When can you expect your hyper Chihuahua to finally calm down?
Although it’s great to have an active pup, their relentless energy eventually becomes exhausting for any owner.
Thankfully, with some helpful tips and advice, calming down your Chihuahua isn’t all that difficult!
We’ll also explain how owners don’t need to wait for age alone in order to have a calm Chihuahua.
Chihuahuas generally calm down after 12 months of age. A Chihuahua’s energy levels are most affected by their daily routine and activities. So it’s possible to calm down a Chihuahua sooner with a stimulating daily routine.
Table of Contents
What Age Do Chihuahuas Calm Down?
In general, most Chihuahuas calm down after about 12 months of age. But of course, this can vary…
The truth is that owners shouldn’t rely on age alone if they want a mature and calm Chihuahua pup.
Instead of waiting and hoping for calm behavior, it’s surprisingly simple to achieve this way before 12 months of age.
- Important: Winter Safety For Chihuahuas
What Chihuahuas Need To Be Calm:
Ultimately, it all comes down to owners providing sufficient stimulation and appropriate ways for them to release their energy.
- Chihuahuas only engage in hyperactivity when they are bored, frustrated, or do not have enough outlets throughout the day to release their energy.
Only once we provide appropriate activities and daily routines that allow this release of energy will we see their behavior calm down for the rest of the time.
So how do we do this? Let’s get into it
- Popular: Chihuahua Teething: Everything To Know!
7 Ways To Calm Down Chihuahuas:
Every morning your Chihuahua will wake up with charged batteries! Let’s explain how to best handle this energy right from the get-go.
1. Exercise first thing (& twice per day)
It’s normal for most of us to wake up and get going with our own day… But if you want to set your Chihuahua up for a calm day ahead, it’s crucial to exercise them first thing.
Expending their energy as soon as they wake up is KEY to managing their energy for the rest of their day.
Chihuahuas that wake up and do not get to release their energy will quickly bubble over and resort to destructive behavior, hyperactivity, and worse.
- As basic as it sounds, allocating 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity at the very start of the day will see instant improvements.
Of course, it’s also advised to exercise them again towards the end of the day in order for to have a calm evening.
2. Increase socialization
Socialization is one of the most potent forms of mental stimulation for dogs. And it’s mental stimulation that truly tires them out!
Chihuahuas regain their physical energy quickly with a short nap, but one way to really deplete their overall energy is with adequate mental stimulation.
Whenever your Chihuahua can interact with another dog, try to allow it and let them play. Chasing, playing, and sniffing butts really does get their minds working.
- Whether this means visiting the dog park more, inviting friends over with their dogs, or going to dedicated doggy meet-ups, this will see major improvements in their behavior and hyperactivity.
It’s true that if a dog’s mind isn’t tired, they’ll never truly be tired.
3. Use puppy pens wisely
Puppy pens are useful in so many situations, one of them being to calm down an energetic pup. And no, puppy pens aren’t just limited to puppies, they’re essentially just a large open crate that can be used at any age.
- If you introduce the puppy pen to your Chihuahua positively, it’ll be seen as a place they love to be. Owners can do this by associating it with treats, an exciting toy, and plenty of praise.
So how does this work to calm them down?
By limiting your Chihuahua’s physical movement, you also slow down their frantic minds. The good thing about puppy pens is that they’re spacious enough to avoid them feeling frustrated. Still, they limit their movement adequately.
The next time your Chihuahua needs to calm down, place them in the puppy pen with a treat or two, dental chew, or toy.
Important: For this to actually work, the puppy pen needs to be a place your Chihuahua loves to be. This will not happen if it’s used as a punishment. Positive associations must be built first.
4. Increase command training
It’s not often that Chihuahuas are associated with standardized command training, but why skip it?
Command training (sit, stay, down, drop, come here) builds basic skills and amazing obedience. It also provides intense mental stimulation that stimulates their minds.
As we explained above, providing sufficient mental stimulation is key in expending their energy and keeping hyper dogs calm.
Try consistent with 20-30 minutes of command training activities (with plenty of tasty treats). And you’ll see an improvement not only with their energy levels, but also their obedience and maturity.
5. Puzzle toys or slow feeders
Interactive puzzle toys aren’t just ordinary dog toys. These clever toys will get your chihuahua’s mind working as they try to solve a simple (or sometimes hard) challenge to retrieve a treat.
One of the most common puzzle toys you likely already know about is the KONG toy. What makes it a puzzle toy?
The KONG toy is hollow and can be filled with peanut butter or doggy whip cream. This often keeps dogs fixated on the toy until they’ve completely licked the treat gone.
- Other toys similar to this include the Star Mark, which is a large ball with a small trap door. Once you fill the ball with dry treats or kibble, your Chihuahuas will have to roll it in the right direction for a treat to fall out.
Again, this provides amazing mental stimulation and entertainment. It’s the perfect way to channel excess energy and frustration.
6. Avoid leaving them alone
Too much isolation will cause even the maturest Chihuahua to lose control, eventually.
If owners are currently leaving their Chihuahua alone for more than 4-5 hours at a time, this is definitely at least one cause of pent-up frustration, boredom, and stress.
Whether it means bringing your Chihuahua with you more often, asking friends to help out, or hiring a dog sitter, their behavior will instantly be improved if your Chi spends less time alone.
7. Increase general interaction
Sometimes, hyper Chihuahuas simply need a little more attention from their owners. Our busy lives sometimes mean we don’t always engage in enough quality time with our dogs.
If you aren’t already spending at least 20-30 minutes of playing, stroking, brushing, or giving belly rubs to your Chihuahua, it’s time to start!
This extra attention may be the thing they need to soothe their minds and ultimately calm them down.
Our favorite thing is to give a daily brushing and belly rub session every evening for 30 minutes. Create a calm environment (lower the lights and volume) and your Chihuahua will quickly calm down.
Why These Tips Really Work:
By implementing the tips above, as many as possible, your Chihuahua’s energy levels and hyperactivity will improve.
Why?
- The main reason why these tips work is that they all focus on stimulation. Some physical stimulation, but mostly mental stimulation.
And this is the key to a calm dog.
Provide your Chihuahua with enough outlets and healthy ways to release their energy, and they won’t have excess energy when it’s time to relax.
Owners should know that it’s not all about their age that determines their energy levels and maturity. Owners can influence this with stimulating daily routines.
Last Thoughts
Chihuahuas have awesome personalities, and their energy levels play a role in this!
While it can be frustrating dealing with hyperactivity, owners should also cherish their Chihuahua’s playfulness and happy-go-lucky nature. This is what makes them so great, after all.
To get your Chihuahuahus to calm down, try exercising them first thing, increase their socialization, use puppy pens to limit their movement, increase command training, use puzzle toys, avoid leaving them alone, and increase your interaction with them.
Back to more Chihuahua articles >>>