Category: <span>Characteristics</span>

Stop Chihuahua Barking

September 21, 2022September 21, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Would you like to stop chihuahua barking?

Chihuahua barking can be a problem. Chihuahua are excitable dogs and they like a bark. As a Pro Dog Trainer and Behaviour Coach this is the number one thing I get asked about.

The other evening, I happened to be in an extremely large chihuahua fan page on Facebook and saw a post asking how to deal with chihuahua barking. The post has a lot of comments with a vast array of advice being given.

Methods that make chihuahua barking worse?

Some of it was horrifying and ranged from squirting lemon in the dog’s mouth, firing water at it, shock collars, citronella collars, shaking cans of coins at them. It was really depressing that owners believe these types of training methods will solve the issue.

These are called adverses training methods, methods of training that produce an unpleasant stimulus for a dog to try and teach it something.

The error people make is assuming that the dog makes any kind of pairing between the unpleasant stimulus (squirt of lemon in the mouth) and what they are doing, (barking). What is happening is the dog will make the pairing of fear or pain from the training method being applied and the event that they are barking at. Can you see the difference?

People assume these methods work because they stop the chihuahua barking in the moment as dog is momentarily shocked. But long-term it has a very detrimental effect on the dog’s confidence. Creating anxiety and worry as it has no idea where the next bit of pain or fear is going to come from.

For example, a chihuahua barking out the window at a passer-by won’t understand that the squirt of water or loud noise from an air horn is to stop them barking. How could they? All this stimulus does is add more excitement into the situation and increase their worry about people walking by the house. This may then track up to anxiety about being walked outside. Increasing stress and therefore barking at other dogs. Around it goes in a toxic cycle of stress, anxiety, and barking. It withdraws from your chihuahua’s confidence and ultimately your relationship.

Why Chihuahuas bark

Chihuahuas bark because they are hypervigilant to sound and movement. It comes with the territory when you are only 10 inches high.

They spend a lot of time in a high state of arousal or ‘flight or fight’ mode. This means they are going to be full of cortisol, the stress hormone, which changes how they view things.

When your chihuahua sees or hears something they will ask themselves, “what does this mean for me?” then “is it good or bad?” Because they are in ‘flight or fight’ mode and more inclined to be worried by something, they decide it’s bad, and bark at it to get it to stay away.

It is entirely possible to reduce chihuahua barking in a force-free way. No gadgets or unpleasant training methods required. We reduce your chihuahua’s arousal and help them calm down. We work with them to help them understand not everything needs to be barked at. Grow their confidence and tolerance to novelty (new things).

I wrote a book about it, fully intending to sell it, but currently I give it away free. I want to reach as many chihuahua owners as possible and help owners reduce barking without the need for some of these awful training methods.

In the book I show step-by step you how to reduce barking in a kind, force-free way that will grow your chihuahua’s confidence. It’s easy to follow and fun to do.

If you would like a copy, you can get it here. Just let me know where to send it.

Yes please send me a copy

Behaviour

My chihuahua nips ankles!

September 19, 2022September 19, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Help, my chihuahua nips ankles when visitors or workmen move!

If this happens it’s because your chihuahua is over aroused, worried, and anxious by what is happening.

When visitors enter the house there is likely to be a lot of excitement around the door. This excitement will have filled up your chihuahua’s emotional bucket and they are going to be in a state of high arousal. This will be making them anxious and worried. You may find as well that your male chihuahua will pee or mark workman’s tools or a visitor’s bags. This is overmarking as they smell different. It’s a good idea to be prepared for this and make sure your chihuahua does not have access to visitors’ belongings.

Chihuahuas are hyper vigilant to movement and a sudden unpredicted movement is going to cause them to start. Dogs like to run and bark at things that bother them and chihuahuas are no different. They want the visitor to go away or at least to stay still. When your visitor goes to move suddenly, say from sitting to standing, there is a sudden shift in energy. This will bother your chihuahua who then tries to control the situation by running behind and nipping at the back of their legs. They will often do this to children who are running about as well.

To a lot of dogs, not just chihuahuas, children are large, unpredictable giants. They lack the coordination and predictable body language of an adult. This will worry a dog and small dogs who could get trampled. It’s never a good idea to leave any dog alone with other people’s children. Even if your dog is reliable like Minnie, it can cause strained family dynamics if a child starts crying saying the dog has bitten them. You can’t prove they didn’t and it opens a world of trouble you don’t need.

There is a couple of things you can do if your chihuahua nips ankles.

Management

Don’t allow your chihuahua to have access to visitors unless they are under control. People don’t like being bitten and it can get you into trouble. Put them in another room (the chihuahua not the visitor) or have them on an indoor harness and training lead. The minimum is to pick them up.

Never leave your chihuahua alone with children if they are worried by movement. Prince and Mika would both be likely to react badly to children charging around and I never leave them alone with the grandkids. I have witnessed Prince try and nip ankles when the grandkids are running about near him.

