Chihuahua Exercise: Energy Level and How Much Activity They Need

Chihuahuas are small dogs known for their huge personalities! They’re affectionate, playful, and protective. A big mistake some people make is thinking that their Chihuahua doesn’t need daily exercise, but this isn’t true.

Chihuahuas may be small, but they do require daily exercise to stay healthy and fit. Aim to exercise your Chihuahua for a total of 30 minutes to an hour each day. Keep activities at their pace and stop if they get overtired.

In this article, we’ll discuss how much exercise Chihuahuas need, the best ways to play with your Chi, and more.

How Much Exercise do Chihuahuas Need?

Chihuahuas will need varying levels of exercise depending on their age, health, fitness level, and personality.

No two Chihuahuas are the same, so it’s important to get to know your dog and their needs. Your veterinarian can also give you some guidance on how often to exercise your pup based on their age and health.

Chihuahua Exercise Levels by Age

Puppies need short bursts of play throughout the day, as they don’t tend to have the attention span to keep up with prolonged activities. They also need up to 19 hours of sleep per day.

As your Chihuahua ages into a young adult, they’ll be at their most active. They tend to be less hyper and more able to focus on longer activities. Adult dogs typically only sleep for around 12-14 hours each day, so they’ll also be awake for longer.

This is the best time to start going for walks around the block or having extended play sessions. However, adult Chihuahuas only need around a half hour to an hour of daily activity.

Senior Chis can be harder to predict because every dog will slow down at a different age–and some never do! It’s best to go at their pace and to talk to your vet about any health concerns that might call for limited activity levels.

Chihuahua Exercise Levels by Fitness Level

No Chihuahua is going to keep up with a jog or hike like an Australian Shepherd, but the amount of daily exercise they’re used to makes a difference in what they can handle.

Just like humans, they build up a tolerance to exercise based on what their daily lives look like. You can take advantage of this by sticking to a routine that you’re comfortable with, so long as you aren’t over or underexercising your Chi.

Drastically changing the amount of exercise you give them day-to-day can lead to hyperactivity on slower days, or overexerting your Chihuahua by giving them more activity than they’re used to.

Chihuahua Exercise Levels by Personality

You’ll also want to take your dog’s personality into account. All dogs need exercise, even couch potatoes! But, some Chihuahuas will naturally be more active than others.

Do your best to meet your Chi where they’re at, and remember to always take exercise at their pace. Remember that too much exercise or moving too fast can be detrimental to their health.

Chihuahua Exercise Levels by Health

Lastly, you’ll need to take your Chi’s health into account when exercising them. This often links closely to their age, since seniors are more likely to experience health issues that slow them down.

Usually, it’s safe to exercise your Chihuahua so long as you take things at their pace and stop when they’re ready. However, this is something to discuss with your veterinarian if your Chi has been diagnosed with a health condition.

Sometimes, they don’t know what’s good for them and their exercise may need to be limited! This tends to be true after surgeries, for instance.

How to Exercise Your Chihuahua

Now that you know how often to exercise your Chihuahua, you might be wondering how to do so–especially on those days when you can’t get outside. Here are a few ideas:

• Daily walks. Short daily walks at your Chi’s pace can be a bit frustrating if they walk slowly or sniff often, but they’re also very good for your dog.
• Flirt poles. Flirt poles are like wand toys for cats, but made for dogs! Since Chihuahuas were bred to hunt, they’ll likely enjoy chasing around this “prey.”
• Fetch. Fetch can be done in the backyard or living room. Just make sure your Chi doesn’t overexert themselves, as some can get caught up in the fun and repetitive motions.
• Tug of war. Playing tug with your Chihuahua’s favorite toys is an easy way to provide a bit of exercise. Be sure to let them win occasionally, too!

Mental Stimulation for Chihuahuas

In addition to daily exercise, your Chi also needs activities that engage their minds. Some fun activities to try include:

• Puzzle toys or feeders. These can be store-bought or homemade. Start with easy puzzles and work your way to harder ones as your Chi learns how to solve them.
• Scent games. Hide and seek with treats, toys, or people engages your dog’s nose and their mind.
• Sniff walks. Dogs calm themselves and learn about their environments through sniffing. A walk where they’re allowed to sniff to their heart’s content can tire your Chi very quickly.
• Training sessions. Chihuahuas are smart dogs that can learn many cues if given the opportunity! Many are undertrained, leading to poor behavior.

Can You Overexercise a Chihuahua?

It’s absolutely possible to overexercise a Chihuahua. This tends to be most dangerous for overweight dogs but can affect any Chi.

Never push your dog past their comfort zone. Remember that Chihuahuas are brachycephalic, or short-snouted, which means many of them suffer from breathing issues and difficulty exercising.

They’re also at an increased risk of heat stroke in hot weather, and often it’s best to exercise them indoors during peak summer temperatures. You may want to limit their walks to early morning or late evening to avoid the hot sun.

Limit walks to short distances and have a plan for if your Chihuahua needs to stop in the middle of an activity.

Many Chihuahuas will tell you when they’re ready to be carried home, but you’ll also want to learn the signs that they’re getting too tired or hot. Look for excessive panting or drooling, the tongue hanging from the side rather than the front of the mouth, and their pace slowing down.

If you ever notice signs of heatstroke in your Chi, bring them immediately to your nearest emergency vet clinic.

How Often Should I Take my Chihuahua Out to Pee?

Not every pee break has to turn into a walk or play session in the backyard. Your Chihuahua will need to go out to potty between their daily walks so that they aren’t forced to hold their bladders for long periods.

An adult dog should never be expected to hold their urine for more than 6-8 hours. Chihuahuas are small dogs with tiny bladders, so they might need to go more often than this.

If you have a Chihuahua puppy, they may need to go out as frequently as every two hours. They can typically only hold their bladders for around one hour per month of age.

You can also choose to potty train your Chihuahua using puppy pee pads or grass pads, which can decrease the amount you need to take them outside. This is especially helpful for those who live in apartments.

In conclusion, Chihuahuas don’t require much daily exercise. It’s important to get them moving for at least a half hour each day unless their age or health prevents this amount of activity. If in doubt, always ask your veterinarian’s opinion!

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