How to Train a Chihuahua to Walk on Leash

One mistake many Chihuahua owners make is not teaching their little buddy how to walk nicely on a leash. A general thought might be that Chihuahuas are small, therefore, can be carried everywhere or put in a cute little bag or stroller for transportation. Another common idea is that Chihuahuas are so small they don't need to understand how to walk on a leash because there is no danger to the owner of being pulled along. However, when you have a Chihuahua who understands how to walk on a leash, your walks will be faster, more productive, and more pleasurable for you and your dog. Once your Chihuahua understands how the leashes used and what his role is when using a leash for walks, you will able to take him for walks to go potty, walks for leisure or exercise, or keep him on a leash when he needs to be confined or kept safe such as when you are at a veterinarian's office or walking through a pet store.

Training your Chihuahua to walk on a leash is less about keeping him from pulling you and more about keeping him moving as you walk along. Unless a Chihuahua is taught to walk on a leash, he may fear the leash and not move. A frozen Chihuahua cannot be pulled along on a walk, and because of their stubborn personalities, he is more likely to dig in and not move at all. When you train your pooch to walk on a leash with positive reinforcement, you are encouraging him to move forward to earn the next treat. This not only teaches him that the leash is necessary but also not harmful. Positive reward-based leash training will teach your Chihuahua leash manners that will include not pulling when he's distracted, not stopping, and not wrapping himself around your legs when he's frightened but rather walking beside you, eager to be next to you and go at your pace until you both reach your destination.

You will need to decide if your Chihuahua is going to wear a harness or a collar. Small dogs are often injured with collars and leashes because they will pull or their owner will tug on the leash, causing neck or trachea injuries. If your Chihuahua is stubborn, consider putting him in a harness. This way if he pulls on the leash his neck will be protected. You will also need lots of high-value treats while you are leash training. High-value treats should be a treat that he only gets while he's doing basic obedience training or treats he only gets during this particular leash training. These high-value treats can be small bits of hot dogs or cheese, beef jerky, or dried meat. Be patient and let your Chihuahua get to know the leash before you even attach it to him.