Chihuahua Information Center
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My Chihuahua is Afraid of Going Outside
The Fear of the Outside World
One of the fun elements of having a dog is that you have a great reason to get outside and go for walk. Certainly walking your Chihuahua is more fun than walking alone. Even though this breed is the smallest dog on Earth, it still needs exercise. Going for walks will help keep your Chihuahua healthy and will keep you healthy. So what do you do if your Chihuahua is afraid of going outside? Some dogs will resist going for walks as if they are entering a dangerous gauntlet!
The first thing to keep in mind is that in the eyes of your Chihuahua, they have a perfectly logical reason for being afraid of going outside! This is common among dogs that have been neglected in the past. However, since all dogs have their own distinct personalities, your Chihuahua may simply be afraid even if they have not had a bad experience.
What are Some Reasons for a Chihuahua Being Afraid of Going Outside?
One of the fun elements of having a dog is that you have a great reason to get outside and go for walk. Certainly walking your Chihuahua is more fun than walking alone. Even though this breed is the smallest dog on Earth, it still needs exercise. Going for walks will help keep your Chihuahua healthy and will keep you healthy. So what do you do if your Chihuahua is afraid of going outside? Some dogs will resist going for walks as if they are entering a dangerous gauntlet!
The first thing to keep in mind is that in the eyes of your Chihuahua, they have a perfectly logical reason for being afraid of going outside! This is common among dogs that have been neglected in the past. However, since all dogs have their own distinct personalities, your Chihuahua may simply be afraid even if they have not had a bad experience.
What are Some Reasons for a Chihuahua Being Afraid of Going Outside?
- Your Chihuahua may be afraid of rushing traffic
- Your dog may be afraid of all of the different noises that they hear; ones not found in your home
- Your Chihuahua may feel afraid of the new ground they are walking on; it certainly is not the soft carpet they may be used to
What to Do
The key to fixing this dilemma is to determine what is making your Chihuahua afraid of going outside. You can do this by taking your dog out for a walk and paying close attention.
The best way to handle this is to slowly allow your Chihuahua to become accustomed to cars. It may not seem logical that your dog is afraid of cars; however think for a moment how large and scary a car may seem to such a tiny dog as the Chihuahua! You should begin by going for a relaxing walk in a very quiet neighborhood. If you do not live in such an area, you can drive to one! Or you could find a quiet park that allows dogs. Quite frankly, the Chihuahua is so small that many owners go for walks in "Non-dog" parks.
Keep your Chihuahua close to you and talk in a soothing voice as you slowly walk. If a car does approach, your dog will look to you for clues in regard to behavior. Do not act panicked and pick up your dog. Simply talk calm and tell your Chihuahua that everything is okay. Continue walking; Do of course, stay on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, you should be closest to the street and allow your dog to walk on the inside.
Your Chihuahua will slowly get used to these types of walks and then you can take it up a notch by going to a more crowded area. Again, if any cars go by or you see any other dogs, stay calm and say soothing words to your pet. Dogs can sense emotion even if you do not say anything, so do not tense up. After quite a few practice runs, your Chihuahua should no longer be afraid of going outside.
Note: A Chi, as you know is very fragile.. both physically & emotionally ! If you want to see what very detailed information can be available to you... click here to find out.
If Your Chihuahua Is Afraid of New Surfaces
While you may always try a slow approach of allowing your Chihuahua to become used to different surfaces, you may also opt to simply put shoes on your dog. The dog clothing business is a booming one! Dog coats, sweaters and most of all shoes and booties are extremely popular. Dog shoes serve a purpose; they will protect the sensitive Chihuahua paws from small rocks and other objects which can get stuck in the grooves of the dog's paws. Feeling safe with their shoes on, this may just be the trick that allows your Chihuahua to love going for walks.
The key to fixing this dilemma is to determine what is making your Chihuahua afraid of going outside. You can do this by taking your dog out for a walk and paying close attention.
- Does he shake or freeze up when cars drive by?
- Does your Chihuahua seem to have a hard time walking on the surfaces?
The best way to handle this is to slowly allow your Chihuahua to become accustomed to cars. It may not seem logical that your dog is afraid of cars; however think for a moment how large and scary a car may seem to such a tiny dog as the Chihuahua! You should begin by going for a relaxing walk in a very quiet neighborhood. If you do not live in such an area, you can drive to one! Or you could find a quiet park that allows dogs. Quite frankly, the Chihuahua is so small that many owners go for walks in "Non-dog" parks.
Keep your Chihuahua close to you and talk in a soothing voice as you slowly walk. If a car does approach, your dog will look to you for clues in regard to behavior. Do not act panicked and pick up your dog. Simply talk calm and tell your Chihuahua that everything is okay. Continue walking; Do of course, stay on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, you should be closest to the street and allow your dog to walk on the inside.
Your Chihuahua will slowly get used to these types of walks and then you can take it up a notch by going to a more crowded area. Again, if any cars go by or you see any other dogs, stay calm and say soothing words to your pet. Dogs can sense emotion even if you do not say anything, so do not tense up. After quite a few practice runs, your Chihuahua should no longer be afraid of going outside.
Note: A Chi, as you know is very fragile.. both physically & emotionally ! If you want to see what very detailed information can be available to you... click here to find out. If Your Chihuahua Is Afraid of New Surfaces
While you may always try a slow approach of allowing your Chihuahua to become used to different surfaces, you may also opt to simply put shoes on your dog. The dog clothing business is a booming one! Dog coats, sweaters and most of all shoes and booties are extremely popular. Dog shoes serve a purpose; they will protect the sensitive Chihuahua paws from small rocks and other objects which can get stuck in the grooves of the dog's paws. Feeling safe with their shoes on, this may just be the trick that allows your Chihuahua to love going for walks.
