How to Train a Chihuahua to Stop Barking

Stop Chihuahua from Barking

Does your Chihuahua bark up a storm at every little thing he sees? Well, you aren’t alone. Excessive and inappropriate barking is one of the most common Chihuahua behavioral problems reported by owners.

This behavior can become a nuisance and make life difficult for both you and your family, but you can train even the most vocal Chihuahua to stop barking by following the tips listed below.

Is Barking Really That Bad?

Barking in itself isn’t necessarily bad. It’s an instinctual trait that’s been passed down from their ancestors over the course of thousands of years. From large Mastiffs to small Chihuahuas, all dogs bark to communicate. Along with growling, eye gazing, showing teeth and body posture, it’s one of the primary ways in which dogs communicate.

Your Chihuahua might bark when he needs food or water, or when he needs to go outside. Your Chihuahua may also bark if an intruder is trying to enter the home, alerting you to the intruder’s presence. These are all acceptable forms of barking and shouldn’t be discouraged. Teaching your Chihuahua not to bark when he needs to go outside, for example, will result in more accidents in your home.

There are times, however, when a Chihuahua’s barking is inappropriate — and this is where you should draw the line. Examples of inappropriate barking include:

  • Barking at pedestrians
  • Barking at passing cars
  • Barking at guests
  • Barking at postal workers
  • Barking at neighbors
  • Barking at other animals
  • Barking at objects (vacuum cleaner, broom, trash cash, etc.)
  • Any barking that’s a nuisance to you, your family or others

Inappropriate barking can interfere with your daily life, disturb your sleep, anger your neighbors and create a stressful environment in your home. Furthermore, barking is often covered by state laws and city ordinances. In Massachusetts, residents may file a formal complaint to the city council when their neighbor’s dog barks excessively. If the city council believes the barking to be a nuisance, they may order the owner to bring the dog indoors, or in extreme cases, get rid of the dog.

Even if there’s no specific law covering dog barking in your area, this behavior may fall under a loud noise ordinance, resulting in hefty fines. As an owner, it’s your responsibility to define when it’s acceptable for your Chihuahua to bark and when it’s not.

Why Chihuahuas Bark

Chihuahua barking loudly

The first step to controlling your Chihuahua’s barking is to understand why he does it. Chihuahuas bark for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons are appropriate, while others are not.

As previously mentioned, barking is a form of communication in the canine kingdom. When a Chihuahua barks, he’s usually trying to say something, either to you or another animal.

#1) Boredom

Some Chihuahuas bark because they are bored. Known as “boredom barking,” it usually consists a long, high-pitched monotone bark that occurs in intervals. Being social pack animals, Chihuahuas need regular physical and mental stimulation. Failure to provide your Chihuahua with this stimulation can lead to behavioral problems such as chewing on the furniture, scratching at doors, digging at the carpet and barking.

To prevent boredom, give your Chihuahua plenty of mental and physical stimulation on a daily basis. Whether it’s playing fetch, tug-of-war, going to the dog bark, or teaching tricks, stimulation is essential to nipping boredom barking in the bud.

You should also avoid leaving your Chihuahua alone for more than six consecutive hours a day, or three hours if he’s a puppy. When left alone for long periods of time, Chihuahuas may bark to release built-up energy and express their loneliness. Leaving the TV or radio on can help by distracting your Chihuahua with background noise, but long periods of isolation may still trigger his barking instinct.

#2) Fear

Barking can often be attributed to fear. When a Chihuahua is confronted with a perceived threat — another dog, animal, person, object or loud noise — he may bark and show signs of aggression.

This is all part of the Chihuahua’s fight-or-flight instinct, and it plays a key role in their survival. Chihuahuas, like all dogs, prefer running from threats rather than engaging them directly. If a Chihuahua is backed into a corner or otherwise escape, however, he may try to scare the threat away by barking.

Fear barking typically consists of several high-pitched barks in short intervals. You can usually tell if your Chihuahua is barking because of fear by looking at his posture. If he’s afraid, he’ll push his ears back, hold his tail low, and the fur on his back will stand up. Do not allow anyone to touch your Chihuahua if he’s exhibiting these signs, as this could result in the person being bitten.

#3) Needs Something

When a Chihuahua needs something, he may bark to the attention of his owner. If a Chihuahua needs to go potty, for instance, he may bark by the door, essentially telling his owner, “Hey, let me out!” Whether he needs to go outside, or if he needs food or water, this type of barking can occur anytime the Chihuahua wants to get your attention.

Attention barking is usually soft and short. The Chihuahua will stop barking once his needs are met.