Training

Reduce excitement around the door. Crazy excitement around the door pushes up your dog’s arousal. Grow a boundary so when the door goes your chihuahua is sitting down nicely and not charging the door. Doors are quite worrying to dogs as so much happens around them.

Scatter feed in the garden so when the visitor is coming in the front door your chihuahua is busy in the garden. Scatter feeding is an arousal down activity. Introduce your chihuahua to a visitor when they are calm and don’t leave them alone if they are likely to snap.

Put a calmness protocol in place so your chihuahua is in a calmer state overall. Calmness is the foundation of all dog training and is essential for these excitable little dogs who can go from 1 – 100 in a nanosecond.

In the UK the law is very strict and clear on dog bites, and you are legally required to always keep your dog under control. Just because they are small does not mean it’s different.

Characteristics

How to deal with chihuahua aggression

December 13, 2021September 19, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Chihuahua aggression is something I get asked about a lot. They have a reputation for being yappy and aggressive. If you are a chihuahua parent, then you may be familiar with the ‘curled lip of doom’ and the growl of disapproval towards strangers and the full on meltdown at other dogs. But you also know that, at home your chihuahua is adorable, cute, and hilarious. So, what on earth is going on?

Are chihuahuas more aggressive than other dog breeds?

I want to say no here, but the evidence does point towards yes. So why is that?

They are small, chihuahuas being the smallest dog breed. They naturally need to be wary of what’s around them and above them.

Another reason is that conventional training and socialization ideas do not generally work for chihuahuas and other toy breeds. Owners often start out with the idea of taking them to puppy class to then find out their dog is completely overwhelmed by the noise and larger breeds. They then either shut down and become a nervous wreck or they have a meltdown barking and lunging at the other dogs. This becomes a default behavior when they see another dog.

Owners then take to the internet and start copying adverse training methods like spraying water or rattling cans at their dogs.

Wholesale neutering of male dogs. Remove a male dog’s testosterone and you can turn your male dog into a fear barker. Research has shown that male dogs do better if left intact and females do better if spayed.

Willingness to let bad behavior go. Because chihuahuas are small some owners tolerate more. A snapping growling chihuahua can be laughed at, just search YouTube but a snapping growling German Shepherd is not so easily ignored.

Chihuahua aggression can manifest in different ways.

Growling at partners
Snapping at fingers when you take things away
Barking out the window
Snapping and growling when you move them
Chasing at the fence
Barking at other dogs on walks
Guarding their food

I’m sure there are other examples I haven’t thought of. So why do they do it, why are chihuahuas so keen to live up to their reputation of being yappy and aggressive? Why can’t they be more chilled out and friendly?

What chihuahua aggression isn’t

What I want to explain first is what chihuahua aggression isn’t. They aren’t protecting you; they don’t think they are a rottweiler and they don’t want to dominate every dog they see. I hear these things a lot from owners. They misunderstand their dog’s behavior and put a human narrative on what they see. The good news is it’s also unlikely to be anything you’ve done.

So, what is causing chihuahua aggression?

When a dog sees something, they will ask themselves ‘what does this object mean for me’ and is it good or is it bad? If they are barking at it then most certainly the answer is ‘it’s bad’. This will then instantly fill up their emotional bucket.

What is an emotional bucket?

If you follow my blog or ever listen to a Facebook live, you will hear me talk about a dog’s emotional bucket. Like humans they have one and like humans they fill and, once full, you get on overspill behavior. Think when you have ‘one nerve left’ and someone gets on it, and you explode.

Things that pay into a dog’s emotional bucket are interesting, fear, anxiety, feeling unwell or itchy. But also, happy events like fast play, a family member coming home or even a walk. Happy excitement and worry excitement fill up a dog’s bucket in the same way and have the same effect once your dog see’s something they are not sure about.

It’s also how quickly emotions drain. How fast your dog can calm themselves down and the size of the bucket. Dogs that are more chilled and relaxed are likely to have a larger emotional bucket that drains easily.

Pessimism

This will certainly be playing a big part in how your chihuahua behaves. Dogs tend towards pessimism and optimism in the same way humans do. A happy-go-lucky dog that runs up to everyone pleased to see them will lean towards optimism and the more cautious dog that hangs back, avoids things are more likely to be a little more pessimistic.

But before you worry your dog is a pessimist, this is a more natural state for an animal. In the wild, an animal that avoids ambiguity or things it’s not sure about is more likely to live longer and get to pass on its genes. An animal that sees no danger is more likely to get eaten. But this is not the case for our domestic dogs, so we want our dogs to change from a pessimist to an optimist.

Resource Guarding

Pessimism is most certainly playing a part in a dog that resource guards, a dog that worries food or possessions are going to be taken away and will snap or growl at people or other dogs that come near them in certain situations. This can get so bad that just walking past their bed while they are in it will get you growled or snapped at. This is not ideal.

Lack of confidence

Lack of confidence will certainly be paying into their emotional bucket and cause your chihuahua to bark at novelty or things they are not sure about. If you take your chihuahua out for a walk and someone appears in the field, or a crow fly’s down, or a carrier bag blows past they may start to bark at it. This is because they are unsure of the object and ‘what it means for them’ and this worries them. Building a tolerance of novelty or new things and growing your chihuahua’s confidence are key.

