How to Train Your Chihuahua Dog to Jump

He’s the cutest little ball of fur. Chihuahuas are a hugely popular dog breed and it isn’t hard to see why. They’re quick, alert, brave and devoted. You’ve quickly fallen in love with yours. Nobody gives better cuddles than your little Chihuahua. However, he’s not so hot on the party tricks. You regularly have guests over and you want to upgrade his entertainment value. You could get him to roll over, but people will be more impressed by the smallest dog in the world jumping on command. 

Training him to jump won’t just be a neat party trick. It also provides great bonding time for you both. This type of training is a great place to start before teaching him a range of other commands too. Plus, although he’s small, he’s still got lots of energy. Teaching him to jump is a sure way to help him blow off steam.

Training a Chihuahua to jump is definitely possible. He may not be able to jump over anything high, but he can definitely still jump. The struggle will come with initially conveying to him what you want him to do. Once you’ve jumped that hurdle he’ll quickly catch on. To help him along the way you’ll need to find the right incentive. Chihuahuas, like most dogs, respond well to the promise of food and toys. So, they will play a key role during training.

If he’s a puppy he should be particularly brave and receptive. This means you could see results in just a few days. If he’s older and not quite the acrobat he once was, then you may need up to 10 days to yield consistent results. Succeed with this training though, and you’ll have guests giggling and the building blocks in place to teach him other tricks.

Before you can start work you’ll need to gather a few things. Find a stick or a small bar you can use to encourage him to jump over. Don’t use anything that could hurt him though, so nothing sharp.

Then stock up on his favorite food or treats. The more he loves it the harder he will be willing to work for it. You’ll also need to set aside a few minutes each day for training. Try and practice in a room away from anything that might get broken.

Once you’ve got all of that you just need an optimistic attitude and then training can begin!