#4) Territorial

Chihuahua territorial barking

Chihuahuas may also bark when another dog, person or animal encroaches upon their territory. This behavior is closely associated with fear barking. The Chihuahua views the encroaching subject as a threat to his territory, so he barks to try and scare it away.

A Chihuahua’s “territory” may include his home, yard, crate, bedding, car seat, food and water bowl, and other areas to which he’s accustomed.

Normally, territorial barking becomes louder and more aggressive as the perceived threat gets closer. If the threat doesn’t go away, the Chihuahua may attack it.

Because territorial barking typically comes before an attack, you shouldn’t discourage your Chihuahua from doing it. If you teach your Chihuahua not to bark when his territory is encroached, he may bite the encroaching person or animal.

#5) Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common behavioral disorder in Chihuahuas. It’s characterized by the Chihuahua feeling a constant need to be with his owner. When left alone, the Chihuahua may act out by barking, howling, chewing and using the bathroom indoors. Some owners disregard separation anxiety as being harmless or even cute, but it causes severe stress and anxiety, both for the Chihuahua and the owner.

If separation anxiety is causing your Chihuahua to bark, you need to desensitize him to you leaving and being away. There’s nothing wrong with taking your Chihuahua on the occasional car ride, but it shouldn’t be a daily occurrence. If your Chihuahua expects to go with you every time you leave, he may bark and act out the next time he’s left behind.

Check out this article for more information on separation anxiety in Chihuahuas and how to treat it.

#6) Dementia

Also known as canine cognitive dysfunction, dementia can cause a wide variety of behavioral problems in Chihuahuas, including excessive barking. Chihuahuas suffering from this disease often bark for no apparent reason. It’s believed that Chihuahuas with dementia bark because they are confused, or because they’ve forgotten who their owners are.

Barking triggered by dementia isn’t something that you can stop through traditional training techniques. You need to find out what works and what doesn’t for your Chihuahua through trial and error. Comforting your Chihuahua by petting and speaking his name may help. There’s also medication available for masking the symptoms of dementia, such as Anipryl (selegiline). Ultimately, though, you need to remember dementia isn’t something that’s easily fixed.

#6) Excitement

Some Chihuahuas bark when they are excited or anticipating something that will cause excitement, such as a new toy, going for a walk, or seeing their owner after a long day. The stimuli causes the Chihuahua’s energy levels to rise until he can no longer control it. As a result, he barks, paces, jumps and exhibits other energetic behavior.

Excitement barking consists of short, high-pitched barks. The Chihuahua will stop barking once the stimuli is removed and his energy levels normalize.

#7) Dreaming

Chihuahua dreaming barking

Like people, some Chihuahuas vocalize when dreaming. The Chihuahua may bark, howl, whimper and even appear to run in place. This behavior typically occurs during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, during which the Chihuahua’s eyes will twitch in response to his increased brain activity.

Some owners feel the need to wake their Chihuahuas when they dream, believing they are helping by getting the Chihuahua out of a nightmare. Most veterinary experts agree, though, that it’s best to let them sleep through the dream. Sleep is essential for a Chihuahua’s physical and mental health. If you wake your Chihuahua every time he dreams, it can cause fatigue, irritability and even a suppressed immune system.

How to Stop Your Chihuahua from Barking

Teaching a Chihuahua not to bark requires an understanding of what’s causing the behavior. And as you can see, Chihuahuas bark for many reasons. In most cases, however, the following training method will correct barking disorders.

Teach the Speak Command

It may sound counterproductive, but teaching your Chihuahua to bark on command can actually help you control his barking. The ultimate goal is to teach the quiet command. Using the quiet command, you can instantly stop your Chihuahua from barking. Before you can do so, however, you must first teach your Chihuahua the speak command.

Follow these steps to teach your Chihuahua the speak command:

  1. Have a friend or family member approach the front door.
  2. Immediately before this person rings the doorbell, tell your Chihuahua to “speak.”
  3. If he barks, reward him with a treat and affection.
  4. Repeat until your Chihuahua barks on command.

The doorbell method is only one way to teach the speak command. You can use any stimuli that normally causes your dog to bark. The idea is to create an association between the speak command and treats while enticing his barking behavior through stimuli.

Teach the Quiet Command

Long-coat Chihuahua not barking

After your Chihuahua has learned the speak command, you should teach him the quiet command.

Follow these steps to teach your Chihuahua the command:

  1. Use the speak command to make your Chihuahua bark.
  2. While he’s barking, place a treat in front of his nose.
  3. Assuming your Chihuahua stops barking to inspect and sniff the treat, reward him with the treat and affection.
  4. Repeat until your Chihuahua stops barking on command.