Illness

Being itchy, in pain or having a tummy upset will have a big impact on your chihuahuas demeanor. Dealing with anything physical like this would be the first place to start when trying to unpick your chihuahuas aggressive behavior. Imagine constantly itching and not even being able to scratch it. This would make even the most even tempered of us a little tetchy. Diet will certainly be part of this picture and poor diets will often be the cause of gastric upset, itchy skin and sticky ears.

Diet

Whenever I start with a new client, one of the first things I will ask is what are you feeding your dog? If it’s a weak or dry diet, then this is where we will start to unpick their behavior struggles. A properly balanced diet is essential and dry food, no matter how science based the packet looks, is not a good diet. There is also a lot of research that shows a direct link between gut biome and brain function. So, step one is certainly make sure your dog is getting a good diet based on fat and protein.

Training methods

I am adding this in here because it’s so important to your relationship with your chihuahua. They bark a lot, and this can be annoying and get you into trouble with your neighbors or landlord. If they are barking, they are worried about something. Shouting, spraying them with water, using an air horn or another gadget to stop them are very common methods to interrupt this behavior. While it may do so it will be adding to the excitement of the situation and filling their bucket, so you will pay for it later and your dog will start to not trust you.

Rest

Being overwrought and overtired can also pay into behavior. Chihuahuas do like a snooze in the day, but they are also up and barking in a nanosecond. So, it’s not real deep rest. They need a good snooze out of the way of footfall, children, and general interference. If you have crate trained your chihuahua then use a crate or if not, then use a puppy pen and put them down for a good nap in the day.

Can you cure chihuahua aggression?

Certainly! you can work with your dog and turn them from a pessimist to an optimist, grow their confidence and tolerance of novelty, build a calming protocol so they have appropriate rest and calming activities and make sure they have a well-balanced diet.

How we do this is by using short training games that anyone can access. Games that help re-shape their brain and help them relearn responses to situations. Anyone can do it if you have a few minutes to spare for your chihuahua each day.

Got more than one chihuahua. No problem, you can still resolve the issues.

Where to start to transform my chihuahuas behavior?

Louise Kirby

My name is Louise Kirby and I’m a freelance writer and certified Pro Dog Trainer. I adore and train all breeds but have a special interest in chihuahuas and their rehabilitation. Chihuahuas are awesome little dogs, spunky, full of joy, loyal and tenacious. But some present with behaviours that make them a challenge to manage. I’m on a mission to restore the relationship between owners and their dogs. To help you get back the dog you always dreamed of. That’s why dog training is a happiness project!

Behaviour

How to toilet train your chihuahua

February 8, 2021September 5, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Chihuahuas are notoriously hard to toilet train. We get more questions about this than almost anything else apart from barking! There are a couple of issues that can make it difficult to toilet train your chihuahua: Their reluctance to get cold or wet and the fact they can be a little stubborn. But like any dog with the right encouragement they can be reliable. We often have five chihuahuas in the house and rarely get peeing indoors.

Modern training methods has moved away from the ‘rub their nose in it’ aggressive style to a more reward based positive reinforcement. Your chihuahua will generally want to please you and once they understand that peeing outdoors or in the designated place is what you want, they will try to get it right. But it can seem to take a long time for chihuahuas to pick this up.

It’s also worth noting that it can be 12 weeks before a puppy even has the ability to control its toileting. So, trying too hard to get a very young puppy to be clean is setting yourself up for stress. It’s also recommended that small dogs like chihuahuas stay with their mum until this age, anyway, so don’t rush your chihuahua puppy home too early. If the breeder insists you take the puppy before this time take a good look at who you are buying your puppy from.

In-built behaviour

Your chihuahua will search for a surface that they are used to going on, if that’s a hard floor then this is what they will look for. Although in my experience they do prefer an absorbent surface.

If you get your chihuahua as a puppy, the chances are that they will be used to pee pads. Even better if the breeder has been taking them out on the grass as most of the work will have been done for you.

Your chihuahua will need to wee about 3-4 times during the day and can be expected to hold their poo & wee for an hour for every month old they are to the maximum of 8 hours. But I feel expecting your dog not to go to the toilet for this long is unreasonable (unless it is overnight) and could lead to bladder problems.

Be zen

First, it is vital that you never shout, display anger or upset when your chihuahua has an accident in the house. Going to the toilet is natural to your dog and if you start shouting or making him anxious about it you could end up with him eating his faeces to hide it.

If your chihuahua does have an accident and looks contrite, it’s not because they have any notion of doing wrong, but he is watching and picking up on your body language. If you appear angry or stressed this will frighten your dog. Scientists have discovered that dogs have developed additional eyebrow muscles that allow them to make ‘puppy dog eyes’ at humans, and they use this to appease us.

