Are Chihuahuas Hard to Train? (Solved & Explained!)

Chihuahuas are one of the most stubborn breeds of dogs and this can make training seem to go on forever. They are, however, amenable to treats and giving them a treat every time they do something right then can really speed up training. Your Chihuahua will be well-trained in no time!

In this article we’re going to address the most common questions on things such as Chihuahuas barking, peeing in the house, and more. Let’s take a look at the most commonly asked questions on the web today about Chihuahua training!

What is the easiest way to train a Chihuahua?

Training your Chihuahua is a matter of patience, love, and lots of treats. While these little dogs are stubborn, they do love their snacks, so you need to make sure when you are teaching them something new to be generous with the rewards.

Just be sure to use low calorie snacks – you don’t want to make your furry overweight teaching them to fetch!

Will my Chihuahua ever be potty trained?

Yes, your Chihuahua will eventually learn, but you need to keep a close eye on them. As they are so tiny, it can be hard to catch them squatting down, so you need to watch them like a hawk at all times. Also, consider their age.

For every month that your Chihuahua has been alive, they can wait for a potty break for about an hour. If you have a puppy, then you need to adjust the schedule accordingly to ensure that they are going out frequently enough to avoid accidents.

How long does it take to train a Chihuahua?

In most cases, with a careful eye and a consistent schedule, you can potty train a Chihuahua in about 3 to 4 weeks.

Keep in mind that until they are about 6 months old, they need to go out frequently. At 6 months, every 6 hours is their normal ‘potty break’ schedule, but until then you’ll need to go out much more frequently. 

For every month of age, your dog can ‘hold it’ for about an hour, so make sure that your scheduled visits outside reflects this.

Why do Chihuahuas pee in the house?

If your dog has peed somewhere once, the scent is going to tempt them to ‘mark’ the area again. Using an enzymatic cleaner you should clean the ‘marked’ area thoroughly and try to keep your dog away from there for a few days.

Also, make sure that you are taking them out regularly – if your dog is a puppy, they need to go out sometimes in as little as every 3 hours, as their bladders are very small and not yet developed as much as an adult dogs.

Do Chihuahuas bark a lot?

Yes, Chihuahuas bark quite a lot. These are very territorial dogs and they don’t seem to understand that they are tiny. Whenever someone knocks on the door or even steps foot in your yard, expect your Chihuahua to sound the alarm.

Some people like this a lot, actually, as it’s very hard to sneak up on someone who is sharing their home with one of the fierce little doggies.

Why are Chihuahuas so hard to house train?

Chihuahuas are notoriously stubborn but the biggest difficulty when house training them is catching the in the act. These little guys and gals quickly squat down, do their business, and by the time you’ve noticed it’s much too late.

Keep a close eye to watch for this and encourage your dog to go outside into the yard instead. If you catch them enough times then they will learn, just be patient with the process as it can take a while with these stubborn little dogs. Also, a treat whenever they successfully go outside can really speed things up!

Are Chihuahuas good for first time dog owners?

Yes! Chihuahuas are quite loyal and love their owners very much, making them excellent dogs for for time dog owners. They don’t take up a lot of space or eat very much, all they need is love and a sharp eye on the owner’s part, so that no one gets their toes stepped on.

How long can Chihuahuas hold their pee?

Once your dog is an adult, they can hold their pee for up to 10 hours! Until then, however, you should consider their age. A Chihuahua that is 6 months old can wait for 6 hours, while a 5 month old can wait for 5, and so on.

For every month of age, estimate that they can wait for 1 hour, and try to take them out 15 or 20 minutes before this. That way you have a pretty good chance of avoiding potty accidents in the house while you are potty training your Chihuahua.

How do you punish your dog for peeing in the house?

Punishment won’t work and is only going to erode some of the trust that you have carefully built up with your dog. Once they’ve already gone potty, they’ve forgotten about it, and they won’t know what you’re so mad about.

You need to catch them in the act and then say ‘no’ with a firm voice, immediately taking them outside to finish. When your dog finished outside, you should then give them a treat and lots of warm praise. Your dog will learn much faster this way then they would with scolding and you won’t be risking losing their trust.

Are Chihuahuas good with kids?

Chihuahuas are not as tolerant of children as some breeds, but this is for a good reason. They are small, fragile dogs, and children have a habit of scooping them up and trying to kiss the dog on the face or hug them tightly.

While this is affection to us, animals don’t like having anyone close to their face, because this means that they are vulnerable. Chihuahuas panic is a kid’s tight embrace and may well try to bite. If you have children, make sure that all play with the dog is supervised and that you teach them not to pick up the dog.

Chihuahuas can make great friends for kids but there need to be some ground rules to ensure that neither the children and the dog get hurt during play.