Positive Reinforcement

Correcting behavioral problems like excessive barking requires positive reinforcement, not punishment. If you punish or scold your Chihuahua for barking, you’ll only encourage him to bark by giving him attention. Yelling “Bad boy!” or “Bad girl!” for example, feeds the Chihuahua’s desire for attention. He thinks you are barking with him, so he continues to bark (and possibly more loudly) as a result.

Instead of yelling at your Chihuahua when he barks, reward him when he doesn’t. If your Chihuahua remains quiet in a situation when he usually barks, give him a treat and affection. He’ll eventually realize that being quiet in this scenario results in rewards. Positive reinforcement is the key to stopping excessive and inappropriate barking, so keep plenty of treats on hand.

Provide Plenty of Exercise

Lack of exercise plays a key role in Chihuahua barking problems. Because of the breed’s small size, some owners assume that Chihuahuas don’t need regular exercise. But Chihuahuas need just as much physical stimulation as larger dogs. Failure to give your Chihuahua this physical stimulation will result in built-up energy that’s released through inappropriate behavior.

You can discourage excessive and inappropriate barking by giving your Chihuahua at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This can include walking, playing fetch, chase, tug-of-war, or just running around outside. As long as your Chihuahua is moving, his energy will be released; thus, helping to correct many behavioral problems such as barking.

Be Consistent

Consistency is essential when teaching a Chihuahua not to bark. If you reward your Chihuahua with a treat for obeying the quiet command, give him a treat every time he does it; otherwise, the mixed messages will confuse him and make training more difficult.

All family members in your home should also be on board with the training process. If someone else punishes your Chihuahua for barking, for example, it could impede your training efforts. Sit down and discuss your training method, as described in this article, with all family members. You can even attach a note with the basic training rules to your refrigerator or elsewhere in your home.

What You Shouldn’t Do

There are certain things you shouldn’t do when attempting to correct your Chihuahua’s barking problem. Even if you’ve successfully taught your Chihuahua the quiet command, the following mistakes could negate your training efforts.

Don’t Reward Inappropriate Barking

Chihuahua barking training

It’s unlikely that you give your Chihuahua a treat when he barks excessively or at inappropriate times. However, you could still be rewarding him with affection or attention, which encourages him to bark.

To stop their Chihuahua from barking, some owners may toss a toy across the room. This creates a distraction by diverting the Chihuahua’s attention away from the stimuli that initially triggered his barking. In the long run, though, this makes the problem worse by encouraging the Chihuahua to bark in the future.

If you reward your Chihuahua when he barks — treats, toys, affection, playtime, attention, car rides, etc. — he will create an association between barking and rewards. So, the next time he wants a reward, he will bark. Ignore your Chihuahua and don’t give him any attention, or even eye contact, when he barks at inappropriate times.

Don’t Use a Muzzle

A muzzle isn’t an effective solution to stop a Chihuahua from barking. Depending on the specific type, it may prevent the Chihuahua from eating, drinking or panting. Both drinking and panting are essential to regulating the Chihuahua’s body temperature. If he cannot do these things, his body temperature will rise to potentially dangerous levels. Because of this, leaving a muzzle on an unattended Chihuahua can be viewed as cruelty, leaving the owner susceptible to animal cruelty charges.

The basket-style muzzles typically allow the Chihuahua to drink and pant while wearing it, but you still shouldn’t use it to stop your Chihuahua from barking. Muzzles promote stress and anxiety, which can worsen behavioral problems. The Chihuahua will still feel the need to bark; the muzzle only prevents him from acting on this instinct.

There are times when a muzzle is useful and appropriate. If your Chihuahua is fearful of the vet or groomer and exhibits signs of aggression, a muzzle can protect the vet or groomer from being bitten. Generally speaking, though, muzzles should only be used to prevent a Chihuahua from biting. They should not be used as punishment or to correct behavioral problems.

Don’t Use a Shock Collar

Say "no" to shock collar training

We do not condone the use of shock collars to stop a Chihuahua from barking. Often marketed under gimmicky names like “e-collars” and “collar-mounted electronic training aids,” they use battery-powered electrodes to emit up to 4,500 volts (sometimes more) directly into the Chihuahua’s neck when he barks.

Some shock collars are operated manually, while others automatically apply the shock when a bark is detected. The latter are particularly troublesome since they shock for all barks, both good and bad.

Whether it’s manual or automatic, you should avoid using shock collars when training your Chihuahua. While typically not fatal, they still cause pain and discomfort. Can you imagine being shocked in your neck? It’s not pleasant. There have even been reports of dogs sustaining second- and third-degree burns around their neck from wearing shock collars.

Aside from the pain and potential harm shock collars cause, their effectiveness is questionable at best. In a study titled “The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward-Based Training,” researchers from Lincoln University in the UK found that shock collars were no more effective at training dogs than traditional recall and control chasing techniques.

