Chiweenie Training

Training your Chiweenie is exciting but at the same time, it’s challenging. Unfortunately, many owners never take the time to discover ways to train a Chiweenie properly.

In this post, we will give you a full picture of the training requirements for Chiweenies.

What you need to know

Chiweenies are often described as “spunky dogs.” They have big personalities and behave larger than they appear. An untrained Chiweenies are snappy with children and tend to bark at strangers and unfamiliar people.

Fortunately, all of these behaviors can be managed with early training. Being a stubborn dog, training should start as soon as possible. Training your Chiweenie requires time, patience, and a consistent schedule. It can also strengthen the bond between you and your Chiweenie.

Are Chiweenies Hard to Train?

Well, these little guys are quite hard to train. They get this stubbornness from their Chihuahua ancestors. The Chiweenie will try to assert dominance when you start training it. The best way to train your Chiweenie is to use positive reinforcement techniques. Offer them rewards and make the training sessions as fun as possible.

Types of training your Chiweenie needs

Like all dogs, Chiweenies thrive on human companionship and need consistent training right from puppyhood. Training can bring joy and happiness to you and your dog.

Your Chiweenie might need the following training.

Obedience training

Your Chiweenie needs to obey you but it takes some time and commitment to train a Chiweenie to be obedient. Obedience training can help you overcome common Chiweenie behavior problems and will help keep your little dog safe.

Obedience training will set your Chiweenie on a path to be a well-mannered, social dog. It helps your Chiweenie understand the basic commands like sit, stay, drop it, and lie down.

It will be much easier to teach when your Chiweenie is still young. This is because puppies respond well to early training. You can start training your Chiweenie when it is only 7 weeks old.

Here are few aspects you should be careful about:

Teach your Chiweenie puppy to respond to basic commands such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘come’, and ‘down’.
Practices these commands several times a day to make sure that your dog understands what you want.
High-value treats will be key to train your Chiweenie to be obedient. You may need to change these treats every now and then to keep your Chiweenie engaged.
Keep training sessions short but ensure they are productive and your Chiweenie is engaged.
Start training your Chiweenie early and be consistent to avoid bad behavior.
Be sure to offer your Chiweenie treats for a job well done so it continues to be engaged and motivated.

Crate training

Crate training is a very important step in Chiweenie ownership. Many dog parents view crates like a nightmare prison. You must establish the proper mindset that crate training isn’t imprisoning your Chiweenie. It serves as a safe spot, not a place of punishment.

A good crate can fulfill your fur buddy’s natural desire for a den. Here’s how you can crate train your Chiweenie:

One of the most important steps in crate training your Chiweenie is to make sure you buy the right size crate. The crate should be of sufficient size for Chiweenie to stand up and turn around.
Place the crate in a room where your Chiweenie spends a lot of time.
Determine how your little dog will be most comfortable. Try to make it an activity-filled area so that your Chiweenie doesn’t feel lonely.
Place a few treats and a pile of toys in the middle of his crate and then place your Chiweenie inside next to them. Close the door and leave your pup alone for five minutes to explore.
If your pup decides to bark to show displeasure, let it go on until it gets tired of complaining. Then give your pup a treat, and let it out.
Take crate training slowly for your dog. Give your dog plenty of time to get used to the crate.
Make the whole experience pleasant for your fur baby. Offer treats to motivate and encourage it to stay in the crate.

Pet Parent Tip: Chiweenies should never, ever have leash and collars on when they’re in the crate. This can be dangerous as the little fur buddies might choke themselves.

Leash training

Leash training can be difficult but essential for Chiweenies. It is especially significant if the two of you are going to enjoy walks together. Your dog should always be on a leash when out with you.

The first thing to make sure of is that you must have the right equipment. Choose the right type of leash and collar for your Chiweenie.
Start by introducing your Chiweenie to the collar or harness and leash.
Make the puppy come to you and reward your fur baby when it comes to you.
When your Chiweenie is on a leash, don’t allow them to pull it. When your pup starts to pull, stand still and it will realize that what it is doing is not pleasing.
First practice leash training inside the house with little distractions.
Once your Chiweenie is comfortable inside, repeat this training in many different settings, and at many different places.
Walk at a quick pace when leash training. It keeps your Chiweenie more focused on walking.
Keep training sessions short, frequent, and don’t exhaust your dog.
When your Chiweenie is on a leash, show a lot of patience until your furry pal calms before you walk them out.
Reward your Chiweenie with a treat for following you.

Housebreaking and Potty training

Potty training and housebreaking are among the main challenges of many Chiweenie owners. The little guys are difficult to house train and may require quite a bit of effort and patience. If you want to cut back on accidents, consistency is the key.

Begin potty training your Chiweenies when they are between 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. At this stage, they have enough control of their bladder and bowel movements to hold it. When you start to housebreak your Chiweenie, follow these steps:

Pick a certain area outside and take your Chiweenie to the same area every time it needs to go.
Teach your Chiweenie the potty cue. Every time you take your Chiweenie outside to their designated area, use this command.
Keep the Chiweenie on a regular feeding schedule and be consistent with it.
Give regular or constant access to the bathroom place to go. Take your Chiweenie outside frequently. Take your little fur buddy out immediately after it wakes up, during and after playtime, and after meals.
Look out for signs that your dog is uneasy. These signs could be whining, circling, sniffing, barking, or any sudden behavior change.
Housebreaking and potty training require positive reinforcement techniques. Reward your Chiweenie with praises and treats when it does something good.
Experts recommend confining the puppy to a crate when you are not home. If you have already crate-trained your Chiweenie, housebreaking and potty training will be very easy.

Socialization of your Chiweenie

Try to socialize your Chiweenie puppy as much as possible. Make sure your Chiweenie gets to encounter all kinds of people, animals, and objects in different places. Introducing new places and meeting new people will help your fur baby stay well mannered into adulthood.

The easiest way to socialize is to take your Chiweenie for a daily walk. Some dog parks have a track that you can utilize for walking.

Training tips for your Chiweenie

Here are some remarkable training tips for your Chiweenie:

Choose the right training equipment. The right type of leash and collar gives greater control over your Chiweenie.
Training becomes easier if your Chiweenie is focused and attentive to your commands. Avoid distractions when you start training your Chiweenies. Once the dog starts learning, gradually move on to more distracting places.
Chiweenies learn and perform better with positive reinforcement techniques. Punishments and harsh treatment will damage their personality.
Training your Chiweenie requires consistent messages and rules given over time. Be consistent with your dog and show a lot of patience.
Chiweenies usually have a very short attention span. They distract easily and tend to lose focus quickly. Keep your training sessions short and always end them on a positive note.
You must establish your position as the Alpha of the family and clearly define the ground rules for your Chiweenie.
Training your dog on a full tummy is downright dangerous.
Provide opportunities for physical and mental stimulation.
Also provide opportunities for socialization and early exposure to many different people, animals, sights, and sounds to your Chiweenie.
If you are unable to devote much time to your Chiweenie, consider getting help from a dog trainer.
You can enroll your Chiweenie in puppy classes. It’s a great place to help your pup with basic obedience and socialization.

Adding a Chiweenie to your family is going to bring everyone a lot of fun. These little dogs are smart, fun, full of life, and make amazing pets. As a responsible Chiweenie parent, you must understand how to train your dog effectively.

Parting shot on training your Chiweenies

Training your Chiweenie is a commitment and requires much time and dedication. Train your little fur buddy properly and it will grow up into a well-behaved dog.

Which training tips work best for your Chiweenie? Feel free to share your thoughts. We would love to hear from you!