If you own a chihuahua, you already know that funny chihuahua behavior is basically a daily occurrence in your house. These chihuahuas are walking comedy shows with legs the size of breadsticks. They have more personality per pound than any other breed on the planet, and they are absolutely not sorry about any of it. I have been documenting my own chihuahua’,s antics for years and I still get surprised by new material.
The Signature Chihuahua Side Eye
Nobody on this earth does the side eye like a chihuahua. Mine gives me this look when I come home smelling like another chihuahua, and I swear she is reading my entire soul. It is not just a casual glance or a quick look. It is a full investigation with judgment attached and a verdict already decided. You can practically see the wheels turning behind those big eyes. Where were you. Who was that. Why do you smell like a golden retriever. Do you have something you want to tell me. For more detail, see the PetMD dog behavior resources. For more detail, see the AKC official Chihuahua breed standard.
I learned the hard way that you cannot hide anything from a chihuahua. They notice every single detail about your day and they absolutely have opinions about all of it. You just have to accept that you are being watched and evaluated at all times.
Related: Chihuahua training tips.
The Burrito Blanket Situation
The best part is when you accidentally move the blanket while she is wrapped up. The look of betrayal on her face could honestly win an Oscar. Pure drama.
What I Wish I Knew Earlier
People who do not own chihuahuas always panic when they see the shivering for the first time. Is she okay? Is she freezing? Is she terrified of something? And you just have to shrug and calmly explain that she does that sometimes and it is completely normal for the breed. They never quite believe you though.
Selective Hearing at Its Finest
My chihuahua can hear a cheese wrapper being opened from three rooms away with the television on. She will come sprinting into the kitchen like her life depends on getting there in under two seconds. But ask her to come when she is doing literally anything else? Suddenly she is completely deaf. Cannot hear a single thing you are saying. Very busy sniffing this one incredibly important spot on the carpet that requires her full undivided attention.
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I am fully convinced that chihuahuas understand every word we say and simply choose which ones deserve a response. It is selective hearing improved to an absolute art form and they should honestly win awards for it.
The Tiny Growl That Scares Nobody
There is nothing funnier in this world than a chihuahua trying to be intimidating. Mine growls at delivery drivers through the front window and honestly believes she is the most terrifying creature on the block. The delivery driver does not even know she exists. She weighs four pounds on a good day. The package he is carrying probably weighs more than she does.
But in her mind? She just single handedly saved the entire household from a dangerous intruder. And she fully expects to be thanked and rewarded for her brave service to this family.
Funny chihuahua behavior is genuinely one of the best parts of owning these ridiculous dogs. They are dramatic, over the top, and completely absurd in the most wonderful way possible. And I would not change a single thing about any of it. Life with a chihuahua is never boring, and honestly, it is never quiet either. But it is always entertaining.
The Zoomies That Defy All Physics
I am convinced that chihuahuas have a secret energy reserve that activates at the worst possible times. Mine will spend an entire afternoon sleeping on the couch, completely motionless, looking like a decorative throw pillow with ears. Then at exactly nine thirty at night, when everyone in the house is winding down, she launches into the most chaotic burst of energy I have ever witnessed from a living creature. She runs laps around the coffee table at full speed, bounces off the couch cushions, slides across the hardwood floor, and somehow manages to look like she is both terrified and having the time of her life simultaneously. The zoomies are not unique to chihuahuas obviously, but there is something about watching a four pound animal reach what appears to be the speed of light while making tight corners that you would not think were physically possible. My friends who own larger breeds tell me their dogs get the zoomies too, but I guarantee it hits different when the dog doing it weighs less than a bag of sugar and could technically fit inside a purse. The sound of those tiny nails on hardwood at maximum velocity is something that stays with you.
The Jealousy That Knows No Bounds
Chihuahuas invented jealousy. I am fairly certain of this. If I pet another dog, mine will physically insert herself between us with a level of determination that would be impressive in any other context. If I hold a friend’s baby, she sits at my feet and stares at me with an expression that communicates very clearly that this is a betrayal of the highest order. I once made the mistake of giving attention to a stuffed animal in a store, just picking it up to look at the price tag, and she started whimpering from inside my jacket like I had just told her she was being replaced. The jealousy extends to other people too. When my partner sits next to me on the couch, my chihuahua will slowly, deliberately, wiggle her way between us until she is physically occupying the space that used to be his. She does not break eye contact with him while she does it. It is a power move and she knows exactly what she is doing. I have talked to dozens of chihuahua owners over the years and every single one of them has a version of this story. These dogs bond hard and they do not share willingly.
