To avoid your Chihuahua becoming possessive and invading another dog’s domain, arrange a meeting in a neutral location. The finest location is a tiny portion of a peaceful park or the area between your yard and that of a neighbor. You want your Chihuahua to feel as comfortable as possible, so plan beforehand.
How should a Chihuahua be introduced to a large dog?
Allow the dogs to approach one another while being restrained before initiating contact. Allow them to see one another, but keep a safe space between them.
So that they understand there is nothing to be concerned about, keep them on a loose leash. Anxiety can alter your chihuahua’s behavior, which can be indicated by a taut leash.
Then, turn around and change lanes while keeping the dogs apart, and let them to sniff each other’s footprints.
You can then allow them to approach close and smell each other after they are both accustomed with each other’s fragrance. As he’ll undoubtedly feel less confident around a larger dog, let your chihuahua decide the pace.
Release the leashes if they appear to be fine. Step back and let the dogs take care of themselves. There’s no need to be pushy; doing so could agitate the dogs and sabotage the meeting.
Do Chihuahuas and dogs get along?
Chihuahuas are known for having an independent spirit. Although they are kind and tender dogs once they feel at ease with the owner. When it comes to getting along with other dogs, this breed of dog is not the friendliest. This innate inclination can be mimicked with appropriate socialization beginning in the puppy stage and methodical training.
You have arrived to the ideal location if you currently own a Chihuahua and are considering getting a new dog. In this post, we’ll compare the chemistry of your dog to that of a few well-known dog breeds. Following this section are several tried-and-true training methods that will improve the dog’s socialization with other canines.
Schedule play
Plan out social events for your Chihuahua. To help your Chihuahua become accustomed to being around both people and other dogs, schedule social time with both. Make sure you schedule socialization sessions with canines that you are familiar and at ease with. Your Chihuahua needs to be in a safe place because he is a small dog and is still learning how to be social. Have snacks ready for both dogs.
Even field
When you’re prepared to arrange a playdate for your Chihuahua and another dog, make sure to choose a location where both dogs will have an equal playing field. This should take place in a public area, not at your home or the home of the other dog. Meet together in the open air on a stroll or in a park. Avoid dog parks or other canines since they might prevent these two men from getting to know one another.
Set the tone
Tell your Chihuahua that he is safe and that what you are doing with him is OK by using your vocal tones. When you converse to your Chihuahua, he will pick up on whatever stress or anxiety you are experiencing, so be composed and soothing.
Leash and harness
Make sure to tether and leash your Chihuahua before introducing him to another dog or even a person. If you need to remove your Chihuahua from another animal or person before he becomes very violent, don’t use just a leash and collar because pulling on them can hurt your little guy. If you need to pull on the leash, your dog is protected by a harness made just for your Chihuahua.
Treats
Give the dogs a treat as soon as they come into contact. You don’t have to make them work for it at first. Just reward them with something tasty for sharing the same place. You can ask them both to perform commands like “sit” over time as they come to know one another and sniff each other, and then reward them both with treats. This demonstrates to your Chihuahua that the other dog is on an equal footing with him and that they can both earn rewards by being kind and good.
Avoid
It’s possible that the two dogs are wary of getting to know one another, or that your Chihuahua is wary while the other dog is extremely eager. Holding on to their individual leashes, try to give them some space, and if at all possible, stay away from them. Give them a little time to become acquainted. If you ignore either dog, give them each a reward; otherwise, keep your distance.
Growling
Gently tug on your Chihuahua’s leash to pull on his harness and tell him that you are there and that he is secure and does not need to retaliate violently if the other dog starts to growl at him. Give your dog a treat when you see him at home and he’s not growling. Your Chihuahua will understand what you expect of him if you reward positive conduct.
Practice
As often as you can, continue to practice socializing your dog with both people and other dogs. Keep your socializing sessions brief unless your Chihuahua and the other dogs are quite at ease with one another. As a result, socializing will be enjoyable for you and low-stress.