Did you know? The use of canine shock collars is banned in Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Slovenia and some parts of Australia.

Don’t Use a Spray Collar

Spray collars are less invasive than shock collars but still a poor choice when training a Chihuahua not to bark. They work — and I use the term “work” loosely — by spraying mildly irritating substances like citronella or lemon juice in the Chihuahua’s face when he barks. The short bursts of juice sting the Chihuahua’s eyes and nasal passages, punishing him for barking.

Furthermore, both shock and spray collars are known to pick up the sound of other dogs barking. If your neighbor’s dog barks while your Chihuahua is wearing one of these collars, it could activate the collar and punish your Chihuahua. While some owners have reported success using these punishment-based training collars, most canine behavioral specialists will agree that there are better, safer and more effective ways to teach a Chihuahua not to bark.

Rather than exposing your Chihuahua to pain and discomfort, follow the use the techniques described here to teach your Chihuahua his barking boundaries. As long as you remain consistent with your training efforts, your Chihuahua will learn when it’s acceptable to bark and when it’s not.

What About Removing the Stimuli?

Chihuahua looking outside window

You can typically stop a Chihuahua from barking by removing the stimuli from his environment. If your Chihuahua barks at pedestrians walking in front of your home, for example, you can pull the curtains shut. Or if your Chihuahua barks when he hears your car pull into the driveway, you can raise the volume on the TV to create white noise. With the stimuli removed, your Chihuahua will no longer feel the desire to bark.

With that said, removing the stimuli is only a temporary solution for barking problems. You can’t keep the curtains closed or the TV on forever. And the next time your Chihuahua is exposed to the stimuli, he will bark. Rather than removing it, try to desensitize your Chihuahua to the stimuli. This is done by acclimating your Chihuahua to whatever is making him bark.

Using the same scenario mentioned above, you can desensitize your Chihuahua to pedestrians outside by having someone walk in front of your home (with the curtains open). This person should begin at a far enough distance so it doesn’t cause your Chihuahua to bark immediately. You can then feed your Chihuahua treats for as long as he’s quiet. Once he begins to bark, stop feeding him treats and begin to ignore him.

It may take several sessions, but this should desensitize your Chihuahua to whatever causing him to bark.

The Bottom Line on Chihuahua Barking

All dogs bark, and Chihuahuas are no exception. It’s one of their primary methods of communication. When your Chihuahua’s barking becomes a nuisance and interferes with life, however, you need to take action by correcting his behavior. Barking excessively or at inappropriate times creates a chaotic environment for you, your family and your Chihuahua. Use the training techniques described here to correct your Chihuahua’s barking and regain control of your home.

How do you stop your Chihuahua from barking? Let us know in the comments section below!

References:

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-get-your-dog-stop-barking

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/barking

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/understanding-why-dogs-bark

Comments

    • Geralyn
    • June 22, 2023
    Reply

    My chi was in a shelter in very poor shape. A part of the collar was still on him. His barking was never a problem until my adult son moved in. Every time my son comes in my bedroom, he barks. My son hates him and I think it’s mutual. My chi was abused and is partially sighted. He got confused one day and jumped off the balcony but when my son tried to stop him, chi bit him. They will never get along and it stresses me out. I feel too sorry for chi to get rid of him…he’s really sweet. 😔

    • cathy frederick
    • June 16, 2021
    Reply

    All interesting. Im a dog trainer for about 40 years and im almost finished up with a Chihuahua and I use a chain collar and this dog does extremely well. The collar is pretty loose and through all the commands simultaneously the dog gets a correction with the word NO. After 8 weeks of training not very often does this dog need a correction but only the word NO. No to a dog means change your train of thinking. So when we say NO we’re trying to stop the dog from giving birth to his or her thoughts.

    don’t be afraid of using a chain collar make sure you know what you’re doing. If the collar is on backwards it won’t release that is not a good thing. right now she is learning to be in the yard without barking. So after all this training she is now hooked up to a long leash and will stay like that until she has earned her freedom in the yard. And the owner tells her beforehand going into the yard “no barking“ and thats it.

    • Venetia Bride
    • December 20, 2018
    Reply

    We adopted this Chihuahua from a shelter. She had rescued this Chihuahua from a pound that he was at and was on the kill list because no one could get near him. She had him at her shelter in a cage for 2 or 3 years. We went ahead & adopted him. We have another rescued chihuahua that you can not handle but she will let you pet her but not the 1st one. It took a long time before he would move from the bed we provided even though he had complete access to the home and a dog door to the outside lg. yard. When he was with us for a while we rescued a med. to lg. Poodle. He started his incessant barking around this time & goes berserk with the barking when he knows that I am going to take the Poodle for a walk. I would gladly take him with if he would only allow me. My husband is going insane with his crazy barking. He has tried the spray bottle, but he has learned to stay out of the reach of the spray. HELP! We are out of our minds with the crazy yipping!

