How to stop Chihuahua from biting?
The other day, I was looking to de-worm my 8-year old Chihuahua, Bella. I added the deworming pills in some melted cheese, but, smart cookie that she is, she just licked the cheese leaving the tablets behind.
When I went to pick them up, she thought I was taking away her treat and she gripped my hand in her mouth. Ouch!
Bella has shown this type of resource guarding and food aggression before. And that is precisely why it is very important to teach your dog bite inhibition so you can rest assured they will never bite.
Find out how to stop Chihuahua from biting in this guide!
(But before we move on to the actual steps for how to stop Chihuahua from biting, we will consider reasons why Chihuahuas bite in the first place):
Why Do Chihuahuas Bite?
Chihuahuas tend to bite due to the following reasons:
1. All puppies bite during teething
A Chihuahua puppy will bite during its teething phase. Its gums are irritated as the tiny teeth emerge and it bites to taste, explore, and also soothe those irritated gums.
This is where you have to teach your puppy bite inhibition (which I will cover in the next section in detail). Without this training, your dog will bite even when it becomes an adult. Which brings us to the next point:
2. Not teaching your puppy bite inhibition
If you do not invest time in your pet’s puppyhood during its teething phase in teaching bite inhibition, you can never expect your pet to not bite in its adulthood.
3. Inadequate socialization (fear and insecurity from lack of exposure)
Most dogs that bite are not socialized adequately.
This lack leads to insecurity and fear which causes them to turn on everything and everyone that seems evenly remotely threatening to them.
The reason why Bella bit me is because I was a threat to her although she knows I would never steal her stuff. It was my failure as a dog parent to not have exposed her to different situations like snatching her food in her puppyhood.
4. Chihuahua small dog syndrome
Chihuahuas and other small dog breeds often suffer from what is known as the ‘small dog syndrome’. This makes them insecure about their small sizes which causes them to become insecure about the smallest of threats.
Due to the small dog syndrome, Chis are notorious for being aggressive, baring their teeth, snarling, snapping, and growling at the slightest provocation.
5. Food aggression and resource guarding
Many Chihuahuas are resource guarders and will not hesitate to bite if someone takes their stuff – it can include food, toys, etc.
Check out Why Do Chihuahuas Bite for more details.
Let us now move to the steps for how to stop Chihuahua from biting.
How To Stop Chihuahua From Biting?
With patience and perseverance, you can teach your older Chihuahua to stop biting and nipping too. The following steps can help:
1. Socialize your dog
Let your dog meet and greet people, expose it to different situations, and also enroll it in obedience school.
2. Use bitter sprays
The use of bitter sprays can prevent biting and make your hands a lot less appealing for your dog.
We recommend Bodhi bitter Spray as it contains natural bitters and is safe for your small dog.
3. Avoid hitting or punishing your dog
Do not hit or shout at your Chi. This would only worsen the situation and might even make it more aggressive.
Instead, use judicious punishments like spraying its mouth with peppermint every time it bites. This will create a negative association in your dog’s mind about biting.
4. Work with a certified dog trainer
If your dog continues biting, please work with a certified dog behaviorist or dog trainer to prevent this behavior. Dogs work best in a familiar environment so you can also invite the trainer home and work with them for better results.
5. Give it time outs and ignore it upon biting
Each time your Chihuahua bites, give it a time out and leave the room for a minute or so. Return and start interacting with your pup again. Repeat.
Ignoring helps reinforce the fact that nipping hands is ‘no fun’ and that no-bite play is the only way to get attention.
6. Give it a bone or chew toys
In addition to the above steps, also provide your Chihuahua with plenty of chew toys, ropes, old t-shirts, teething chew toys , etc.
Each time it bites your feet, give it a toy or a bone instead. You can also pet your Chihuahua while it has a toy in its mouth – this will curb nipping and biting behavior which some dogs indulge in when they are touched or petted.
7. Spay or neuter it
If you aren’t planning to mate your Chihuahua, spay or neuter it. This will prevent aggression, roaming tendency, and also fighting in male and female Chihuahua.
How to Stop Chihuahua Puppy from Biting?
Yes. It is possible to stop Chihuahuas from biting. With the right training (from an early age), socialization, and clear instructions during training, you can prevent this biting behavior in your pet:
1. Keep your Chihuahua puppy with its litter for at least 8-10 weeks
An important factor in preventing biting in Chihuahuas is to avoid getting home your Chihuahua puppy before it is 10 weeks old.
The mother or dam teaches important socialization techniques to puppies during this age. The pups also play with each other and that automatically teaches them all about bite inhibition.
When a puppy bites it sibling, it yelps in pain, which makes the pup understand that biting hurts. No human can teach this as well to a puppy as much as its littermates can.
2. Socialize Your Chihuahua Puppy
Once you bring your pet home at 8 weeks, you must start socializing it. Take it out to the park and let it meet kids.
Ask kids to try play biting gently with your pet and say a loud ‘No’ each time it nips. Also, let your Chihuahua pup meet different human beings – old and young – other dogs, pets, etc. Take it to the beach, the mall, and pretty much everywhere you go.
