Post by Mil on Oct 30, 2011 12:36:16 GMT -5
Transferred from the TRRQ Discussion Board Formerly on Facebook:
Chuu Mong
I have been considering getting a chihuahua, but I am concerned about how he would interact with my rat boys. When I try to research the dog's origin, I cant find any information on if they were used in a manner similar to terriers or not, and I cant find any information on how they would behave with a rat...
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about Chihuahuas and ratties interacting? Or any good resources on training a toy dog to NOT kill/hurt a rat? While I do not let my rats run loose unattended, I do not want to have to live in fear of m rat being killed by my dog if I have my back turned. (If I get a chihuahua and they are rodent aggressive, that would be a very painful 14 or so years that I have to live without rats in my life!)
about 8 months ago
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The Rodent Reader Quarterly
My mom has a long-haired Chihuahua, who is very loving to her, but is also extremely energetic and assertive. I think he's very cute and am very glad she has his companionship. However, while I've never actually tried introducing rats to him, I have to say I really wouldn't feel at all comfortable with doing so. Upon reading your question, I did a quick web search and read that Chihuahua personalities can vary greatly, largely dependent upon their parents' temperaments, but that they generally possess terrier-like qualities. Needless to say, that makes the situation seem somewhat risky.
In any case, I know there are dog varieties with calmer personalities who live peacably with ratties, and some who are even close friends. And, we have a cat who was introduced to rats as a kitten, and grew up believing herself one of them. She's therefore more comfortable with rats than members of her own species.
Hope that helps.
about 8 months ago
Chuu Mong
I have been considering getting a chihuahua, but I am concerned about how he would interact with my rat boys. When I try to research the dog's origin, I cant find any information on if they were used in a manner similar to terriers or not, and I cant find any information on how they would behave with a rat...
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about Chihuahuas and ratties interacting? Or any good resources on training a toy dog to NOT kill/hurt a rat? While I do not let my rats run loose unattended, I do not want to have to live in fear of m rat being killed by my dog if I have my back turned. (If I get a chihuahua and they are rodent aggressive, that would be a very painful 14 or so years that I have to live without rats in my life!)
about 8 months ago
---------------
The Rodent Reader Quarterly
My mom has a long-haired Chihuahua, who is very loving to her, but is also extremely energetic and assertive. I think he's very cute and am very glad she has his companionship. However, while I've never actually tried introducing rats to him, I have to say I really wouldn't feel at all comfortable with doing so. Upon reading your question, I did a quick web search and read that Chihuahua personalities can vary greatly, largely dependent upon their parents' temperaments, but that they generally possess terrier-like qualities. Needless to say, that makes the situation seem somewhat risky.
In any case, I know there are dog varieties with calmer personalities who live peacably with ratties, and some who are even close friends. And, we have a cat who was introduced to rats as a kitten, and grew up believing herself one of them. She's therefore more comfortable with rats than members of her own species.
Hope that helps.
about 8 months ago