Why Do Chihuahuas Cry So Much? (12 Reasons + Solutions)

Dogs communicate in many different ways. Some bark like a burglar just busted through the door while others whine like you haven’t fed them in a week.

Crying, just like barking, is just another form of communication.

So then, why do Chihuahuas cry so much?

Chihuahuas are anxious dogs by nature, which can lead to excessive crying.

If you have a Chihuahua that cries excessively, it’s important to figure out why they’re doing it. No one likes to hear their dog cry all the time so you’ll want to get to the bottom of the problem and find a solution.

We will help you identify all the possible reasons that could cause your Chihuahua to cry so that you can remedy any problems before it becomes a habit!

Read on to find out the answer to why do Chihuahuas cry so much and tips to help reduce this behavior.

Why Do Chihuahuas Cry So Much?

Chihuahuas are an anxious breed so they tend to cry more than other breeds. They use crying to communicate their physical or emotional needs with us. Chihuahuas cry due to hunger, injury, boredom, or feeling scared or anxious.

Puppies cry a lot because that’s how they keep in contact with their mom. As heartbreaking as it is, they can cry because they miss their littermates.

It’s critical to determine if your crying Chihuahua has something serious going on or if it’s just normal behavior for your pup. It can be frustrating to hear your Chihuahua cry all the time, but there are ways to help reduce this behavior.

For those unsure of what to do, we will go over all the reasons why Chihuahuas cry all the time and the possible solutions.

12 Reasons Why Chihuahuas Cry So Much + Solutions

1. Injured or Ill

When Chihuahuas are hurt or ill, they will often cry excessively to alert you that something is wrong. Chihuahuas are very small with tiny bones. They are prone to getting injured or accidentally stepped on.

This is why it’s important to periodically check your Chihuahua over for any injuries, especially if your dog starts crying suddenly.

If your dog is hurt or sick, here are signs to look out for are:

• lethargy
• vomiting, diarrhea
• difficulty standing
• yelping when picked up
• constantly licking one spot on their body (link)
• limping

Solution:

• If you suspect your Chihuahua is in pain or ill, a visit to the vet is required to rule out any medical issues like a broken bone or a developing disease.

2. Hunger

Chihuahuas have small stomachs and very fast metabolisms, so they need the right amount of food.

If your Chihuahua is crying because they’re hungry, it’s important to figure out if they are eating the correct amount of food. You can split their food up into 2 or 3 meals to ensure they get food consistently throughout the day.

Chihuahuas tend to beg for scraps, like most dogs. If they whine and paw at you for food and they’ve already eaten, it’s probably because they’re used to getting scraps.

Solutions:

• Double-check that your Chihuahua is eating the right amount of food for their body weight. Split meals up into 2-3. Feed some treats throughout the day.
• Train your dog not to beg for food. When you’re eating don’t reinforce their behavior if they’re whining, instead give them something to do like a Lickmat, a puzzle, a chew, or put them in their crate. It’s extremely tedious to teach them not to beg for food once they have received some at the dinner table.
• If you’re gone at work all day, an automatic feeder might work well so you don’t come home to a starving dog.

3. Boredom

Chihuahuas are very smart dogs that are full of energy. They need lots of stimulation and entertainment during the day or else they’ll start to get bored. This can lead to crying, barking, and destructive behavior like chewing up things, digging, and tipping over their water bowl.

Your Chihuahua will let you know when they are bored by whining at you or barking so that you play with them or take them for a walk.

It’s important to give your Chihuahua plenty of toys to play with and make sure they get enough exercise. If they’re not getting enough stimulation, they might start to cry out of boredom.

Solutions:

• Be sure to have lots of playtime throughout the day to help keep your dog occupied. Here are 24 Fun Games to Play with Your Chihuahua!
• Teach a new trick, buy a new toy, take them to a new park or a walk in a different neighborhood.