If an accident occurs, then ignore it and clean it up calmly. If he comes in from the garden and pees in the house, then he simply has not understood what’s required of him or does not feel safe outside.

Tips to successful toilet training

It is not enough to just open the door and expect your puppy to go out and do his business. Also, young pups need to be supervised. It’s not uncommon for puppies to eat their poop, this is a habit that you want to discourage from the off. If you see this happening then have a handful of your puppy’s food allowance with you and throw it in the opposite direction, when he runs off to enjoy his alfresco dinner clean up the poop quickly and quietly.

Quiet spot

Find a safe quiet spot where your chihuahua will feel safe. Conventional wisdom suggest that when you get a result (your pup peeing) then you should make a song and dance. But doing this will up your pups arousal and turn the whole going out for a wee into a game. Definitely reward your chihuahua, make sure it’s high value food and not just one measly piece. But offer it calmly and feed to the mouth. While you are waiting for her to pee stand calmly. She is not out there to play.

Once your chi is regularly peeing outdoors, as you feed the reward start to pair it to a cue, we use “wee wee garden” this then tell our dogs wherever we are, what they are going outdoors to do and what I expect from them.

Timing is everything

Toilet training your chihuahua needs to start with maintaining a regular schedule of toilet breaks. If your chi is a puppy then every hour to start with. This means going out at regular intervals so your chihuahua knows he will have access to the outdoors. As I tended to get engrossed in writing I sometimes would miss the signs, so I put an alert on my phone. (We need to develop a chi-wee app. 🙂

The change in culture to remote working should help with toilet training and in general be better for your pup. If you ever get back to the office arrange a trustworthy person to come in and let them out for a pee. But, no dogs should be left for more than 4 hours and chihuahuas find this especially stressful. Toilet training your chihuahua will be more difficult if you are not home and able to work with her.

Peeing in the rain

It can be hard to get your pups to go out if it’s raining. One way to do this is have a sheltered spot that you’ve cultivated from the beginning and got your pup used to. We have a tray of turf in a sheltered section of the garden. We’ve had some success with this but the best way seems to be taking them somewhere different. I put there harness on and take them out to the front of the house. They will instantly be more interested and want to mark their territory.

Maintaining calm

Chihuahua are excitable dogs and can go from zero to one hundred in a heartbeat. Maintaining calm and keeping your chihuahua relaxed will have an impact on how much they pee in the house. If your chihuahua is in a constant state of high arousal then they are more likely to excitement wee or mark. Keeping your chihuahua calm and not letting them rehearse behaviours like barking out the window or chasing the cat will impact on their ability to think and learn. Less excitement means less marking, especially from the boys.

To help with this I give my chihuahua half a teaspoon of Calm K9 supplement. It contains, among other helpful ingredients L-Tryptophan, a natural amino acid found in many proteins involved in the production of the hormone serotonin. A-OK9 also supports the gut and I have noticed a reduction of anal gland issues in Mika and Minnie. I don’t often recommend products but have been impressed with this one and have become a calm supplement partner.

Rescue chihuahua

If you have rescued your chihuahua you might not know what her background is, or what her expectations are. Under these circumstances it is important to start with a schedule and keep to it calmly. She is already going to be stressed without more upset over toilet accidents.

Learn to read the signs

Chihuahuas, like all dogs will display certain behaviours when they need to go to the toilet. Walking around in circles, sniffing the ground or staring at you. Being able to read her body language will help you toilet train your chihuahua. There is a definite toilet etiquette that all dogs follow.

You can also be certain that he will need to toilet after:

Sleeping
Excitement
Eating or drinking

Pee pad & litter trays

It is possible to toilet train your chihuahua to use a pee pad or a litter tray. If you live in an apartment, then this might work for you. Make sure it is in the same place all the time, if you move it about, she will find it confusing.

About the author

Louise Kirby

Get help with chihuahua behaviour

Join the happiness project now!

Your chihuahua transformation starts with a free discovery chat to see how I can best help you. Please get in touch I look forward to hearing from you. Together we can get back the dog you always wanted.

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Behaviour

Is your chihuahua a pessimist or optimist?

January 28, 2021August 1, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Scientist have discovered that like people, dogs can be pessimists or optimists and this personality bias will affect how your chihuahua interacts with the world.

An optimistic dog will happily bounce along assuming all’s right with the world and a pessimist will be more cautious maybe even fearful.

In the wild it pays an animal to have a more pessimistic view on life. They tend to live longer and get to pass on their genes, while an optimist who happily investigates the rattling bush is more likely to come to a sticky end.

Chihuahuas do tend towards caution, because of their size they are programmed to worry about things overhead that could be an attack from above. But even so, it’s still possible to tell if your chi chi is a bowl-half-full type of dog.

Interpreting events

Events happen to your dog; out on a walk it could be the dog in the distance or at home the bin men or window cleaner arrive. How your dog reacts to the event is likely to be governed by his view of the world.

Minnie is the optimist. ‘Is it food, it’s food isn’t it?’ If it’s not food, then don’t bother me. If she barks at something, it’s usually because the boys started her off.

