Guidelines On Chihuahua Training

A good obedience class to coach your Chihuahua is always beneficial. However, you do not have to go to obedience classes.  Many classes are especially for handling huge, out-of-control dogs and may stress force strategies to try and dominate and calm these dogs.  These strategies are not good for Chihuahuas or any dog for that matter.  If you run into instructors and classes like this, you are better off training your Chihuahua on your own or with other small-dog owners. 

Old-fashioned force-training methods are ineffectual and no fun for your dog either.  Chihuahuas respond best to amendable training and only the gentlest of methodologies. 

Some laws to bear in mind:

Guide, don’t force.  Chihuahuas need to please you.  Your job is to show them what pleases you.  If you force a Chihuahua you may bring out that notorious Chi unyielding streak. 

Punishment doesn’t work.  Chihuahuas barely need anything except a mild correction. 

Intensify the positive.  Reward your dog for behaviors that please you. 

Happy endings:   Keep sessions short and fun, no longer than 10 to 15 mins.  Start and finish each training session with something your dog can do well. 

Chihuahuas are intellectual.  Simply because your Chihuahua lives a life of leisure does not always mean she will not learn tricks.  Chihuahuas don’t hunt, herd or guard so they do not have a chance to show off like some of the other breeds.  Obedience and agility trials give Chihuahuas a chance to show what they can do.  But you don’t have to compete in the competitions to enjoy training your Chihuahua.  Training should be a good time for both of you.  Chihuahuas need to have some kind of schooling. 

Clicker training works very well for Chihuahuas.  In clicker training you teach the dog that a “click” sound signals a coming reward.  A clicker signal is used as it is fast, obvious, and something the dog otherwise does not encounter in everyday life.  Once the dog associates the click with an upcoming reward, you wait for the dog to do the behavior you need her to do.  The instant she does hence you click to inform the dog her behavior merits a reward.

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