Mary Allen
It’s a long and hard road to break the habit of barking in a dog. Often this behavior has manifested itself over a long period of time. However, it is not impossible.
What you should definitely avoid: Loud scolding or shouting. Your Chihuahua will take this as “barking along,” and he’ll think you’re upset too.
So what to do? ignore the dog? This works well for a puppy that wants constant attention, but not for a four-legged friend who has always had success barking to get their human’s attention.
Your Chihuahua is likely to bark in one or more of the following situations:
- Visitors approach the house or ring the bell.
- The Chihuahua wants your attention.
- Your dog wants to round you or his family (the pack) up.
- Invaders should be expelled.
- They feel alone and “call” for other pack members.
- They bark along because other four-legged friends are howling or barking.
Barking is often used in situations where the Chihuahua cannot communicate through eye contact or body language. So he’s too far away from his people. For example, the master is in the kitchen and the Chihuahua has seen something exciting in the garden, or the postman is at the door.
Situation 1: visitors / strangers
A quick bang is okay to communicate. Constant barking, on the other hand, is less pleasant. Always have some super-duper treats on hand. These could be deposited in the hallway or you carry a training bag on your belt. Ring the visitor and the Chihuahua runs to the door, let him ring once or twice, then say “Stop!” and hold the morsel under his nose. Since the four-legged friend quickly perceives the delicious scent, he will stop barking and sniff it first. Once he’s “muted,” give praise and treats. You can also ask a friend to ring and send the Chihuahua to his basket as soon as the bell rings. The door will only be opened if he sits there well and no longer runs to the door at every “thing”. Stop him by standing or crouching in front of him. Before that, however, the dog should have learned to go to its place of command.
Situation 2: Walks
Is your Chihuahua barking at passers-by or other dogs? He is probably very insecure or has been inadequately socialized. Here it can help to convey security to the dog. If the Chihuahua gets upset on the leash, keep walking at a measured pace and ignore the scene. So keep absolutely calm. You can also stand in front of your dog and show him that you have the situation under control. If the Chihuahua is overwhelmed (e.g. a lot of people or significantly larger dogs), you can hold it in your arms. Always praise him when he calms down.
Situation 3: Coming home
As soon as the key turns in the lock, the Chihuahua freaks out and can hardly contain himself with joy. Mistress is there and from excitement and stress (more positively mind you) people bark. Don’t ignore the dog. A greeting is something perfectly normal and practiced among dogs and of course humans. But please don’t respond with an exuberant greeting as well. This spurs the dog on even more. Crouch down, stay calm, pet him briefly and then get up again and go into the apartment.
Please do not use an anti-bark collar. If you can’t get barking under control with conventional training methods, a visit to the dog school or the trainer would be advisable.