lonely chihuahua??

Question
I have a 4 month old female chihuahua and while we are away we put her in a pen. My question is "Does she get lonely? Should i get another chihuahua thats her age?" would she be happier? thanks

Answer
Hi Lou....

You know, that's a tough question.  Are you away for a significant number of hours each day?  Do you spend a lot of time with her when you get home and will you continue to do that?

I happen to be of the opinion that dogs do enjoy the company of other dogs and I think that Chihuahuas enjoy the company of other Chihuahuas in particular.  There's so many things to consider when adding a new pup to the equation.  Can you afford a second set of veterinary bills, especially if a new pup were to have a congenital abnormality or something like that?  Vet bills can really make a difference when making a decision like this.  And are you prepared to house train two pups?  While they're absolutely darling to watch and enjoy, they are twice the work also.  If you feel that you could handle all the situations mentioned above, make sure that you select a breeder with very healthy pups who will provide medical records showing that the pup has been vet checked and properly vaccinated (puppy shots are the most important shots in the life of a dog - google vaccinosis).

You have other options if you decide that having two pups is a bit too much.  You can consider doggy daycare (available in some areas) and you might possibly meet someone at a Chihuahua meetup.  What's a Chihuahua meetup?  Google meetup.com and type in Chihuahua and it will show you where the closest meetups are to where you live.  You get together with other Chi owners and their dogs once per month (after your pup has all of it's shots) and, hopefully, you'll meet someone that will trade Chi-sitting services with you so that your Chi and their Chi isn't left home alone.  This works out so well for many people.  Such a nice way to meet others that have something in common with you - the LOVE of Chihuahuas!

Let me know what you think...

Jo Ann