Why are Chihuahuas so Clingy and Needy? – Things You Must Know!

It’s no secret that Chihuahuas are one of the most clingy and needy dog breeds. They are always by your side and they follow you everywhere. They seem to be clingy and needy no matter what time of day it is or how long they’ve been with their owner.

But what is it about this breed that makes them so attached to their owners? Is it because they need a lot of attention? Or maybe they’re just scared of being alone?

Chihuahuas are known for their clingy nature because they have been bred to be attentive, human-oriented dogs. They follow owners everywhere and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone. Other possible reasons include their breed, personality type, age, or even past experiences they had with people in their lives.

In this blog post, we’re going to take an in-depth look at their neediness and how you can help them feel more independent in your home.

Chihuahua’s History

Chihuahua’s clingy nature is a natural behavior, which can be linked to their breeding.

The Chihuahua breed was created in Mexico and was used for rodent hunting.

In the past, owners would tie a string to the collar of a Chihuahua and have them drag it along while hunting rodents.

This would help to keep their attention on the humans rather than the prey. As result, these dogs became highly attuned to human beings in order to be more useful during hunting.

Chihuahuas are a sighthound, which means that they were meant to hunt by sight rather than scent. They often won’t even notice something that they can’t see and will be like a statue.

Chihuahua’s Nature

As Chihuahuas were bred by humans for hundreds of years, they are highly attuned to the behavior of people. They need human leaders in order to feel safe and secure.

These dogs do better with owners who don’t mind spending a lot of time with their pets. It’s easy for them to suffer from separation anxiety when their owner leaves and they would much rather be with them at all times.

Do Chihuahuas Get Attached to One Person?

Yes, Chihuahuas can get attached to one person but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

While it can be problematic for people who work full-time jobs and never have time to give their pets the attention they crave, there are also some benefits that come from having a clingy dog.

Chihuahua’s should be kept on a leash whenever they are outside and it’s best to introduce them to the family before taking them for a walk.

But when you take your Chihuahua with you, it will always be by your side – waiting patiently for affection. They will follow you anywhere and stay within earshot of their owner at all times.

Perks of Having a Clingy Chihuahua

Easy to be Trained

If you have a Chihuahua who loves to follow you around, it can actually be quite easy to train them.

They will follow your lead and as a result, they are highly responsive to training.

In order for Chihuahuas to learn new skills, their owners must be consistent and patient. These dogs do not respond well to harsh training methods and they’re especially sensitive around children.

Family-Oriented 

Chihuahuas get attached to their owners but they’re also very family-oriented and caring. As long as they feel like part of the pack, these dogs will behave well around new people.

They are loving little companions who are always eager to meet new friends – even if it’s just a trip outside for a walk. They’re always up for adventure and love to play.

Not Getting Lost

Chihuahuas are tiny and easy to lose. They don’t go unnoticed in a crowd and owners need to put them on a leash when they’re outside for this reason alone.

However, if your Chihuahua is attached to you, it will be much less likely that they will walk away from you — even if they see something they like at the park. They often have a need to be where you are.

This means that they will be less likely to stray far from your side for fear of losing sight of you.

Watchdogs

Chihuahuas love to follow their owners everywhere they go and will be your shadow, sleeping at your feet most of the time.

They will bark if there’s a loud noise or someone trying to get in through a window that keeps strangers away from you. For this reason, they make great watchdogs despite their small size and can even be used as guard dogs if they are raised from a young age.

The Problem with Being Clingy

Chihuahuas are considered to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds. They generally have a very keen sense of hearing and smell, and can even learn tricks much faster than other dogs.

Unfortunately, this intelligence often leads to boredom if they aren’t mentally stimulated while home alone. This can lead to suffering from separation anxiety as well.

Some owners believe that Chihuahuas are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety because they’re scared of being alone. However, it is a natural behavior that can’t be cured by simply making them less afraid.

In fact, some Chihuahuas do well with alone time if their owner remains in the house or in another room with the door shut.

How to Help a Clingy Chihuahua Feel More Independent

Chihuahuas who suffer from separation anxiety will need some extra care and attention in order to help them feel more independent.

Environment

One of the best ways to do this is by helping them become familiar with their environment.

If they feel safe exploring their surroundings, it will be easier for them to remain calm while their owner is away.

This means that all family members need to be responsible and provide enough exercise and attention throughout the day so that your Chihuahua doesn’t have too much time alone when you’re gone at work.

Boundaries

You should also make it a point to set boundaries and teach your Chihuahua which rooms are out of bounds for them.

The earlier you start this training, the easier it will be for you to establish good habits in your dog. It’s especially important if they’re still puppies because their brains are developing so rapidly during the early years.

Own Safe Space

In order to help your Chihuahua feel more comfortable with being alone, you will need to set up a ‘safe zone’ in another room. You can do this by placing a cozy bed inside along with a few treats and their favorite toy.

By doing so, it will help them learn how to relax when they’ve left home alone and not think they are in any danger. Even if they bark a little, it’s important to stay calm and remember that separation anxiety is a natural behavior.

Once your Chihuahua has become more comfortable with this arrangement, you can gradually increase the amount of time that they’re alone until they feel like this is something that they’re okay with on a regular basis.

Even though it’s important to make them feel safe when you’re away, you should never let your Chihuahua roam around the entire house unsupervised while you’re gone as this could lead to them chewing on electrical wires or furniture where they can be injured.

Final Words

Chihuahuas are very affectionate and loving dogs, but they can quickly become too clingy if they suffer from separation anxiety.

For this reason, you will need to provide them with enough exercise, attention, and mental stimulation throughout the day so that they don’t feel anxious when you’re not home.

This way, your Chihuahua will be much calmer and happier when you are at home or away. If your Chihuahua does suffer from separation anxiety, make sure to follow these tips so they don’t become overly anxious when they’re left alone.

Remember that this behavior is very natural for Chihuahuas and it’s not something that can simply be cured by comforting them when their owners aren’t present.