Chihuahua accepting a new puppy...

Question
Good Afternoon!

We have a 3 year old Chi named KoKo who is our only pet currently. We do intend to purchase another dog, a larger breed, as my son is 8 and wants a "big boy" dog. My question to you is:
If we get this puppy (10 weeks old) and immediately begin socializing KoKo with him do you think they can grow to be friends or at least friendly?

I appreciate your time.

Tony

Answer
Hi Tony!

I don't think that I can possibly guarantee that KoKo will become friends or friendly with the new pup, but I can offer you information that may be helpful to you.

First off, it is always VERY helpful for the present dog to be neutered or spayed before you bring in a new dog.  An intact dog is more "hormone driven" and you can have bad problems right off the bat.  Second, I always suggest that people get pups when they're more like 12 weeks old because they exhibit fewer problems and they have already been socialized with the mother and litter mates and that whole group of "core" dogs has taught your pup not to bite too hard, when to quit antagonizing others when they don't want to play, etc.  It can be difficult for a pre-existing older dog to put up with a pup that has been taught no boundaries and feels constantly threatened or harassed.  That extra time with the mother and siblings can make a huge difference!

I would be very careful when socializing an existing dog with a new pup right off the bat.  You want to make sure that your pup is coming from a reputable breeder who does not have sick dogs in their home/kennel and that it has had some vaccines already (a 10 or 12 week old pup is not going to have all of it's puppy shots yet).  You should also take your pup for a "well puppy check" before socializing the two.  AND you shouldn't just put them together in a room. I advise putting the pup in a confined area and letting the two get to know each other through a baby gate or exercise pen for a prolonged period of time. This serves two purposes as the dogs get to know each other in a non-threatening way AND you're better able to train your pup by confining it when you can't be supervising it. Not supervising a pup that's left loose in the house makes for confusion and potty accidents.  I always advise people to start out "small" and work up to "big". Make sure that you give KoKo LOTS of attention and don't just dwell on the puppy.  KoKo is use to having all of the attention and it's going to feel very unfamiliar to her to have another dog in the house getting all the "ooooohhhs and ahhhhhhhs".  Another thing to remember is that Chihuahuas are VERY devoted to their people.  That devotion can manifest itself in jealousy.  So, it's imperative to make sure that KoKo gets lots of positive reinforcement and attention if you bring a new pup home.

And here's probably the BIGGEST thing of all:  Please research the breed of dog you intend to get and make sure that they are well known for getting along with other dogs, especially small dogs.  Don't count on the breeder alone to reassure you of the breed's adaptability to other dogs (remember, they have an agenda which is to SELL a pup) and talk to plenty of people in person or over the internet that have the breed of dog for which your son is interested.  I run a number of Yahoo groups for Chihuahua owners and I have had numerous people join over the years who bragged about how well their large dog and Chihuahua got along and then later asked for our prayers as the Chi's jaw was being wired after being attacked or their Chi died after the large dog all the sudden became jealous over a toy or a treat.  Chihuahuas have a tendency to think that they ARE big dogs and will try to take on a large dog in an argument and I can assure you that they're not going to come out the winner.  It doesn't take much to snap a Chi's leg or break it's neck. Surgery to put a plate and screws in place for a fracture is about $4,500 and very stressful for the dog and family.

How does KoKo get along with other dogs when you run into them or someone brings one over to visit?  Does KoKo tend to be submissive? Many years ago, I heard that Chis love other Chis and I find that to be entirely true with my own Chihuahuas.  I do, however, think that the odds of a Chihuahua adjusting to a new dog in the family has a lot to do with making sure that you bring a pup into the family rather than a full grown large breed dog and being very sure of the breed.

I hope this information helps you in your decision making.  If you feel like getting back to me with answers to the questions that I asked above, that's fine.  If not, don't hesitate to write in the future with other questions that pop up.

Jo Ann