In my experience, chihuahuas need a lot of socialization to be good with strangers and unfamiliar dogs. Otherwise they get defensive and snappy in unfamiliar situations. I think a lot of owners don’t put the extra work in and their reputation as a breed suffers due to it.

Ours is pretty mellow around new people and dogs, but he’s very vocal when he feels like he’s not getting enough attention. Gives my son’s husky a run for his money in the noise department. That’s also a negative for a lot of folks.

Loves to cuddle and makes a good little burgler alarm though.