Chihuahuas have a reputation as yappy, high-strung dogs, but they can be loving and faithful pets. As long as you take the time to work with your Chihuahua on its issues, you should be able to correct most of the problems you have with it, such as chewing, boredom, or bathroom issues. You are your Chihuahua's best friend, and by making sure you fulfill its needs, you can have a happy and healthy pet.
Working on Chewing Issues
Give your Chihuahua appropriate toys when it chews on the furniture.
Working on Chewing Issues
Give your Chihuahua appropriate toys when it chews on the furniture.
Those little teeth can do considerable damage to your home if they're left unchecked! The solution is fairly simple. When you see your dog chewing on something it shouldn't, offer it a fun toy instead. It will usually opt for it and leave your furniture alone.[1]
Once your Chihuahua grabs onto the toy, tell it what a good dog it is! The more praise you offer, the more your dog will get the idea that playing with the toy is a good idea.
Make sure to get toys that are small enough for your Chihuahua's mouth. Look for toys for small dogs. Rope toys, plush toys made from tough materials, and rubber squeak toys are all good options. Make sure to always supervise your dog with chew toys, as it could chew off a piece big enough to choke on.
Puppies may have sore gums from teeth coming in. Offer them a wet, frozen washcloth, which should help numb the pain. Keep an eye on your pup so it doesn't swallow any of the washcloth.[2]
Trade treats for inappropriate items.
Once your Chihuahua grabs onto the toy, tell it what a good dog it is! The more praise you offer, the more your dog will get the idea that playing with the toy is a good idea.
Make sure to get toys that are small enough for your Chihuahua's mouth. Look for toys for small dogs. Rope toys, plush toys made from tough materials, and rubber squeak toys are all good options. Make sure to always supervise your dog with chew toys, as it could chew off a piece big enough to choke on.
Puppies may have sore gums from teeth coming in. Offer them a wet, frozen washcloth, which should help numb the pain. Keep an eye on your pup so it doesn't swallow any of the washcloth.[2]
Trade treats for inappropriate items.
When your Chihuahua has something in its mouth you want it to drop, distract it with a treat instead. Oftentimes, your dog will drop the shoe or whatever it has in its mouth to take the treat.[3]
As your dog catches on to this trick, add a command like "Give" or "Drop."
Make sure you only give your dog a treat when it lets go of the object. That way, your dog will learn that it’s being rewarding for dropping the item rather than being rewarded for chewing on it.
Avoid giving your dog items similar to things you don't want it to chew.
As your dog catches on to this trick, add a command like "Give" or "Drop."
Make sure you only give your dog a treat when it lets go of the object. That way, your dog will learn that it’s being rewarding for dropping the item rather than being rewarded for chewing on it.
Avoid giving your dog items similar to things you don't want it to chew.
In other words, don't give your Chihuahua an old shoe to chew on and then expect it not to chew your other shoes. Make a clear distinction between toys and non-toys.[4]
Similarly, don't offer your Chihuahua things like socks. If you have small kids in the house with stuffed animals, you may not want to give your chihuahua plush toys.
Move wires and other valuables out of chewing range.
Similarly, don't offer your Chihuahua things like socks. If you have small kids in the house with stuffed animals, you may not want to give your chihuahua plush toys.
Move wires and other valuables out of chewing range.
Because these dogs are so small, it's relatively easy to put most things out of their reach. Pick shoes up off the floor, for instance, and move wires up off the ground to discourage your Chihuahua from chewing on them.[5]
To deal with wires, hide them under cable shields or attach them to the wall with a kit. You could also block off areas with wires using furniture. For instance, you could put bookcases on each side of your entertainment center to keep your Chihuahua from getting behind it to the wires.
Also, keep an eye on Chihuahuas when they're young, as they're more likely to chew when they're puppies.
Spray bitter apple on things you don't want to be chewed.
To deal with wires, hide them under cable shields or attach them to the wall with a kit. You could also block off areas with wires using furniture. For instance, you could put bookcases on each side of your entertainment center to keep your Chihuahua from getting behind it to the wires.
Also, keep an eye on Chihuahuas when they're young, as they're more likely to chew when they're puppies.
Spray bitter apple on things you don't want to be chewed.