    • Michelle Howard
    • November 17, 2018
    Reply

    My 14 month old bitch needs a lot of attention, it’s like having a toddler. She has a walk for at least an hour a day, we play fetch (she’s just learned how to pick up a tennis ball) she’s only 2lb in weight, she’s like a diva. She demands strokes, and always wants to play, I suppose it’s my own fault ,as I do adore her. I would get another if I could afford it. I try to stimulate her play with kong toys, hiding toys for her to find but what else can I do to keep her entertained, I feel so guilty ..

      • Juanita
      • February 5, 2019
      Reply

      I’m getting am 8 week old female chihuahua. I can’t wait. Been reading all the pointers. Thanks everyone. I’m looking forward to training my Lily.

    • Hikercoast
    • October 15, 2017
    Reply

    My girlfriend has FOUR of these dogs, which yip and yip and yip. I love her but find the dogs totally obnoxious.

    I have always been around dogs like Spaniels, Labs, Retreivers and Shepherds. “Fru fru dogs” are not my cup of tea.

    She has suffered from anxiety and depression before I met her, and the dogs have been a comfort to her. I understand that intellectually, but the yipping is so disturbing.

    Any thoughts? 😊

      • Robert
      • December 21, 2017
      Reply

      Hello,
      Did you ever get an answer? I just timed my neighbor’s dog. He has been barking, uninterrupted, for 1 hour and 47 minutes. My neighbor encourages it, saying, that’s what the dog do. Not sure what that means, except that the conversation is over.
      Thanks, just thought I’d blow off some steam 🙂
      Oops, there the dog go do again, lol. Don’t they ever get a sore throat? Glad I’m renting these days.

        • Jacque
        • January 16, 2022
        Reply

        No we have a neighbor that dog barks all the time I swear!!! Thank God I’ve got sleeping pills for when it barks at night. We live in a very small town but the city hasn’t done anything about it!!!

    • Rich
    • September 2, 2017
    Reply

    We have a 3 yr old Chi(Chico)that we originally were dog sitting for 2 weeks while the owner went to Hawaii to reunite with her estranged mother. That was 2 years ago, so needless to say, she never came back. We don’t know his exact age or history. We were told that she got him from a homeless man that had 2 Chi puppies. We think that whoever had him mistreated him because he is very hand shy. Wy wife was not home when we first got him so I spent 2 hours just trying to make him comfortable and feel safe. He loves my wife, but if she tries to touch me, he goes after her…sometimes bitting hard. He barks at everything, pees on everything. We also have an 12yr old Brussels Griffon named Dinky that we had since birth(actually assisted in the birth and had to resuscitate her) they get along great most of the time, but sometimes he gets a little rough and nips at her face. The barking is the worst, web had complaints from the neighbors. The strange thing is, when we walk him, he doesn’t bark at anyone and a pleasure to walk. He has not been fixed yet. The thing that gets me is, if he is laying with my wife and I get close he freaks out and visa versa, except he won’t bite me. It’s really effecting my nightly back scratches, lol. Pleasehelp

    • Cephus
    • August 9, 2017
    Reply

    I’ve got an almost 2-year old Chihuahua who barks at pretty much everything. She’s well socialized, has no aggressive tendencies, loves people, but every single noise she hears, she barks at. I can understand being protective, but she’s like that when my daughter opens her bedroom door, the dog is off barking like a maniac. My wife comes in the front door. Bark bark bark. The dishwasher is running. Bark bark bark. And these aren’t things that she hasn’t lived her entire life with, she’s not starved for attention, she just likes to bark. She’ll be laying under covers on the couch and hear a sound and bark from under the covers. She hardly even wakes up, she just wants to bark.

    Drives me crazy.

