Hi all,

My wife and I are heartbroken over the loss of our Chihuahua on Monday. I think the best way to help to heal the pain is to get another Chi. She surprised me this morning by agreeing to start looking. My wife had the strongest bond to our male short hair (Tiko). I want the next dog (a big chi or chi/mix)to also gravitate towards my wife. Can I increase the odds of that happening by getting a male dog, or doesn't it matter? Tiko would always jump up on the bed when I got in and get between me and my wife. If I touched her, he would lick my hand until I pulled away. Thanks very much in advance.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I have a male sheltie and 2 female chis ,i would say my sheltie is all MINE ,the 2 female chis are both of ours,my last chi a male was all mine so out of adverages i would say a male

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Thank you Jan

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Holly is my first chi, so my experience is limited. But she is like Michele's female chi's. She belongs to both my husband and I, or rather both of us belong to her. Her only preference seems to be at night. She almost always sleeps next to me. The only time she doesn't is when I'm not there.

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PS Welcome to CP!

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Sorry about Tiko

Like hollysmom, Odie is our first chihuahua. She's female, and she definitely hasn't "bonded" to just me. She gets around... haha. She loves to cuddle, and sleeps with me, but she also loves everyone else. I try not to get offended, as I have a really well balanced little dog!

I hope you are all doing alright without your little one, I think a new baby would be good if you miss the companionship.

What's funny is that my dad had gotten a lab to be his guard dog, while my brother brought home a pug and it became attached to my mom so the pug became her lap dog. Maybe you and your wife might even want two! Who knows, but either way I'm sure if any dog you find, chi or mix or not your wife may find love in the personality rather than the breed.

I wish you both all the luck in your search

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Milo's Dogster Page! - ADD ME WOOF!

I also think it varies and I, too, am VERY sorry for your loss.
Our boy definitely preferred my husband but he had him before me so that makes sense.

After he passed, we got Hope immediately. I wanted to be certain that I was not just "replacing" him. As a result, since Mick was a boy, I wanted female but colored differently from him.

Hope is her own woman. She loves us equally and is the most independent of the trio.
Ruby is addicted to my husband. She loves me, too, but not in the same way. Eden is my shadow and is wherever I am. I went to get her without hubby so I do not know if she attached to me as a result.

Best to you as you get a new little one to love. A friend told me (when I asked if we were moving too soon after Mick's loss to get Hope) that the best tribute we can offer a beloved pet that has passed is to give that same love to another little soul.

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photos-Jennifer Hague, fixyourimages.com

I don't think gender matters...It's that heart connection between the person and the dog.

I have 3 - one male Chi, one male half Chi / half Cairn terrier, and a female Chi. If I'm sitting, all of them are touching me at once. If I am trying to do something that doesn't need a paw on a keyboard or something like that, I can gently push them away, and they will go lay on my husband.

If they could talk, they'd tell you that I am their favorite. But, they still love my husband dearly. (Right now, they're all lined up on the back of the couch watching for my husband to come home - they'll greet him at the door, but it won't be with the intensity that they greet me.)

Pedro was our first, and for 6 months, my husband couldn't touch him - he was an abused rescue, and hated men and children. Pedro was scheduled to be put down in 2 days before I found him - he had been deemed unadoptable due to his severe aggression. We made an instant connection at the shelter, and we never looked back, once I convinced the manager to let me have him.

So, we got Gracie, with the intention of her being 'his' dog. I tried really hard to be as hands off as possible (with a 5 month pup) and 'push' her to be his dog. Of the 3, she comes closest to feeling the same about us both, but it's still me she wants to be close to 99% of the time.

Diesel was an 'accident' - I saw him and couldn't come home without him. He's still young at 6 months, but he is most definitely a 'momma's boy'.

I just think some people tend to pull dogs and other animals towards them on a different level than others. It's a force to be reckoned with...

Goodness knows, sometimes I wish I could sit down without a tiny Chi perched on one shoulder, another in my lap, and the other lying on the back of the couch with his head on my other shoulder, licking my face...But, unless I send them away, that's where you'll find them!

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