Dogs don't like the taste of this spray, and it's non-toxic. Simply spritz it on things like furniture, wires, and other items your Chihuahua tends to chew on. You may need to apply this spray as often as once a day until your dog learns not to chew that item.[6]
You can find bitter apple spray at most pet stores.
Hot sauce may also work, and you can spritz it on using a water bottle. You may need to apply a thick layer and let it dry before applying a second layer.
Offering Your Dog Alternatives To Bad Behavior
Give your dog part of the yard to stop it from digging up your garden.
You can find bitter apple spray at most pet stores.
Hot sauce may also work, and you can spritz it on using a water bottle. You may need to apply a thick layer and let it dry before applying a second layer.
Offering Your Dog Alternatives To Bad Behavior
Give your dog part of the yard to stop it from digging up your garden.
Chihuahuas, like many dogs, enjoy digging, and they will dig up your flowerbed given half the chance. Set aside a corner of your yard where you'll let your dog dig. Mark it off clearly with a small fence or other barrier around the area with a small opening for your dog to go through and put toys in it to draw your dog over there. You can also use bones to show your dog where it should go.[7]
You can also use a sandbox for this purpose.
When you see your dog start digging elsewhere, redirect it to its part of the garden. You can even pick it up and move it over there.
Teach your Chihuahua not to beg by not feeding it scraps during dinner.
You can also use a sandbox for this purpose.
When you see your dog start digging elsewhere, redirect it to its part of the garden. You can even pick it up and move it over there.
Teach your Chihuahua not to beg by not feeding it scraps during dinner.
If you feed your dog table scraps while you're still eating, your dog will learn to stick around and wait for the reward. Even an occasional tidbit from the dinner table will tell your dog it can get rewarded. Consistency is key, so make sure everyone follows the rules![8]
If you must feed your dog a little snack, wait until everyone is done eating.
You can also feed your Chihuahua its own food during dinner or offer it a fun toy to occupy itself.
Stop a peeing Chihuahua and take it outside.
If you must feed your dog a little snack, wait until everyone is done eating.
You can also feed your Chihuahua its own food during dinner or offer it a fun toy to occupy itself.
Stop a peeing Chihuahua and take it outside.
If you catch your dog in the act, say "No!," then pick it up and take it outside to finish. When it pees outside, tell it what a good dog it is! If you don't catch it in the act, just clean up the mess. There's no point in rubbing your dog's nose in it, as it won't understand.[9]
Make sure to clean up any urine spots with an enzymatic spray so your dog won't want to mark in the same spot. You can find these sprays at most big box stores and pet stores.
If you have elderly dogs with incontinence problems, you can also use pee pads in the house. Train your dog to just pee on the pad so they're not peeing all over the house.
Teach your Chihuahua to sit on a mat instead of barking at the doorbell.
Make sure to clean up any urine spots with an enzymatic spray so your dog won't want to mark in the same spot. You can find these sprays at most big box stores and pet stores.
If you have elderly dogs with incontinence problems, you can also use pee pads in the house. Train your dog to just pee on the pad so they're not peeing all over the house.
Teach your Chihuahua to sit on a mat instead of barking at the doorbell.
Like many dogs, Chihuahuas like to bark when the doorbell rings. Use clicker training to teach your dog to sit and stay, then work on getting it to sit when it hears the sound of the doorbell.[10]
Train your dog to sit on a mat near the door and give it a specific name, like "mat." To work on this trick, say "mat" and then call your dog over to the mat and tell it to sit. If it lands on the mat, give it a click and a treat. Work on this trick until your dog understands you want it to come to the mat when you say the word.
Next, work up to using the doorbell as a cue. Have someone ring the doorbell, then tell your Chihuahua to go to the mat and sit. Reward your dog if it goes to the mat at all, then work up to sitting and staying.
After you've worked on getting your chihuahua to sit and stay, you can also work up to not barking.
Train your dog to sit on a mat near the door and give it a specific name, like "mat." To work on this trick, say "mat" and then call your dog over to the mat and tell it to sit. If it lands on the mat, give it a click and a treat. Work on this trick until your dog understands you want it to come to the mat when you say the word.
Next, work up to using the doorbell as a cue. Have someone ring the doorbell, then tell your Chihuahua to go to the mat and sit. Reward your dog if it goes to the mat at all, then work up to sitting and staying.
After you've worked on getting your chihuahua to sit and stay, you can also work up to not barking.
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