Teaching Your Chihuahua Self Control

Training out excitement and teaching self control are two of the most important things you can do with your Chihuahua.  Right behind a good bite inhibition, calm self control is an important step towards having a great family member in your dog.


A dog who is calm will actually hear instruction and will have clarity of mind to act appropriately even in challenging situations.  Teaching self control and encouraging calmness is easy when you pay attention to your own behavior first.

Here are few simple every day things anyone can do to help their little dogs have good self control.  If your dog can maintain his composure at a high state of excitement with you in your home he is more likely to be able to do this outside of your home and with others.  He is practicing a valuable skill.

• Greet your dogs when they are calm and keep it calm and brief.  When I walk into a room or come home from work I do not greet my dogs until they are calm.  Once they catch on to this I come home to quiet little dogs who watch me with tails wagging waiting for me to get to them.  I come in and set my stuff done, talk to my family, or just piddle for a few minutes.  Once everyone is calm, I go to each one and give them a little TLC.  

This is a daily practice in self control for them because they are excited that I am home and they all want my attention.  Having learned that they will not get me until they are calm demands that they make the effort  to remain calm.

• Give treats when your dog is calm and has all four paws on the floor.  When I give treats out I expect everyone to remain calm.  And I say the name of the dog the treat I have is for. (helps with swiping) I don't mind if they jump up to get their treat as long as they not out of control or all over me.  

I like to give treats in the order of who is the most patient or who used the most effort.  So typically the most calm get the first treat but if Cori who usually acts a complete fool actually manages to get himself together he gets a treat right away before he has lost it.

Also, don't forget to reward calmness if one doesn't get up for a treat!  Sometimes one of mine will be in their bed and will stay there watching the others get treats.  I always take them one too.  They get the last one but they are not left out because I like to reward calmness and patience at my house.  You will always get more of whatever you reward!!

If you are just starting out with this one a good place to begin is when they all over place just take one hand and set them a little away from  you with the feet on the floor and give the treat.  Be consistent and will start to learn that this is what is required to get that treat.

Again we have a regular practice of using self control during a high excitement event.  And trust me, getting out the treat bag with 5 chihuahuas in the house is an excitement overload!

• Randomly notice your Chihuahua and give love when they are being good and calm.  Anyone who has a Chihuahua can tell you what little affection hungry attention hounds these dogs are.  You can use this to your advantage however and give affection whenever you see your Chihuahua sleeping or just chilling out.  It's just a nice way to reward your dog for behaving.

If I walk through the room and see one sleeping in their bed I go give them a little belly scratch or stroke their fur and tell them I love them.  Keep it brief because you don't want to disturb their quiet time.  

You just want to take time to notice when your little dog is being calm and give attention then.  If you do this your Chihuahuas need for affection will be getting filled without him having to be pushy and he won't feel like he has to pull out all the stops to get your attention.

Self Control is easier for some dogs than it is for others but it will come to them if you are consistent and patient.  Age and temperament play a large part in gaining self control.  

These really are simple little things to incorporate into your day and your dog will be learning to control his impulses in an easy pain free way.  I like that these are all very positive experiences for my dogs.  You do these things whether you have an older or a puppy and regardless of your dogs temperament.  

Cinna from time she was a pup would stay in the back with the grown ups and wait patiently for a treat.  Fen who is high energy and naturally pushy was all over me and Cori just seemed to lose his mind entirely!  But this system works for all of them, they just each progress along at their own pace. 

Yes, You Can Have Your Chihuahua Wearing Clothes! And Here's How!

One comment I hear over and over from other Small Dog Parents is how much they wish they could get their little ones to wear clothes!  Well, you can!

It really isn't much different than getting your Chihuahua accustomed to collar or a leash and harness.  A little patience and a lot of attention will go a long way in helping your dog feel comfortable and happy wearing clothes.  So here are the basics of how I have gotten all 5 of my Chihuahuas to be regular Fashion Dogs!  This is a 2 part series so there will more to come!

Cinna & Cori: 6 week old Chihuahuas

If Possible, Start Young.  If you have a puppy now is the time to start them with clothes.  I started mine with clothes as soon as they were up and walking at 3 weeks of age.  If you are getting your puppy at 12 weeks old that's a great time to start too.  The younger you start them wearing clothes the better because young Chihuahuas will simply adapt easier to whatever life hands them.  It's a gift of youth.  But the principles here are the same for an older Chi too.  It may just take a little more coaxing and a few extra treats is all.

