Understanding how to apply positive reinforcement training to your Chihuahua can be overwhelming when you just want a well behaved, well adjusted companion. Not everyone wants to master an entire scientific discipline, they just want a pet they can live with. With that in mind, the following basic principles can address most issues that will […]
Behaviorists identify up to fifteen different kinds of aggression in dogs. An important point to remember is that aggressive behavior serves a function to the aggressor and is therefore reinforced when conflict happens and the outcome is in his favor. However, this also means aggressive behaviors can be changed, and more appropriate behaviors can become […]
There are many mistaken assumptions about how dogs really learn: It’s all in the voice (usually, deep, loud, and booming); you need to show them who’s the boss (by rolling them on their back to make them submit); endless repetitions (often with “corrections” for wrong behavior); old dogs can’t learn new tricks; and so on. […]
Clicker training refers to training using operant conditioning principles, using a behavior marker linked to positive reinforcement of high value. Clicker trainers routinely leave out negative reinforcement and positive punishment, due to the unwanted side effects of inhibiting behavior and forming negative associations with the trainer. Of course, not all behavior makers are created equal. […]
You can assume that your Chihuahua’s behavior has some sort of intention, as crazy as that might seem sometimes. Social behavior or signals that are directed at people or other dogs, with intention, is communication. Chihuahuas routinely communicate to their two-legged family members, using a range of signals, including playful, fearful, and aggressive communication. How […]
There is a wide array of aggressive behaviors that any Chihuahua has the potential to exhibit. Ethologists identify over a dozen different kinds of aggression, ranging from maternal aggression, the hormonally mediated defense of offspring, to food-related aggression, a subset of resource guarding. Defining the term itself is complex and controversial, and its definition […]
There is no such thing as “best dog diet”. Each dog responds differently on different type of diet. Healthful foods should meet certain parameters, but the food you choose must also agree with your individual dog. What provides one dog with vibrant health and energy may not do so for another. Here is some of […]
Thinking of introducing raw food to your Chihuahua’s menu options? Here are the pros and cons. The growing trend of feeding uncooked meat and vegetables to our dogs has resulted in a whole refrigerated section full of new options. The appeal? Less processing and fewer mystery ingredients. But there’s a downside: the potential for pups […]
Prepare to lose at least one good pair of shoes. Chihuahua puppies are endearing and curious, and they love to chew! Just like their human counterparts, Chihuahuas go through a teething stage and then, a little later on, an even more rambunctious “teenager” phase. These stages are an absolutely normal and healthy part of […]
Here’s a few tips on how to introduce the crate to your Chihuahua: Start slowly. Toss a treat into the crate, let your Chihuahua run in to get it and come out immediately. Praise and give her another treat. Get the Chihuahua interested in playing with a toy, then toss the toy into the crate. […]
Food is the strongest driving force for animals in the natural world. Of course, most dogs are happy to munch on what their owner provides on a regular basis and occasionally supplement it with what they hunt (find around the house). Unfortunately, many puppies are not taught from day one that you have the […]
Avoiding common dog handling mistakes can make all the difference in the world to a dog’s life. By setting up the home properly and abiding by a few time-tested principles, you can prevent disharmony and ensure a loving partnership that benefits all. The following ten bad owner habits are common errors pet behaviorists often […]
Before starting the house training process, it is important to realize that from the perspective of new puppies or untrained dogs, there is no good reason why they should not potty inside the home. It is up to people to give their dogs the tools they need to succeed in a domestic world, that […]
Does your Chihuahua desperately scratch the door to pieces whenever you go out? Does he cower and shake with every clap of thunder? Every dog carries his own set of personality traits – likes, dislikes, wants and fears. But certain dogs carry more fear and tend to be anxious, easily excites and sometimes just […]
