Chihuahua Sociability and Other Dogs

Chihuahuas tend to do well with other Chihuahuas, but it is still important to use extreme caution especially at first. Even though they tend to get along pretty well with other Chihuahuas, the breed does not normally tolerate other breeds as well no matter how big or small. A Chihuahua will try and start mayhem with even a mastiff. This is a real danger for your Chihuahua since the other dog may become irritated and hurt him.

Tips on Improving Chihuahua Sociability

Chihuahua sociability is dependent on how you allow them to interact with other dogs. With that being said, here are some suggestions that may be helpful when introducing your Chihuahua to other pets:

-The first is that your Chihuahua may get along best with other Chihuahuas and toy dogs.

-Second, always use a leash and a chihuahua collar at first when introducing your chihuahua to other dogs until you get to know how the pets respond to each other!

-Third, begin socializing your dog with other animals while it is still a puppy.

If you do those three simple things, you’ll drastically improve your chihuahua sociability.

• First of all, id tags. These are little tags that are attached to the Chihuahua’s collar. They are easy to read for anyone that finds your Chihuahua and usually have a phone number on them to allow the person that finds the Chihuahua to contact the owner. The only thing you need to be mindful of is that you have a small dog so you get a small id tag. Larger tags can get snagged on something and cause injury to your small canine companion. Like everything else, ensuring the proper size will have a direct correlation to the overall safety of your Chihuahua.
• Tattoos of your social security number, phone number or other means of contact are another option but I’d strongly advise against them. There are pain free methods of identifying your dog and you should try to make those work rather than do something that permanently affects your Chihuahua’s appearance.
• Microchips: One of the best methods of identifying your dog. Microchips are placed under the skin just above the shoulder of your dog. They are injected very precisely and with such ease that they will be a very minor affect on your dog’s comfort. They are only the size of about a half grain of rice and can be tracked by any vet using a special reader. These are better than tags because they can’t be removed accidentally where as a collar can be pulled off or lost.

I would actually recommend using both the tag and microchip. This helps by allowing regular people to identify your dog as well as having the ability for a vet to track them in case the collar is lost. Remember, if you move or change your phone number to always update your dog’s tag or chip.

You may have both children and chihuahuas in your home.  If this is so or your chihuahua is around children a lot, it is important to read the following.  Children are always drawn to the cuteness of Chihuahuas and love to play with them. It’s always smart to be watchful when a new child is playing with your Chihuahua. This is not only for the safety of the children, but also for the safety of the Chihuahua.

Children and Chihuahuas – Do Not Leave Them Unsupervised Together

Chihuahuas are very small dogs; especially if you have Chihuahua puppies. So, when a child plays with them, they need to be extra careful. First of all, games that are played with a larger dog may not necessarily be good games for small dogs. For example, tug-of-war and sparring are two activities that should be cautioned against. A Chihuahua can be greatly hurt if it is squeezed too hard, fallen upon, hit with something or thrown around like a toy. It is always wise to only allow children around your pet if they are well supervised.

Safety is also an issue for the child. Some Chihuahuas are nervous and even scared when they are around children. This may be because they are mistreated by children or they are just confused with their difference in size from adult humans and don’t relate the two as being of the same group. In this case, take care to evaluate how your dog is behaving. If he starts to bare his teeth and get low to the ground (lower than he usually stands. I understand he’s small.), keep your child away at all costs. Your dog is not comfortable with the situation and may snap at the child.

Remember, small dogs love attention and their affection is easily bought over time. If raised together, Chihuahuas and children can grow up together being the best of friends.

Babies are no different. Never leave your baby alone with your dog. This isn’t to say that your dog will try to harm the baby but accidents do happen and dogs are still animals. It’s just common sense to keep your pet and your baby apart when you are away. If you’re worried about your dog being around your baby, try letting your dog get used to the idea of a baby in the home by allowing him in the room often and rewarding him when he behaves well. This will promote your dog enjoying the presence of the baby rather than resenting your young child for being there.

Allow your children to love your Chihuahua by caring for him properly and maturely and your Chihuahua will return that love 100 times!