Are Chihuahuas Smart? Pet Intelligence Explained
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Chihuahuas are alert, lively, companion dogs. They have a reputation for being yappy, but they are very loyal to their owners, and they make fun companions.
Generally, though, the Chihuahua breed is not considered smart, ranking 125 out of 138 breeds of dog. However, this only accounts for the breed’s ability to pick up new commands given by their owners, and their likelihood to successfully respond to that command. It doesn’t take into account the Chihuahua’s natural intelligence, which means the dog’s ability to solve problems itself, or its emotional intelligence, or its ability to recognize and respond to human emotions.
In these regards, the Chihuahua is considered an intelligent pup.
About the Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is a Mexican dog breed that is kept as a companion dog and referred to as a “purse dog.” It weighs around 5 pounds and is a lively dog that can have a somewhat independent nature. Despite not being a working breed, it is a lively dog that enjoys running around and playing, so if you don’t offer playtime, the breed can become difficult to handle.
Although good with people, including young family members, this is a small breed that may be prone to injuries caused by small children. Although the breed is considered generally healthy, toy breeds are more prone to glaucoma while small dogs are more likely to develop patellar luxation. The small breed is also prone to shivers, especially when they get excited or are cold.
Are They Intelligent?
Dog intelligence is usually determined by how often a dog needs to be shown a new command, and how many times a learned command needs to be given for the dog to respond. According to one study of the most intelligent breeds, published by Dr Stanley Coren in his book The Intelligence of Dogs, the Chihuahua only came in 125th of 138 breeds, using those criteria.1
However, Chihuahuas can learn to solve puzzles and problems, if it benefits them. They also learn to recognize the emotions of their owners, showing they have emotional intelligence.
The 5 Tips to Train Your Chihuahua
These somewhat stubborn dogs generally like to have fun and are eager to please their owner, which means that it is possible to train them. However, it can take longer than with other breeds, and you will benefit from changing your training regimen to meet the specific temperament of the Chihuahua. Below are five tips to help you succeed in training your Chi.
1. Be Patient
The Chihuahua does take longer to learn new commands than other dogs. And its stubborn nature means that it might choose to ignore you sometimes. This means that you will need a lot of patience and you will need to train your Chihuahua for longer before you start to see positive results. Make training part of your daily routine and remember that even when you’re not specifically training your Chihuahua, it is likely still learning.
2. Use High-Value Treats
Because the breed is stubborn and likes its food, treats will go a long way to help get positive results from your training efforts. You can use normal dog biscuits throughout the day but when it comes to teaching new commands or trying to get your Chihuahua’s attention when you’re out and about, you will want high-value rewards. When using food treats, remember that they do count towards your dog’s daily sugar, fat, and calorie intake, and because the Chihuahua is so small, it can be easy to get carried away.
3. Keep Sessions Short
As well as being independent, Chihuahuas can be stubborn, and they lose attention easily. Keep training sessions short. This means your dog is less likely to fail so you can end the session on a positive note. Start with really short sessions, maybe just a few minutes at a time. As your pup gets older and gets the hang of training and what is required of them, you can try increasing the time as you progress.
4. Make Sessions Fun
Chihuahuas are fun, lively, energetic little dogs. While they do like to please their humans, they like having fun even more. If you can turn training sessions into a game, you will have a greater chance of success. At the very least, keep sessions fun by maintaining a jovial spirit and using plenty of praise and rewards. Avoid admonishing or punishing your dog for failing to get it right.
5. Start with the Basics
Before you can hope to move on to any complicated commands or series of commands, you need to teach the basics. Commands like sit, stay, and down, can be used to resolve a lot of problems. Sit can prevent your dog from jumping up at people while stay and down can keep them out of harm’s way.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can try moving on to more complex and difficult training.
Do Chihuahuas Have a Good Personality?
Chihuahuas are companion dogs that are often described as being purse dogs. They love to be around their humans, and they are generally loving and lively little dogs. As such, they have excellent personalities that will help them fit into your home and family.
Do Chihuahuas Have Behavioral Issues?
Any dog, of any breed, has the potential to exhibit behavioral issues. With the Chihuahua, there is a risk that it will develop issues because it isn’t getting enough attention or being allowed to spend enough time with its human owners. A lack of regular exercise can also lead to some behavioral problems.
Ensure your dog is well exercised, that you undergo training and socialization from a young age, and look for alternatives to leaving your Chihuahua home alone all day.
What Is the Most Intelligent Dog Breed?
Generally, the Border Collie is considered the most intelligent dog breed. They can learn new commands in just a few repetitions and respond first time to known commands almost every time without fail when well trained. They can also learn more commands than most other breeds, which is why it is such an efficient sheepdog and working dog. Other intelligent breeds include Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Dobermans, and Rottweilers.
Conclusion
The Chihuahua is a popular small breed of dog that makes a great companion animal. It does require a lot of attention and you will need to socialize and train the Chihuahua from a young age to ensure that the dog does not develop behavioral issues.
Although the breed is considered to be less than average intelligence compared to other breeds, it more than makes up for this ability to learn and respond to commands, by being empathetic and a lively little breed.
Featured Image Credit: Dennis Jacobsen, Shutterstock
