Stop scooping, start training
Lifting a worried dog away from everything removes its chance to learn. Give distance instead, and reward the dog for choosing to look.
Toy Group
Chihuahua
The smallest breed, with none of the smallest attitudes. Most Chihuahua behaviour problems come from a world that is genuinely too big, plus a well-meaning habit of picking the dog up instead of teaching it.
BoldLoyalEasily overwhelmed
What to work on first
Three things that matter more than the rest
Ask before you touch
Teach a consent signal for being handled or lifted. Snapping in toy breeds is usually the last step after quieter signals were ignored.
Train the same syllabus as a big dog
Recall, loose lead, settle, and handling. Small size is not a reason to skip any of it.
Where it usually goes wrong
Common challenges with the Chihuahua
- Fear-based snapping
- Barking at strangers
- Refusing to walk in cold
Behaviour that involves biting, real fear, or a sudden change in an adult dog is not a training problem until a vet has ruled out a medical one.
Recommended equipment
What our guidance for this breed calls for
Chosen against the training plan above, not against a supplier's bestseller list.
Most recommended
Also in the Toy group