Chihuahuas Are Perfect Pets
Chihuahuas are perfect pets for seniors as they are easy to train, don’t take up much space & don’t need to be walked. Training should be done with praise and love. Most seniors have the time and patience to make sure their pets get plenty of this.
It seems that most seniors prefer small dogs and Chihuahuas are perfect pets. I live in a 55 and older manufactured home park and most of the seniors I see are walking small dogs. I’ve talked to a number of them about the importance of the dog size. They mostly agreed that older seniors are better off with a small dog and a Chihuahua certainly fits that bill.
A friend of mine got a large dog some time ago and she got older, along with a hip replacement, and was less steady on her feet her dog pulled her over once, now she has to depend on others to walk the dog. She says she loves the dog but now wishes she had gotten a small dog.
Chihuahuas are easy to train
You don’t have to go to an obedience class to start training Chihuahuas, as Chihuahuas are some of the easiest dogs to train. It’s probably best to train them yourself in your home where the dog feels comfortable. Although Chihuahuas are generally pretty mild mannered they can become aggressive around other dogs.
Classes with big, out of control dogs aren’t appropriate for this breed. When you have aggressive hard to handle dogs in the same class as your Chihuahua it will not be paying complete attention to what you are trying to teach it.
You don’t need to dominate and force this dog to obey. In fact, training Chihuahuas should either be done on your own or in classes with other small dogs.
Things to keep in mind while training
Chihuahuas respond best to gentle training techniques. Here are some things to keep in mind when training Chihuahuas:
1. You should guide, not force your dog. Chihuahuas want to please their human companions. If you show them what pleases you, they will be quick to comply. But if you force them, a stubborn streak comes out.
2. Training Chihuahuas does not require punishment. Gentle correction is almost always sufficient for getting the dog to do what you want.
3. Reward the dog when he or she pleases you. This will let him know what he should do. Always accent the positive when training Chihuahuas.
4. Chihuahuas respond well to food based reinforcement. Don’t start a Chihuahua training session when the dog has just eaten. Working on an empty stomach tends to get the best results. This is especially true if you are using treats for reinforcement of commands.
5. You should keep training sessions short and fun. A Chihuahua training experience should be no more than 10 minutes at a time. You should also begin and end the session with something the dog already does well.
6. Avoid training when you are already tired and angry. Chihuahuas need your love and patience. They can sense when you’re not happy and it will be reflected by them as they won’t be as eager to please you.
Potty training
Potty training must be one of the first areas that you teach your dog. You should find a place for them to pee and poo and then consistently reinforce this behavior. This is especially important if your Chihuahua is going to be a house dog.
Chihuahuas are intelligent
Chihuahuas are intelligent dogs. They don’t hunt, herd, or guard so they can’t show off the way other breeds do. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t like to do tricks. In fact, they often show what they can do through obedience and agility trials. Even if you don’t compete in formal competitions with your dog, you can enjoy training because Chihuahuas are perfect pets.
Training with a clicker
One way of training Chihuahuas is with a clicker. You teach your pet that a click means a reward is coming. Then, over time, you only click when your dog has done something you want it to do. This reinforces the behavior.
In Summary
In training Chihuahuas you should always be gentle with them. Don’t try to use choke collars because their it’s very easy to hurt their necks. Instead, use the flat buckle collar or harness to protect its trachea.
Exercise must be done on a daily basis. But, your Chihuahua may not need long walks because it has an energetic nature so running around an apartment can be enough exercise for the dog.
You should always stretch your patience when training Chihuahuas. Consistency is vital if you want to ensure that your little dog obeys and remains loyal to you.
A number of people here in the park have Chihuahuas and they say it is the best pet they’ve ever had, while others say they have always owned them.
All in all I would say Chihuahuas are perfect pets for seniors.