Arlo is definitely a pessimist; he worries about the dog in the distance or the carrier bag blowing about in the wind, he won’t tolerate incoming dogs on a walk and dislikes novelty.

If your chihuahua is reactive and barks at other dogs when you’re out, the chances are he has a more cautious, pessimistic view on life. He sees something, interprets the event as something to worry about and starts barking to scare the other dog or person away. Although it beats me why they don’t just stay under the radar.

While it pays to be pessimistic in the wild, in a domestic situation it can affect how your dog behaves and how receptive your chi may be to training. A dog that constantly barks and lunges at other dogs out on a walk can be a challenge to manage.

Play games to change their view

The good news is you can change the way your dog feels about things. Shift his world view by playing a few simple games. Games based training is the latest thinking in dog training. Why it succeeds where others fail is because looks at and deals with the underlying struggles your dog is having rather than just trying to train a behavior, which is the output of your chihuahua’s struggle.

Try this simple game with your chihuahuas, how they react will give you an idea of their view on life and help build confidence.

Cardboard Chaos

Collect your recycling over a few days until you have a pile of clean cardboard boxes of different sizes and some plastic bottles that crinkle. (Nothing sharp and nothing that has contained chemicals.)

Lay it out in the garden or kitchen, so it’s in a low heap. Scatter some of your chihuahuas daily food allowance amongst the boxes. Does your chihuahua jump straight in to get the food or take a slower more cautious approach.

Minnie would jump straight in. Mika would watch from the side to see if Minnie got eaten, if not then he would join in, but at a more sedate pace. Arlo would circle around a few times; he would really want to join in but is dislike of novelty and strange noise might hold him back. He would sit at the side and paddle his front paws in frustration.

What this game does over time is build up your dog’s resilience to novelty. Both noise and visual. You can build up the levels of difficulty as your chihuahua becomes more adept.

Another version of this game is using a children’s plastic ball pit. Put a few balls in at a time until your chi is happy rummaging about for his dinner.

If you would like to know more about games-based training and how playing games with your chihuahua can help solve behavior issues, then please get in touch.

About the author

Louise Kirby

Get help with chihuahua behaviour

Join the happiness project now!

Characteristics

Your chihuahua’s nose is amazing!

March 26, 2019September 29, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Here are some amazing facts about your chihuahua’s nose.

The area of a dog’s brain that processes smell is (relatively) forty times bigger than a human. It is estimated that your chihuahua’s sense of smell is a hundred thousand times better than ours. Experts tell us a dog can smell something buried 40ft underground. They can also smell their owners from 11 miles away.

Unique to your chihuahua

Your dog’s nose is as individual as a human fingerprint! Yes, each dog has a unique nose ‘print’. The Canadian Kennel club have been using this as a way of identifying dogs since 1938.

Does your chihuahua use his nose to time travel?

According to animal psychologist Alexandra Horowitz. A dog can ‘see’ the future by catching a scent in the air. Basically, smelling what’s to come. The reverse of this is true of sniffing the ground, he can smell the past.

Smell in 3D

Your chihuahua’s is one of the few animals who have muscles in their nostrils. Allowing them to move independently. This helps them gather scent from all directions. Helping them build up a picture of their environment.

Inhale & exhale simultaneously

They can separate the air they take in, some for breathing and some for scent gathering. Your chihuahua’s nose can inhale and exhale at the same time. They breathe in and out about 5 times per second. The front part of your chihuahua’s nose is for breathing and the rest for scent gathering.

Cooling aid

The mucus in your chihuahua’s nose keeps it cool and helps to trap important scent molecules. The average dog produced 1 pint of mucus a day. The molecules dissolve in the mucus and are pushed up the nose by tiny hairs called cilia.

Why do they sniff another dog’s bottom?

Dogs have glands in the moist parts of their bodies, including the anogenital area. Sniffing this area helps a dog detect pheromones or chemical messages that are produced by these glands. From these chemical traces a dog can learn the age, sex, reproductive status, health and the emotional state of the other dog.

Can they really smell fear in a human?

According to New Scientist, there is some evidence that a dog can smell fear in a human as well. When we are stressed, we sweat more, and sweat contains human pheromones which change based on your mood. Dogs can detect this change of odours. They are then likely to take on your emotions as their own. So, if you are nervous and afraid about a situation, they will pick this up and mirror your feelings. That said, you can potentially trick a dog into thinking you’re calm with solutions containing calming pheromones.

Can a dog really smell cancer?

Cancer like many other diseases will leave a unique chemical trace that a dog can be trained to pick up. By sniffing blood, urine and breath a trained dog can detect many cancers with a high level of accuracy. Like your fear a dog can pick up on these changes in scent and become curious or concerned. So if your dog suddenly starts sniffing you very intently in certain areas, they may be honed in on the scent of a problem you should check up on with your doctor.

Chihuahuas as police sniffer dogs.

