Chihuahuas are one of the most popular breeds of dog in the U.S. They have been bred to keep people company and they pack in a lot of personality for such a small package.
Just like many other dogs, chihuahuas can become destructive and noisy if they’re bored. They need plenty of daily exercise, regular mental stimulation in the form of toys and training, and lots of company to prevent boredom and keep them happy and content.
A tired dog is a well-behaved dog
It’s a well-known saying and for good reason. A tired chihuahua will be a better behaved pooch who is less likely to bark, chew, and will generally be less destructive. Despite their small size, chihuahuas need 20-30 minutes of exercise a day at least, but many can go for longer if you let them.
Chihuahuas will enjoy going to a park or open space where they can run around off the lead and explore, but it’s important to remember that they’re often very cautious of new people and other dogs so they should be closely monitored on walks.
Socializing them with other animals and strangers from a young age can help chihuahuas to feel comfortable with strangers, making it easier to let them run around freely at the park for lots of exercise.
I would looke for a dog park that has separate sections for big dogs and little dogs just as a safety precaution.
Provide mental stimulation
Chihuahuas can perform well in agility and obedience trials just as much as larger dogs. This should be done by making it fun for them to keep them interested and more likely to respond to you.
Treats and lots of praise will work well. Harsh, negative reinforcement should be avoided as chihuahuas don’t generally respond well to it.
Additionally, most chihuahuas enjoy playing with toys, both with their humans and alone. It’s important to provide lots of different toys for them so that they don’t get bored with the same ones.
Subscription boxes for dogs is a great way to ensure they have a good supply of different toys on a regular basis.
Keep them company
Chihuahuas are companion dogs and won’t do well if they’re left alone for too long or too often by themselves.
They tend to become very attached to one person and will follow them everywhere. If you regularly leave them alone they’ll quickly become bored and destructive.
One way around this is to sign them up to a doggy daycare for when you’re at work or have to go somewhere that they are not allowed. This can help them to interact with other dogs and people while ensuring they don’t get lonely and bored.
Simply having someone check in on them once a day while you’re working for eight hours, five days a week, won’t be enough company for chihuahuas.
Chihuahuas often get a bad reputation as they have very big personalities and they often forgot just how small they are. This big personality and small frame requires lots of walks, plenty of mental stimulation and company throughout the day to keep them happy and content, which results in a much better behaved dog.
My little baby Chico doesn’t like toys (he has 10 different toys ) to play with but likes to play with your fingers, then he will growl and bark to get them. He does not bite just hold them and shake them.
That sounds adorable Mary.
And he is adorable too. Chico is a rescued dog from Georgia they found him on the streets after hurricane michael
My Min-Chi is 8 now & she just had 10 teeth removed. My poor baby.
Anyways, she frequently will let us know when she’s not happy about something by leaving a gift for us. How can I stop this. Quite often it’s because of something tiny to us. ie; she didn’t get a bite of Ice cream, she couldn’t go outside at this moment she pees or poops right in front of her pad. Thanks for your article. Jo
My Kilo RIP used to leave “gifts” for me in my home office everytime I was out of town. She would leave gifts for my son too in his room when he was out of town too.
I don’t know how to stop it because it’s hard to catch them in the act. They do it in secret.
Although it sounds like your chi does it in front of you in front of her pee pad? If you can catch her in the act, grab her quickly, and take her outside to finish her business out there. And then get up any smell that you can with an enzyme cleaner or white vinegar where she did go that wasn’t on the pad.
Hi,my Roxy is acting out,she has used the bathroom twice on my bed in the empty room,please help!!
What has changed in your life lately Lynn? Are you stressed out (like the rest of us) over the virus mess? Dogs are highly intuitive and pick up emotions from us. So if she is picking up your stress and worry, that very well could cause her to act out.
Take her out more than usual to potty so she doesn’t have anything left to have an accident with and keep her with you constantly so you can see what she’s up too.
And keep that bedroom off limits to her because since she’s already done her business in there a few times, she may continue to use it. If you can get a hold of a good enzyme cleaner, (or white vinegar in a pinch) clean the bed really well to get all traces of the smell out. And use white vinegar when you wash the bed linens too.
You all have the cutest Little Chi’s. Here is mine last night. Her name is Mia. She has my heart for sure.
I love this group. Thank you for all your hard work you put into it for all of us. ??????
Mia is simply adorable Sandra!
Thank you so much. She belong to my Neice but after I lost my husband my Sister and Neice knew I needed someone to take care of so she gave me Mia. She has helped me so much words can’t tell.
Thank you for your comment.
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You’re welcome Sandra.
Dogs do seem to have this amazing power of helping us heal and feel better. It’s been proven that they help us live longer. Love our little angels in fur!
