Dogs are truly a person’s best friend. Many people are choosing to adopt or purchase dogs for many reasons. From a running buddy to extra security at night to even just having company, dogs are an important part of many peoples’ lives. An increasingly popular dog breed is the chihuahua.
Chihuahuas are great dogs for many reasons. These dogs are great for people living in a smaller home, are very smart, live a long time, are the perfect size to travel, and are very adorable! Check out these trips for training chihuahuas to see if this is the perfect dog for you!
Are chihuahuas easy to train?
Yes! This breed is very smart. Chihuahuas are quick learners to learn new behaviors. They are able to learn new habits very quickly. For example, many owners have trained their chihuahua to use the litter box. House training a dog can be a great benefit if you get stuck at work or are unable to return home during the day to let your dog outside.
Like any other dog breed, training a chihuahua can take a long of dedication and patience. Be sure to practice and reward desired behaviors often so that the dog will learn quickly.
Training a dog can be frustrating, especially if it is a puppy. Chihuahuas are no exception to requiring a good amount of training. However, they are very easy to train and learn new behaviors quickly compared to other dog breeds.
How to train a chihuahua
Chihuahuas can be stubborn, so it is crucial to start training your dog right away. Typically, chihuahuas try to make up for their small size with a big attitude. Sometimes, this attitude can make chihuahuas standoffish with new people and other dogs.
A few tips to get you started:
- Be sure to let your dog know that you lead the house.
- Always feed your chihuahuas at the same day everyday, this helps to establish routine.
- Be sure to have set time for walks and work on leash control. Don’t let your dog walk you; practice good behavior during each and every walk.
- Teach your chihuahua basic commands, such as sit, stay, or down. Teaching your dog these important behaviors will improve interactions with new people and dogs.
- Crate training is important for dogs to learn as well. Crate training could help chihuahuas learn the correct place to go to the bathroom.
Practicing these behaviors will help prepare your dog if you need to be away and they are not yet house trained.
Positive vs. negative reinforcement
Positive and negative reinforcement trainings have their own pros and cons. There is debate in the dog owners community, but there can be a place for both types of reinforcement while training a dog.
Positive reinforcement
Essentially, positive reinforcement increases the chances your dog will repeat a behavior by introducing something they like, such as treat. Positive reinforcement adds good things that a dog likes to help to increase behavior. Dogs love things like treats and love, so adding in these positive reinforcement tools will train a dog into repeating a desired behavior.
The most important step of positive reinforcement is timing. If the reward is delayed and not immediately after the behavior, there is a chance your chihuahua may not associate the reward with the desired action.
Additionally, keep training short. Simple phrases or even just one word are more effective than a longer sentence, as your chihuahua may lose focus or misunderstand your commands.
Always be consistent with rewards. This way you will guarantee that your dog picks up and learns the desired behavior.
Positive reinforcement is most helpful with actions such as letting the dog go the the bathroom outside. For example, ring a bell as your chihuahua relieves itself and then reward the dog with a treat. Soon, your dog will being to associate the bell with the bathroom. In time, your chihuahua may learn how to ring the bell to alert you that it needs to go outside.
Negative reinforcement
Negative reinforcement introduces something unpleasant that work to suppress or remove a behavior. Some example of negative reinforcement include invisible fence collars, water spray bottles, cans filled with pebbles or coins, and human touches such as holding their mouth closed.
Negative reinforcement does not necessarily cause pain or discomfort to dogs, but many owners steer away from this training method. But negative reinforcement does work, as introducing negative or uncomfortable behaviors greatly lessen the probability the dog will repeat that behavior.
One simple way to negatively reinforce behavior is simply saying no. If on a walk and your chihuahua pulls, shout no.
Housebreaking your chihuahua
Warning, chihuahuas can be difficult to house train. However, with consistency and practice, there is hope! These dogs are smart enough to know when to go outside or using a training puppy pad, but they are often stubborn. Chihuahuas typically do not enjoy harsh voices or punishment, so the best way to house train your dog is through positive reinforcement.
The first step is to establish a routine of when your puppy goes outside. Also be sure keep to this schedule, as consistency is incredibly important. Additionally, use a specific word, such “outside” or “potty” so that your chihuahua can associate relieving itself to these words.
