Chihuahuas look very cute and defenseless due to their tiny size, and therefore, people who are not familiar with this breed often do not take them seriously and consider them something like a living toy. Meanwhile, Chihuahuas are distinguished by their mobility, endurance and strong character. These are friendly and loyal pets to their owners. who can be considered, albeit small, but interesting, quite complex and multifaceted personalities.
Description of features
Each of the representatives of this breed has its own individual disposition and behavior, in which qualities such as, for example, curiosity, playfulness, stubbornness and fearlessness can be combined in different ways. What kind of character a dog will turn out to be is largely determined by its heredity, as well as upbringing and training. But at the same time, there are a number of features characteristic of all Chihuahuas.
The psychology of a dog of this breed is characterized by great emotionality and, despite its small size, endurance and tirelessness. Chihuahuas love to run and play with their owners, however, when playing with such a small pet, owners need to be careful not to accidentally injure him.
Another characteristic of dogs is that they become very attached to their owners and require constant attention from them, which can make them seem intrusive. The Chihuahua does not tolerate loneliness well and does not like to be left alone at home in the apartment, begins to whine and therefore is ready to accompany its owner everywhere. However, their devotion often borders on jealousy: these dogs do not like it when their owners show signs of attention to someone other than themselves.
Representatives of this breed are distinguished by fearlessness and endowed with innate protective qualities.
They are not afraid to engage in battle with an enemy superior in size and are ready to defend their owner or his property without hesitation. Chihuahuas are considered not the simplest pets in character, as they are characterized by stubbornness, jealousy and even selfishness. If raised incorrectly and without socialization, they can become disobedient, capricious and biting dogs. This often happens when the owner of a Chihuahua thinks that a small dog does not need training, and, therefore, there is no need to teach it commands.
And permissiveness also does not have the best effect on the character of the Chihuahua. If you allow a pet of this breed to do whatever he wants, the dog will decide that this is how it should be. Subsequently, this can lead to the fact that the dog will not obey the owner at all and will act exclusively as it sees fit.
But one should not think that Chihuahuas are obstinate dogs that do not want to respect their owners and follow their commands. In fact, these dogs are distinguished by a more stable psyche compared to other decorative breeds; they are sociable and are good at sensing the owner’s mood. If the owner is willing to communicate with the pet, the Chihuahua will play with him with pleasure, and if he is busy with other things, he will wait until they pay attention to her.
Aboriginal breed
This is what we mean – Chihuahuas, because Mexicans know how to treat sacred animals like no one else. There is a special aura around the little ones, which makes them appreciate and extol the breed. Unfortunately, there is no exact confirmation of any of the legends about the Mayans and Chihuahuas, but one thing is clear - dogs are sacred. There is an assumption that the dogs helped their owners go safely to another world when the time of death came. The dogs did this thanks to the fontanel not overgrowing.
Perhaps the Chihuahua was even placed in the grave with the deceased owner; this, of course, is blasphemy at first glance, and at second glance too. Nowadays they would hardly dare to take such a step, even out of excessive love for their sneeze. But still, the dog is recognized as the ideal life partner of a modern person, not only for glamorous ladies and celebrities, but also for elderly, lonely people. The fashion for Chihuahuas as a breed arose in the 20th century; everyone seemed to go crazy for them, choosing the one they liked most from a wide variety of colors.
We will say one thing - if you want, start one and you will never regret it! After all, a Chihuahua feels the mood of its owner in a special way, it is faithful and devoted, it is a protector and a cute, funny rusher in one “bottle.” But seriously, the inner world of a dog is much larger than its size, you can only be convinced of this by living with the dog side by side in sorrow and joy.
Properties of temperament
Chihuahuas are less prone to cowardice, hysterics and sudden mood swings than other toy breeds. These dogs behave with dignity, they are majestic and courageous, despite their tiny size, however, they can be somewhat arrogant and headstrong.
Chihuahua owners note that the temperamental characteristics of their pet are related to the type of breed it belongs to.
Thus, long-haired dogs are distinguished by a softer, calmer and friendlier disposition, while smooth-haired dogs are more active, emotional and can be vicious towards strangers or strange dogs.
Positive traits
- Brave and courageous: the Chihuahua is not afraid to get into a fight with an opponent superior in size and strength.
- Loyal to their owners.