There’s a few training methods you can use, to deal with unwanted dog jumping. Find below the most common methods, to correct this bad habit: Redirecting Unwanted Greetings If your dog loves retrieving games with toys or balls, take one with you to the park. For the first ten lessons, make sure the dog […]
So how to stop a dog from jumping up at you or at your visitors? Dogs seems to be obsessed with face-to-face contact, wanting to lick and nudge our faces and mouths with theirs. This is rather like our preoccupation with shaking people’s hands when we meet them. Between dogs this is an important […]
There’s a few things you can do to prevent play biting in dogs. From day one, avoid playing any games that involve mouthing. If your puppy tries to solicit attention from you by play biting, ignore him. Just get up and walk away. Alternatively, take hold of the puppy by the scruff and say […]
In this post we’re going to talk about some different techniques you can use to prevent dog attacks. Every park user, whether a human or a dog, has a right to go for a walk without being bothered by unsupervised or uncontrolled dogs. A dog coming wildly toward you might be friendly and have […]
Here’s few general tips on how to deal with an aggressive dog in different situations: Don’t take a fear-aggressive dog to places where there is a high concentration of dogs, like dog clubs or play areas, if you’re trying to socialize it. This will increase your dog’s anxiety, not lessen it. Don’t use physical […]
Many dog owners are asking the same question: why is my dog aggressive? Let’s look in more detail at the many factors that can contribute to or exacerbate aggression in dogs. Lack Of Socialization This cause of aggression is very common. It’s comes about because of poor socialization between six and twelve weeks of […]
Dogs that are aggressive toward other dogs, irrespective of sex, size, or breed, tend to be motivated by a sense of fear. Specific aggression toward dogs of the same gender usually tends to be of the dominant type and can be stimulated by competition coupled with a strong inherited drive to be in charge. […]
Usually the main cause of dog aggressions toward visitors is based on fear, see them as a threat to their safety – they often feel trapped or view a visit as an intrusion on their territory. Dominant dogs often push forward to inspect or bite or nip the visitor; fear driven dogs can react […]
Preventing aggression in dogs is much easier than correcting it later on. There are many different reasons why puppies display aggressive behavior, but all aggressive dogs should be handled with the help of a professional. Aggression in dogs can occur when they trying to escape from a frightening situation. When puppies are not socialized […]
Though fear aggression can be inherited, it mostly occurs as a result of poor early socialization or an early trauma in puppyhood. Most fearful dogs become aggressive as they mature, though not all do. There are still too many breeders who do not like letting puppies go to other homes at seven or eight […]
In this post we will deal with dominance aggression displayed toward people since this is the most common problem in many households with dogs. Dogs are natural predators, and if not socialized and habituated to people and other dogs they can and do use many types of aggression to communicate their personality, mood, and […]
Dog beds can provide your Chihuahua with soft, comfortable place to lie down. Until your puppy is house trained and past the chewing stage, however, you should place the dog bed in a common area of your home where you can supervise. You should not place the bed in the puppy’s crate. A dog […]
In addition to a basic leash and a long leash, houselines and yardlines are essential puppy training tools. They allow an owner to easily gain control of their puppy without having to chase the puppy around. They are also useful for discouraging unwanted behavior, such as stopping a puppy from jumping up or from […]
Now we have a better understanding of how and why some dogs behave in an aggressive manner toward people, we need to adopt a program to demote the problem dog psychologically, and at the same time implement practical training routines that quickly teach the dog that it will have to change if it wants […]
Few dog owners realize that obedience training should be practiced using a leash and collar in the home. The home is where many of the problems with dominant dogs crop up, yet people will happily go off to a club once a week to learn training and may even practice in the park, but […]
Separation anxiety in dogs is probably one of the most common issues what many of us dealing with on a daily basis. But the easiest to understand. Of course, it would be great if we could be with our dogs all the time but in our modern world that’s impossible, and sooner or later […]
