2007-09-30 09:37:54 · 9 answers · asked by jennifer484 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Chihuahuas are no worse than any other breed if properly socialized and trained. You can take obedience group lessons with the dog if you need to. Ask your vet for a reference to a good trainer who gives group obedience lessons or try Petco - they schedule them too. It's fun, socializes your dog as well as teaches obedience.
The problem with little dogs like chis is that all too many people think it's cute if they act like little monsters. Behavior that would be completely unacceptable in big dogs is considered funny when little dogs are tyrants.
Nothing to do with the breed, just the training.
2007-09-30 09:42:49 · answer #1 · answered by rescue member 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of them tend to be a bit on the bad side because their owners let them get that way. They carry the dog around like a little baby and hold it constantly, and when it barks or bites, they think its ok because the dog is so small--can't do much damage if any.
Chihuahuas don't know they are small. They are courageous and will bark at strangers if they aren't socialized properly or if you let them think they are in charge of the house.
Making sure that your dog recognizes you as the leader will stop a lot of bad behaviors. If you have a chihuahua, its a good idea to let it walk around on its own. They have legs and like to run and play too. Picking up a chihuahua when near a strange dog, person, or situation can cause temperament problems because it will make the dog feel like its five feet tall and large enough to take on whatever it is, and you would be rewarding its aggressive behavior.
Holding the dog constantly will lead to seperation anxiety when you have to leave the dog. And in the real world, you just can't possibly have your dog with you 24/7. Having the chihuahua sleep in another room in its own bed is a good idea.
Chihuahuas can learn tricks just like any other dog. Making them work for food will show the dog you are the leader. If you feed the dog around your breakfast and/or dinner time, eat your food first, then feed the dog when you are done. The leader always eats first. It will only help you have a better behaved dog, not a spoiled brat. I love chihuahuas, just there are a ton of them that get spoiled to that point.
2007-09-30 18:49:03 · answer #2 · answered by Akatsuki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chihuahuas are just like any other dog. First you should make sure they know basic training, which is easy. Some people like to go to a dog trainer for that. But other people prefer to train their dogs themselves.
Some small dogs such as chihuahuas are behave badly because they are sometimes dominate, and if their owners let them sleep on the their bed or on their chest, the that is showing that they are the boss. That is what usually causes them to act badly.
2007-09-30 17:36:18 · answer #3 · answered by MeiG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the nreeding and the socialization as a puppy. If you spent an hour in my house with my chihuahuas you would see that they are the best, most loving breed there has ever been. People are just amazed when they come and see how well my dogs are behaved. When someone first comes in they will bark alot but if people just sit down, the dogs will come over to them begging to be petted or to get a belly rub. My dogs are not ankle biters. They are just wonderful, sweet, loving dogs. None of mine have ever had professional training. I have one girl named Skeeter who has never met someone she didn't like. She loves everyone and everyone loves her. She is not a barker, well not much. In her almost 6 yr, she has probably barked less than 30 times and when she does bark it is a happy bark.
2007-09-30 19:51:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's fair to say they are badly behaved, but I DO think it is fair to say they are VERY intelligent, and, beleive it or not, intelligent dogs are much harder to train, especially if you haven't too much experience. They tend to train their owners, before the owners can train them! People often THINK they want a clever dog, so they can train it well, but, in truth, thick dogs are MUCH easier to train well! From what I've seen, most chihuahuas are very, very intelligent, and it isn;t that they are badly behaved, it is that they are BOSS in most relationships. If you are happy, and strong enough to be a 24/7 no nonsense leader, then you will be 3/4s of the way to having a well behaved chihuahua! =)
2007-09-30 16:48:17 · answer #5 · answered by Aye. Right! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ugh chihuahuas are not bad at all, people associate them as bad because they cant train them to what they want from a dog, chih are just dogs that love to be held and cuddled because they are so small, professional help would be needed if he/she was agressive towards anything or others. but other than that chih are really easy to maintain and train!
2007-09-30 16:44:29 · answer #6 · answered by arabiantwilight56 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chihuahua's, for the most part, aren't so bad.
Trouble comes when people treat them like babies, not dogs.
If you find a well bred one, socialize and train it properly, treat it like a dog, and they are fine.
I do recommend a training class. It teaches you how to train so that you don't cause any problems. They're super fun too.
Good luck
2007-09-30 16:44:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, they just become overly protective because of their small size they get a lot of attention from their owners, as in, you can't tote a 50 lb. pit bull around. Just let them know it want be tolerated and when they act out don't pet them because that just justifies their behavior to them.
I own one and he is my heart.
Watch The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic channel.
2007-09-30 16:46:47 · answer #8 · answered by blessed1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For me they are bad my father in law has one she doesn't even know her commands and poops and pees on the newspaper that is soo sad though she is like 3 or 4 yrs. old they are such traders
2007-09-30 16:43:31 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