- Patient and self-possessed.
- With proper training, they grow up to be friendly and obedient dogs.
- Not prone to hysterics or cowardice: Chihuahuas have a more balanced and stable psyche than many other miniature and dwarf dog breeds.
- Active and playful.
- An affectionate and sociable disposition makes these dogs wonderful pets.
- Despite the fact that Chihuahuas are very small, they make good guards who can not only scare away an intruder by barking, but also, if necessary, bite him.
Negative
- Monogamous people: they tend to become attached to only one person in the family.
- They may become jealous of the owner's other pets or even children.
- They are very touchy and do not tolerate rough treatment.
- The increased emotionality of these dogs sometimes leads to uncontrolled urination in Chihuahuas in stressful situations.
- They need an individual approach to training.
- With improper upbringing or its complete absence, these dogs can turn into real domestic tyrants: stubborn, disobedient and even biting.
Adaptability
Chihuahuas are highly active: they willingly play with their owners and love to be the center of attention. These dogs have a special attachment to whichever owner spends more time with them. At the same time, Chihuahuas try to seek attention from all family members without exception and can sometimes seem too intrusive.
These dogs love to accompany their owners everywhere and have nothing against traveling or even traveling together. The small size of representatives of this breed allows Chihuahua owners to take their pet everywhere: to the dacha, on a visit, or, for example, on a shopping trip.
A properly raised and socialized pet of this breed gets along well with children, but adult family members must supervise the child’s play with the dog so that the baby does not cause harm to the animal. In the event that children are still too small and cannot distinguish a live dog from a toy, the best solution would be to protect the Chihuahua from communicating with them until they grow up.
The Chihuahua is distrustful of strangers, and therefore can loudly bark at guests who come to the house.
However, if you let the pet understand that the guest does not pose a danger and has a positive attitude towards the owners, the dog will understand this and quickly calm down. Chihuahuas often show aggression towards other animals and can be cocky towards other people's dogs. At the same time, they can attack even a larger dog without hesitation, and therefore, in order to avoid serious fights, owners need to constantly keep their pet under control during walks and, if possible, avoid conflict situations.
People who decide to have another dog in the house should take into account that Chihuahuas are more loyal to representatives of their own breed. This does not mean at all that she will not be able to get along with a larger dog, but in this case a lot depends on the character traits of the other pet. In any case, in the beginning, conflicts between both dogs are inevitable and the owners need to be ready to intervene at any time to prevent a fight between them.
Where to start training a Chihuahua
The very first step that will make the puppy well-mannered is, perhaps, training the Chihuahua to use the tray. To do this, you will have to place the dog in the purchased low tray every time after eating and sleeping. It is permissible to put a cloth or napkin with traces of Chihuahua urine in your home dog toilet so that the baby understands what the tray is for.
The little dog will need to be accustomed to walking gear at an early age.
To do this, a miniature collar and leash need to be presented to the dog’s gaze, giving the Chihuahua the opportunity to get used to new objects. Then every day you should put a collar and leash on your pet for at least 10 minutes so that there are no incidents on the street. Training a Chihuahua at home certainly includes teaching the “Sit” command.
. In order for the baby to understand what they want from him, every time before putting a bowl full of food on the floor, you should say calmly, looking into the pet’s eyes, the phrase “Sit.” If the puppy is very small, you can help him a little by slightly pressing on the lumbar area and saying a command word. Every meal should be accompanied by the word “Sit.”
The command “No!” is obligatory for a Chihuahua (and in general for dogs of any breed).
. Whenever the dog does something bad (tears books, bites, barks for no reason, etc.), you need to say strictly “No!”, and loudly. For example, a puppy started playing and bit its owner. In such a situation, you need not only to say the command, but also to move away from the baby at a certain distance, leaving him alone for a short time.
The command "Fu!"
will also need to be learned. You can watch the puppy while walking. Trying to pick something up from the ground? You should lightly tug the leash, pronouncing the command strictly and clearly. The same needs to be done if the dog, for example, sniffs other people’s marks or takes a treat from someone else’s hands.
Training a Chihuahua puppy also includes the “Down” command
. To do this, the owner takes some treat in his hand (pieces of cheese, biscuits, dog biscuits, etc.). The dog is nearby in a sitting position. The owner lowers the treat closer to the floor, ensuring that the dog does not just bend over, but lies down. All the time you need to say the command “Lie down”. It is permissible to lightly press on the dog’s back, as if helping it to lie down.
