I'm back for a week or two after a short hiatus while I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand. The right one is up next, so there will be another break at the beginning of June.
Today, I want to consider the myth that all Chihuahuas are barkers. That, of course, is not the case. In fact, I would say that anytime you use the words "all" or "none", you can bet that you have an untrue statement. In this case, Chihuahuas as a breed have gotten a bad reputation because of a few of them. Yes, some Chihuahua do bark a lot. However, most do not. What is the difference? As is usually the case with Chihuahuas, socialization and training are the keys.
I really cannot stress enough how important socialization is in Chihuahuas. It can make all the difference in the temperament of a Chihuahua, but training is just as important. There is a phenomenon that I see happen all the time that is very detrimental to the breed's reputation, but is not the fault of the dogs. Chihuahuas are small and cute, so people have a tendency to treat them like babies rather than like dogs. That is the quickest way to ruin the temperament of your Chihuahua.
You must remember that Chihuahuas are dogs just like any other dog, and they must be treated as such. They understand pack mentality, and in fact, they may require a strong human alpha more than many other breeds do because they tend to have strong personalities themselves. Pack mentality is a topic for another day, but here, it is sufficient to say that being the alpha of your pack is essential for ensuring that your Chihuahua is well behaved. Why? Because once you establish yourself as the alpha, you will have a much easier time teaching your Chihuahua about appropriate behavior, and your Chihuahua will be much more likely to engage in appropriate behavior because he/she understands his/her place in the pack.
Now, back to the barking question. The truth is, many Chihuahuas are naturally quiet dogs. Little to no bark training is necessary for those dogs. Yes, that is a true statement. Chihuahuas are not born barkers. They do not all bark without training...but some do. The good news is, bark training is possible with these dogs, especially if you recognize that your dog is a dog and not a furry human baby!
Bark training does start with socialization though. Socialization with people and other animals is key here, because barky Chihuahuas are usually nervous Chihuahuas. They are nervous because of new or unfamiliar people, animals or situations. So, if you familiarize your dog with those things, he/she will be less nervous and less likely to bark. However, this may not prevent all unwanted barking, and specific bark training may be necessary.
There are many ways to address bark training, as is the case with most any training. Clicker training has worked in many cases. Obedience training may be effective as well, and should definitely be a part of your Chihuahua's training either way. Of course, treat training may work as well. However, my favorite tool for bark training in Chihuahuas is the squirt bottle. Chihuahuas do respond to positive reinforcement, but the more stubborn ones may respond better to subtle negative reinforcement provided by a squirt bottle that holds nothing but water. A quick squirt over your dog's head while saying "quiet" or "no bark" in a firm tone has proven a safe and effective method to curb unwanted barking. Just keep in mind though that this method alone may not be sufficient without socialization and obedience training.
You're probably seeing a pattern in these posts by now. When it comes to Chihuahuas, socialization is of the utmost importance and solves many of the stereotypical issues for which the breed has developed a difficult reputation!
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