A lot of this kind of work is left up to larger dogs, however in the USA a chihuahua called Midge has been trained to sniff out drugs. He’s ideal for getting into the smaller spaces a larger police dog couldn’t. Meanwhile in Japan, a female long-haired chihuahua called Momo has been trained in search and rescue. She can fit into small areas and has been credited with being able to find someone in five minutes after sniffing his cap.

So, now you know your chihuahua’s nose is such a feat of engineering don’t be so keen to hurry him along on your next walk. A dog’s sense of smell helps them ‘see’ in a way human could only imagine.

Louise Kirby

barking

Excessive chihuahua barking what not to do

February 20, 2019September 29, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Why pet correctors don’t work

Much has been written about excessive chihuahua barking and we have had many discussions on our Facebook page about the problem.

Anyone who owns or lives with a chi will testify that chihuahuas like a bark. They will bark out the window at passers-by, car doors slamming, visitors ringing the doorbell, you name it your chihuahua will bark. Some readers say, in a kind of jokey way, that their chihuahua will bark at leaves falling off the trees or the wind blowing.

Knee jerk reactions to dog barking

It’s no surprise then, that many people want to stop the noise and will jump at anything that’s offered. Last week an advert appeared on my Facebook feed for a gadget that you pointed at the dog when it started to bark. People where commenting on its effectiveness and encouraging others to buy one. One person proclaimed

“My dog only has to see me reach for it and she shuts right up.”

I was appalled and saddened that these people so misunderstood their dogs that they felt using a product like this was the answer. They had no realisation that it was damaging their relationship with their dog. Frankly it’s just plain appalling laziness.

What these products are

There are a few of these products on the market, they are readily available in the training section of your local pet store, unless its an ethical one, or from online retailers.

You have your pet correctors, a klaxon type affair that emits a loud noise when you press the button.

Barking collars that emit either a high pitch sound, a citrus spray or a small electric shock when the dog barks.

Surgery, yep if you have money to spend, you can have your dogs bark ‘softened’. You can read more about debarking here. But, before you jump up and down and think this is the answer, the sound a ‘debarked’ dog makes is so gut wrenching and sad it’s almost impossible to live with.

Owners even make your own ‘anti bark’ gadget from a can of coins that you shake at your dog or some owners like to squirt water at them. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but you get the picture.

Why they don’t work

In fact, most of the time they do work in the moment, if your primary goal is to stop excessive chihuahua barking. But what they don’t do is teach you or your dog anything. They just frighten it into silence. Long term it will add to the excitement levels leading to stress and frustration in your dog. Exacerbating their behaviour problems. Eventually your dog may start to act aggressively towards you when you use it. What then, how and what are you going to use next? Is this how you want to treat a member of your family?

What your chihuahua is trying to say

Dog’s bark because it is how they communicate. There are several different types of bark that communicate different feelings. Happiness, playfulness, stress including loneliness & anxiety, pain, a warning of trespassers. Crucially it could be a warning that your dog doesn’t like what is happening. A dog will bark a warning that he is feeling anxious. Next step might be to defend himself the only way he knows how. A bite.

Pet correctors and the like are considered an aversive form of training. No modern, positive trainer will recommend one. If they do, then change your trainer. Aversive means an unpleasant stimulus used to modify behaviour. A punishment for communicating.

A longer term solution

I totally get why people resort to gadgets. Chihuahuas can bark like no other dog. They charge around the house in a state of high excitement letting you know that next door have shut their car door. Or they bark and lunge at other dogs in the park. Turning what is meant to be a pleasant walk that’s good for you into a pile of stress and embrassessment.

But the good news is it can be dealt with and you can get back the dog you always dreamt off. By changing the way your chihuahua sees the world. It may sound flakey but with shaping and positive reinforcement it can be done. I know I have five and I’ve helped countless other chihuahua owners.

About the author

Louise Kirby

Is chihuahua barking spoiling your walks?

Do you sometimes wonder how they developed this crazy behaviour. You’re not alone. But it’s not ‘small dog syndrome’ or because they are bossy and want to dominate other dogs.

Would you love to walk your chihuahua without being embarrassed by their behaviour?

Can you imagine stress free walks without your chihuahua lunging and barking at every dog they see?

How? Online behaviour coaching tailored to chihuahuas and their needs

I can help you get back the dog you always dreamed of with online coaching. Using the latest games-based training together we can boost your chihuahuas confidence and unleash their full potential. Together we can get back the dog you always dreamed of.

Join the happiness project now!

Adopted

Why adopting a senior chihuahua might be right for…

January 27, 2018May 5, 2021
by Louise Kirby

Why adopt a senior chihuahua?

Chihuahuas are super cute, and when puppies or young dogs end up in shelters they are often the first out the door. A senior chihuahua, who is a bit grey around the muzzle, may find it harder to find a new forever home. A chihuahua can be considered senior from the age of 10 but can live for many years beyond.

But there are many good reasons that make adopting a senior chihuahua a better decision than taking on a chihuahua puppy.