The more experiences it gets, the better it will be to reinforce that biting is unacceptable.
Exposing your Chi puppy to different situations helps them overcome fear and reduces biting that stems from insecurity and fear.
3. Teach your pet basic obedience
People often think that basic obedience and potty training might not help with bite inhibition training. However, that is not the case. Even commands like sit, stay, come here, etc. can be instrumental in teaching your Chihuahua to obey.
Moreover, obedience training also teaches your puppy to have better impulse control. It even helps in the bonding process, makes your pet more confident, and even fosters a loving bond between you two.
15-20 minute training sessions twice a day also help your furry friend expend pent up energy. This could play a role in preventing unwanted biting, chewing, furniture destruction, etc.
4. Hand feed your buddy
Contact with the human skin can help your Chihuahua learn about bite inhibition.
When you hand feed your puppy, it can learn that human skin is fragile and feels pain. Say a loud ouch when your pet grabs the food and the teeth hurt your skin.
Let your hand go limp and stop feeding. This will reinforce the fact that biting does not earn rewards and being gentle does.
5. Play with your puppy
Encourage all the family members to join in active play sessions with your young pet. You can throw a ball, play with its toys, and also encourage a tug of war with ropes.
Each time your puppy nips you or your kids, stop the play and yell loudly. Then let your hand go limp. Pause the play time for at least 30 seconds and then resume. Stop every time your pet nips. Yell loudly, pause activity, and repeat.
6. Supervise interactions between kids and your Chi
Are chihuahuas good with kids? Different chihuahuas have different personalities and likewise for different kids. Never let your young chihuahua interact with kids without supervision at least until you are not sure how it will react.
If your chihuahua continues nipping and biting, it is a good idea to warn kids from petting your dog on walks.
7. Wear gloves/use sprays
If your puppy’s teeth hurt during training and hand-feeding, wear gloves or use a chew deterrent spray to prevent your skin from bleeding.
Do Chihuahuas Bite the Most?
In the list of 12 dog breeds most likely to bite, Chihuahuas rank nearly 7th – number 1 being pit bull. Thankfully, this small dog’s bite does not hurt too much but yes, bite they do and it can be painful.
Chihuahuas look cute and cuddly and our first impression is to go and touch them. However, always seek the owner’s permission before petting an unfamiliar dog.
Dogs hate being disturbed on their walks so if you aren’t sure how your pet will react, warn kids and adults to stay away. If needed, use a muzzle during walks to avoid aggression towards other dogs and people.
How to Calm an Aggressive Chihuahua?
Always take into account the circumstances that led to aggression. This is important for you to assess the next steps:
1. See a vet
If your Chihuahua has suddenly turned aggressive and is biting out of no reason, then please see your vet. Some underlying health issues might be the trigger.
Injuries, neurological issues, and even tumors can suddenly cause aggression in dogs.
2. Consult a dog trainer
A certified dog behaviorist or dog trainer can help you come up with a plan to treat aggression and biting in your Chihuahua.
Your vet can recommend a reliable trainer in your area.
3. Use positive reinforcement only
Chihuahua owners – please avoid shouting or hitting your pet when it gets aggressive as that would only worsen the aggression. As far as possible, avoid triggers of stress and aggression. If needed, warn people away if your Chi gets aggressive when petted.
Use treats and rewards to slowly curb aggression and work with a dog trainer consistently and follow the given plan.
4. Consider medication
You could medicate your Chihuahua with guidance of your vet. This will be a temporary solution until you consult a dog trainer and come up with a permanent plan to cure aggression.
5. If nothing works – rehome your dog
This is only in the event that you are unable to control aggression due to unavoidable situations. For example, if you have another dog and your Chihuahua shows aggressive behavior towards it, then there is no option but to rehome one of the dogs.
Same is true about kids. If your Chihuahua is showing aggression towards your child, you will need to think about rehoming your pet.
Also Read: 25 Tips To Tame An Aggressive Chihuahua
FAQs on How to Stop Chihuahua from Biting
1. Why does my Chihuahua bite me all the time?
Chihuahua biting behavior stems from defensive action. Your dog either feels insecure or unsafe or might bite when it is guarding its toys or food or treats. Check out our guide on “Why do Chihuahuas Bite” for more details.
2. How do I get my small dog to stop biting?
Use positive reinforcement and the steps given above. Most cases of Chihuahua puppy biting can be controlled through bite inhibition training and socialization.
3. Can you trust a dog that has bitten?
There are two opinions about this: one group feels that a dog that has bitten will bite again. A second group believes that dogs that bite can be rehabilitated. Both groups are right and there is no right or wrong answer. It also depends on the dog in question and the circumstances.
Conclusion
How to stop Chihuahua from biting?
You can train your Chihuahua to not bite through early socialization, obedience training, and bite inhibition. For adult dogs, you can stop biting and mouthing behavior through positive reinforcement, the use of bitter sprays, and also by working with a dog trainer.
We hope this guide helps you stop your Chihuahua from biting.
