How to Train a Chihuahua So You Have a Fun and Happy Dog

By Al Bullington

If you learn the basics of how to train a Chihuahua, you will have a great relationship with your pet. Fail to train your dog and you could have serious problems. Here's what I mean.

Though the Chihuahua is the smallest breed, these dogs have a lot of personality in a small package. As you probably know that can mean a dog with an aggressive nature. That attitude can be directed toward you, toward other people or toward other animals. Now this makes sense in many ways. Since a Chihuahua is so small the dogs really are quite vulnerable to injury. So many times what seems to be aggression is just the dog's attempt at self-preservation.

So you as a dog owner can make the do feel secure by setting some behavior boundaries and always protecting the dog from dangers. That's in the dog's best interest and in yours.

Let's face it, a snippy, barking, biting dog that makes a mess everywhere is no fun for anyone including the dog.

Housebreaking is the place to start. Getting the dog potty trained is the first step to a well socialized pup. Be patient at all times and consistent. Establish feeding routines and watch your pup especially after feeding for any signs that he needs to go out. Then get the pup where you want the elimination to happen. Keep this up for just a few days and you should start having success.

Then soon you can move to some simple obedience training. Even just "sit" and "come" are very helpful commands to know and have mastered. Especially with Chihuahua puppies, be very gentle with handling during training. Be lavish with praise but very gentle with correction. Keep at it knowing how important it is for your dog to learn to obey and to be well behaved.

Socialization of your dog is important. Introduce your puppy to other people and even other pets in a familiar setting. Avoid scary situations, but begin to let your pup have many different experiences.

Puzzled about how to train your Chihuahua? Need more information? Visit our site for ideas about how to train a Chihuahua . We invite you to visit http://www.ChihuahuaTips.com for answers to your Chihuahua dog questions.