Start Your Chihuahua Wearing Clothes for Small Amounts of Time.  At first it's better not to have your Chihuahua wear their clothes for too long.  You want them to get used to them gradually.  It is better to start with 30 minutes to an hour of clothes wearing at first rather than a whole day.  If your Chihuahua is happy in his clothes than fine but for those who aren't as sure of them you will want to keep the times short in the beginning.  It's important to remember that your Chihuahua will still enjoy lots of time not wearing clothes!

Fen

Be Sure Your Chihuahua's Clothes are Comfortable and Fit Well.  No one likes to wear clothes that are itchy, scratchy, or that just do not fit well and your Chihuahua is no exception.  Clothes should not be so big that they get in the way of your dogs play and normal activities nor should they be too tight around the chest or front legs.  Putting clothes that do not fit well on your Chihuahua is a good way to make him decide that clothes are a bad idea.  You will want to be sure that tags are not an issue and avoid anything too frilly or bulky until your Chihuahua is already used to clothes.  First clothes should be little shirts and simple dresses.  Think comfort.

Cinna in her cute little Tutu Dress

Make it Positive with Treats and Attention.  One of the best ways to ensure success with training your Chihuahua to wear clothes is to offer treats and just fuss over them when dressed.  I like to dress my Chi's up for fun things like outings and walks.  This builds a positive association with their clothes for your dog.  Even mine who do not care for clothes as much are still very cooperative because they know that getting dressed means something fun is coming around the corner for them.  This 'fun' can be an outing, a walk, some playtime, treats or anything your dog enjoys.  Just be sure to always have a fun activity or a tasty treat ready for your Chi once dressed.  

Supervise Your Chihuahua to Redirect Chewing and Biting on Fashions.  This can be a common problem especially when starting puppies with clothing.  I find it best to get your dog dressed when you have time to spend with them.  This way you can be making this a fun attention filled time for your Chihuahua AND you are available to redirect their chewing on their clothes and keep them distracted so that they just forget about them altogether since they are having so much fun with you!

Two little quick tricks for when first getting started with an Uncooperative Chi: 

• On a chilly day or you can adjust the thermostat by a degree or two, toss a little shirt in the dryer for a few minutes and then put that on your chi.  Chihuahuas like to be warm and if they a little too cold that warm from the dryer shirt will be a welcome sight. 
• If you have a little one who is especially uncooperative at first try this for getting that shirt on!  Hold a treat in one hand and your dogs shirt in the other.  Hold the treat to your dog through the neck hole of the shirt.  As the dog comes towards the treat, hold onto the treat a bit and slip the shirt over their head as they get the treat.  You can also give a treat on the floor for each leg as it is lifted and put in their shirt too.  

Following these simple principles you should have your little Chihuahua all decked out in no time! 

Fen looking very handsome as usual!

Stay tuned for part II where we will look at determining your Chihuahua's individual style, shopping tips, accessories and more!

Wordless Wednesday: Fen the Chewer..

Have I mentioned lately that I now have THREE teething puppies in the house??!  

 

And yes, we are very afraid....

Monday Mischief: The Little Princess

Little Cinna has always been a little spitfire of a Chi.  She was the first to growl even before she took her first steps.  And any boy who gets an idea of chewing on her skirt is gonna get it!

However she is such a beautiful little girl and well she's a girl so I think she should be my little princess girl.

We seem to be having some difficulty with the basic princess rules though..  She seems to find new ways to get dirty every day!!  I don't know how she does it or even what is on her head?!  But she stays dirtier than the two boys and they are white!

She has a very smart technique to pop her necklaces off at will and I suspect she is trying to get out of her clothes so she can be a nakedy baby!  

Thankfully though (for me anywho) with a few treats and little encouragement she will model for me like a true princess.. and then off again to wrestle with the boys!!


Cinnas Tutu Dress and Tutu Skirt were made by Susan at Blue Ridge Crafter
Cinnas Necklace is handmade by me and available for other Diva Doggies at Frivolous Beaded Fun

Just a Proud Braggy post!

I just had to come over and talk about what an awesome Doggy Day I had!!   I was asked to bring one of the Chis along to our Beading Group this morning so I dolled little Cinna all up bath and all and took her along.

She was an absolute angel there too!  I hadnt taken her 'visiting' before and wasnt sure how she would do but she was perfect!  I am so proud of her.  She stuck right by my chair on her blanket.  She let people pet her.  She didnt bark or growl.  And she didnt piddle on their carpet!!  What more could you want?!

