Dogs crave human companionship and Chihuahuas, regardless of their size, are no exception. Most Chihuahuas will take every opportunity to jump on a human lap (if they like the human) and with their small size, big eyes and big ears make it difficult for most people not to be drawn to them. The problem is that Chihuahua puppies grow into adult dogs and need to be trained to be acceptable members of a family.
Everyone knows someone who has a Chihuahua that jumps on people, barks and makes messes in out of sight areas in the house.
My mother had a Chihuahua and my son has a Chihuahua. Being around these little animals have given me a unique perspective on training that I think they should have had.
So, what type of training does a Chihuahua need and how do you train such a small, independent minded puppy?
In my inexpert opinion and from my observations of Chihuahuas, potty training, dog behavior training and obedience training make the top three. Not just for small dogs like the Chihuahua, but all dogs that come in contact with people need behavior and obedience training. Consider the following for your little Chihuahua:
1. Potty training can be helped along by crate training the little animal. A crate gives the puppy his own area to sleep in and most dogs won't soil their sleeping area. This makes it easier to introduce you dog to places where it is acceptable to pee and poop. A crate also gives the little guy a place to go when it is confused or just wants to be alone. It is possible to litter box train these little guys, a great advantage for Chihuahua owners that live in apartments, or have to leave the dog unattended for extended periods of time.
2. Behavior training is an essential item for all dogs to stop unwanted behavior such as chewing on things, biting (playfully, of course) or jumping on people. Unacceptable behavior must be addressed and stopped early on to avoid confusing the dog by restricting behavior that was acceptable when he was a puppy. Dogs, like people, have a hard time breaking bad habits.
3. Obedience training is most important when you Chihuahua comes in contact with people he does not know. These little guys can be most possessive of their humans and may growl or bark at other dogs or even people who take their humans time away from him. Obedience training should include simple things, like walking on a leash and taking the dog to areas that expose him to other people and animals.
The second part of my question was "How do you train such a small, independent minded puppy?". It is easier to train the dog if it starts with the puppy. My method of dealing with a problem like this is to go online, do a search for the answer and usually buy an e-book that helps me arrive at a solution. Sometimes the information in a book is hard to understand and with dogs, I have learned that the tone of voice is important, and it is hard to learn that from looking at pictures.
The easiest way to train your dog is to watch a professional dog trainer do his or her stuff, then simply do what they do. I have observed trainers at pet stores and watched several shows on television and along the way, I picked up some tips that seem to work. Videos that show the command, tone of voice and stance work the best. Watching it once was usually enough to get the technique down.
The hard part for me has been to continue the training after my puppy learned the correct behavior. The old saying "you lose it if you don't use it" really applies to dogs. If they don't practice what they learn, it does not stay learned very long. Another good thing that comes from training, even short periods of time is the bond that is created between the dog and his human. Your puppy will really become your buddy.
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