Every dog has the instinctive potential to be fearful or aggressive, and situations will arise when fight or flight are the best options. This can be especially true if you happen to be the smallest individual in a particular encounter, which is generally the case for Chihuahuas. However, many Chihuahuas resort to these extreme reactions simply because they have never learned anything else.
A properly socialized Chihuahua has better communication tools at his disposal. He is not going to be intimidated when an unfamiliar dog or person offers a greeting. If he doesn’t enjoy a social encounter, he can also let you know in more subtle, acceptable ways.
Regular socialization gives him the opportunity to hone these skills and develop confidence. Ideally, a puppy should have regular social encounters with new individuals on a daily basis until he is four months old. Although it’s easier to accomplish this with a Chihuahua than a Mastiff, this may be unrealistic for the average dog owner.
Concentrate on providing consistently positive social introductions to people and other dogs several times each week. This can be accomplished by going for walks, taking him along as you do errands, visiting friends, or attending a training class. The only restriction is your ability to manage these social encounters to ensure that it is safe and positive. New experiences are an important component of learning. Your goal is to provide situations that are challenging, but they must be challenges he can handle without feeling any need to become defensive.
Keep some training treats handy to reward your Chihuahua whenever he happily accepts attention from a stranger or reacts calmly to a novel situation. These encounters don’t need to be prolonged or intense. A quick pat on the head from a stranger might be quite enough for one day. Of course, if your Chihuahua is bold and adventurous, he will let you know that he wants to do a bit more socializing. Never discourage this, but always keep safety in mind.
Strangers often ask to pick up and hold a Chihuahua when they want to make friends. This type of encounter may be far too intense for some dogs. There is also a risk that he may be accidentally dropped if he gets too excited or nervous and begins to struggle.
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