Most Chihuahua owners do not consider training as part of raising these little dogs. One reason is its cuteness and harmless look. These dogs are known to be aggressive despite their miniature size, and they are hardy too. For their known stubbornness, they should be taught to obey while they are yet puppies.

Why You Should Know How to Train a Chihuahua

Chihuahuas have their own distinct ways. They have developed these traits for hundreds of years that they have been treated as personal pets. While it is good for dogs to be attached to their masters, this can also lead to aggression issues, especially if they are not provided with the necessary training and socializing classes.

All Chihuahuas do not realize how small they are. This will give them the tendency to be aggressive towards other dogs which have all the capability to hurt them. They are also prone to be unfriendly. Training your Chihuahua to be more sociable will keep them out of harm’s way.

How to Train a Chihuahua

The Chihuahua has a high sense of dominance. Being allowed to run freely in the house, it thinks that it is in control. If you want to train your Chihuahua, the very first thing you must do is to let it know that you are the alpha leader. Do not allow it to go just anywhere it likes. Establish boundaries and clearly define the places where it is not allowed to go. This will be clear enough to make the it learn that you are the one in control.

Take control of your Chihuahua’s feeding schedule and let it know that it can only eat at your disposition. This is one way of getting its allegiance.

Exercise it two times per day to prevent it from getting bored. Choose which way to go. Do not allow it to dictate which direction you should take, as this can also trigger its sense of control. Use the leash as a signal that you are its leader.

Do not allow it to claim the entire house as its territory. You have to define the places where it can go. Be sure to make the it understands that even its place is under your authority.

Do not pet it every time you arrive or depart from your house as this can reinforce anxiety. You can attend to it as it relaxes about 10 minutes later.

It takes an alpha leader to train a Chihuahua. They need to submit in order to remove their tendency to dominate.

Optimizing Mental Stimulation

Most Chihuahuas lack exercise because they are too small to perform routines that people let normal sized dogs do. Train your Chihuahua to perform basic commands such as sit, stay, speak, quiet, fetch and other tricks. This will give them mental exercise.

You can train your Chihuahua by not allowing it challenge your authority. Teach it to perform basic commands to redirect its energy.

Stan Beck is a dog training consultant whose free Dog Training Guide has helped many dog owners improve their dog’s behavior. Find out how Stan Beck can help improve your dog’s behavior by visiting his website which is filled with useful tips on how to train your dogs the easy way.