Pets

Like many small dogs, chis can be very high-strung and nippy. However, you can usually tell very early on what their temperment will be like. Most people let them get away with bad behavior because they are small and it's "cute" when they're bad. They have to be disciplined like any other animal.

Voodoo is very mellow and only shakes when he isn't feeling well or is overly tired. Because Mr. BtA and I don't have many people over to the house, he is very possive of us and the house. He will follow a person around the house and deep bark at the person. He's basically saying "this is MY house!"

Laveau is not typical in any fashion. She is not a social dog. She let's us love on her when she wants it. She only barks when daddy comes home, to go outside to potty, and when it is time to go nite-nite. She is sort of aloof and doesn't much care for people. She literally will just turn her back and walk off from someone trying to pet her. I was really surprised how warm she was to my youngest brother who just came for a visit and has never met her. She is a very, very muscular dog.

Marigny is our little princess. She loves EVERYBODY. Show her attention and she loves you. Show other dogs attention and she will push them out of the way...she's jealous that way. She shakes some, usually when she is worked up and she is the only one who whines. She also loves our cat! She likes little kids (Voodoo and Laveau do not; they avoid them). When we moved in, I had big, ole burley men moving my furniture. I was checking on their progress and couldn't find them. They were in my kitchen, on the floor, making kissy noises at Marigny who was running back and forth between them. Saying, in baby voices, "who's my little sweetie? Who's a sweet girl?" She ate it up! Both my younger brothers fell in love with her.

Zatanna is still a baby. She will be a year old in April. She shakes some too, usually when she is uncertain. She barks at strangers in the house, and sometimes will even bark at me if I surprise her. We are working on her barking. For such a little pup, she can be quite loud. She likes to be cuddled. She is so small she has to be carried down the stairs because she can't navigate them; she can run up, but not down. She also loves the kitty.

They are fun dogs and to be honest, we thought the same about chis too. And usually the ones we encountered are like what you are saying. It really does come down to proper training and not letting them get away with poor/bad behavior because of their size or because it's 'cutsie-poo.' Chihuahuas are extremely smart and can be trained, but they are also very willful. They do understand heirarchy. In our house, I am the Alpha (and the Omega), but Mr. BtA, bless his heart, is one of the pack! So they don't always listen well to him. With me, they are usually pretty good.

Sorry for the long description, but I think it is good to let people know about different breeds.