And on a related note.. We took little Fen over out on an errand yesterday and he was very good and let people pet him too.  :-)

Here is another picture of Cinna in her darling dress made by Susan over at Blue Ridge Crafter on Etsy.

Wordless Wednesday: Father & Son

Susu and Cori.. Cori really really loves his dad.. Susu?.. well Susu's not too sure about puppies.. lol

Monday Mischief: Why I Like Dogs.

You know, there are some really great reasons to have dogs.  Of course there is all that standard stuff of them being loyal and cute and all.  But there are lots of other great things about having a dog and since I'm feeling a bit 'mischievous' myself today, here are my top 10 reasons for loving my dogs.  :-)

1. No matter how much junk food I eat they still look at me like it was a great idea to get yet another piece of candy.   
2. They are always happy to see me, even when I have screwed up royally. 
3. They never remind me that I'm in hour 4 of the most pointless computer game known to man.  
4. They enjoy slothfulness.  The more sloth-like I become the happier they are.  That just means more company on the couch for them and they love it!  
5. Entertainment value.  Dogs do insanely funny things like shiver and mope with sour cream on their little faces or chase their tails or just entirely 'miss' the couch.  
6. They make confetti and who doesn't like confetti.  Every day I go home and feel like I've just entered a New Years Eve party there is so much confetti in the living room.  
7. They appreciate the simple things in life, like chicken cookies and lost tissues (useful for making confetti).
8. Their impressive athletic abilities never cease to amaze me like when I'm putting on a sock and Fen jumps out no where in a crazy matrix move, grabs the sock and is gone..   
9. Dogs in clothes.  I never seem to tire of dogs in clothes.  They do, but I don't.  There is just something intrinsically cute and cuddly about dogs in clothes.  And it's like playing dolls which was my all time fav as a kid and where playing dolls would be weird, somehow dressing my dogs up is not.  Go figure.  
10. And well, who couldn't love these perfect little faces!!

Does Your Dog Have ESP?? Mine might!

I was sitting in Barnes and Nobles checking out some dog books when this one caught my eye.

Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals

http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-That-Their-Owners-Coming/dp/0609805339

Well if that title doesn't get you thinking I don't know what would.   I was pretty intrigued.  It's a great little interesting read all about animals and dogs that know when people are sick or when their owners start heading home for the day.  Even dogs that knew when their owners died in wars hundreds of miles away.  


But that is only half the story.  You see I have a little boy Chihuahua.. my Susu who always knows when we are going to be sick. He velcros himself to the soon to be deathly ill person about 24 hours before the current plague hits.  A clingy Susu often means it's time to get some extra vitamin C and clear your schedule for the week because you are going down.  


However, he cannot fathom what on Earth I could possibly be yapping on about whenever I say something simple like... oh, I don't know SIT.... !  Always thought that one was supposed to be easy but not so much around here.   The boys are so opposed to sitting that I'm starting to think the cold floor is just not getting along with their hoolahs.. so they are just like.. 'uh.. nope.. not gonna do it.'  


But while I was reading about dogs that knew when their owners were coming home.. dogs that can predict seizures.. and all the other amazing things that dogs can do I had that grand 'light bulb' moment of all moments!! 


What if I close my eyes really really tight and focus all of my mental ESP energy on Susu sitting.  Would he then suddenly be like 'Oh so THAT'S what all the fuss was about' and just sit??  It's a long-shot but if it worked, this would revolutionize my life with dogs..  

It would be like using The Force on the Chihuahuas.. How awesome would dog training be then.

Anywho, I'm gonna go try to 'use my mind' to get my dogs to do stuff and I'll get back with you in a few days on this.. I'd love for you to try it too and let me know if it works.  Afterall, this Jedi Mindtrick stuff is only gonna be as good as the mind doing it and well.. I'm currently going to try using my nonexistent Jedi powers to get my dogs to sit so what does that tell you??   


Have a great day everyone and Go Have Some Fun!!  It's SATURDAY!!  

Wordless Wednesday: Jordan and Fen...

Monday Mischief: There's a Sandwich in the Crate.

Okay, we are currently out of town (big high five to hubby for making the internet happen).  So we get all packed up and have this awesome idea that the crate set up in the back seat will be perfect for the 3 Chihuahua puppies to ride along on this 5 hour drive.

That lasted almost to the end of our very short driveway.  Fen was howling.  Cori was crying. And well Cinna was looking about as annoyed with all that racket as we were.