4. Being Left Alone/Anxiety

Why do Chihuahuas cry when they’re left alone? They may get lonely or scared and they don’t understand why you’re leaving them.

Chihuahuas are very attached to their owners and tend to become stressed out when they’re away for too long. Because of this, Chihuahuas are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety.

Since Chihuahuas love their owners and hate being alone, it’s only natural they’ll cry when they’re separated! But don’t worry, we have many tips you can try out when you need to leave your dog.

Solutions:

• Plan to work from home on some days so you can spend more time with your Chihuahua so they don’t feel so lonely.
• Try leaving the TV on so that there is some background noise when you’re gone. Most dogs love animal YouTube channels like this one.
• Take your dog for a walk before you leave so that they will be calm and more likely to sleep.
• You can also try giving it a stuffed animal or blanket that smells like you (that way, your dog will feel like you’re home when you’re not).
• Have someone check on your dog during the day. You can ask a relative or pay for a service like Rover.

5. Scared

Why do Chihuahuas cry so much when they’re scared? Chihuahuas are very small so the world can be a scary place for them. Some become easily frightened by certain things.

You can tell your Chihuahua is scared if they exhibit behaviors like crying, tucking their tail, panting, licking their lips, and shaking.

You may also find them hiding under a blanket or pile of clothes.

If you know your Chihuahua is crying because they’re scared, try to investigate to figure out why.

Some common reasons that could cause your Chihuahua to feel scared are:

• loud noises
• strangers
• brooms
• thunderstorms
• fireworks
• the dark
• flies
• other dogs
• too many stimuli
• the vacuum

If you suspect your Chihuahua is scared, remove them from the trigger immediately to get some distance.

Try to find patterns and learn what your dog is scared of so you can avoid the trigger until you decondition them to it.

At first, avoid the things that scare your Chihuahua. Then slowly desensitize them to their triggers over time. By providing training and keeping them in a healthy and safe environment, they will learn to feel more secure and confident.

Solutions:

• Pick your Chihuahua up and talk in a soothing voice to comfort them. Offer some treats to help calm them down.
• If your dog is scared of an object in your house, try to associate it with something good, like yummy treats. You might have to remove the object for a time while you’re working on this.
• Keep them away from large crowds if they are scared of people or get overwhelmed with too many stimuli. Put them in their crate in a quiet room when guests come over.
• For loud noises like fireworks or thunderstorms, try to desensitize them by playing recordings of the noise at a low volume. Over time, you can slowly increase the volume. You can also try a ThunderShirt or CBD oil to calm them.

6. Excited

If your Chihuahua starts crying whenever you come home, they might just be excited to see you.

Chihuahuas are incredibly loyal and love nothing more than to spend time with their owners.

If your Chihuahua is excited, they will also wag their tail, jump around, spin in circles, kiss your face, or get the zoomies.

Many situations can make your dog excited:

• when you come home
• when they want to play
• before you take them for a walk or to the park
• before a car ride
• before mealtimes
• when you say the word “treat” or “food”

Solutions:

• Give your dog attention when you get home and reward them when they settle down.
• Take them for a walk or play with them to expend some of that excited energy.

7. In a Crate

Why do Chihuahuas whine when they’re in a crate? 

When a Chihuahua is confined to a crate, they may cry because they’re not used to being in there or they don’t want to be separated from you. Chihuahuas are loyal companions that want to do everything together with you.

If your Chihuahua gets upset in their crate, you need to train them not to be so anxious about being confined or being separated.

Keep the crate open during the day and sprinkle some treats around it. Leave a toy and your dog’s favorite blanket inside to make it cozy and inviting. Covering the crate with a blanket can also help to make them feel more secure inside.

When you leave the house or when it’s bedtime, close the crate and offer your Chihuahua a treat.

