We love our little Chi! He’s fortunate to have four little girls (my daughters) to play with him. And to take him for walks and give him plenty of attention. Still, I wonder if he would be happier if he had another Chihuahua friend like him. I mainly want to convince my husband to let me have another one! But still, sometimes I wonder if my Chihuahua is lonely. I decided to do some research to see what I could find.
When considering getting your Chihuahua a friend or companion, there are many factors to consider.
Your Chihuahua could benefit from having another little dog in the house. Still, you need to consider your motivation for getting one. And you will need to choose the sex and breed of your additional pet carefully.
If your Chihuahua is not well-behaved and you want to get them a companion because you think that will help them be less bored, think again! I’ll explain why that might add to your problem instead of helping it. We’ll also learn about the best companion for your Chihuahua and how to successfully introduce them to each other.
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How to Tell if My Chihuahua is Lonely
You may want to get a friend for your Chihuahua if you think they feel lonely and need some companionship. Here are some clues that might indicate your Chi is lonely.
- Your Chihuahua follows you around the house everywhere
- Your Chihuahua howls or cries when you leave
- Your Chihuahua is less interested in playing and sleeps more than usual
- Your Chihuahua licks their fur so much that they start to lose their hair
- Your Chihuahua is destructive and gets into trouble
Why you Should Get another Dog for Your Chihuahua
Chihuahuas thrive on attention and socialization and love nothing more than playing and being part of a pack! For many reasons, getting another dog for your Chihuahua to play with and grow up with can be a great idea. Having a playmate can help your Chihuahua from getting bored and can take some pressure off you to entertain constantly.
Having more than one Chihuahua can be a lot of fun for you. I can picture the extra loves and snuggles I would get from having multiple little fur balls running around my house. Animals are so fun to watch, and their antics are always entertaining. Just think about how many hours you can spend watching cute Chihuahua videos on YouTube.
If your Chihuahua has separation anxiety and gets very lonely when you leave him alone. Getting him a companion to keep the company could be a great comfort and help.
Chihuahuas are so tiny they eat so little compared to the rest of their doggy counterparts that adding another one won’t be too much of an additional cost.
That isn’t to say there will be no added cost. You need to consider the cost of vet visits and possible grooming or training you will need to invest in.
Why You Shouldn’t Get Another Dog for Your Chihuahua
If you are thinking of getting a friend for your Chihuahua because your Chihuahua is bored and getting into a lot of trouble, think again! You shouldn’t get your Chihuahua a companion dog if your Chihuahua is already not well-behaved.
Finding that tipped-over garbage can with chewed-up tissue or food. And treats hidden all over the house aren’t fun for any pet parent. Still, adding another puppy to the mix will be double trouble.
You may think that he’s bored and his antics of getting into the garbage can or constantly barking at the neighbors indicate he needs a playmate, but that’s not necessarily true.
Making sure to train your Chihuahua well now will make it much easier for you if you add another pet down the line. Not only will your pet be better able to handle the new transition, but he will also be better equipped to help you train a new dog on the proper ways to do things.
If you aren’t prepared to deal with the financial cost of another dog, then you shouldn’t get one just for your Chihuahua to have a friend. Vet visits, vaccinations, flea treatments, grooming, treats, and toys can all add up. You don’t want to feel like you need to get a second job to pay for a second pet; that defeats the purpose.
Do Chihuahuas Get Along With Other Dogs
This is a tricky one. If your Chihuahua is very well socialized and has had a lot of practice around other dogs, they might be ok with another breed. The size and temperament of both dogs are significant factors.
If you have a gentle giant that is very aware of their space, completely non-aggressive, and aware of his space, so he won’t accidentally sit on your little Chi, it might work. Likewise, if your Chihuahua can be around other larger dogs and never show signs of aggression, then you might have the perfect combination.
But… If your little guy suffers from what I like to call little dog syndrome, I will stick to the smaller breeds.
Little Dog Syndrome: When your Chihuahua thinks they are bigger and bossier than their britches!
Something you can do to test your Chi’s sociable nature would be to take them to a place with many other dogs and closely monitor and observe how they react to other dogs.
Pet Smart or a dog park could be an excellent places to try this out. If they are inquisitive and want to be social and get to know other dogs without being aggressive, that is a perfect sign that you can proceed to try and find them a companion.
Do Chihuahuas Get Along with Each Other
For the most part, Chihuahuas get along very well with each other and can benefit from one another’s company. Chihuahuas have a pack mentality and are happy to rule the roost with each other, but beware, if you do get multiple Chihuahuas, you need to make sure that you are giving equal attention to them all so that jealousy doesn’t start to play a role in how they treat each other (Check out my article, Why Your Chihuahua is Jealous and What to Do?).
Training will be essential when having multiple Chi’s. It could be a little tricky to train your new puppy with your senior Chihuahua around, watching you give all the attention to the latest member of your family.
What Else Should You Consider With Multiple Chihuahuas?
You should avoid getting littermates as it’s likely you could have to deal with littermate syndrome in the future. I don’t know about you, but I get enough arguing with my kids, and I don’t need fighting puppies to go with it!
It would help if you also considered the age of your Chihuahua. If you have a very senior Chihuahua, it might not have the energy or desire to keep up with a new puppy. Yet some studies show that having a senior dog and getting a puppy can be good for your older dog and keep them more fit and active. The puppy may also accept the older dog as the Alpha as well.
What about just getting two puppies at the same time? Double the cuteness. Well, that may work out ok in the long run, but if you haven’t had experience with taking care of and training a puppy, I suggest you start with one. Having one puppy is a lot of work! Two puppies to care for and train simultaneously is downright exhausting!
So when is the best time to introduce another puppy to your household? Most behaviorists recommend waiting at least a year before adding a playmate. A new puppy will mirror the behavior of your already established Chi, the good and the bad. So if you have at least a year to do some practical training that will give your Chihuahua a strong foundation of training and socialization, they’ll be ready to help you train the recruit, which in the long run will make adding another one less work for you.
With Chihuahuas, like most other dogs, opposites attract! If you have a male chihuahua, you should try to get a female. A male could be a good match if you have a female. There is usually less competition for alpha status between the sexes than if they were the same gender. Of course, remember that you’ll end up with a litter of puppies if one of your Chi’s isn’t fixed.
What Other Chihuahua Owners Say
“I have a Chihuahua. A Shih Tzu, a Pom, a Pug crossed Yorkie, and a lion head rabbit. They all love each other very much and get along great!”
“I have six dogs…all different sizes and breeds. All get along fine….”
“I have a cocker spaniel hound mix who is very gentle with my two little Chihuahua puppies.”
“I have a Chihuahua, a Frenchie, and a terrier/poodle mutt. The Chi is territorial and doesn’t play well with the others. This is my first Chi, and I have learned so much about the breed that I wish I had known upfront, and I would have socialized her better with the other two dogs to have mitigated these problems.”