So as our babies are rather spoiled, out of the crate comes everyone.  There nice laps to sleep in.  Happpy little Chis everywhere.  Well, mostly on me.  I held 4 chis on the drive and Bill got one.  Jordan decided she was a 'no doggie zone' as that really interferes with playing on the 3DS.  (insert loads of eye rolling here please)

But, not to worry, the crate served its usefulness anyway.  Since we had 5 dogs roaming around the car the crate became a safe haven for the food.

 

Free-feeding and Why It Works!!

When we got our first Chihuahua puppy we were told to free feed him until he was least 2 lbs or 4 months of age.  Six years later and now with 5 chis, we are still free feeding.  And it works.

It's common advice out there that you should never free feed your dogs.  There are those who will tell you that you are destined to have overweight dogs if you free-feed or worse..  Your dogs wont see you as the 'alpha' because they wont know that the food comes from.  Somewhere in dog land there is this myth of magical bowls that just generate kibble entirely without the help of humans and if you have one of those bowls you are lucky and just misbehave all you want and still eat!!  Hahahaa.. how glorious that must be!

But interestingly enough, I have been free-feeding for years and find that not only do I NOT have those problems but I don't have a lot of problems that schedule feeders have.  hmmm....  Maybe there is something 'magical' about this food bowl after all!

The truth is that dog really do see you put kibbles in the bowl.  They are pretty smart little chibabies after all!  And they actually monitor their food intake on their own pretty well too.  They eat when they are hungry and they stop when they have had enough.

I don't have overweight dogs.  Little Susu is just as scrawny as he ever was and while Ginger is a hefty girl she is not overweight just more of the 'Chi-nocerous' build. Free fed dogs never feel that the need to just eat everything in the bowl.

I also don't have dogs that fight over food or feel the need to resource guard because they know there is plenty for everyone.  They snack and munch on kibbles whenever they want and it works great for us.  Dinner is never 'late' and no one ever goes hungry.  (See scowler to the left)

And I don't see the behavior problems some like to toss around either.  My dogs know that the food comes from us because well they are smart like I mentioned earlier and they do see who fills the bowl and all.  But I really don't see how feeding on a schedule could suddenly create well behaved dogs anyway and from what I've seen there are a lot of poorly behaved schedule fed dogs roaming around waiting for dinner.

The bottom line there is if you want well behaved dogs you need to take the time to train them.  Free feeding or schedule feeding will have very little to do with overall behavior.  


However, dogs who are free fed do not feel a need to fight or quibble about food.  Fighting over the food bowl is a major issue in a lot of multi-dog households and its one I'm happy to say that we don't have.  

Fen and Cori sharing secrets?

Wordless Wednesday...

For more Wordless Wednesday you can roam around the BlogHop at BlogPaws here.

Time for Monday Mischief again!!

Well as you can imagine, with 5 little Chihuahuas in the house sometimes there is a lot of competition for the Monday Mischief post and this week I have 2 very mischievous boys to tell you about!!  

Fen had the Mischief of the week title locked up on Wednesday with a smooth move that just couldn't be beat!  I think I'll just let the pictures tell this story...

Poor Cori!!  Bad timing got him a face full of dirt!!

I think Fen was just too busy digging to notice though.. 

But little Cori just shook it off and went on his merry little way.  

But then of course, Susu decided he wanted to be in the Monday Mischief post too!!  So Thursday I came in from Christmas shopping after work with a child to 5 little cuties and the usual mayhem of dogs bored all day.  

Rounded everyone up and into the yard for some much needed playtime.  And then rounded everyone back in.  Now let me tell you a little something about Chihuahua puppies.. no matter how many times you move puppies there are still puppies in the way.  It's a special trick performed simply by being puppies when there are 3 of them.  

And then I spot this little thief!!

On the desk, hiding behind present bags eating a hushpuppie leftover from Jordan's lunch!!  So of course my natural reaction is to grab the camera!! LOL  

Hope you enjoyed the laughs and the mischief as much as Susu enjoyed that hushpuppie!

Christmas Chis have extra FUN!

Merry Christmas everyone!!  We had a great time and It's been awesome having the extra time off to enjoy family and the dogs.  I thought I would pop on and highlight the Chihuahuas Christmas!! LOL  They had a great time!!

They played under the tree when they're not supposed to!

They helped Jordan with her stocking!!

They played with their new toys from Santa... 

And some of Jordans..

They played with their Doggie Mom

And then after breakfast and a good play outside they all got dressed up in their Christmas clothes! 

Susu

Cori

Fen

Cinna

Ginger

And then it was apparently Chihuahua nap time because they all fell asleep looking sweet as can be!

And a Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!!