10 Fun Games to Play With Your Chihuahua That They Will Actually Enjoy
Finding the right games to play with your chihuahua took me longer than I expected because so many dog game recommendations are designed for breeds that weigh more than a bag of flour. My chihuahua, Taco, is not going to play tug of war with a rope toy designed for a German Shepherd, and he is definitely not going to fetch a tennis ball across a football field. But he is absolutely going to lose his mind over a puzzle toy with hidden treats, chase a feather wand around the living room like it personally offended him, and play hide and seek with an enthusiasm that makes me question whether he is part bloodhound.
Chihuahuas need both physical exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy, and games are the perfect way to provide both while strengthening the bond between you and your dog. Here are ten games that work specifically well for chihuahuas, tested and approved by Taco and the other small dogs in my life.
1. Indoor Hide and Seek
This is Taco’s absolute favorite game and it requires zero equipment. Have someone hold your chihuahua or ask them to stay while you hide somewhere in the house, then call them to find you. Start with easy hiding spots and gradually make them more challenging as your dog gets the hang of it. Taco sprints through the house sniffing every corner when we play this, and the moment he finds me he vibrates with joy like he has accomplished something monumental. It provides physical exercise from the running, mental exercise from the searching, and reinforces the recall command as a bonus.
2. The Muffin Tin Puzzle
Place small treats in a few cups of a muffin tin and cover all the cups with tennis balls or crumpled paper. Your chihuahua has to figure out how to remove the covers and find the treats. It sounds simple, but watching a chihuahua strategize their way through a muffin tin is genuinely entertaining. Taco started by just knocking the whole thing over, which technically works, but over time he learned to nudge individual balls aside with his nose. According to the AKC, puzzle games like this provide mental enrichment that can reduce boredom related behavior problems.
3. Flirt Pole (Miniature Version)
A flirt pole is basically a cat wand toy sized up for dogs, and for chihuahuas, a regular cat wand toy works perfectly. Drag a feather or small toy on a string along the ground and let your chihuahua chase it. This taps into their natural prey drive and provides surprisingly intense exercise in a small space. Taco can play flirt pole in the living room and be exhausted in ten minutes, which is a win for both of us on days when the weather keeps us inside.
4. Treat Treasure Hunt
Hide small treats around a room while your chihuahua watches, then release them to find the treats using their nose. Start with obvious spots and gradually increase difficulty by hiding treats behind furniture legs, under cushion edges, or inside safe containers. This game engages your chihuahua’s powerful sense of smell and gives them a job to do, which is something small dogs do not get enough of in most households.
5. The Shell Game
Place a treat under one of three cups and shuffle them around, then let your chihuahua figure out which cup the treat is under. This is a classic cognitive game that most chihuahuas pick up quickly because they are smarter than people give them credit for. Taco figured out the shell game in his second session and now watches the cups with laser focus during the shuffle. I have to actually try to outsmart him now, and I do not always succeed.
6. Tug of War (Chihuahua Sized)
Get a small, soft rope toy or a thin fabric toy that your chihuahua can actually grip with their tiny mouth. Tug gently, letting your chihuahua win most of the time because the point is fun, not domination. This game provides physical exercise, builds confidence, and satisfies the natural pulling instinct. Just keep the tugging gentle because chihuahuas have delicate necks and jaws. I use a braided fleece toy that is about eight inches long, which is the perfect size for Taco to grab and shake with wild abandon.
7. Obstacle Course
Build a simple indoor obstacle course using pillows as jumps, blanket tunnels, and chairs to weave between. Guide your chihuahua through with treats and praise. You do not need expensive agility equipment, just some creativity and furniture you already own. The DIY agility ideas from Dogster can be scaled down to chihuahua size easily. Taco loves the tunnel portion especially, probably because running through a blanket draped between two chairs makes him feel like a secret agent.
8. Which Hand
Hold a treat in one hand, close both fists, and present them to your chihuahua. Let them sniff and paw at the correct hand to earn the treat. This is a simple game that requires nothing but a treat and two hands, and chihuahuas tend to become obsessed with getting it right. It reinforces the idea that using their brain gets them rewards, and it is an easy game to play while watching television or sitting at your desk.
9. Fetch (Adapted)
Traditional fetch works for chihuahuas if you scale it appropriately. Use a tiny ball, a small plush toy, or even a crumpled piece of paper and toss it a few feet across a room. Not every chihuahua will naturally retrieve, but many can learn with positive reinforcement. Taco brings his toy back about 60 percent of the time, which he considers a generous return rate that should earn him a treat regardless of whether the toy actually makes it back to me.
10. Learning New Tricks as a Game
Short training sessions framed as play rather than work are fantastic games for chihuahuas. Teach a new trick, spin, shake, roll over, speak, using tiny treats and enthusiastic praise. Keep sessions under five minutes because chihuahuas have limited attention spans and you want to end while they are still engaged and successful. Taco knows about twelve tricks now, and learning each one was a game that gave him mental stimulation, physical movement, and the satisfaction of earning rewards.
Tips for Playing With Your Chihuahua
Keep game sessions short because chihuahuas tire faster than larger breeds and overexertion can lead to hypoglycemia in dogs prone to blood sugar drops. Use high value tiny treats to keep motivation high. Play on soft surfaces when possible to protect delicate joints from hard landings. Most importantly, let your chihuahua set the pace. If they lose interest, stop. If they get overly excited, take a calm break. Games should be fun for both of you, and forcing a chihuahua to play when they would rather nap is going to end with you being judged silently from across the room.
Playing games with your chihuahua is one of the simplest ways to improve their quality of life, strengthen your relationship, and tire them out enough that they stop redecorating your house by chewing on things they should not. Taco and I have a game rotation that keeps things fresh, and the difference in his behavior between days when we play and days when we skip is dramatic. A stimulated chihuahua is a happy chihuahua, and a happy chihuahua is a pleasure to live with. For more on keeping your chihuahua entertained, check out our article on entertaining your chihuahua and our guide to bonding with your chihuahua.