      • Pat maya
      • October 23, 2017
      Reply

      I have the same problem with my little fat stinky I have a chihuahua to n passes gas from day one that’s why I named him stinky. He can be sound asleep and all of a sudden he’ll comes from under and bark his head off n when he sees new people he knows there not going to hurt me but won’t stop barking until I put him in the house it stops for 5 min n he’s going

    • Kevin Hardy
    • April 19, 2017
    Reply

    I have a four year old chihuahua that I didn’t socialize enough, well almost not at all. I used to live in San Francisco and so my last chihuahua was well socialized but then we moved to Southern California. After moving around a bit I moved into a house with some other people. Two days after moving in a dog belonging to one of the house mates killed my dog which absolutely devastated me and my Basenji. The dog that killed him was a whippet. There was another chihuahua that lived there and there had never been a problem between the two. Anyway after moving out my Basenji was so lonely and I eventually got another Chihuahua, but after what happened to Queequeg I was very reluctant to expose LB to other dogs. And living in SoCal we are not in contact with neighborhood dogs nearly as much as SF. MY Basenji passed away last summer and we have adopted another dog who gets along with my chihuahua just fine, but the problem is when we meet other dogs LB is afraid and barks and stays back away. It’s this one tone bark over and over. How can we overcome this? I want him to be happy, not afraid. Plus it’s really irritating I feel like my fear is definitely adding to the situation. Any advice is greatly appreciated !

      • BrIttany Koch
      • May 14, 2017
      Reply

      Hi! In reading your post I think you answered your own question. I’m not an expert, though I do have a 10 year old chihuahua who is very well behaved and I can say this, you are right on about your pup internalizing YOUR fear. Chihuahuas are amazing in the way they connect with their owners. If you are terrified he’s going to be scared too or try to protect your feelings by avoiding the stressful situation at all costs. There are tons of great strategies that I’m sure you will find if you haven’t already by searching online something like “how to socialize my scared chihuahua”, but YOU need to practice feeling good about these encounters as well. Hope this helped a little bit! I’m glad you chose to get another one and I’m deeply sorry for your loss.

        • Sue S
        • July 25, 2017
        Reply

        I just want to tell you that your response was not only spot on, but it was well written, too!! As I read your response, it became obvious to me that you are a very caring and kind person. Thank you for helping me start off my day on a positive note!! 😊👍🏼👍🏼

    • Honeybears mama
    • February 16, 2017
    Reply

    I have a six-month-old Chihuahua and when I got her she came from my abusive home so for the first few weeks it was rough but after she got used to us she was doing good on going downstairs to go potty and then coming back upstairs but now all the sudden she is in heat and she now seems to pee anywhere and everywhere especially my daughters bed or where she sleeps he’s very aggressive to her I don’t know why she acts like that with my daughter barks all the time all day all night very aggressive doesn’t listen to me when I call your name she’ll take off for a little bit and then she finally comes back after we find her I’m hoping that this is normal just because she’s in heat for the first time .. when I got her she was sweet and real cuddly but ever since she has gone in heat she has turned into 360 does anybody have any suggestions?

      • Karen
      • April 7, 2017
      Reply

      Please get her spayed!

    • Muneca
    • February 13, 2017
    Reply

    My chi is 3mths old and she barks all the time…I live in an apartment and I got her a big playpen and a lot of toys but all she does is bark cause she wants out …but when I take her out she’s in my garbage taking it out …biting my toe/ feet she likes to play aggressively…crapping and peeing every where…she’s my first chi never had one and she’s really stressing me to the point that I cannot enjoy her…im am going to try the spray bottle …Thanks Jack

    • Shona
    • October 21, 2016
    Reply

    I have an 8 month old chi and he keeps attempting to mate with anyone leg or arm he does bark but I nipped that in the bud he was bought for my 50th birthday and he is hard work especially feeding he refuses all wet food dry complete fresh chicken cooked but likes thin sandwich ham, I know it is high in salt advice would be appreciated he has started to bite strangers that enter my home help please I am in the UK.

    • Jack
    • October 18, 2016
    Reply

    The best way to train a Chi to not bark is a spray bottle. Squirting them with water and saying shh.. Works. Most times you don’t have to spray them beywhen they see you pick up the bottle they stop.

      • Emily Stevenson
      • January 31, 2017
      Reply

      Seconding this. It doesn’t actually harm the dog but they really dislike the squirt. And like Jack says, after the first squirt or two, 90% of the time you can stop or prevent bad behavior just by brandishing the squirt bottle.

      I adopted an 8 year old Chihuahua who barked ferociously any time my senior cats approached her. But after getting squirted a couple times for barking at them, after that all it took was for me to grab the spray bottle when the cats got close, and she would see it and her posture would instantly become less aggressive and any little half-growls ended. Then, because she was showing relaxed behavior, I was able to reward her with a little piece of cheese every couple of minutes for as long as she stayed calm. Eventually she learned that I wanted her to ignore the cats and she started doing so.

    • Cynthia
    • July 25, 2016
    Reply

    Hi I’m Cindy in San Diego with 5 baby chihuahuas the mama the older daughter and the surrogate mother that also breastfeeds the puppies, SO MUCH responsibility & have learned a new language… Wolf wolf wolf wolf bark bark bark bark bark woof woof woof bark bark bark

    • David
    • May 26, 2016
    Reply

    I am not a dog hater, friends have dogs and can tolerate quite a bit.