In order for the dog to know where its corner is, it will need to be trained on the “Place” command.
. Whenever a puppy, tired from playing, is in a hurry to lie down on the sofa or on the floor, you should take him to the bed, pronouncing the command word (“Place”) calmly, but quite sternly. The dog doesn't want to lie where it was told? The owner will have to repeat the steps again and again.
You will definitely need a Chihuahua and the “Nearby” command
. To learn it, you will need to walk the dog at a level with you while holding a leash. As soon as the dog pulls forward, you will have to lightly tug the leash, saying the command “Near.” This will need to be done every time the animal walks ahead of its owner.
The command “Come to me” is also considered mandatory.
. It is easy to train a dog if you call on someone from your family or friends to help. The assistant takes the dog in his arms, moving away from the owner at a certain distance. Then the owner says the command word (“Come to me”), and the assistant releases the dog. Did the puppy immediately run up? It is worth praising and treating him. If the dog runs away from the owner in the hands of an assistant, you will have to use a treat. The owner, having spoken the command, shows the Chihuahua a treat. If the dog runs up for a treat, you should praise him. And next time repeat the actions, but without tasty reward.
All of the commands listed above are the simplest, but at the same time the most necessary for Chihuahuas. It’s now clear where to start training. The time has come to figure out how to behave when an owner decides to train a Chihuahua dog.
Impact on learning
Raising a Chihuahua puppy should begin from the day it arrives in the house. Moreover, given that dogs of this breed do not perceive methods of punishment well, when training and socializing them it is recommended to use methods of encouragement rather than censure. Little Chihuahuas are very sensitive to praise and affection and, if treated correctly and gently, are quite trainable.
However, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that by nature these dogs are characterized by touchiness, stubbornness and inflated self-esteem, and therefore it is necessary to kindly but persistently force the pet to do what is required. If you miss the moment or encourage these negative qualities in a growing Chihuahua, then the dog will grow up capricious, arrogant and disobedient.
When raising and training a Chihuahua, it is necessary to be strict from time to time, but at the same time it is unacceptable to offend the pet, shout at it, or, especially, beat it.
A dog will never forgive rough treatment; it can lose trust in its owner, become embittered and uncontrollable. When punishing a Chihuahua, verbal reprimand expressed in a stern tone will be enough: the pet will understand that the owner is dissatisfied with his behavior and will try not to upset him anymore. Among the positive qualities that are important for training, it should be noted that Chihuahuas are distinguished by high intelligence and quick wits. They have excellent reactions and good memory. With the right approach to training, these dogs remember commands well and can perform simple actions, for example, fetching small objects at the request of the owner.
Costs of behavior
Now you will read the most interesting information about Chihuahuas, because they are real comedians of their kind. Chihuahuas' behavior and character sometimes seem strange, so you can't look at them without smiling. The first strange thing is trembling; it can occur for any reason, from cold to fear.
The subcutaneous fat in dogs is too thin and cannot replace heat loss. That’s why, with any excitement, even if it’s a rustle, they begin to tremble, especially if there was an active walk before. This does not mean that the dog is so afraid of everything, on the contrary, it is fearlessness itself. But you need to warm it up and caress it, and don’t leave the dog in this state. By the way, do not forget to dress warmly even at home.
But here is the second oddity, no less attractive and funny. Any rag lying around in your house helps your dog compensate for the lack of warmth and comfort, but if it’s not lying around, the dog will find it. It could be a blanket, blanket, sheet, whatever. Burying his nose in the cozy material and hiding there completely, the sneeze feels quite normal. Such equipment, or rather “mole syndrome,” allows dogs to feel confident and warm. And, of course, it will add more difficulties for you, because finding your favorite then turns out to be the most difficult thing.
If the previous costs of behavior are natural, then barking for no reason at everything that moves is already miseducation. The culture of your pet’s behavior depends on you, let’s be honest with each other; by pampering, you only develop the traits of egocentrism and selfishness in your dog. And, of course, they arouse even greater jealousy towards you. And if you want a truly funny performance, put a toy in front of your dog - a repeat Hamster and enjoy, the sneeze will not leave him for a minute, this is where you can throw out your emotions - in communication!
