Chico

Chihuahua

a year, Male, Extra Small

If you look up Little Man Syndrome in the dictionary, there might be a picture of Chico there!  Coming in under 5#, Chico is a young chihuahua with a big personality!  Chico defends his territory ferociously and even has been known to lunge very aggressively when he's on-duty (only 2 or 3 steps mind you, but it looks mean!).  He doesn't bite, but he's the biggest dog on the block in his own mind.  

The truth is Chico is a sweet little boy who enjoys being petted, playing with his foster siblings, and cuddling with his foster mom.  In his foster home,  he has been slow to come around to believing that humans are safe, so adopters need to anticipate the same.  Expect him to run and hide for the first few days, followed by a slow warm-up of following you room-to-room.  He will not allow himself to be picked up unless he is on his bed. Chico has been learning outside potty and is doing well, although a belly band might be a good idea for awhile until he learns new routines in his new home.  Chico has been fostering with Sancho and Jose -  having another dog has been very helpful for him in dealing with his anxiety.

This all may sound negative, but Chico is a typical little chihuahua boy who needs some help with learning appropriate behaviors.  An experienced Chihuahua person is essential for him!  He is probably not a good choice for a family with small children or elderly who cannot keep up with his activity.  He must have a chihuahua secure yard as he will not come when called and will panic if you appear to be chasing him.