    However the flat downstairs has a Chihuahua and it barks at anything.

    Thankfully it does not do it at night because if it did I would be taking it further with the Owner no problems. There has already being a complaint about barking in the flats early in the morning but it wasn’t me and unfortunately it was before this tenant moved in.

    I do suffer from Anxiety and on my days off work and weekends it does wind me up quite a bit. I am very respectful of neighbors and always shall be. But this dog drives me insane.

    Maybe the owner does not realize the loudness and annoyance but I am sure to complain sooner or later but do not want to offend or upset her.

    Maybe I will speak to her daughter the next time I see her.

      • Laney
      • May 26, 2017
      Reply

      Please talk to the parent and not the child. Don’t wait until you are on your last nerve. Think about how you can have a conversation and not a confrontation with the owner. Ask someone to help you come up with a calm way to approach the owner. You also could call a local vet or trainer and tell them about the situation and see if they have any suggestions that might help. Oh another place would be the local humane society and ask if they have a behaviorist and something they could suggest. I want to stress that you don’t wait until you are stressed and angry and approach them with compassion.

    • Robin
    • March 20, 2016
    Reply

    I RESCUE a little Terrell chihuahua from running around on a boat dock. I figure he was just droped off and left. But sence I have had him,Ihave reasure him with lots of Love. But he never stops barking. I taught him how to walk on a leash. But he barks all the time on his walk. How can I teach him to stop barking all the time. And yes I let him out to use the bathroom but barks even at each time weither its 2:00 am in the morning. Please help me with him. Hes driveing my neighbors crazy. Thank you

    • Karen
    • March 14, 2016
    Reply

    I have had my 9 wk. old chi for 2 days and have yet to hear her bark. Been sifting around for ideas on how to train because I know once she starts I will have to get on it right away. One thing I do know is, do not play aggressively with the puppy, (of any breed). It seems to hard wire them to overreact to alot of social situations with other dogs and people.

      • Geordie
      • April 20, 2017
      Reply

      I know how to teach your 9week old chihuahua to bark on command, i taught our chihuahua to bark on command our dog was “speaking” by the time she was seven weeks old how to do it look at yr dog or make sure yr dog has yr full attention then repeat to him/her “SSSSPPEAK”when you pronounce the word emphasise the word and when you do this make a barking shape with your hand and always keep your hand gesture facing your face not facing at the dog otherwise the result can be dentrimental to the dog as he or she may think you mean bite so NEVER do the hand gesture facing your hand at the dog. The best time to teach him/ her is when their wanting to play keep getting yr dogs attention and persevere dont give up be patient and dont expect any results straight away but you never know your dog may pick it up quickly our chihuhua did it at seven weeks and i once had a german shepherd took 3 months before she barked but when she did having said that chihuahua’s are the number one dog for intelligence and i would have to agree.

      • Debbie
      • June 7, 2017
      Reply

      I wish I had heard this earlier. It makes sense.

    • angela
    • February 15, 2016
    Reply

    Hey my name’s is Angela I have a 2 year chiwawa that my family and adopted and we are haveing a hard time with him a got cops called on me cause he barks at everything even the wind he can go out said and bark for hours if you let him I don’t know what to do we really love the dog we would love to keep him but is there any thing anyone can help me with or tell me what I can do to help him to stop barking he barks at the wind and people at cars and nabors only when his putsaid the min he goses out his all ready barking we go out to see him but there is nothing there I don’t know what to do any help thanks

    • Jan
    • February 12, 2016
    Reply

    We have 2 Chihuahuas that are 11 months old and have had them since they were 7 weeks old. They are siblings, brother being much more aggressive than the sister. We have always traveled with them to the many horse shows we go to through out the year. In the beginning they were passive and lovable. But as they got older the male became protective and has snapped aggressively at anyone who comes up to him or us. We opted to carry them in slings so that they don’t startle the horses or get stepped on by some or the bigger dogs at the shows. So I believe they are at times protecting us from strangers or they are afraid and biting to defend themselves. They have never been attacked by any other animal and they have never been physically disciplined. At home I use a water bottle and spray them when they get aggressively with each other. It works well, but isn’t practicable in public. Do you have any suggestions on how to prevent aggressive biting of people when they are approached?

    • leza
    • October 31, 2015
    Reply

    My puppy boy is 4 months old and barks at everything, he still has accidents in my house and im nearly at my wits end trying to stop him. And advice please all welcome

    • Jennifer
    • February 24, 2015
    Reply

    I have a chi, shes about 2 years old. I was wrong in spoiling her and are now trying t teach her to stop barking at everyone. I am also trying to get her to stop crying and throwing a hissy fit everytime i leave the room. i have been teaching her the basic demands like stay, sit, down, but she forgets sometimes…. How do i get her to stop whining and not to bark at friends and family?