Solutions:

• Crate train your dog so they associate their crate with pleasant things and feel less stressed in there.
• You can add a stuffed animal with a heartbeat and clothing that smells like you inside the crate to help comfort them.
• Keep their crate near you so your Chihuahua can see and smell you. A portable cloth crate would work well for this or put several crates in different rooms so you’re never too far away from them.

8. Cold

Chihuahuas are very small with a fast metabolism, and consequently have a harder time regulating their body temperature. This is why Chihuahuas should not be outdoor dogs.

Signs that your Chihuahua is cold include shaking, crying, hiding, and burrowing.

If your Chihuahua is cold, you should provide them with a warm place to sleep and access to blankets.

Solutions:

• Buy some warm clothes for them. There are many cute sweaters and shirts you can choose from that will keep your crying Chihuahua warm.
• Make sure they always have blankets available. Our Chihuahua, Leo, loves taking naps burrowed in his blanket where he gets cozy and warm.

9. They Are a Puppy

Why do Chihuahuas whine so much when they’re puppies?

Chihuahua puppies cry a lot, especially when you first bring them home! They are still learning their way around this world and everything is new to them.

If they were separated from their mothers too soon, they may be missing their mom and littermates.

Needing to go potty or being hungry can also manifest as crying.

Solutions:

• Provide extra love and attention to your puppy to make them feel secure.
• Keep them on a feeding and potty schedule.
• Socialize them so they will be less afraid of people and dogs and thus cry less.

10. Seeking Attention

Chihuahuas become very attached to their owners and crave their attention and affection, so if they aren’t receiving enough, they might whine to alert you. Chihuahuas need lots of love and attention!

When your Chihuahua starts crying for no other reason, it might mean you’re not giving them enough attention.

If you give your Chihuahua more time and affection, they will be less likely to cry and will feel more loved and secure.

Solutions:

• Start scheduling more playtime into your day. Chihuahuas are so tiny, even 10 minutes of playtime will make a big difference! Check out these 24 games to play with your Chihuahua for some ideas!
• If you’re gone at work all day, try leaving a TV on to keep your Chihuahua company. You can also purchase a camera so you can see and talk to your dog throughout the day.
• If you’ve got enough time and love, consider getting a second dog to be their companion and help entertain them.
• If your Chihuahua is always crying when you’re home, try taking it for a walk or playing fetch in the backyard to release some energy. Chihuahuas need 30 minutes of exercise daily.

11. They Want to Play

When Chihuahuas want to play, they might let you know by whining and crying. They may even bring their toy or ball right to you so that you throw or tug it.

Chihuahuas are intelligent creatures and love to be entertained!

Solution:

• Give them lots of interactive toys like puzzles and treat dispensers to keep them occupied.
• If you’re busy and can’t play with them at that moment, teach your Chihuahua to wait. That way, they won’t keep on whining.
• Get a fetch toy so they can play on their own.

12. They Have to Go Potty

If your Chihuahua has to go potty, it will usually give you some clues like sniffing around, pacing or sitting by the door. But sometimes, they’ll just start crying because they really need to go.

If you miss these cues, get ready for some cleanup! Next time, be ready to pick up on these signals and take your Chihuahua outside in time.

Make sure you take your Chihuahua out regularly and give them lots of chances to go to the bathroom.

Solutions:

• Keep your dog on a potty schedule so they don’t have to cry when they need to go to the bathroom.
• Another option is to teach your dog to ring a bell or sit by the door when they need to go outside so they won’t have to cry to alert you.
• If you’re not home during the day or you live in an apartment, you can train your dog to use pee pads and leave them out around your house so when the need arises, they can go.

Do Chihuahuas Cry Tears?

No, Chihuahuas don’t cry tears like humans do because their tears aren’t caused by emotions. Dogs use other ways to show us they’re sad like whining, shaking, ignoring us, hiding, and being clingy.

Some people might mistakenly think their Chihuahua is crying tears because of how watery Chihuahua eyes can be, but there are many reasons why your dog’s eyes might be watery which we will discuss below.

