Designing the C.O.U.S.s begins with movement. Real chihuahuas have a proper running gait like any other dog, but that is not what people picture when they think of them. They are known for that frantic, fast little leg‑shuffle that looks more like determined speed‑walking than a full run. So we build to that. Early prototypes use a standard canine gait, but it feels wrong immediately. Multiple iterations follow, adjusting stride length, leg speed, and body bob until the movement captures that cute, chaotic energy.

Size goes through several rounds as well. Too small and they lose presence. Too large and they stop feeling like chihuahuas. We tune their proportions until they feel mutant‑sized but still unmistakably tiny dogs at heart.

Jump height becomes the final piece. The C.O.U.S.s need to justify a full three‑lane horizontal slash without pushing players into unsafe overhead motions. After testing different elevations, chest‑high jumps strike the perfect balance. They feel threatening without breaking plausibility, and they create a satisfying physical cue for a wide sweep. Packs of up to three give them rhythm and intensity, and their movement fills the gap left by other enemies. They are unexpected, playful, and mechanically essential.