Why do chihuahuas bark so much? + How to stop & train them

Chihuahuas are one of the famous toy dog breeds in Europe. They are well known for their small size, big eyes, loyal and also surprisingly aggressive dog towards owners.

Their unnecessary barking behaviour leads most people to avoid them. Chihuahuas can bark at strangers, at neighbours or even at their owners without any reason.

We will see many points on this topic, which will help you to tackle the Chihuahuas barking issue.

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Why do chihuahuas bark so much? (5 Reasons)

Chihuahua barking unnecessarily is due to many reasons:-

1. To Mark Territory: Because of their protective and introverted personality, these dogs have a tendency to protect their territory and the pack. A chihuahua can alert you of the presence of someone near its surrounding by barking.

2. Fear: Chihuahuas bark to scare away any perceived threat to them which could be another dog, a strange noise, or an animal. You can tell if your Chihuahua is barking out of fear by looking at the behaviour as an example When afraid, they have their ears pushed back and the fur on the back will stand up or goosebumps can be seen. In such a scenario, an attempt to touch the dog may result in getting bitten by them.

3. Boredom: It is often seen that pet owners usually are busy with their lifestyle which makes pets alone all day and hence they get bored.

Many people think they are just small in size and cute looking pets but they have more energy in their bodies compared to big dogs. Therefore they need more times of exercise for their body on regular basis.

4. A way of Communication: Barking is a way of communicating with the owner for affection, food, needs or attention.

5. Anxiety: Chihuahuas are a dog breed that suffers from separation anxiety more than ordinary dogs. Therefore this could be the reason why they are barking at you for seeking attention.

How to get a chihuahua to stop barking (3 Ways to Stop them)

Now since we have viewed all the points related to the barking issue, then we can also move to the points through which you can make your chihuahua’s barking issue stop.

The most efficient way to deal with a dog is to make them tired. 20-30 minutes of daily walking and exercise are sufficient and a good way to make a chihuahua tired. Try outdoor activities like frisbee, swimming and jogging.
Make your pet socialize with other dogs, friends, neighbours and visitors. Use desensitize training to achieve this, so they don’t bark because of fear and anxiety. Always take them to a park where other dogs came to walk.
Leaving the music system or television on to keep them company is also the best solution for separation anxiety. Try to pinpoint the music or TV shows to which your pet react and feel happy, then try to switch them on, when you leave. If you feel that this step can’t be done, then you should leave them with plenty of space to walk around the house as it prevents them from barking because of boredom.

How to train a chihuahua not to bark?

Training can make your dog disciplined and help to control unnecessary barking. You should train your dog at a very early age. Here are some of the basic points through which you can train the chihuahuas:-

Ignore your dog’s bark for the first time as maybe this bark could be due to an attention-seeking purpose.
If the dog still barks, then give a command like quiet and silent in a quiet and polite manner without any offensive action.
When he/she stops barking after you, reward it with treats. Do this many times.
After some days, remove the treat/reward completely and implement the “quiet” or “silent” word command to stop barking. This step is required as the dog got gets addicted to getting rewarded and can repeat this action just to get the treatment unnecessarily. You need to understand that they are just pets but not just dumb beasts.

Anti-bark devices for Chihuahua

Technology has also provided us with many options to correct the dog barking issue without the user’s presence.

These devices divert the dog’s mind against the barking habit of the dog by their techniques.

Some devices use a clicker sound technique to divert the action, while some other collar like devices uses ultrasound noise, vibration or spray collars to divert the mind of the dog.

You can try these products to train your chihuahua. These are completely safe products and are easily available online.

Ultrasonic Bark Control Device: It emits a sound only heard by dogs. Sound is not harmful but annoying for the dogs. Use this device when your chihuahua barks, this will make it confusing. Stop the device when your dog doesn’t bark.

Citronella Bark Collars: This collar produces a disliked odour that makes the dog surprised and dislikes the action through which this odour appears. Most owners prefer it over shock collars because they don’t produce an electric shock which can harmful.

You also need to take some points to notice before using these technological devices. Never use an extreme shock collar or hit your dog to stop them from barking. This is a bad way to react as it increases the irritation in the dog and he can become furious. If these tips do not work, consider talking to a professional trainer.

Common FAQs

Why do Chihuahuas bark at strangers?

As we explained above, chihuahuas are one of the most territorial dog breeds and will bark aggressively if they feel that a threat is approaching their space. They may bark when they see a stranger.

How to stop a Chihuahua from barking at strangers?

The best way to stop this is using the speak/quiet command. Teach these commands using treats until you get the behaviour you want.

Curious about your canine companion’s vocal habits? Explore the question ‘Do Dogs Get Tired of Barking?’ for insights into your furry friend’s behavior.