    • jojo
    • December 26, 2014
    Reply

    So far, so good. My two Chis don’t bark at the bell anymore, but they still bark when someone enters the house. Still, I’m glad at the progress they made today!

    • trollforpup
    • October 5, 2014
    Reply

    my dog actualy obeyed me…i feel WAY more relieved

      • COCO
      • January 21, 2015
      Reply

      Chihuahua in general are born to be one thing, your most loyal and devoted companion. I know that if I hooked him up to a chain all day he would shake and probably have a heart attack..

      My main problem with him is he thinks her is a 100lb pit bull trapped in 10lb body. He approaches dogs who are showing their teeth with saliva swirling out of his mouth. HE HAS NO FEAR.

      I moved from a single family home to an apartment building full of dogs big and small. He has no idea why all thee dogs are in his yard I guess.

      It is frustrating because I cannot stop and talk to anyone with out him barking. The funny thing is once he knows who you are, he is just a big ball of love who loves to play.

      Years ago I had a retriever. I used a milk jug with pennies. it worked great on him, 2 weeks later no more barking. I used it on coco and he stood and shook and would not come ear me all da. He is so sensitive.

      He does all the basics sit, heel, rollover etc. Even when someone stop s to talk, I will tell him to sit. He sits just fine while barking and barking and tail just a wagging like it’s a joke.

      so good luck everyone!

      He is 7 years old and I took him off my daughter’s hands ne she went to culinary school and was

        • Janet
        • December 8, 2016
        Reply

        I too have a chihuahua and he also thinks he is a big boy trapped in a little boys body. He tries to attack all big dogs pitts, shepards you name it. Also tries to attack my neighbors! I’ve had him since he was 4 wks. old & he is now 3-1/2 yrs. old & I have tried numerous ways to train him & nothing seems to work, he is afraid of anything that comes his way. He even attacks me if I have a male friend visit he turns against me & will sit on my friends lap & if I get up to walk around he tries to attack me I don’t understand this but when we are alone he is the most ” Loving” little boy and he makes me laugh soo. I love my little boy dearly & I know he loves me & when he does try and bite me he then goes in a corner and starts crying as if he doesn’t know why !!! He has a serious imbalance I believe, it’s as if he’s dr. Jeckl and mr Hide !

    • TonyM
    • May 23, 2014
    Reply

    Hopefully, the new wave of knowledge that seems to be sweeping through the pet world is to, on one hand start treating dogs right (stop chaining up i the yard all day, etc) and stop treating them like human babies.

    Unfortunately, I just don’t think it’s ever going to sink in with a lot of Chi owners. My neighbors love their Chihuahua, completely agree with Cesar Milan on training and treating their Chi like a dog (no jumping on people or the furniture, etc.), and yet in practice let the dog do whatever he wants. Guess what? I feel like I’m living next door to someone with a car that has a faulty hair-trigger car alarm that goes off 40 times a day and won’t fix it. Too few Chi owners care about training their pup.

      • Anne
      • October 27, 2014
      Reply

      I disagree Tom. You can’t just chain your dog outdoor and leave them. Dogs are social animals and need to be around others (dogs, people etc). If you keep them chained up all day or in the yard all day with little contact they are likely to develop serious illness like cancer or other issues — it is a form of neglect. Also as a chihuahua owner I know how difficult but loving they can be. You can never keep a chihuahua outside all day because not only are they sensitive to cold, they are sensitive small changes in the environment. Also chihuahuas love their person, they love to cuddle or be beside their person(or people) all the time or at very least always know where they are. Plus they aren’t easy to train (or when they are its hard to get them to listen) and worse to get them to stop barking (I’ve tried everything) and they don’t like to listen to you. So before you start judging, know what you are talking about

        • Kelly
        • May 16, 2015
        Reply

        Perhaps you should take time to fully read the post before YOU start judging, Anne. He clearly said to STOP chaining dogs up outside all day. Sheesh.

        • Joe
        • July 13, 2015
        Reply

        Anne, Tom did not say it was good to keep a dog chained to a tree (that is cruel). However, it’s not fair for someone to have a nuisance dog that keeps people up all night barking. Many cities are starting to issue fines for barking dogs and this is good. Also, this breed of dog responds better when you begin training it at a very young age. People should not treat dogs likes humans this does not imply that the dog should be abused but it is a pet. A pet is not a human. You can love and care for your pet but at the end of the day it’s a pet dog that should be trained responsibly.

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