Chihuahua puppies are a lot of work

You can’t underestimate the work that goes into a chihuahua puppy. All puppies are hard work but chihuahuas can be especially difficult and are not always suitable for the first-time owner. Read: So you want to buy a chihuahua

Difficult to toilet train: Chihuahuas can take ages to get this right. Often not getting it until they are about 2 years old.
Require a lot of socialisation: You have a very short time span to get your chihuahua puppy socialised. If you don’t get this right, you can end up with a chi-zilla. Read: Dealing with Chihuahua aggression
Cannot be left: You cannot leave a puppy for longer than a couple of hours, they have very tiny tummies, get hungry and they may also suffer from separation anxiety.
Can be very destructive: Don’t underestimate how destructive that tiny mouth can be. All puppies like to chew. Chihuahua puppies take this to a new level!

Not his fault

An older chihuahua may find himself in a re-homing centre for many reasons, a family break up, their owner dies or has moved into sheltered accommodation and must leave the dog behind. Don’t assume it is because of behaviour.

What you see is what you get!

An older dog’s personality will already be shaped so you will know straight away if he is friendly and what his quirks are. You can train an older dog but in general his temperament will be set. You will know if he is friendly with children or good with cats. There are a host of other positive reasons to re-home a senior dog.

Unlikely to be up at the crack of dawn: although chihuahuas do like a snooze, a puppy gets hungry and needs to pee and are more likely to want you to get up.
Good to go out of the box: no need to wait weeks for vaccinations, your senior chihuahua is ready to share your adventures.
Settle in more easily: they already understand how to live with people and assuming he hasn’t been mistreated, he should be more relaxed and mellow.
Cheaper: there is likely to be an adoption fee. But it is going to be cheaper than buying a puppy, which can be £500-600 sometimes more, plus the cost of vaccinations and training.
Older dogs are more likely to be toilet trained!
Years on the clock: chihuahuas live a long time, a chi in good health can live until they are 20 years old.

Health Problems

The aging process takes its toll on all of us and your chihuahua is no exception. He may develop some age-related issues, but the good news is you will already be aware of any long-term health issues and you can make an informed decision. Never assume that your puppy is going to be fit and healthy. Very tiny chihuahuas can have a range of health issues that become apparent as they get older. Read: Tiny chihuahuas, health problems to watch out for.

New tricks

Contrary to the saying, you can teach an older dog new tricks. Especially if they are food motivated, and chihuahuas generally are! An older chi will love spending time with you and learning new things.

So, if you are ready to open your hearts and home to a senior chihuahua. Let them into your life and you will be rewarded with a faithful companion.

There are specific charities that help re-home older dogs. The Oldies Club has foster homes all over the UK. You can also contact Battersea Dogs Home or Chihuahua Rescue. There will also be many animal rescue centres near you locally. Do a Facebook search or just Google it!

Louise Kirby

Behaviour

Has your chihuahua got you licked?

January 21, 2018March 22, 2019
by Louise Kirby

Why do dogs lick?

Chihuahuas do like to lick. Some more than others but in general they are a very licky kind of dog and will concentrate on licking each other’s ears and faces. They also like to lick their favourite people.

Minnie loves to lick children, mainly because of the myriad of flavours they come in. Snot is one of her favourites, but generally she views all toddlers and children as the gift that keeps on giving. If they are not oozing something delicious then they are leaving crumb trails!

Why do dogs like to lick and is it true that you should let dogs lick a wound? Do they really have a super antibacterial mouth that can cure all?

Why dogs lick each other?

Licking is a very natural part of being a dog and is part of their instinct. The mother will lick her puppies to clean them after birth, stimulate them to breathe, poop and to sooth digestion. Puppies will lick around their mother’s mouth when they are hungry to stimulate the regurgitation of food. Puppies also lick to gather information about their world.

It is also a submissive gesture and dogs who are lower down in the pack will lick around the other dog’s mouths. It helps maintain harmony and everyone knows their place. Chihuahua’s are very keen on a well-ordered pack and like to know who is in charge.

Why dogs lick people?

One reason is you taste nice, they like our salty skin and possibly any lotions you have on.

If they are licking you intently then they may be trying to communicate a message: they need to go out and poop, they are hungry, or the baby has fallen down the well. So, if this happens look around to see if anything is amiss.

They also want to show you affection and according to Roger Abrantes, Ethology Institute Cambridge, licking your face is an offer of friendship.

“Next time a dog licks your face, you do not need to be too terrified or disgusted. Just close your eyes, yawn, and turn your head away. That shows in dog language that you accept its offer of friendship.”

Sounds to me like a way to get a ‘dog frenchie’, so I might avoid the yawn!

Sign of something wrong

Licking can also indicate that something is amiss, if your dog is excessively licking his paw he may be feeling anxious, it can also be a sign that your dog is in pain. Read how to tell if my dog is in pain. They find licking soothing and it releases endorphins that relax them.

When it’s a nuisance

If your dog’s enthusiastic licking is a nuisance you can train them to stop. Calmly get up and leave the room when they start to lick your face. Your chi will soon learn that licking you means being left alone and they will stop doing it. If you roll around making a silly noise they will assume it’s a fine game and become more enthusiastic.

