When you have a dog, it can be very frustrating if they nip a lot, or even a little! Chihuahua owners want a cute little dog that is a great member of the household, cuddles and has a basic sweet personality. So what do you do if your Chihuahua is always nipping at people?
There are several reasons why a Chihuahua may nip. A dog that was previously abused by be feel threatened and nip in reaction. Even if the situation and environment does not seem at all threatening to you, in the eyes of your dog they may feel vulnerable and afraid. A dog that was neglected may have, sadly, been taught through experience that just about everything can be a threat to them and they may bit in reaction to that.
Dogs such as this, will usually become very attached to one person in particular. They may never bite that one person. For all other members of the household, look out! This problem of biting can be a very big issue especially if there are children in the home. However, although a Chihuahua may nip, this is usually a warning sign that says, "keep away" and is not usually a vicious bite.
For a variety of reasons, a dog may feel threatened and biting is their way of handling the scary world that they perceive. This can be genetics, past experience or an environment which does not mesh well with a particular dog. For example, a dog that has had no bad experiences may bite when they are placed in a home with very loud noises, such as a blaring stereo or TV. With their sensitive hearing, they are being bombarded with loud noises, putting them in a state of defense and they may bite anyone who approaches.
A Chihuahua may also nip or bite if someone comes too close to them when they are eating. They may also do this is they have a treat and are laying down and someone comes over. This type of biting is a dog's defense system; it is telling your that for whatever reason, they feel threatened that their food or treat is going to be taken away.
Note: Nipping... biting... teething...chewing.. these are just a fraction of the issues an owner has with a Chihuahua. Want to know exactly how to keep your Chi healthy & happy? Click here to find out!
What can I do?
There are several ways to help your Chihuahua stop nipping and biting at people. The fix will depend on why your dog is biting. If your Chihuahua only bites when someone comes close to their food, you are lucky. The answer is to simply make a household rule that the dog is to be left alone when eating or snacking. Be sure to set aside a quiet spot for your dog to eat where there is not a lot of foot traffic.
Take a good look and listen to the environment of your home. If the house is always loud, you may want to think about calming things down a bit. How can a small dog such as the Chihuahua be a calm dog if the house is always loud and noisy? A dog will relax quiet a bit when they are in a peaceful and soothing home.
If your Chihuahua nips and bites quiet often; this is usually a sign that they are deeply afraid. In most cases this will be because of past experience and previous owners who treated the dog less than kindly. The resolution to this type of biting is a low introduction to the fact that you and your family mean the Chihuahua no harm. This can not be done overnight; it will take patience and understanding; your dog will need time to forget what made them so scared of the world and become a happy member of the family. If your dog shakes or growls before nipping, this is also a signal that they are in "protection" mode. Anyone holding the dog at that time should allow the dog to walk away by its own free will and come back when they feel safe.
