Will a small dog require less exercise?
Opinion varies with regard to walking a Chi. In general it is often stated that a dog’s (i.e. any dog’s) exercise requirements depend upon the breed, age and her individual needs. A rule-of-thumb is that high-energy dogs require more exercise than more placid types but all dogs need to participate in a regular routine of activities.
So what about Chi’s? I know some people recommend them to be walked 3 times a day, while I have also read other "authorities" suggest that 3 times a week would possibly suffice!
The British Chihuahua Club comments, "Although they will derive enormous enjoyment from outings on the lead, and lots of new sights and smells, tearing round the garden will provide enough exercise. Fresh air and sunshine are always beneficial...". Make what you will of these diverse points of view. 
My suggestion is that you aim for at least once a day in the garden, and make 3 times a week the bare minimum for a walk, then let your Chi’s behaviour be your guide.
What I mean is, do by all means aim to take her for a walk once a day if possible and safe to do so (we do) – she deserves it(!) and don’t forget how much good it will do you also. Remember though that Chi’s don’t like the cold, so even if you have fixed her up with a coat (recommended for long or short haired Chi's in the cold / wet) she may still not be impressed with the weather.
I still take ours out despite inclement weather but will sometimes get looks of dismay from our youngest Chi once we’re walking for a few minutes. (Dare I tell you I sometimes have to carry her home again if it's wet and one of our longer walks - OK I've lost all my street cred now I know).
You will soon know if that minimum amount of walking is not acceptable to her – behaviour might or might not deteriorate but if you are sensitive to her needs you will see her looking a little fed-up and possibly using body language to indicate she wants to go for a walk.
Don’t forget – if you do take her for walks less than once a day for what ever reason, make up for it with extra play in the house and/or garden.
Dogs seem to have a primal instinct to walk, and if unable to do so can gradually display a wide variety of neurotic behaviour.
Are there other things to consider in walking?
Now here is an issue – Chi’s can be very brave but they are no match for larger dogs or clumsy humans, and your dog is relying on you to look after her when others are present. If you are an experienced dog walker you will already be aware of the dangers of passing too close to another dog (whether exhibiting aggressive behaviour or not, or for that matter getting false reassurances from owners). Despite what you may think, it really is better to be safe than sorry at these times, so pick her up if there is a possibility of injury, she is expecting you to do it.
Socialising your Chihuahua
So what is all this you hear of the need to "socialise" a young dog? Socialising is often defined as teaching your dog to get along with strangers, children and other dogs. All of this can be very important, and I don't wish to minimize the benefits but in my experience, this may be vital for larger dog breeds but you may wish to choose how to perform this with small vulnerable breeds. For example, we will have no qualms allowing our Chi’s to "socialise" with other Chi’s and people, all things being equal but would be very wary of doing so with other breeds (from a danger perspective).
There are many strongly held views on this topic of Socialising but many "experts" forget the vulnerability of this very small breed in an effort to demonstrate their skill and technique in this field. Aim to develop your own adapted programme of socialising her where keeping her safe is high on your priority list but also enabling her to meet other people, children, and dogs in a controlled situation (for me that means when outdoors keeping her in my hands but in my home being a little more flexible)
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