Congratulations to Diesel for being Chi of the Week. He is indeed a beautiful fellow. Love his coloring, especially his feet.
Cathy, I am just loving Lucy!!! Ziggy and sweet Lucas are fantastic, but Lucy is special and so beautiful. I can pick her up tomorrow any time that is convenient for you, LOL LOL
Thanks Dixie! I agree. Lucy is special. She’s such a pretty little girl too. And to think, no one wanted her because her front legs are crooked. They sure don’t slow her down at all.
Oh, Cathy, I did not know Lucy’s front legs are crooked. I have never seen anything like that in any of her pictures. I cannot imagine the hard hearted people who walked away from her because of that……….I think if I had a little chibaby that had a fault such as that, I would love her even more………SOME PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!
You can see them in this photo. See how her legs bend inward at the knee joint and point out?
It’s not a big deal to me and she can run just as fast as her brothers but I guess others didn’t want her because she wasn’t “perfect”.
Yes, I can see it in this picture but I would not think it was a problem for her since she still runs just as fast as Lucas and Ziggy. Maybe they thought the situation would run into money in the future. Still and all, I would never let her go for such a reason. My Henry had an extended lower gum line and it stuck out and was quite noticeable. I went to the breeder to see if she had any little puppys and I watched Henry run and show that personality and I told her I wanted him. She said he was not for sale and as soon as she got around to it, she was going to put him down since he is no good for stud or show. I told her, we did not stud or show and I wanted him. She told me she would just give him to me. I do not like to just take a pet for nothing. Seems like that would mean the furbaby was worthless, (just my own opinion) so I gave her $25 and Henry had a long and happy life.
Hi Cathy. My chi, Honey, is five months old and when she goes number 2 potty she walks around in the hunched position leaving a poop trail. She’s quite regular and has firm stools, but it’s driving me nuts. How can I get her to stay on the pad like she does when she pees?
Lucy does this too and since she will only use a pad, I have had problems with her missing the pad too. I just added a few more pads to cover more area. Not the idea solution, but couldn’t figure out how else to handle it.
Honey is a pretty chi!
Thanks. I’ve been putting down multiple pads too but….I guess she’ll age out of it
Hi! I love my Bailey, he is so cute and loves everyone. He has tons of toys and we play every day with him. I walk him almost every day. Yet, he chews! My rattan furniture and wicker hamper. I have sprayed with white and apple vinegar to no avail. What to do?
How old is he Rose? If he’s under a year, chewing is to be expected and he will probably grow out of it.
Instead of using vinegar (some dogs like the taste) try a commercial spray. Bitter Apple is a popular one. You can get it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/32C3AFd
I’m sure you can get it at a pet store like PetSmart or PetCo too.
When you can’ watch your dog, keep him in one room (without the furniture he likes to chew on but do add some things he can chew on) or keep him in a playpen.
When you are with him, if you catch him chewing, make a loud noise to startle him such as a clap, or say “No” or “Ack” loudly. Then give him a chew toy.
I’ve only had my baby for a 2 weeks, I feel bad when I have to tidy the house or even go upstairs to have a shower.. will he feel lonely if I just get on with the normal daily things in the house or am I just being silly, when I do try he looks at me and cry’s is this normal and am I just worrying to much that he feel lonely and sad because I’m not giving him attention for 15 minutes… he has about 12 different toys 4 teddy’s and a tunnel to go through I know it sound silly but it’s that cute little face he pulls and it makes me feel bad for him… please tell me how to handle this situation before I make him a spoiled little boy.🥰🥰.. his name is Archie💙💙
Chis are very social animals and want to be with their human 24 hours a day. However there are times that just isn’t possible or convenient and the earlier he learns to entertain himself, the better.
As he gets older he can follow you around to “supervise” as you do your chores and such and that makes it easier. My dogs follow me room to room and sit on the bed while I’m in the shower to wait for me. One sits on the bathroom rug to wait.
As hard as it is, don’t give in when you need to be away from him (you don’t want to create a monster). Give him a chew toy and then go do what you need to do.
I have 3 ch,is and they all have different personalities
Yes, every dog has their own personality. Just like people.
@Cathy, your the best😁
Thanks!
My applehead chihuahua doesn’t seem to want to play much. She wants me to sit in the chair by her for hours on end. We have a game we play with bed covers but that’s all I have been able to get her to play. She just wants to be super close to me all the time. How can I get her to play more? She’s not interested in toys or treats.
Not all dogs like to play. Only 2 out of my 4 like playing. You can encourage them with different games and it sounds like you have doem that. I’d just let it go but maybe try again every once in awhile.