At home
You’ll know the socialization is successful if you catch your Chihuahua acting properly at home without growling at you or your visitors. Make sure to reinforce good conduct with good rewards, such treats.
Food
By teaching your Chihuahua to wait for his food, you can maintain good behavior. This elevates your position inside your pack relative to his. Make him wait for his food or earn it by having him follow simple instructions.
Big dog
Similar to how you would treat a larger dog, treat your Chihuahua. Don’t move him about on your shoulders. Get him to move. Don’t overindulge him or spoil him. Give him the means to behave independently when required by providing him with tools like pet stairs to utilize to climb up on your furniture or bed. You should still be able to hold your Chihuahua; just have him do what he can do on his own. This will boost your self-assurance.
Positive behavior
Reward your Chihuahua when you notice it acting in a nice way. Give your Chihuahua a treat if he comes to you when you call. Give him a treat if someone reaches out to pet him. Give him a treat when he doesn’t snarl at other dogs when they are nearby.
Ignore your Chihuahua’s growls and wait for them to end. Give him a treat once he has stopped. Continue to refocus his actions in this manner until you may approach him with your hand or have another person close by without the Chihuahua growling.
Consistent
Be consistent with your expectations and the praise you give your Chihuahua for good behavior. Because your Chihuahua is becoming more accustomed to good behavior, do not stop rewarding him. Reward him regularly for doing well in order to keep him acting in the way you desire. When he becomes more sociable, you can raise the bar a little and only reward him when he is completely silent, as opposed to when he stops roaring.
Pay attention
For a few days, keep an eye on your Chihuahua and note when and why he growls. Make a list of the activities that give him the want to growl in discomfort.
Conditioning
Establish those occasions as brief training sessions once you have a list of the events that cause your Chihuahua to growl. Work alone or with someone your dog knows but isn’t completely at ease with if he growls whenever someone approaches him. When the doorbell rings, if he growls, utilize this as a teaching moment.
Activities
Set up scenarios that closely resemble the actual trigger occurrence with your trigger list in hand to teach your Chihuahua how to feel secure and at ease. Sit with your dog and use your phone to mimic the sound your Chihuahua makes when the doorbell rings. Give him a treat as soon as he notices the sound. Prior to his growling, try to give him this goodie.
People
Reintroduce your Chihuahua to a familiar person to train him to be around others. Have this person sit next to him and give him a treat to push his comfort level a little. Do not attempt to immediately deliver the treat to the dog. This individual can place a reward close by to entice your Chihuahua to go grab it and eventually progress to hand-feeding your Chihuahua the treat.
Practice these techniques with your Chihuahua to accustom him to the people, animals, and activities that put his comfort and safety at risk. Repetition of situations that make him growl while delivering rewards can help him get used to them happening frequently.
Why is my Chihuahua so hostile to dogs in general?
Aggression is an indication of territorial protection and includes barking, biting, nipping, and even getting ready to physically attack another dog. It is possible to train a Chihuahua with this habit to put along with other dogs and, at worst, make friends with them.
How should my Chihuahua be socialized?
can interact both with people and with other animals. Whenever you introduce your Chihuahua
I have to keep telling him to act that way. Keep your dog training sessions brief and packed with
Commands
Teach your Chihuahua all the commands he can learn so he can be the alpha dog in your home. To persuade him to sit and lie down on command, start with the fundamentals. Then progress to adorable tricks like begging, rolling over, or standing on the hind legs. Little dogs can pick up a variety of entertaining tricks that, when performed, will draw favorable attention to him. Make sure to give him treats at the end of each training session in addition to the ones he receives for working well.
Keep your Chihuahua from free-feeding. Give him his meals on a regular basis. Make a great deal out of putting their meals on the table and cooking them.
‘Wait’ command
Train your Chihuahua to stand back from you while you are making the food and setting it up, if at all feasible. Your Chihuahua should be able to see you make his meals, but he shouldn’t be permitted to jump up or whine. The ‘wait’ command can be trained to assist with this.
