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Chihuahua Barking - any ideas?

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  • 24-01-2007 12:00am
    #1
    elivsvonchiaing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,575 ✭✭✭


    My g/f and myself recently purchased a 1 y/o house trained chihuahua. (We did go to dog shelters but could find no dog small enough for an apartment).

    He is as good as gold indoors. He is good in daylight with strangers; i.e. walking in a park; but does bark at the occasional stranger; usually when they are wearing dark-coloured clothing.

    At night, however, he barks at everyone.

    He always barks at other dogs; never cats. He becomes a demon when he encounters a small dog; wanting to eat it or something!

    We have always chastised him (verbally) after such an encounter but he doesn't seem to learn.

    Anyone got a good idea how to stop/curtail this behaviour?


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    #2
    peasant
    Registered Users Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    My g/f and myself recently purchased a 1 y/o house trained chihuahua. (We did go to dog shelters but could find no dog small enough for an apartment).

    Regardless of size, you got yourself one of the "biggest" dogs out there:D .
    Chis usually are a "full on" dog

    We have always chastised him (verbally) after such an encounter but he doesn't seem to learn.

    First off, dont "chastise" instead "correct" unwanted behaviour. So, no "Oh you bad little doggy !" but a simple "No!", "Stop that" or even a sharp "Ah,Ah!" or a growl instead.

    Secondly ...a dog does not follow human "logic", giving out to him AFTER the event is totally pointless. Actually its even worse: when giving out after the the event, the dog has nothing to connect your behavior with. All he senses in that moment is that you are angry and upset "for no reason" and you're taking it out on him. In his eyes that makes you very unpredictable, unreliable and untrustworthy. So he is even less likely to accept your authority.

    So, if you have to correct your dog, either do so right when the unwanted behaviour is happening, or don't do it at all.

    A dog doesn't learn by negativity only, but much more effectively by something called "positive reinforcment". Big word ...simple to do. Basically you just praise (and on special occasions reward) him when he's doing things right.
    In your case, throw in a friendly "Goood Boy!" every now and then when he's nicely walking next to you. This way he will learn that that is "desired behaviour" and a quick, decisive "NO!" at the right moment(without much hullaballoo, please) will soon teach him what is unwanted behaviour.
    At night, however, he barks at everyone

    He is most likely afraid. He might not be familiar with night time conditions. Gently ease him into it, remain calm and relaxed and your calm will eventually transfer to him. DO NOT reassure or console him, because this way you will just underline to him thet there IS something out there in the dark to be afraid of. Instead deal with darkness totally as a matter-of- fact ...nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to be afraid of.
    He always barks at other dogs; never cats. He becomes a demon when he encounters a small dog; wanting to eat it or something!

    He probably didn't have enough meetings with other dogs in his former life to be properly socialised. This one is a bit hard to give advise about from a distance and I recommend that you take him to doggy classes with other dogs and a trainer to supervise.


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