“I'd train my dog but I just don't have time.” “I can't find a training class nearby.” “He's a toy. He doesn't need training.” Excuses, excuses, excuses! And what's this about toys not needing training? Just because the Chihuahua is not heavy, strong, or tall doesn't mean a few manners wouldn't help around the home. And, in the case of some training, a command such as “Wait” or “Come” may be the very thing that saves your Chihuahua's life in an emergency. It's easy to put off something you've never done before, especially if you think it might be difficult or time consuming. We've all been procrastinators at one time or another. With obedience training, however, there's no time like the present. So, no more excuses! Train for you and for your Chihuahua!

Time Commitment

Training requires only a few minutes of your time scattered throughout the day. In fact, you can incorporate some aspect of training in every interaction you have with your Chihuahua. For example, you can work on your Chi's sit every time you feed her or offer her a treat. “Wait” can be worked on each time you release your Chihuahua from her crate. And, while playing with your Chihuahua, you can work on skills such as “Take it,” “Give,” and “Fetch.” All that is needed is a basic understanding of how to train your Chihuahua.

Classes

Finding a training class that offers positive, reward-based training is becoming easier as the benefits of training in this manner receive more and more publicity. You may find, however, that you happen to live in an area that hasn't embraced this new, effective form of training (that's actually been around since the 1980s), or you may live in a remote area of the country. No problem. You'll find an incredible number of training guides and, in particular, training videos that can help you learn the basics on your own.