Should you let your dog lick a wound?

There has long been a notion that if you let your dog lick a cut or a graze it will clean it and it will heal faster. Is this true?

Dogs will lick a wound because they find it soothing and it is true that their saliva does contain some antibacterial and blood clotting properties. Licking a wound in the first instance may help it to clot and clean off any residual dirt. But long term or excessive licking of a wound can cause ‘hot spots’ of raised, red and sore skin. It can also cause any stitches to break down and eventually end up with dehiscence, meaning the wound splits open.

Should a dog lick a wound on a person?

No, a dog’s mouth contains multiple bacteria that can get into a human’s blood stream and cause serious infection. Cover your wounds and keep them clean and away from your dog.

Should you let your dog lick your face?

It’s a tough one, because we love our dogs, but not really. If you are going to let your dog slobber on your chops, then keep them away from your nose and mouth as the pathogens in their saliva are more easily absorbed through the mucus membranes. If you are going to continue to let them lick your face, make sure your dog is vaccinated, free of worms and parasites. Read Super foods to keep your dog free of worms. Wash your face afterwards and wash your hands before handling food.

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Behaviour

Just how smart is your chihuahua?

January 4, 2018August 10, 2021
by Louise Kirby

Just how smart is your chihuahua?

Anyone who has a chihuahua knows they are intelligent and sassy. But just how smart is your chihuahua when they are compared to other dogs?

Chihuahuas have the biggest brain to body size ratio of any dog breed, but they are not ranked top intelligent dogs. In fact, they come in at around 67^th in the smart dog list. Which seems a bit disappointing.

But it does depend on how you measure intelligence of dogs and also bear in mind that we are measuring intelligence compared to human constructs.

The intelligence of all dogs is measured in different ways.

Instinctive intelligence

This is what the dog was bred for. For example; a herding dog that can instinctively round up animals or a gaming dog will collect the birds from a hunt. Chihuahuas were originally bred as ratters, but have an instinctive ability to guard. But, although you do see chihuahuas ‘working’ in general they are now bred as companion dogs.

Adaptive intelligence

Adaptive intelligence is what the dog can learn to do for himself.

Adaptive intelligence can differ between dogs of the same breed. We see this with Mika and Minnie. Minnie can’t work out doors. She will just stand there and bark, but Mika can both push and pull a door. We didn’t teach him that, he just picked it up.

Working and obedience intelligence

This covers what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Commands such as sit, stay and paw. Working and obedience intelligence is measured by how many repetitions it takes for your dog to react to a command.

This is where Minnie excels. She is always keen to learn something new and takes very little time to pick up a new trick.

But, Minnie is much more submissive and eager to please and very motivated by food treats. So, its easier to get her to do something. Mika has little interest in pleasing anyone and has the famous chihuahua stubborn streak. He does not do sit or paw and it must be a very high value treat to keep him interested.

So, it’s hard to measure your dogs working intelligence based on what you can teach them as it does have a lot to do with their personality. If your chihuahua is not interested in pleasing you does that make him more or less intelligent?

Does your chihuahua display empathy?

Most people who have a dog will say that they display empathy. That is being aware of the emotions of others. If you are upset or ill, then will your dog try to comfort you by licking your face, coming in for a cuddle or bring you toys?

Some scientists believe this is just your dog looking out for themselves, they notice a change in your demeanour and come over to investigate to make sure you are still an effective pack leader.

They suggest as humans, we put our emotions onto our dogs and see what we want to see.

But, based on the evidence of our dogs I feel they do have some level of empathy. Mika will display a mild interest if I am upset but Minnie will be beside herself. So again, it depends on the personality of your chihuahua.

How many words does your dog understand?

We all talk to our dogs, tell them goodbye when we go out, explain at length why we are leaving them but they follow little of what you are saying.

They understand about 165 spoken words. The obvious ones in our house are: walkies, nummies, bed, wait, this way, leave it, down, sit, snack. Everything else is dedicated to food!

What they are extremely good at is reading visual clues and picking up on your body language.

This is what makes them appear contrite when they have peed in the house or done something you don’t like. It’s not because they are sorry, they are just picking up a change in your body language and it worries them.

They then adopt an appeasement stance because they have learnt that is what it takes to diffuse the situation.

I am not sure we can really measure how smart a dog is within human ideals. Is a dog that runs into a burning building to rescue someone more or less intelligent than a dog who doesn’t and therefore has a better chance of survival.

Chihuahua superpowers

We need to take into account a dog’s superpowers. Their nose, for instance, is a work of genius. There is no way humans could totally understand the complexity of how they smell. They can smell in 3D and move each nostril independently. You can read more about your chihuahua’s amazing nose here.

A dog’s hearing is also much more developed than a humans. They can swivel interdependently and they can hear four times better than us. You can also tell a lot about what your dog is thinking and feeling by the position of their ears. Read more about ears here

How smart is your chihuahua? Has he learnt any special tricks we love to get your feedback?