If you want your Chihuahua to walk briskly by your side without crisscrossing in front of you and tangling you up in the leash, resist using a retractable leash for walking for at least a month. Your goal is to make sure that your Chihuahua can walk without pulling or darting around without any external control.

One of the easiest ways to gain your Chi's attention is to continue changing directions. Instead of walking straight down the sidewalk, go in the opposite direction your Chihuahua is going the minute she starts pulling. For example, if your Chi is pulling you forward, go backward. When she realizes you're going in the opposite direction and she darts back after you, click and reward. Is she straining to the left? Go right. Click and reward when she's with you again. Pulling to the right? Go left. Click and reward. She'll catch on right away that she needs to stay with you.

And, as always, keep training fun! It really is fun to work with puppies and adults and watch as they progress in their skills. And you, too, can take pride in having trained your Chihuahua to be a wonderful, well-mannered companion.