Why do you need to train a Chihuahua?
When buying a dog of a “miniature” breed, many owners believe that there is no need to teach the baby commands. Experts have a different view on this opinion. Despite its small size, there is no risk of causing serious harm to others, a Chihuahua can irritate with frequent barking, damage furniture, personal or other people's things, you can find out why this happens here.
The intellectual development of a puppy must be taken seriously. Often they take a two-month-old dog. This age of Chihuahua is suitable for easy training. The animal remembers its name and is able to learn simple commands. With a skillful approach, it is possible to train a dog from 3-5 months.
Benefits of training a Chihuahua:
- the dog does not sleep on the sofa or bed, relieves himself in a separate place;
- The dog barks for a reason or at strangers, and raises its voice when strangers appear. During the day and at night, the Chihuahua is silent, allowing those around him to rest;
- it’s not scary to leave the dog alone, there are no worries about the state of things, interior items;
- the animal does not beg for the owner's food;
- The Chihuahua demonstrates obedience and fulfills the owner’s requests.
These are the main advantages of simple upbringing. Great results can be achieved if you regularly work on your dog step by step.
At what age to start
The main problem with inexperienced breeders is that they constantly put off training. Indeed, it seems to them that the tiny dog is still a puppy and it is too early to start training. And this is a serious omission. Everyone knows that teaching a puppy new commands is much easier than teaching an adult dog. Therefore, there is definitely no point in delaying this important process.
Typically, Chihuahua puppies are adopted at 2-3 months of age. And if you are wondering when and how to train a Chihuahua puppy at home, there is no better time. Of course, a young dog will not be able to learn all the commands, but the simplest ones are fine.
Training should begin with the pet remembering its name. It's quite simple - the main thing is to decide on a nickname. In some families, a problem arises when the parents want to give the dog one name, and the children another. Of course, such cases lead to the pet becoming confused, nervous, and becoming more fearful and aggressive.
The nickname should be short and sonorous, pronounced clearly and loudly enough. When playing with your dog, giving him food, or just coming home, immediately call your four-legged friend by name. Usually puppies remember it on the 3-5th day, which is the first step in the formation of attachment, which greatly facilitates further training.
Initial stages - what is possible and what is not
The first thing is to teach your pet to relieve itself correctly. The process will be easy if you frequently sit the dog in a special tray after eating or resting. A napkin with the smell of dog urine is placed there to understand the purpose of the container.
At 3 months, your baby Chihuahua should be taught to wear a collar and a leash. The equipment is put on for 10 minutes so that he gets used to new things. Gradually they move on to long walks with the Chihuahua.
- A two-month-old puppy needs to be trained daily for 15 minutes. Otherwise, a tired Chihuahua will quickly lose interest in the educational process.
- You can achieve good results from dog training if the pet is hungry. Then the dog executes all commands faster.
- The Chihuahua's training process takes place in a quiet environment. Distracting elements are eliminated. In particular, this applies to turned on household appliances, music, noisy company, and the presence of animals.
- If you want to spend time outside usefully, you should go to a quiet place, or better yet, to a training ground.
- The puppy should hear command words and praise. If the dog has completed the task correctly, you should say “well done”, “good girl”, stroke and scratch the dog.
- Punishment is a mandatory measure for overly playful animals. The baby is carried away, does not hear the owner’s voice, the forbidden word “impossible”, “no” must be strictly said.
- It is prohibited to shout or hit the Chihuahua. Such actions will cause distrust of the owner. Otherwise the dog will grow up to be a coward.
When showing love for a pet, you should clearly understand that the animal should not control the owner. Representatives of this breed are cunning and obey only people who know how to alternate kindness with severity.
Raising a puppy - important nuances
Puppies acquire basic behavioral skills by copying their mother and other babies from the litter. Moreover, already at 3 months, dogs with a certain set of skills are divided into choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic and melancholic. At this age, puppies are very receptive to new knowledge, but they master it at different speeds. Regardless of the level of activity, Chihuahuas are interested in learning new skills and the only thing that can change the “law” is the wrong motivation.
Rough treatment can be attributed to the wrong motivation, and given the size of the Chihuahua puppy, even a weak tug on the leash can be equated to violence. If you do not want to harm your pet, start with the right selection of accessories. Chihuahuas are not suitable for collars (at least until they are one year old), as excessive leash tension can cause noticeable strangulation or tracheal injury. The best option is a harness-vest or a harness with a crossover over the chest. A regular harness (with a direct overlap) can lead to depression of the chest bones and their abnormal development.
Advice: There are no specific recommendations for choosing a leash for a Chihuahua. Choose an accessory that will be comfortable for both you and your pet. You should refrain from training rings.
Training a Chihuahua puppy involves using an incentive-motivational method, that is, without physical influence. However, representatives of the breed are quite stubborn and grumpy, which obliges the owner to take a rather tough leadership position . It is useless to force a Chihuahua to obey a command, even if he submits this time, the protests will be repeated.
Look for ways to interest your mentee, give him an interesting task, in the process of solving which, he will carry out the command you need. Usually, during the initial acquisition of commands, food motivation is used, that is, the dog follows the command by following the treat. Naturally, treats will lose their “magic power” if you decide to train your pet immediately after eating.
Advice: do not feed your pet treats, there is a golden rule: 1 treat, 2 praises.
The older the puppy gets, the more intelligent he becomes. For example, a little prankster may tuck his paw, hinting that he should be pitied. Another trick is to ignore the command until it is repeated in a decisive tone. Try to immediately stop your ward’s tricks and reward him only if the command is carried out immediately.
