Dogsmanship - The Dog Lover's Survival Guide

Tips and Guide to Training A Chihuahua Puppy

Chihuahuas may be the smallest breed of dog, but they can be quite territorial and protective as well. There are few things cuter than a Chihuahua pup, but before you bring that adorable baby home from the breeder, you would be well advised in the best methods for training your Chihuahua puppy.

Like any pup, a Chi needs to have a clear understanding of what is expected of him from day one. Many Chihuahua owners make the mistake of going easy on training the Chihuahua puppy, because of his tiny size. However, an untrained Chihuahua can create big problems for that owner if he is allowed full run of the house for too long. Like any breed, Chihuahuas are pack animals that need to understand their place in the pecking order. If you do not establish authority by properly training your Chihuahua puppy from the get go, it is highly likely that he will attempt to take charge of you.

Chihuahua Puppy House Training
One of the first steps in training your Chihuahua puppy will be housebreaking. Chihuahuas will respond well to either the crate method of housebreaking or the paper technique. The key to effectively house training your Chihuahua puppy is in the amount of patience and consistency that you bring to the process. The more frequently that you can show your pup the proper place to go to the bathroom, and the more praise that you can give him for making the right choice, the more quickly your puppy will catch on to what is expected of him.

When your pup has run of the house, keep a close eye on him to ensure that he doesn’t go to the bathroom in the house. The first time that your pup has an accident indoors, clean up the spot promptly and get rid of the odor as completely as possible. Otherwise, your puppy will return to this spot the next time he feels the need to eliminate.

Socializing your Chihuahua Puppy
Chihuahua puppies are clan animals, meaning they tend to get along better with their own kind than they do with other animals. They can also be skittish around strangers and children. Because of this, it is important to incorporate socialization when training your Chihuahua puppy. This means that you need to teach your dog how to behave around people and other animals, as well as train children in the house how to act around your puppy. This can include approaching the dog slowly and letting him sniff before attempting to touch him. The more you expose your pup to other people and pets, the easier it will be to socialize your dog properly.

A Chihuahua puppy can be a cute and enjoyable member of the family. With proper training of your Chihuahua puppy, he will be a much more welcome addition as well.