The Dog Who Trained Me First
My chihuahua, Fig, trained me before I trained her. She trained me to open the door when she stared at it. To hand over food when she pawed my leg. To pick her up when she stood at my feet and whined. She had me fully conditioned within two weeks of coming home. This chihuahua training tips guide covers everything you need to know.
As noted by Wag: How to Train Your Chihuahua to Be Friendly, this matters more than most owners realize.
It took me another month to realize I was the one being managed. Chihuahuas are smart. Dangerously smart. Training a chihuahua is not about dominance. It is about being slightly smarter than a four-pound animal with unlimited persistence.
Tip 1: Start With the Basics, No Shortcuts
Sit. Stay. Come. Down. These are not optional for chihuahuas just because they are small. A chihuahua who does not come when called is a chihuahua in danger. They are fast enough to reach the street and small enough that a driver will not see them.
Teach sit by holding a tiny treat above your chi’s nose and moving it back over their head. Their bottom goes down naturally as their head tilts up. The second that bottom touches the ground, say “sit” and give the treat. Timing matters. The word, the action, and the reward need to happen within a two-second window.
Tip 2: Your Chihuahua Wants to Please You
This is not a myth. Chihuahuas genuinely want your approval. They bond intensely and they notice your emotional state. When Fig does something right and I say “good girl” with actual enthusiasm, she wiggles her entire body.
If your chihuahua is not following your instructions, the problem is probably the instructions. Are you being clear? Are you being consistent? A confused dog is not a stubborn dog.
Tip 3: Positive Reinforcement Is Not Optional
Chihuahuas do not respond well to punishment-based training. Yelling, hitting, or harsh corrections create fear. A fearful chihuahua becomes a reactive chihuahua who gives the breed a bad reputation.
The team at Happy Puppy Site: How to Train a Chihuahua offers helpful insight on this topic.
Positive reinforcement means rewarding the behavior you want and ignoring or redirecting the behavior you do not. Dog sits calmly when a guest arrives? Treat and praise. Dog barks at the guest? You turn away, wait for quiet, then reward the quiet. No yelling. No drama.
Tip 4: Treats Are Currency
Every chihuahua has a price. For Fig, it is freeze-dried liver. She would sell me out for freeze-dried liver. Find your chi’s high-value treat and use it strategically during training sessions.
But here is the catch. Chihuahuas gain weight fast. A training treat for a chihuahua should be the size of a pea. Smaller if possible. If each one is a full-sized biscuit, you are creating a weight problem while solving a behavior problem.
Break treats into tiny pieces. Use their regular kibble for easier commands and save the good stuff for the hard ones. Over time, wean off treats and transition to verbal praise as the primary reward.
Tip 5: Keep Sessions Short
Five minutes. That is a full training session for a chihuahua. Ten minutes maximum. Their attention span is short and they get mentally tired quickly. A tired chihuahua stops learning and starts improvising, which usually means ignoring you with theatrical flair.
Three five-minute sessions spread throughout the day beats one fifteen-minute marathon. End every session on a success, even if you have to go back to an easy command to get that win.
Tip 6: Remove Distractions First
Start training in a quiet room. No other pets. No kids running around. No television. Once your chihuahua masters a command in a calm environment, slowly add distractions.
If your chi suddenly “forgets” a command in a new environment, they have not forgotten. They are overwhelmed by new stimuli. Socializing your chihuahua gradually helps them handle new situations without short-circuiting.
Tip 7: Consider a Class
Obedience classes are not just for large dogs. A basic class gives your chihuahua structured learning with a professional who can spot what you are doing wrong. Plus socialization with other dogs in a controlled setting.
Look for classes that separate by size. Your chihuahua learning “stay” next to an excited German Shepherd puppy is not productive for either dog. Many facilities offer small breed specific sessions. These are worth seeking out.
Tip 8: Be Honest About Who Needs Training
Most chihuahua behavior problems are human problems. We carry them too much. We let them bark because it is “cute.” We skip training because they are small and the consequences seem minor.
An untrained chihuahua is not a happy chihuahua. They thrive on structure. They want to know the rules. They want to earn your approval through actions, not just exist as an accessory.
Fig is not a perfect dog. She still steals socks. But she comes when called, sits when asked, and walks on a leash without dragging me toward every interesting smell. That is a polite chihuahua who knows how to behave. And it started with me admitting that I was the one who needed training first.