Why Nobody Believes You Until They See It
The hardest thing about funny chihuahua behavior is explaining it to people who have never lived with one. You try to tell them about the dramatic sighing, the way your chihuahua will huff and puff and flop down in protest when you will not share your dinner, and they look at you like you are exaggerating. You describe how your chihuahua has different barks for different situations, a sharp yap for the mailman, a low grumble for when you are taking too long to prepare their food, a high pitched whine specifically designed to make you feel guilty about leaving the house. People nod politely but they do not really get it until they spend a weekend at your house and witness it firsthand. I had a friend stay with us for three days and by the end of it she turned to me and said she finally understood why I talk about my chihuahua like she is a tiny, opinionated roommate. Because that is exactly what living with a chihuahua is. They are not just pets, they are personalities that happen to have four legs and weigh less than most housecats. And once you experience that personality up close, you are either hooked for life or completely overwhelmed. There really is no middle ground with these dogs.
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I have been through this with my own chihuahua. It is one of those things that looks simple on paper but gets complicated fast when you are actually dealing with a four-pound dog who has opinions about everything.
The truth about funny chihuahua behavior is that there is no single right answer. What works for one chihuahua might be completely wrong for another. Mine took weeks to adjust. Some dogs figure it out in days. The size of your chihuahua matters. Their age matters. Their personality matters most of all.
Here is what I wish someone had told me earlier. Start small. Do not try to change everything at once. Chihuahuas are stubborn but they are also sensitive. Push too hard and they shut down. Go too slow and nothing changes. The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle and you have to find it yourself. You might also find How I Got My Safely and What Could Have Gone worth reading.
I talked to other chihuahua owners about funny chihuahua behavior and heard the same thing over and over. Patience. Consistency. And a willingness to look a little silly in public because chihuahuas do not care about your dignity.
If you are just getting started with funny chihuahua behavior, give yourself grace. You will make mistakes. Your chihuahua will make more of them. That is the whole process. And honestly, once you get through the hard part, it is worth it.
Chihuahuas burrow because they get cold easily and because it makes them feel secure. The breed originated in the warm Mexican state of Chihuahua, so they are not built for cold. Burrowing also mimics the den behavior of wild canines. Our dogs will dig through every blanket in the house to find their spot.
Chihuahuas shake for several reasons. Cold is the most common cause because of their low body fat. Excitement and anxiety also trigger shaking. High metabolism plays a role too. If your chihuahua shakes constantly even when warm and calm, check with your vet to rule out hypoglycemia or pain.
Chihuahuas are velcro dogs by nature. They bond intensely with one person and want to be wherever that person is. This behavior comes from their history as companion dogs bred specifically for human closeness. It is normal unless it comes with panic when you leave, which suggests separation anxiety.
Your chihuahua may growl when picked up because they feel insecure, are in pain, or were startled. Some chihuahuas dislike being lifted because it removes their control over the situation. Always approach from the front and scoop from underneath. If the growling is new, a vet visit can rule out back or joint pain.
Chihuahuas act fearlessly around larger dogs, which looks like they think they are big. In reality, small dogs often use aggression as a defense mechanism because they feel vulnerable. Proper socialization reduces this behavior. An unsocialized chihuahua will posture more aggressively because everything feels like a threat.
Why does my chihuahua burrow under blankets?
Chihuahuas burrow because they get cold easily and because it makes them feel secure. The breed originated in the warm Mexican state of Chihuahua, so they are not built for cold. Burrowing also mimics the den behavior of wild canines. Our dogs will dig through every blanket in the house to find their spot.
Why does my chihuahua shake all the time?
Chihuahuas shake for several reasons. Cold is the most common cause because of their low body fat. Excitement and anxiety also trigger shaking. High metabolism plays a role too. If your chihuahua shakes constantly even when warm and calm, check with your vet to rule out hypoglycemia or pain.
Why does my chihuahua follow me everywhere?
Chihuahuas are velcro dogs by nature. They bond intensely with one person and want to be wherever that person is. This behavior comes from their history as companion dogs bred specifically for human closeness. It is normal unless it comes with panic when you leave, which suggests separation anxiety.
Why does my chihuahua growl when I pick them up?
Your chihuahua may growl when picked up because they feel insecure, are in pain, or were startled. Some chihuahuas dislike being lifted because it removes their control over the situation. Always approach from the front and scoop from underneath. If the growling is new, a vet visit can rule out back or joint pain.
Do chihuahuas really think they are big dogs?
Chihuahuas act fearlessly around larger dogs, which looks like they think they are big. In reality, small dogs often use aggression as a defense mechanism because they feel vulnerable. Proper socialization reduces this behavior. An unsocialized chihuahua will posture more aggressively because everything feels like a threat.
