Rearing a Tempermental Chihuahua With Your Family

Chihuahuas are loyal little dogs that usually bond well with one or two people. They are noted for their fierce personality and being a high strung breed, are not good to mix with children. However, with proper training and a lot of socialization, a Chihuahua can learn to adapt to almost any type of environment.
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<br>Children and Chihuahuas:
<br>Nervous by nature, a Chihuahua can bite without any type of warning or provocation. Chihuahuas are not good breeds for homes with children under 12 years of age.
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<br>Any responsible Chihuahua owner will teach their children the best way to handle a family pet, both as an added precaution and because of a moral obligation to the wellbeing of the pet.
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<br>Socialization of a Chihuahua :
<br>The best time to bring a new Chihuahua into your household is between the ages of 12-20 weeks old. Once your pup has settled into the household, you need to begin socializing immediately. Since Chihuahuas are preferential to one or two people, and other Chihuahuas, it is very important they learn to coexist and get along with everyone in the household including; adults, children, pets and visitors.
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<br>One of the first things your Chihuahua needs to learn is how to accept being handled by family members and others. Constant handling will help the dog overcome fears and prevent it from becoming frightened, startled, growling, teeth baring and biting. It will also help ease the acceptance of being handled by a veterinarian.
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<br>To get the process started, your Chihuahua needs to get used to being petted and having its ears, teeth and paws examined. Once the puppy is comfortable with these types of things, you can allow other people to hold the dog.
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<br>How to Eliminate Any Chance of Food Aggression:
<br>Your Chihuahua must also learn at an early age to deal with the fact that food might have to be taken away. If you have several animals in your home, it is possible that another one of them may eat from the Chihuahuas bowl. Praise your puppy when he resists showing aggression towards other animals when this happens.
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<br>Taking Your Chihuahua in Public:
<br>You can train your Chihuahua to be comfortable around a variety of noises and strange sounds. A Chihuahua puppy used to living in a quiet home might have a harder adapting to a public environment. You may also want to consider taking the puppy out on a leash and allowing strangers to pet it. This will also help foster better socialization.
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<br>Traveling with Your Chihuahua Companion:
<br>Since a Chihuahua may be timid or aggressive in a crowded situation, it is important to introduce it to public transportation methods. This training is quite valuable if using public transportation is the only way you and your pet can get to a veterinarian. Always carry your Chihuahua in a pet carrier big enough to allow the dog to go to the other end of the carrier to find a calm place.
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<br>A Chihuahua will need to be familiarized with the motion of a moving car, especially if you plan to use a car to transport your pet to the vet. A scared dog may urinate in the car, vomit, bark or whine and jump around and distract the person driving. Begin with short trips around the block and instruct your Chihuahua to lay down or sit in the car.
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<br>How to Handle Excessive Barking:
<br>If your Chihuahua is an excessive barker, you will need to break him or her of this habit. Chihuahuas can make vigilant watchdogs by alerting owners to strangers through barking. The downside of barking is that they might do it to be petted, when they are lonely, cold, bored or overexcited.
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<br>Your Bored Chihuahua :
<br>Many Chihuahuas will bark if left alone for any given time period. They suffer from severe separation anxiety. You can get the dog used to spending time alone by leaving him or her for short intervals and gradually increasing the amount of time you spend away.
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<br>A well trained and properly socialized Chihuahua can temper most behavior issues and allow the dog to be a great family pet.
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