Chihuahuas are a wonderful breed of dog, and they can be awesome pets. However, they can have frustrating habits just like any other type of dog – and that may include howling. Chihuahuas often tend to be very vocal dogs – whether they’re barking, whining, or howling.
If you are the proud owner of a chihuahua – or if you are considering getting one – you may be wondering if they are capable of howling. You may also want to know how you can train your chihuahua not to howl.
Do Chihuahuas Howl?
The short answer to this question is yes. While some chihuahuas may not attempt to, it is perfectly normal and possible that they may howl. According to canine research groups, they have the genetic traits that causes other breeds of dogs to howl.
It’s easy to assume that chihuahuas can’t howl, as they are very small compared to most dogs. Additionally, they are most well known for making extremely high-pitched noises. However, chihuahuas can howl just like any other dog can. Their howling may be slightly quieter or sharper, but can be equally as irritating as any other howling.
Reasons Why Chihuahuas Howl
Chihuahuas can tend to be an anxious breed, often weary of anything that they perceive as a threat.
Some Chihuahuas may start to howl if they are alarmed by a person that they don’t know. It may seem silly, but they can easily perceive a stranger as a threat – especially if the stranger is nearby.
Dogs often love to look out of a window and watch their surroundings, and chihuahuas are no different. However, this may cause them to howl.
Another reason why chihuahuas howl is communication with other dogs. Dogs often howl to communicate with other nearby dogs, and this behavior is a result of pack mentality. Wolves operate as packs, and howl to communicate with each other. As wolves were domesticated into dogs, howling remained a part of how canines interact with each other.
Some sources say that wolves and wild dogs howl to bring others back to the pack. If some venture away from the pack to hunt food, any pack members that stayed may start howling to signal their location.
Domesticated dogs may howl when their owner leaves the house for a while – so if you’ve figured out that your chihuahua howls while you’re gone, that could be a reason why!
Another potential reason why your chihuahua may howl is that he or she wants attention. While it may sound funny, dogs are often aware that making noise can usually get their owner’s attention.
Additionally, they may also be anxious and howling to get your attention. Dogs can have anxiety just as humans can, and they can express their anxiety by certain behaviors – including howling.
Lastly, environmental triggers may cause your chihuahua to howl. Noises such as an ambulance siren or a phone ringing may lead to howling. Of course, you can’t always prevent these kinds of triggers, but you can try to teach your chihuahua not to howl.
How to Stop a Chihuahua’s Howling
If your chihuahua’s howling has become a problem, there are several different methods and strategies you can use to try to put a stop to it.
Firstly, you may want to try to identify the specific reason why your chihuahua is howling. If you can determine why it is happening, you may be able to easily figure out a solution.
For example, if you know that your chihuahua is howling when you are not home, it may be a sign of separation anxiety. According to the ASPCA, howling is a common habit among dogs with separation anxiety.
There are a number of different potential solutions to ease separation anxiety. Enrichment toys- such as puzzles and licking mats- can help keep your chihuahua occupied. If your dog is entertained while you’re gone, he or she may not even realize that you aren’t at home!
Some dogs respond well to television programs intended for dogs. Their purpose is to keep a dog’s attention and make them feel less lonely when their owners aren’t home. If you think that this may work for your chihuahua, you may want to consider giving it a try.
If you think that your chihuahua is howling due to an external trigger, such as a stranger walking by, you can attempt to teach a command to be quiet.
While this can’t guarantee that your chihuahua won’t howl when you’re not with him or her, it can help enforce the idea that howling isn’t good behavior.
WebMD suggests using treats as a training reinforcement. You can try to teach your chihuahua to bark or howl when you say “speak!”, and to stop when you say “quiet!”. Care.com encourages the use of positive reinforcement in training, because it can often be more effective than letting your chihuahua see how frustrated you are.
If your chihuahua’s howling is a result of anxiety, remaining calm may be one of the best strategies for you. While it may sound strange, ignoring your dog’s howling may be effective. Once your chihuahua can see that you are calm, they are less likely to keep howling.
Additionally, you can try to direct your chihuahua’s attention to something else. If your chihuahua won’t stop howling, try bringing out his or her favorite toy, or give them a belly rub.
Lastly, if you can’t determine why your chihuahua is howling, and no training methods are working for you, you may want to seek advice from a professional dog trainer or someone who specializes in anxious canines. While your chihuahua’s howling may be frustrating, it’s important to remember that there’s always another option you can try.