This problem nearly always arises when a puppy is spoiled or not conditioned to accept an appropriate routine. As a youngster, it may have been allowed to sleep in its owner’s bedroom and received constant attention, or its cute and cuddly appearance may have attracted excessive fussing from visitors and family alike. The unwitting […]
For dogs barking is a natural form of communication. A dog would hardly be a dog if it didn’t bark sometimes. However, excessive barking can become a quite a big problem. There are several reasons for excessive barking or howling. Some owners encourage a puppy to bark, to develop his guarding ability. In other […]
Dealing with Chihuahua chewing problems is probably the biggest challenge what most Chihuahua owners have to face with. If there’s one thing puppies are known for, it’s their ability to destroy expensive shoes in a matter of minutes. Chihuahuas chew for many reasons – teething, instinct and to explore new things around the house. You […]
Coming in to find your dog munching on your favorite slippers is not everyone’s idea of the ideal owner-dog relationship. Of course, from the dog’s point of view there’s nothing wrong with chewing tasty leather or soft material – it’s only natural to investigate objects by smell and taste, and anyway, it’s great fun. […]
Puppy biting is probably one of the most common behavior problems. For puppies, the best way to explore the world around them is to examine every new object by putting it in their mouths. Although nipping and mouthing is normal, young puppies may have difficulty controlling the strength of their bites, especially when they […]
Have you ever seen a dog growl, freeze or snap to protect their food? Puppies learn this possessive behavior, also called resource guarding, when they are very young. Some puppies become assertive to protect their food and toys from their litter mates. Most puppies, however, don’t behave this way towards people. You can help […]
Many dogs are over attached to their owners and appear to be incapable of spending time on their own. Use the following methods on such dogs to change their view of spending time alone. It is normal in human society for people to spend time alone. Wolf society is also pack-oriented, but wolves can […]
If your Chihuahua is prone to motion sickness, your veterinarian can prescribe medications to help your dog cope with stop and go traffic, long drives, and the monotony of all-day confinement. If you own a vehicle and your dog is not used to long-distance travel, take him on short drives so that he is […]
Each airline has different policies regarding travel with pets. Nearly all charge a fee. Before paying for a reservation, call the airline to determine its pet policy. Remember, airline policies are subject to change without notice. Because of the Chihuahua’s small size, he may avoid being checked as baggage. The dog must, however, be […]
The best person to watch your Chihuahua in your absence is a close friend or relative. A Chihuahua is most comfortable in his own home. If that is not possible, consider either a kennel, house sitter, or day care. Boarding kennels, reputable pet sitters, and day cares all require that your Chihuahua be licensed […]
No matter how handsome your puppy is, if you didn’t buy your Chihuahua as a potential show dog, chances are she won’t win at dog shows. Some dogs are rare exceptions, of course, but your Chi is probably tops at exactly what you bought her for-companionship. Eventually, you’ll need another Chi if you want […]
If you want to see more than a hundred breeds of gorgeous dogs gathered in one place, start attending dog shows. Beside seeing beautifully groomed and trained representatives of all your favorite breeds, you become acquainted with rare breeds that few people ever get to see. Agility and obedience trials often are held in […]
Teaching tricks for dogs, is really easy, especially when you’re dealing with a Chihuahua. Chihuahuas love showing off, and it will surprise you how fast your Chi will learn tricks when you start teaching her. So what are you waiting for? Put some dog treats in your pocket and call your Chi. The benefits […]
Some Chihuahua owners enjoy making the most of their dog’s intelligence and dexterity by participating in dog sports like obedience and agility. Others like to show off their dogs’ beauty in the wondrous world of dog shows. Chihuahuas can also earn Canine Good Citizen Certificates and serve as therapy dogs. Sporting events for dogs may occur indoors […]
Bonding can be relaxing for both you and your Chihuahua. Chihuahuas love attention and body warmth, so holding your puppy in your lap is one of the better ways to bond with her. And she won’t mind if you read or watch television at the same time! While you’re holding your dog, you can […]
