Hello, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to be taught extra about me and my 5 humorous canine, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.
One factor I attempt to keep away from in veterinary work is stereotyping canine. Though breed and genetics can, and do, affect temperament, it’s removed from the one issue, and you can’t predict canine habits based mostly on breed alone.
Nonetheless…
Since Chihuahuas entered my life I’ve grow to be acquainted with many quirks and qualities that, based mostly on the overwhelming variety of memes, movies, and questions posted by homeowners, are extraordinarily widespread on this tiny breed. As an example:
1. They’re usually barky and bitey
Comprehensible from a defensive standpoint – all the pieces is larger than they’re – however tolerated far too usually. Being dictated to by a vicious creature with roughly the dimensions and damage danger of a pineapple is a bit ludicrous.
2. They’re all the time chilly
Even once they’re not.
3. They tremble lots
Because they’re always cold. Or nervous. Or excited. Or hungry.
4. They’re grasping
I truthfully don’t perceive the place the meals goes. Ned’s abdomen have to be like TARDIS – it’s greater on the within!
5. They prefer to boss round bigger canine
Simply ask poor Kodah!
6. They like to snuggle and burrow
That is 1000% correct.
Chihuahua Hibernation
Okay, Chihuahua hibernation isn’t truly a factor, however I guess they need it was! The right excuse to gorge themselves on meals, getting a pleasant layer of fats, then discover a snuggly heat den to snooze by way of winter…truly, it sounds fairly good! Whereas hibernation might not truly function within the lifetime of the Chi, burrowing definitely is, generally at their peril!
Being introduced with a blanket appears to set off an instinctive, reflexive urge to dig and scrunch and burrow till there’s little greater than the trace of a bum protruding from beneath the comfy layers. Sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? The difficulty is that generally some bigger bums resolve to plonk themselves down on the comfortable pile of blankets, unaware that this pile is occupied! Kodah has been bitten by blankets sufficient to now deal with everybody with warning and trepidation. It’s only as soon as a lot poking and prodding has yielded no snarls or motion that he is aware of he can take pleasure in this snug mattress.
As winter set in, I discovered it decidedly irritating when, after letting the canine out for his or her morning ablutions, Ned and Fred instantly returned to the mattress to snuggle again beneath the still-warm blankets, whereas I’ve to face the day. On notably chilly mornings, the Chihuahuas will even forego breakfast in favor of snuggling, one thing I by no means thought I’d see!
Why Do Chihuahuas Burrow?
Aside from the apparent cozy heat of a blanket den, I believe that the Chihuahua’s propensity for cocooning themselves for a nap has one thing to do with one other quintessential Chihuahua trait – the shaking. Sure, generally their shivering is simply because they’re feeling the chilly, however it’s also an indication of a dysregulated nervous system.
Though the physical size of the Chihuahua is small, all the pieces else about them is large: their eyes, their personalities, their feelings, and generally it appears as if their emotions are spilling out into the skin world. It has been properly documented that when individuals on the autistic finish of the spectrum are experiencing sensory overload or dysregulation, agency strain utilized to their physique may help calm their nervous system. Comparable results are seen with using thundershirts to assist canine with nervousness and noise phobias.
Equally, the shut confines of a blanket burrow might present the tiny Chihuahua physique with the strain and safety that helps them really feel relaxed…till somebody tries to sit down on them, that’s!
Despite the fact that two small canine handle to take up a stunning quantity of room in our mattress, I’m perfectly happy to share my blankets with Ned and Fred. They maintain our mattress heat within the winter, and it’s all the time amusing to observe Ned quivering with anticipation when he sees me extracting a freshly laundered fluffy blanket from the dryer.
I simply need to watch out to verify the bedding for hitchhikers earlier than throwing a load into the wash!
Do you may have canine that present traditional behaviors for his or her breed? Or maybe you may have the other, with one which behaves the other to what you may count on, like a Jack Russell that’s associates with a rat, or a Border Collie that doesn’t prefer to chase issues. Tell us within the feedback under!
This text is part of Dr. Karyn’s sequence together with her 5 canine.
