be left alone. They prefer being with humans, or other chihuahuas. They usually become attached to just one or two individuals and want to be spoiled.


Chihuahuas tend to have a 'big dog' personality and have earned the reputation of being yappy and snippy with strangers. Despite their small size, they are quite protective of their owners. They aren’t aware of their small stature, and you can typically see them acting much bolder than other dogs that are much bigger in size.

Since the Chihuahua is extremely loyal to just one or two individuals, they become highly protective or possessive of these people. This can cause a violent reaction, since chihuahuas are usually wary of any new guests introduced to their territory. Chihuahuas have even attacked family and friends of their owners, even if the Chihuahua met these people before. Although not a very good guard dog, this trait makes the Chihuahua an excellent option for a watchdog.


Chihuahuas are definite lapdogs and human contact is a must, as they will need a lot of general attention, and petting. They like nothing more than to be in physical contact with their people at all times. They have been known to sit with their owners for hours, sometimes on a lap or cuddled next to them. Without enough attention, the breed will resort to various attention getting tricks, such as being mischievous. While some find this makes their dog a bit too needy, you will gain a lot of loyalty from your Chihuahua in exchange for attention, love, and care.

So is the chihuahua the breed for you? Hopefully this article on the chihuahua personality traits helped.