Territory
Show your dog the area of your house that is his. Take the Chihuahua on a leash to a specific section of your yard to train him to exclusively use that space when house training. You are demonstrating to him that you are the dominant dog and will set the rules by keeping him on a leash and directing him where to go.
Shared spaces
Keep your dog off your couch and bed while he is being trained to be a good social dog. While he is learning to obey you, give him a cozy floor bed that is close to you. Treats and a soothing tone of voice are important forms of communication with him, but you shouldn’t allow him approach you until you are confident in his ability to be a sociable, well-rounded pet.
Social
As often as you can, socialize your Chihuahua to get him acquainted to people and other dogs. The more frequently and earlier you can do this, the more accustomed he will be to being around people and animals without your guidance.
All together
Put all these things together and expose your dog to more people and animals once he has through obedience training, been socialized, understood who feeds him and his duty while awaiting meals, and knows he must earn his way on the couch or in your areas, even your arms. He will succeed if he is properly prepared and trained.
Position
Taking on the role of the alpha dog and demanding respect from your Chihuahua. He will eventually understand that you also expect him to respect other people.
Set boundaries
Early on, establish your boundaries. Put your Chihuahua down if he is acting violently or growling, or don’t pick him up at all. The behavior will only be reinforced as beneficial for your Chihuahua if you baby or coddle it.
Remain calm
Never correct your Chihuahua in a furious tone or voice. Screaming at your Chihuahua just conveys conflicting signals of hostility and rage. When you notice your Chihuahua misbehaving or acting aggressively, keep your cool and re-direct him.
Wait
Teach your dog to be patient. Have your Chihuahua wait for what he wants at all times, from leaving the house to feeding time, as you see fit. Holding the door open for your dog to follow, step through it first. Before you let your Chihuahua eat, make him wait until you set the bowl down as he watches you prepare the food.
Work dog
Make your dog work for rewards. Before you give him food, you can command him to sit. Have him “beg” or stand on his hind legs for being picked up before you take him up or let him into your bed or on the couch.
Social dog
Encourage your dog to interact socially with people and other animals as early as possible. As your Chihuahua learns about the world, use your commands with him. This will teach him appropriate social behavior.
Friendly dog
Your dog will respect other people if he has learnt commands from you, is sociable, understands how to work for what he wants, and respects you. Assure him that you expect him to be amiable and keep giving him orders for respect while he is among people and animals to make sure his conduct is appropriate.
From the start
Determine your boundaries before bringing a Chihuahua home. Decide in advance whether your Chihuahua will sleep in your bed, be permitted on your couch, or be carried a lot of the time. Establish clear ground rules for your Chihuahua in your home, such as not letting him join you in the bathroom or the kitchen when you are cooking.
Obedience training
Start teaching your Chihuahua to obey commands as soon as you get him home. Even if your dog loses interest, persist since Chihuahuas can be obstinate. During training, provide high-value goodies and keep sessions brief. To establish yourself as the pack leader, start with the fundamentals. If you don’t do this right away, your Chihuahua can take charge before you even realize it.
Aggression
A lot of the time, your Chihuahua will growl, especially as he gets to know the people and animals in your environment. Do not let him get away with growling in the direction of your visitors. If he’s going to be violent, don’t hold him or show him affection. Be strong and disregard bad behavior, but excessively commend positive behavior.
Good behavior
Give your Chihuahua a sweet, high-value food as a reward when you notice him behaving amiable toward a member of your family, a visitor, or another animal. Choose if your Chihuahua can sit on your lap or on the couch as long as it is well-behaved while establishing your boundaries. If so, allow these things as rewards when he behaves well.
Socialize
Take your Chihuahua on frequent walks so that it can experience the world. He must feel at ease with guests entering your home and with other animals being close by. Unsocialized Chihuahuas will cling to their owners and be afraid of strangers. Take your Chihuahua everywhere you can from the beginning. Allow others to pat or hold him when he is lying on the ground. Introduce other dogs to him.
Always give a treat at the conclusion of social time, training time, times of good behavior, and moments of affection.