Why Do Chihuahuas’ Eyes Water So Much? (10 Reasons)

I’m sure you’ve seen Chihuahuas with watery eyes or maybe even tear stains on their face, and you’re probably wondering why their eyes water so much.

Chihuahuas can suffer from watery eyes for a variety of reasons. If it’s a chronic issue then it’s probably due to allergies or a tear duct problem. However, if the issue happened suddenly then there could be a foreign object in the eye, an infection, or even a scratch on the cornea.

It may seem like your Chihuahua is crying tears but it is usually just discharge from the eyes. Some Chihuahuas naturally have watery eyes.

Keep reading to find out the answer to why do Chihuahuas’ eyes water.

1. Allergies

A common reason why Chihuahuas have runny eyes can be due to allergies. This is more of a chronic issue and can be environmental, food-related, or contact-related.

Allergies will cause Chihuahuas to have watery eyes, along with other symptoms like frequent sneezing, scratching at their face, or inflamed eyes.

If you think your Chihuahua’s eyes are watering because they’re allergic to something, there are a few things you can try to help.

• Switch your Chihuahua’s food to an allergy-free diet to see if there is an ingredient they are allergic to.
• Regularly wash all of your dog’s bedding, cloth toys, and clothes to get rid of any contact-related allergens. Use a natural detergent with no harsh ingredients.
• Use an air purifier and vacuum every day to reduce dust and dander in the house.
• Keep your dog away from areas where they might be exposed to dander, pollen, and grass. If they do get exposed, give them a bath as soon as possible to wash off the allergens. Wearing a dog shirt or sweater can also help keep allergens off their skin and coat.

If your Chihuahua’s watery eyes are caused by allergies, talk to your vet about what you can do to help get rid of their allergies.

2. Bacterial Infections

Another reason why Chihuahuas can experience runny eyes is if they have an eye infection.

Bacteria like canine brucellosis, leptospirosis, and tick-borne diseases can cause eye infections.

If one or both of your Chihuahua’s eyes are watery along with redness, swelling, squinting, and pawing at the eye, they may have developed an infection.

Eye infections are serious and should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

3. Blocked tear duct

A blocked tear duct can cause your Chihuahua to experience watery eyes. A blocked duct will keep tears from draining properly and they will eventually overflow and run down your dog’s face.

This can cause dark-colored tear staining on their face.

If you think your Chihuahua’s eyes are watering because of a tear duct problem, your vet will be able to diagnose this issue and prescribe treatment.

4. Glaucoma

Chihuahuas can develop glaucoma, an eye disease that makes it difficult for them to see.

Glaucoma is caused by intra-ocular bleeding, damage to the lens, a tumor, inflammation of the interior of the eye, or discoloration of the lens.

This condition often causes watery eyes in the earlier stages along with eye pain, lethargy, swelling and cloudiness of the eye.

If your Chihuahua starts having watery eyes along with the symptoms mentioned above, take them to the vet to get their eyes checked.

5. A Foreign Object

Your dog may have something stuck in its eye, causing it to water.

Debris, an eyelash, dirt, or a piece of grass could have become lodged in their eye. If this is the case, you may be able to see the object if you look closely.

Pawing at the eye, redness, squinting, and watering can all be symptoms of a foreign object in the eye.

You can try flushing the eye out to remove the object, but if that doesn’t work, it’s best to call your vet.

6. Eye Trauma

Your dog may have suffered an injury to their eye.

Accidents happen, and your Chihuahua could have hit their eye on something or ran into something.

If you notice your Chihuahua has a red, watery eye with possible bleeding, bruising, squinting or they’re pawing at their eye, they may have suffered an eye injury.

Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible to have it examined.

7. Ear Infections

Chihuahuas can also develop ear infections which can cause watery eyes.

If you notice your Chihuahua has runny eyes plus they are shaking its head, walking with a tilted head, and frequently scratching their ears, they probably have an ear infection.

