12 Awesome Chihuahua Boredom Busters

Overview

If you suspect or know that your Chihuahua gets bored easily and are looking for ways to keep your little guy or gal entertained, look no further. This article will cover signs and symptoms of chronic boredom and the top 12 tips to help keep a Chihuahua of any age occupied and busy. 

Signs and Symptoms a Chihuahua is Bored 

The signs of chronic boredom with Chihuahuas can vary. A few common behaviors include:
  • Restlessness (excessive barking, destructive chewing, pacing, and/or overreaction to stimuli)
  • Depressed behavior (lethargy, retreating, moping) 
  • Whining
  • Self-licking and/or self-chewing (usually on the paws) 
  • Clinginess

Does Boredom Always Need to Be Addressed? 

Puppies and dogs do not need to be constantly entertained and it’s perfectly normal for Chihuahuas to laze around at times throughout the day. However, many chronic cases of boredom sprout from issues that are unhealthy (such as lack of exercise or unresolved separation anxiety). And in many cases, ongoing boredom is a red flag that a Chihuahua requires more interaction and/or methods to promote independent play. 

Tip #1 Daily Walks

If boredom has become a problem for your Chihuahua, this is one of the first aspects to reassess. And although walks may seem like a simple remedy, it’s highly underrated. 

Brisk walking can help a Chihuahua release pent-up energy that may otherwise be directed in negative ways (excessive barking, pacing, etc.). And walking outside allows a dog to use their highly attuned canine senses (sight, hearing, scent) which can be a fantastic boredom buster. Additionally, achieving a goal (walking from point A to point B) can offer a sense of satisfaction for a ‘job well done’. All of these benefits can carry over after a walk is complete. 

Extra tips: Aim for at least 1 but up to 3 daily walks, each lasting for a minimum of 20 minutes. Keep to a schedule so that your Chi has something to look forward to. Go at a pace that is brisk for your particular Chihuahua. To avoid undue pressure on the trachea, use a harness like the Voyager Step-in Dog Harness, and not a collar (note that with that particular harness, size XXS fits most Chi 5 lbs. and under). 

During the winter season, don’t let cold or snow get in your way (unless there’s dangerous weather conditions); you can help keep your Chi warm with a winter coat and use paw wax for good traction. And in the summer season, head out early in the morning and later in the evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day and bring along lots of water. 

Tip #2 Fetch (Indoors or Out)

A game of fetch offers two things that many bored Chihuahuas crave: Something to do and attention from their humans. So, while some tips ahead involve independent play, do consider engaging your Chi in a 20-minute or so daily game of fetch. You may find that after this sort of cardio, your Chihuahua is happy to have some down time.

 

Fetch is also a good alternative if weather conditions are interfering in the frequency or duration of daily walks. 

Extra tips: If your Chihuahua hasn’t shown much interest in this, keep in mind that some dogs will copy their human’s enthusiasm (so keep the energy levels up) and use a fun toy specifically reserved for these sessions. 


If you’re looking for a new fetch toy, HyperPet Mini Tennis Balls for Dogs are made for small dogs like the Chihuahua. These can be used outside or indoors (down a long hallway, etc.)

And if your Chi is more of a pro and likes a real challenge in lining up under something that's tossed to them, a toy like the Canine Hardware Flying Squirrel can be lots of fun. 

Tip #3 A Snuffle Mat

If you haven’t heard of this sort of ‘doggie entertainment’ yet, you’ll be happy to learn about snuffle mats since they’re awesome at curing boredom, especially for dogs that like to use their noses and appreciate tasty treats. 

Snuffle mats are shaped pieces of fabric that hold lots of layered fabric flaps. Your job is to tuck dry treats within the mat and then it’s your Chihuahua’s job to sniff them out. Doing so, answers a dog’s instinct to ‘forage’ for food. 


The larger and more intricate the snuffle mat, the more work and time it will take for your Chihuahua to find all of the treats. 


Extra tips: Since the mat can slip and slide around, choose one with ties or straps that can keep it in place. We like the IFOYO Pet Snuffle Mat; it has ties, and is colorful, durable, and machine-washable.

Tip #4 A Treat-release Toy

This is another fantastic option for dogs that are motivated by food. Treat-release toys work by gradually dispensing treats when a dog chews on or interacts with it in some way. And these can keep a dog happy and busy both when an owner is home and if a Chihuahua is home alone. 

