Are Chihuahuas One Person Dogs or Family Dogs?

Overview

The question of whether Chihuahuas do best with one owner or if they make good family dogs may come up when thinking about getting a Chi puppy or may arise after the fact if there are hiccups in maintaining harmony in the household, with disobedient behavior or preference to just one person the most common issues seen.

This section will answer the question of the Chihuahua as a one-person vs family dog and offer helpful tips to solve problems that may arise in both scenarios.

How Chihuahuas Can Thrive in Both Types of Households, with One Exception

Chihuahuas can actually do great in both one-owner households and with families. Though there are some challenges to either scenario, most Chi thrive as long as they are well cared for.

This said, the only type of household that elicits a red flag is those with young children. And, there are several reasons for this.

Chihuahuas, being very tiny, can easily become injured in a house with young kids that may incorrectly pick the pup up, play too rough, or accidentally drop or step on him. This is particularly relevant since the 2nd leading cause of death for adult Chihuahuas is trauma. The other issue is that some Chihuahuas are rather intolerant of young children and may nip or otherwise act aggressive toward them.

So, while there are indeed households that have both young kids and a Chihuahua with everyone getting along fabulously, if you have a baby or a toddler and are thinking about getting a Chi, this would be discouraged.

If you already have a Chihuahua and a small child, be sure to supervise at all times, teach proper handling techniques, instill the importance of not teasing the dog (pulling the tail, etc.), and keep any animated play sessions short before the Chi reaches their tolerance limit.

Chihuahuas do best with children age 10 and older and even then, supervision is recommended and these youngsters should be involved with the Chi’s care as to established themselves as leaders (alphas).

Chihuahuas as a One Person Dog

It’s common for those living alone to consider getting a puppy or dog since canines are ideal for companionship as well as the fact that pet ownership is linked to health benefits like lower blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, and reduced stress.

Chihuahuas often do very well with just one owner; they do not inherently need more than one caretaker and do not have an inbred pack mentality. When raised correctly, this breed will develop a strong bond with their human that translates into being a fiercely loyal companion.

This said, there can be some challenges; let’s take a look:

1. The need for socialization. Since it will be just you and your Chihuahua, it will be important to socialize your Chihuahua to other people. If not, reactions to them can range from nervousness to aggression.

While this may not seem like a problem when alone in your house with your Chi, it can be shockingly apparent when outside when neighbors walk by or when out and about in any public setting such as parks, the vet’s office, pet supply stores, etc. This may also materialize when visitors come over.

Socialization involves a slow and gradual introduction to various people in a range of settings. The earlier this begins, the better, though a Chi of any age can benefit from this sort of training.

This type of training can also be done for interactions with other dogs and even things that may spook a Chi like walking near traffic or things that a Chi has trouble dealing with like potty training in extreme weather.

2. Sole responsibility. All care tasks will fall on the sole owner’s shoulders. So, those that are living alone should carefully assess if they are ready both in regard to time and finances to take care of their Chihuahua solo. It’s easy to assume that this is no problem on good days, but do consider there may be times when you need to work late, have to travel, when you’re feeling under the weather, etc.

It can help to have an established back-up person, like a family member or neighbor, that can offer assistance if needed. And, there may be instances where services like dog walkers or doggie daycare facilities come in handy.

In addition, those living alone and considering getting a Chihuahua may wish to consider adopting an older Chi from a shelter or rescue; while adoption does have its challenges, adult Chihuahuas are often easier to care for than hyper and demanding puppies

Chihuahuas as a Family Dog

Though many sources tout the Chihuahua as being a one-person dog and not appropriate for families, this is not true across the board. Lots of Chihuahuas are happy, well-adjusted, and thriving in homes with multiple people.

Nevertheless, there can indeed be challenges to this, let’s take a look:

1. Latching onto one favorite person. In a household where there is one dog but more than one human, inevitably, a Chi may gravitate toward and seem to have a stronger bond with a favorite. This does not mean that the Chihuahua doesn’t have love for all of his humans, but may indeed have a preference to snuggle more or become clingy to a certain person.

A method to create stronger bonds with all household members is to split up care tasks. Everyone should take turns taking a Chihuahua for daily walks, engaging in play sessions like fetch, preparing and placing down meals, brushing the coat, giving baths, etc.

2. Aggression towards some family members. This can occur if a Chihuahua latches onto one person so strongly that other people in the house are seen as threats to that relationship. The Chi may seem jealous or wildly overprotective.

It must be noted that any biting in which a Chi clamps down his jaw and breaks skin warrants intervention with a professional canine trainer since it is risky to try to reverse this behavior at home without assistance.

For issues such as growling and warning nips in the air, it can help to have all household members take their place as leaders (Alphas). This involves taking turns feeding the Chihuahua in which food is clearly prepared with the Chi watching and is only placed down once the dog obeys a ‘sit’ command.

In addition, anytime the Chi lashes out, a time-out should be given which involves immediate physical segregation (behind a gate or in a canine playpen) with complete social isolation (no speaking and no eye contact) for a period of time 5 minutes past the point that the Chihuahua seems bothered by this temporary ‘banishment’.

3. Disobedience towards some family members. A Chihuahua may only listen to one particular person and ignore the other’s requests and commands. When this happens, it is a matter of the Chi seeing one human as their leader (alpha) who is automatically respected and obeyed and the rest as being on the same ranking level (betas) who have not established themselves as authority figures.

As noted in the previous point (2. Aggression), taking over feeding duties can go a big way to resolve this since dogs gain respect toward those that supply their food.

In addition to this, those not being listened to should hold daily sessions of command training with an emphasis on rewarding ‘good tries’ with high value training treats.

A Final Word

Aside from homes with small children, the Chihuahua should not be placed into a box of what sort of household is best since it’s common for households to change over time. A home with teenagers may evolve into one with two retirees and an empty nest. A single-person household may transition to one with a spouse or relatives that move in.

The Chihuahua can do well in a wide variety of living situations, as long as the home is a loving one and rules regarding care and expected behavior are established and followed.