A vet will be able to prescribe medication to clear up the infection. To prevent future infections, it’s a must to clean your dog’s ears. We have an entire post about how to clean your Chihuahua’s ears.

8. Sunlight

Staring into the sun can cause your dog’s eyes to water. Our Chihuahua loves sunbathing so if his eyes aren’t closed when he’s looking around in the sun, they start watering.

This is not a big deal, but they do make sunglasses for dogs if you’re worried about the sunlight irritating their eyes.

9. Eyelash problems

Chihuahua eyelashes may grow in a way that irritates the eye, causing watery eyes.

The eyelashes can grow into the eye (trichiasis), they can have extra eyelashes in abnormal spots (distichiasis), or the eyelash can grow through the inside of the eyelid (ectopic cilia).

All of these eyelash disorders can cause the eyes to water and, in some cases, damage the cornea.

Your vet will be able to evaluate your dog’s eyes and prescribe the necessary treatment.

10. Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis in dogs is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the tissue that lines the eyelids and covers the white part of the eye.

There are many causes of conjunctivitis such as a viral infection (like distemper), dry eye, a tumor, eyelid abnormalities, blocked tear ducts, debris, or trauma to the eye.

One or both eyes may be affected and symptoms may include discharge, redness, swelling, and crusting on the eyelids.

Summary

There are many reasons for Chihuahua crying, so it’s important to identify the main sources so you can administer the proper solution.

We explained the many reasons such as needing attention or feeling scared. We also listed solutions to reduce or prevent crying so it won’t be an ongoing problem. Most of the time they just need more exercise, mental stimulation, and affection

Chihuahuas don’t cry tears but they typically experience watery eyes. This can be caused by many things like allergies, an infection, or a blocked tear duct. Your vet will be able to diagnose the problem and prescribe the necessary treatment.

We hope you got your answer as to why do chihuahuas cry so much.

FAQ

How Do You Calm a Crying Dog?

There are several ways to calm a crying dog. One way is to exercise them so they don’t feel so anxious. You can also provide physical contact by petting or massaging. Other ways include playing classical music, using a calming coat, a time-out in a quiet room, supplements like Rescue Remedy or CBD oil.

Why is My Dog Whining So Much All of a Sudden?

If your dog is whining all of a sudden there could be a medical issue going on like an injury or pain. It’s best to take your dog to the vet to rule out any medical problems. If there is no medical explanation, you can look at other causes like boredom, anxiety, or loneliness.

Should You Ignore a Whining Dog?

You can ignore a whining dog if you’re confident there is nothing wrong. Some dogs whine a lot for attention or to beg for food. When they calm down, reward them for their silence. If the whining is continuous or is accompanied by worrisome behavior, then it’s best to investigate the cause.

Why Do Chihuahuas Cry At Night?

Chihuahuas cry at night because they need to go potty, feel alone or anxious, or are cold, hungry, scared of the dark. To keep your Chihuahua from crying at night, try using warm blankets, taking them outside to potty at night, giving them enough exercise during the day, or letting them sleep in the bed with you.

Why Does My Dog Never Stop Whining?

The main reason your dog is whining is because they need or want something. Some common reasons for whining are hunger, needing attention, feeling scared, and being in pain. Once you’ve figured out what’s causing the whining and found a solution, it should stop.

Can Chihuahuas Be Left Alone?

In most situations, Chihuahuas are independent enough to be left alone at home. If you’re worried about leaving your Chihuahua home alone, try setting up a camera so you can check in on them throughout the day. Some Chihuahuas suffer from separation anxiety so you may need to take some extra time to train them to feel comfortable being left alone.

Related posts:

1. 35 Reasons Why Chihuahuas Lick So Much + 14 Tips
2. Do Chihuahuas Like the Water?
3. Why Do Chihuahuas Sleep So Much? (20 Reasons)
4. How Smart Are Chihuahuas?