For puppies, it is important that you frequently take the dog out every couple hours. Adult chihuahuas do not need to be let out this often. Taking a puppy out often creates an opportunity to train and housebreak it, so be sure to always take advantage of each opportunity.
Some chihuahua owners have even trained their dog to use the litter box. This is incredibly helpful if you are unable to be home to let it out during the day, or if you are running late and miss the typical bathroom window. Practice the same behaviors of positive reinforcement and key words to help your dog learn how to use a litter box or a puppy pad.
Tell-tale signs that your chihuahua needs to go outside is if it whines or smell its behind. Be sure to immediately take your dog outside to avoid an accident.
With consistent training and practice, your chihuahua should be fully house trained in a month or so. However, if the practice takes longer, do not get frustrated at the dog as it could hinder the progress. All chihuahuas are different and may need more time than others to learn to be housebroken.
Commands and tricks to teach your chihuahua
It is recommended to start out with simple commands and tricks for your chihuahua. Commands such as “sit” and “stay” are useful and a good place for your dog to start learning. Tricks such as “jump” or “shake hands” or even “high five” are more time consuming.
Luckily chihuahuas are fast learners and very energetic. Teaching your dog these skills is a great way to bond and create a deeper relationship. Also, it establishes trust.
If you begin with teaching your chihuahua easy tricks, it lays the groundwork for more difficult tricks in the future. This breed of dog is intelligent and love to work for treats, which makes them easy to train.
However, be sure to establish basic obedience with your dog first. If you do not do so, it will make teaching your chihuahua tricks and commands very difficult.
When training your chihuahua, always be sure to use positive reinforcement, never negative. Positive reinforcement allows your dog to learn, whereas negative reinforcement does not. Using negative reinforcement while training your chihuahua can create distrust and cause your dog to be unwilling to learn.
Training puppies vs. older dogs
Surprisingly, adults dogs are typically easier to train than puppies. Puppies are easily distracted and often lose their focus. Adult dogs often have a greater amount of self-control than a puppy does, which makes older dogs easier to train. But no matter a dog’s age, training and learning new things can take place at any age. Training is important as it provides mental stimulation that dogs require.
The first step is to always be patient when you are training a dog, whether it be a puppy or an adult. New dogs can be easily hard to train and they are in a new surrounding and often have their own experiences of training and people.
If training takes longer than expected, be patient. In time, with consistency and practice, your chihuahua will learn new tricks and behaviors.
When training a dog, be sure to be positive and make sure your tone of voice reflects that. As previously mentioned, dogs do not learn quickly or well if they feel unsafe and distrustful of their owner. Always have reward such as treats, toys, affirmations, or pets.
Another great way to help make training easier is allowing your dog to be social. Introducing your chihuahua to new people, experiences, and places will allow for smoother training. A lack of socialization can cause your chihuahua to bark or exhibit fear and aggression.
When asking your dog to preform behavior in an unknown environment, they will likely not be able to. By introducing your chihuahua to other people, dogs, and environments, it allows for more retention of training and makes your dog more likely to perform said behavior in new situations.
Utilizing these practices will allow any chihuahua to be trained, whether the dog is a young puppy or an older adult.
Professional services for dog training
If you are unable to train your chihuahua or give training the full attention it requires, you may consider utilizing a professional service.
Many new dog owners will take their dog to an obedience class. These classes are beneficial for both older and younger dog as it establishes the basic skills a dog must learn. Teaching your dog these first skills is crucial as it allows for further learning in the future.
Other professional dog training services, like a doggy day care, allow your dog to learn desired behaviors while gaining critical social skills through interactions with other dogs. This is a great option if you work during the day and have a new dog that you are unable to train.
Another great option are dog training services. There are professional dog training services that will come to your home to train your chihuahua. These at home services can be beneficial as it allows your dog to learn in the comfort of its own home. However, these services can often be a bit pricey, so keep that in mind when considering your options.
Regardless of how you chose to train your dog, teaching your chihuahua basic obedience skills are crucial for your dog’s development. Chihuahuas are intelligent dogs that love learning new things. Luckily, this aspect of chihuahuas makes them easier to train and allows for longer retention of new skills and behaviors.