Types of motivation during training
When training a dog at home, it is advisable not to forget about motivational techniques.
- Games. The hunting instinct awakens in dogs, they easily learn the “fetch” command, feel superior, and receive praise.
- Food. To get their favorite treat, dogs are ready to do a lot of impossible things. This motivation is effective in the training process.
- Stroking, scratching, patting. Small pets enjoy affectionate treatment.
- Voice influence. Thanks to the change in intonation, the animal recognizes the owner’s mood. Tender words are motivation.
Why train a dog
Some people are seriously confused about the need to train a Chihuahua. After all, this is a tiny dog that cannot attack, which means the command “Face!” will be completely useless. And at first glance, the command “Come to me!” is of little use - even a child can calmly pick up an adult dog and carry it away.
However, it is during training that a particularly strong bond is built between owner and dog. In addition, the pet becomes more disciplined and calm. It is important that a dog that has learned at least the basics of training causes much fewer problems for its owners. This means that relationships with him will bring much more joy and happiness.
For example, the amount of empty barking is sharply reduced - the dog only gives voice in case of real danger or when receiving the appropriate command. She also stops begging for food from the table, which is a real scourge for many decorative breeds - no one can resist the ever-hungry gaze of a pet begging for another piece of delicacy. Finally, the pet begins to unquestioningly obey the owner - at home and on walks, which not only reduces the number of difficulties, but also ensures greater safety for the dog.
Of course, it is best to go to special clubs with your four-legged friend. But not everyone has this opportunity. Therefore, we will tell you how to train a Chihuahua at home. At the same time, we’ll figure out what age is best to start training.
How to wean yourself from bad habits
The dog should not bark for no reason, out of a desire to frolic, to gain attention. Recommendations for weaning your pet from a “bad habit”:
- ignoring constant barking. The dog must understand that barking for no reason will not bring a positive result;
- distracting the dog to execute some command.
Interesting article: The most popular nicknames for Chihuahuas
Biting is also a bad habit. The reason is active games, when the dog tries to divert the owner’s attention to his person. At these moments it is necessary to distance yourself. If a Chihuahua bites the owner when approaching his bowl or favorite toy, then it is advisable to use the commands “no” and “fu”.
This is interesting: 8 premium foods for Chihuahuas
What is the difference between training and education?
Training is the strict training of a dog with a certain set of commands used in everyday life.
Education is an activity that is carried out with the aim of instilling rules of behavior in a pet. In the first case, training can last up to six months, in the second – the entire life cycle. A well-mannered dog automatically follows commands, understands the rules of good behavior, and knows about punishments. The main instrument of influence is the owner’s voice, intonation. The animal becomes obedient for a tasty reward.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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If you abuse shouting, punishment, or rudeness, the dog develops a constant feeling of fear instead of gratitude and respect. Anxiety can develop if you raise your little Chihuahua with physical abuse.
When trained from puppyhood, the dog develops trust in its owner. The little dog perceives family members as older, experienced leaders. A young, mature animal can overestimate the situation and begin to dominate.
Adviсe
It is necessary to train a Chihuahua until the dog begins to perceive commands and requests as part of its life. It is important to repeat often and reinforce lessons.
At the initial stage, a few minutes are devoted to training a Chihuahua, then half an hour or more.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
Ask a Question
The activities should be started with a hungry dog. Under this condition, the puppy is eager to try the treat and will be ready to follow any instructions from the owner.
When reinforcing basic commands, do not forget about the word “wait”. To do this, you need to hold your open palm motionless over the dog's muzzle.
Command training
Basic commands are trained in 3-6 months. Chihuahua training occurs in several stages:
- The pronunciation of the command is accompanied by an action demonstrating its implementation.
- Correct execution is rewarded.
- The skill is reinforced.
- Before starting a new lesson, repeat the old commands.
Thus, training is based on alternating learned techniques and practicing new skills.
It is better to train a Chihuahua in the form of a game. Monotony and monotony quickly get boring for your pet, who loses interest in what is happening.
Learning at home begins with mastering the “Place!” command. The pet must know where its bed with mattress is located. The baby is given time to sniff his shelter and get used to it. The word "Place!" must be repeated every time the puppy is placed on a bed or shown with your hand in the direction of it.
At the same time, they master the order “Come to me!” It is pronounced along with the pet's name. Thus, the name and call to the owner are fixed in the animal’s memory. Every time the dog responds and comes running, he must be petted and given an encouraging treat.
Prohibitory orders - “Ugh!”, “You can’t!”, are said when an animal is going to be mischievous, take prohibited objects, bite, etc. The student needs to realize that the owner is dissatisfied with him and stop his actions.
At the age of 3-4 months, the dog should be taught to sit and lie down as ordered. Another basic command is “Wait!”
Starting from 5 months of age, training is carried out outdoors. To do this, choose a secluded place, away from the road and large crowds of people. The Chihuahua is trained to follow orders: “Go for a walk!”, “Voice!”. During walks, the orders “No!” are reinforced. and “Come to me!” They are pronounced when calling a pet or forbidding him to pick up dirty food (video from the Magic Family channel).
Chihuahuas have a high level of intelligence, which allows them not only to quickly master the training course, but also to easily learn all kinds of tricks - jumping, somersaults and magic tricks.
Show-class animals must be prepared in advance for participation in exhibitions. They must be able to:
- stand quietly in one place;
- run in circles;
- show a grin.
Video
In order for a pet to learn to follow commands and become obedient, it is necessary to find an approach to it. Strictness, motivation and praise are essential components of successful training for even the smallest dog.
The basic rules and methods of training a “decorative” Chihuahua dog are clearly demonstrated in the video.
