how do you discipline a 4 year old Chihuahua?

Question

well u guys she is 4 because i adopted her at that age and she was abused so im afraid to hit her wat should i do if i hit her will it hurt her feelings?

Answer 1

It really depends on what you are trying to teach him to do or not do. Chihuahuas are pretty stubborn (atleast mine is), but with patience and consistency you can teach it. If my chihuahua does something that he shouldn't I usually just have to say his name and point at him and he knows to stop. Good luck!

Answer 2

Try using the 'time out' method... :) Seriously, though you'll just need to have a lot of patience. I have a 6 yr old chihuahua that use to belong to my husband's ex-wife. She took a job that involved a lot of traveling so she wanted to give it back to him after two years. He's 2 1/2 lbs and has many neuorlogical problems and well as health problems ie. almost blind, bad teeth, skiddish, snappy, etc. I took him on and worked with him A LOT! He's learned to trust me and is now more relaxed. It's taken me about 4 months to recondition him but he'll never be a lap dog and that's OK. He's so cute though, mostly white with a few brown spots. Wouldn't dream of taking him to the shelter - I'm positive no one will adopt him. So we're are the best for his life - God love him. Just keeping working with your chi and after a while he will reward you with good behaviour. Deep down dogs are people pleaser's.

Answer 3

The first thing you do is pop it's nose alittle not hard. and you never beat on an animal. It is kinda a late start on disipline you should start like when they are puppies. like 6 months.
no newspaper no shoe nothing like that just do a little pop on the nose, he may sneeze but that is normal they hate it when you do that but that is how you teach them. I am an animal specialist i work with animals as my job i have to train them to be good just like a kid stubburn but it doesn't take much to do so.

Tip: never hit a dog on it's back. either pop on the nose or behind.
Hitting a dog on it's back could damage it's spine.
Hitting a dog on it's head could give it brain damage.

Answer 4

What are you trying to discipline him for? If it's a housebreaking accident, forget it - punishment for that will do more harm than good, by making him afraid to go in front of you. Here's an article on housetraining, written especially for small dogs: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1684&S=1&SourceID=47

The most effective way to train a dog, especially a stubborn or independent breed of dog, is to make the dog believe that what you want him to do is what HE wants to do. Make doing what you want him to do rewarding for him, and he'll soon start behaving. Many people make the mistake of focusing more on what they want the dog to NOT do, rather than what they want him TO do. This is confusing and frustrating for both the dog and owner - the dog's life basically consists of constantly being punished for doing things, because he doesn't know what you want from him, and so he gets frustrated, you get frustrated, and your bond with your dog gets damaged. Training should be fun for both you and your dog. A great book for training 'stubborn' breeds is 'So Your Dog's Not Lassie', by Betty Fisher & Suzanne Delzio: http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTB563

Another good training book is 'The Power of Positive Dog Training' by Pat Miller. http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB723

If you want to learn to understand where your dog is coming from and better communicate with him, this book is great:
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB745

Once he's learned a few basic commands, be sure to start the "Nothing In Life Is Free" program with him, described here:
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/nilif.pdf

That will help establish your place as leader, and his place in the pack - it will help to keep him from becoming pushy with you, and will give him more confidence if he's shy, because you're taking charge.

Good luck!

Answer 5

This is what my veterinarian suggested to me. I did this with my five chihuahuas. Get a small spray bottle and fill it with plain water. Whenever the dog disobeys, squirt him with the water once or twice and tell him no. Make sure you don't get him too wet. I don't even have to squirt mine very much anymore. All they have to do is to see the spray bottle, and they turn into perfect little angels. Hope this helps! Good Luck!

Answer 6

I went on study abroad and when I got back, my bf taught her discipline and all I do is repeat exactly what he does to get her to obey. If she is barking at the neighbors' pitbulls, I call her name and clap twice, and she comes. If she is barking in the house, I tell her "no" and she stops. If I tell her to "go lie down," it means she goes to her cage. I give the command 2 times. If she still doesn't listen to me, I lower my voice into an alpha-male sound and say the command again. It never fails to get her attention.

Answer 7

I just adopted one myself that is this age and the only thing that I have found that works is a spray bottle of water. When your dog is doing something wrong say sternly "NO" and spray once only. I know this sounds odd but it was suggested to me through my vet to get mine from climbing on my coffee table and it works for us.

Answer 8

you have to be consistent with your correction. if your gonna correct behavior, you must first understand what is not acceptable. he probably thinks he's the boss, so establish your authority first. dont let him do anything that you would not let a BIG dog do...like jump on you, bark at you, jump on top of your furniture, growl...etc. and be firm and consistent with your correction (spray bottle, NO!, smack with rolled up newspaper) whatever you do dont yell, because it will get them excited. speak firmly

Answer 9

The question is, what are you doing or not doing that changed your dog's behavior after 4 years?

Answer 10

Either take it to a class or...
i would say bad boy and take a magazine and hit it on its back the point of that is to make a loud sound and it will get scared...
but dont hit him to hard...
GOOD LUCK...