I have two Chihuahuas. One is a Smooth-Coat Chihuahua named “Lucy,” who is five years old, and another is a Long-haired Chihuahua named “Lucky,” who is eight.
I adopted my second Chihuahua after three years of parenting. It’s been an amazing and hectic journey for me. There are several things to remember while you are considering your second Chihuahua. I have experienced them and will keep sharing them until they are with me.
I realized and solved things in a very difficult way, so you don’t have to. I am here to share my experience. I will give you some insights and some tips. After understanding them, you will surely decide whether you should get a second Chihuahua or Not. Let’s dive in.
10 Facts To Consider
1. Consider your Chihuahua’s Personality
Before considering a second Chihuahua, you must observe your current Chihuahua’s behavior and personality.
If your Chihuahua is friendly with other dogs and unknown persons and you trained him perfectly, then you should get a second Chihuahua.
And if your Chihuahua is aggressive and mean to other dogs and people, you shouldn’t consider a second Chihuahua.
Chihuahuas are aggressive for several reasons, such as little dog syndrome, being a one-person dog, Lack of socialization, Lack of exercise, and being Unhealthy. However, with positive and Negative Reinforcement training, the aggressive behavior can be fixed.
If you can figure out the problem with your Chihuahua and solve it, Then you can consider a second Chihuahua.
To solve aggressiveness and mean behavior, you should read the article: 10 Techniques to Calm a Dog Down from Hyperactive Behaviour.
2. Financial Considerations
According to our survey of more than 250 Chihuahua owners, most spent $20$ to $25$ per month on a single Chihuahua. And when it comes to a Second Chihuahua, from vet bills to food and supplies, doubling the number of furry family members can significantly impact your budget.
Though maintaining a Chihuahua is not very expensive. which is one of the pros of adopting Chihuahua. But, keep in mind that Chihuahuas have an impressive lifespan, so the expense will be for a long period.
If you are financially stable and think your situation will be fine in the future, consider a second Chihuahua.
3. Long-Term Commitment
Chihuahuas have an impressive lifespan. According to Purina, They live between 12 and 20 years.
So, If you can’t give a long-term commitment, you should not think of a second Chihuahua.
Read: Are Chihuahuas Good for First-time Owners?
Be prepared to provide love, care, and attention to each of your furry companions for their entire lives.
4. Time Management
When adopting a new Chihuahua, the first query is, “Do you have the time?”.
As a Chihuahua owner, you must know that Chihuahuas always want attention and companionship. They hate being alone and love their owner so much. You cannot leave your Chihuahua alone for a more extended period of time at home. It may cause some behavioral issues such as barking and aggressive and mean behaviors.
That implies that If you get a second Chihuahua, you must give almost double the time.
Especially in the first two or three months, when you will give your new Chihuahua training, you need to focus on the new Chi. Meanwhile, you have to manage time for the older one.
If you think you have the time to give, and both of them will receive the same amount of care, love, and affection, then it’s the right choice to get the second Chihuahua.
5. Noisy
Chihuahuas are too vocal, but they are controllable through training. When it comes to new Chi, you must consider that your older Chihuahua can also be articulated with the newer Chihuahua. This leads to a serious noise issue.
However, after one or two months, it will be fixed when they are comfortable with each other because environmental factors shape dog behaviors.
6. Jealousy
Chihuahuas are known for their jealous behavior. They get jealous when their owner gives attention to another dog.
However, There might be behavioral changes when you bring another Chihuahua home.
Some Chihuahuas are extremely jealous and become aggressive while having a second Chihuahua. Some Chihuahuas feel more comfortable and independent and are happy to have a new friend. It completely depends on how owners socialize them. Chihuahuas require early socialization to remain well-behaved. But, don’t use dog parks for socialization, it may get worse.
Explore: Why Puppies and Dog Parks Don’t Mix? Reasons and Alternatives.
Therefore, it depends on your Chihuahua whether he is jealous or not.
7. Gender Dynamics
Gender dynamics can affect how well your Chihuahuas get along. While some owners have had success with same-sex pairs, others have found that opposite-sex pairs tend to coexist more peacefully.
From the experience of over 250 people, I can suggest that bringing opposite-sex Chihuahuas can improve their bonding. There is always an attraction between opposite genders. But yes, there is a problem with having new puppies every year. If you don’t want puppies every year, then go with the same-sex pairs.
Same-sex pairs have a problem of being the dominant one. They fight to be the dominant one in the family. They can even fight to the death. Be careful!
For that reason, I chose same-sex pairs; I don’t want more puppies. Therefore, it depends on how individuals want to be.
8. Adjustment Period
Adding a second Chihuahua to your household requires patience and understanding. It may take time for your Chihuahuas to adjust to each other.
Your old Chihuahua must understand and accept that the new Chihuahua is his friend, not his enemy. It takes time; during this period, Owners need to give the same amount of love and attention to both Chihuahuas. Once they establish a great bond between them, there is nothing to think about then; Chihuahuas are the most loving companions.
There is something you need to maintain in the first few months.
i. Separate their spaces in your house so that they can observe each other. That will build trust day by day.
ii. Don’t give your older Chihuahua the same toys or accessories as the newer one. This can affect the mentality of your old Chihuahua.
iii. Do everything together.
iv. Personally, I found it easy after giving training for Dog Talking Buttons. That allowed me to understand more deeply what they are experiencing.
Explore: How Dog Talking Buttons Work? Benefits, Challenges & Tips.
9. Positive Experiences
Despite all the challenges, 90% of owners have had positive experiences. From forming strong sibling bonds to enjoying the joy of watching them play together, owning two or more Chihuahuas can be a rewarding experience.
It’s been an excellent experience with my two little Chi’s. They love each other, and when it comes to love me, no one can beat them. Imagine getting the kisses and cuddles from two Chi’s simultaneously. It is something that we can not express through words. I don’t have any words to describe my feeling of having these two Chi’s in my life.
10. Expecting a Baby?
If you are expecting a baby, you should not consider two Chihuahuas in your house.
Both the Chihuahua and the baby need care and attention, and it is very difficult to manage them. Eventually, babies require much attention.
On the other hand, Chihuahuas are prone to health issues. Two Chihuahuas mean double the problems, which is a huge concern.
The baby is the priority in anyone’s life. So be careful while deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are male or female Chihuahuas nicer?
Female Chihuahuas are nicer to social creatures than male Chihuahuas. Male Chihuahuas always try to be dominant over other creatures and are very loud.
Q2: Are male or female Chihuahuas more aggressive?
Male Chihuahuas are aggressive compared to Females. They are dominant and behave meanly towards other dogs and people they meet. They often growl and bark at others.
Q3: Do Chihuahuas Only Love One Person?
Initially, Chihuahuas tend to love one person—they are known as One-person dogs. But with proper training, they become more social over time.
It depends on how their owner trains and behaves with them in the early stages of the Chihuahua’s life, although it varies from one Chihuahua to another.
Q4: What is the best age to get a second dog?
Considering 250 Chihuahua owners, the best age to get a second dog is 2.5 years. Because training a well-mannered and socialized Chihuahua takes almost two years, so yes, you can get a second dog after two years.
5 thoughts on “Should I Get A Second Chihuahua?”