Extra tips: Most treat-release toys are designed to hold dry food; however, with some, you can do a mixture of dry kibble or treats mixed with smooth peanut butter. This can make it more enticing and/or extend the duration of play. 

One that we like is the PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat Toy; it’s an ideal size for most Chihuahuas and the difficulty level can be adjusted. 

Tip #5 A Puzzle Toy

A good mental challenge can be a great remedy for boredom. And that’s what puzzles provide. 


With dog puzzle toys, there are many different designs, ranging in difficulty level, but most have a couple of things in common: Treats are hidden within it and a dog needs to use problem-solving skills to navigate a puzzle to find them. 


The challenge may involve levers, sliders, doors, and more. For easy-level puzzles, there is often one simple movement required (example, nose or paw a small door to flip it open). And for harder levels, it may be a more complicated series of steps (example, move the slider, rotate the lever, then paw the button). 


Extra tips: Use treats that are reserved just for this (not given as a regular snack) and are strongly scented. 

For Chihuahuas that are new to a puzzle, you may need to guide your Chi to understand how to unlock the treats. Once they understand the general idea, there can be more independent play. 


Even for a Chi’s first puzzle, beginner-levels may be solved too quickly, so starting with an intermediate level like the Nina Ottosson Level 2 Puzzle Toy may work best.

Tip #6 A Lick Mat

These are a good choice for Chihuahuas that like to lick and prefer laid-back activities. Lick mats are typically made of silicone rubber with small nibs that hold peanut butter (or other sticky, thick food substances). Some have a suction cup backing to hold it in place (this really is a ‘must have’ aspect). 


Another great use of lick mats is to serve as a distraction when doing grooming tasks that your Chi doesn’t like (brushing, nail clipping, baths, etc.). 


Extra tips: Peanut butter is the most popular food to apply to a lick mat, but you can also try pumpkin puree and/or smashed banana.


Be sure to choose a lick mat that has strong suction cups or a full suction backing so that it will stay in place. We like the Lick Mat by Choice Revolution; it stays secure, is made of food-grade silicone, and is dishwasher-safe.

Tip #7 An Interactive Toy

This refers to a dog toy that reacts to a dog in some way, including speaking, moving, making noises, or flashing lights in response to a dog’s touch. From a dog’s point of view, the toy is playing with them, and this makes it a wonderful remedy for bored dogs, especially if you are too busy to play with your Chi or are not at home. 


Extra tips: The type of toy you choose should jive with the level of interaction your Chi likes and your tolerance for noise (if you’re home when they’re playing with it). 


For something lowkey, the Multipet's Look Who's Talking Duck is a great choice; in fact, the whole Look Who's Talking line consists of different stuffed animals and each makes a particular noise. For example, a chicken that clucks, a pig that oinks, etc. The size of these range from 5 to 8+ inches, and most small Chihuahuas do best with the smaller 5 to 6-inch ones like the duck.

And if you’re looking for something more elaborate, you can’t go wrong with a Pet Qwerks Talking Babble Ball. This is a motion-activated toy that lets out different silly sayings (“here, puppy!”, “I’m gonna get you!”, Yeah, baby!” and more). And it has an automated shut-off feature so it’s quiet when your Chi is done playing. 

Tip #8 Chews (Edible and non-edible) 

Many puppies and adult Chihuahuas enjoy passing the time by working their jaws and biting into things. And chewing not only can keep a Chi busy, it can also be a fantastic stress-reliever. 


There are both edible chews (meant to be ingested) and non-edible (toys that are chewed on and then should be tossed out when they eventually degrade). 


A few secrets to finding a good chew is to ensure its durability level matches a dog’s bite force and it has a feature(s) that makes it enticing (texture, scent, etc.). 


Extra tips: For puppies (especially those that are teething), something like the Nylabone Just for Puppies Pacifier can be a great choice. It’s appropriately sized and has the tempting scent of bacon. 

For adult Chihuahuas, a good non-edible chew toy is the Nylabone Flavor Frenzy Triple Pack ; this has 3 fun-flavored chews toys: roast beef, sausage & pancake, and meat lasagna. Be sure to supervise and toss out any pieces that break off. 

And you’re looking for an edible chew, but want to stay away from rawhide and pig’s ears (which can be dangerous due to choking hazards and/or the risk of internal blockage), an awesome alternative is Yak chews (these are hard chews made from Yak milk).


One that we like is Native Pet Yak Chews for Dogs, which come in size ‘small’ for little dogs (best for adult Chi, not puppies).

Tip #9 Bubbles

Many dogs get a kick out of seeing bubbles and chasing after them. And it can be really entertaining for pet parents to watch. It’s a simple and easy way to break up a day and offer lots of fun. 


If you want to start off small, you can grab a bottle of bubble mix at your local Walmart or other local store. And if you don’t want to blow the bubbles yourself or you’ve found your Chi loves them and you want an easy way to keep the bubbles flowing, try an automated bubble machine. 


Extra tips: Bubbles can be played outdoors or indoors; but if you’re using them inside be aware that popped bubbles can cause hard flooring surfaces to get slippery

Tip #10 Hide 'n Seek

This is a fun game to play with dogs of all ages, especially on bad-weather days when both you and your Chi may be stuck inside and feeling bored. It’s the same game you remember playing as a child, the only difference is that you’ll always be the one hiding and your Chihuahua will be the one seeking you out. 


Extra tips: Plan your hiding spot in advance. To give you time to hide, you can order your Chi to sit, have a helper keep them in place, or create a semi-sturdy barrier they’ll need to navigate while you dash away. 


Dogs usually catch on fairly quickly, but you can help your Chi learn the game by calling out to your Chi if they’re having a hard time locating you and offering a training treat as a reward when they find you.

Tip #11 Command or Trick Training

When a dog is learning basic commands or tricks, this gives them a ‘job’ to do, which keeps them busy. The praise and reward they receive for ‘good tries’ and accomplishments boosts self-confidence. And the final result of mastering the command gives both dog and human a sense of pride. 


So, whether you start off teaching your Chihuahua to sit or they’re ready for an advanced trick like ‘Bowing’, this can be an awesome way to cure boredom. 


Extra tips: Dogs should learn the basics first; this includes sit, stay, come, and down; these are often the foundation for more advanced commands and tricks. 


Our book, PetChiDog’s GIANT Book of Chihuahua Care offers instructions for all basic commands, as well as ‘Heeling’. 

And, if you’re looking for those basics as well as lots of advanced dog trick training, we highly recommend the book, 101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance. This has instructions with super-helpful step-by-step photos to teach a wide range of tricks, including dance moves, obstacle course actions, games, and much more. 

Tip #12 TV Shows

We like to see Chihuahuas stay active and the previous tips all involve some level of movement, interaction, and/or mental stimulation. So, we’ve saved this tip for last. However, watching TV can play a role in helping a bored Chihuahua stay occupied. After all, a Chi cannot stay in motion all day. 


TV can come in handy especially for Chihuahuas that are home alone for many hours; it can be one part of a variety of measures to keep boredom at bay and in some cases can help with loneliness as well. 


Extra tips: Canines recognize images on screens, so most will enjoy documentaries or programing that includes real or animated dogs or other animals. There are even some channels geared toward a canine audience, such as Direct TV’s ‘DogTV’. 


Before leaving your Chihuahua home alone with the TV on, be sure to experiment with different shows to see what they like

Summary and a Final Thought

We covered a lot of ways to help an otherwise bored Chihuahua stay busy, so here is a recap of our 12 suggestions: 


  1. Daily Walks
  2. Fetch (Indoor or Out)
  3. A Snuffle Mat
  4. A Treat-release Toy 
  5. A Puzzle Toy
  6. A Lick Mat
  7. An Interactive Toy 
  8. Chews (Edible and non-edible) 
  9. Bubbles
  10. Hide and Seek
  11. Command or Trick Training
  12. TV Shows 


Keep in mind that as a Chihuahua ages and matures, they may have different ideas about what they find entertaining, so methods may need to change. 



And, if your Chi’s behavior seems very off or they seem to be in a funk but none of these remedies work, it will be time for a vet exam; chronic lethargy, depressed mood, and other similar behaviors can be a sign of a health issue. 

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Best Treats for a Chihuahua - Careful thought should go into what you offer for snacks and training treats; it can make a big difference in your Chi's overall health. 
Bad Breath Issues - It's not uncommon for a Chi puppy or adult dog to have some issues with bad breath. Learn the top reasons for this and exactly how to resolve it.