Socializing Your Chihuahua Puppy
Socialization is the act of introducing your Chihuahua puppy to new people, dogs, and different situations in a controlled and non intimidating way within the first year of your Chihuahua puppies life - especially within the first 12 weeks.
Your Chihuahuas temperament as an adult is largely influenced by genetics and also by how well the breeder and yourself socialize him within the first 12 weeks of his life.
A properly socialized Chihuahua will be much less likely to grow up to be fearful or overly shy and aggressive towards people, other dogs or when he is put in unusual situations. If he is properly socialized he will be calmer and more outgoing towards strangers and other dogs and species when he matures.
Socialization is important for all breeds of puppies, but Chihuahuas in particular need to be socialized more so than any other breed, due to their innate "cautiousness" of the breed.
Here is how you should socialize your Chihuahua puppy...
Socialization During The First 8 Weeks
Your Chihuahua puppy needs to be with his mother and his littermates for the first 8 weeks of his life. A puppy learns a lot about discipline, pack order and interacting with his own species during the first 8 weeks of his life that he spends with his mother and siblings. Puppies who were separated from their mother and siblings early than 8 weeks tend to be poor at interacting and communicating with other dogs later in life.
A good breeder will also make sure that puppies get a lot of loving human interaction during the first 8 weeks of their lives. A responsible Chihuahua breeder will touch, hold, cuddle, play with, and lightly brush the puppies many times within the first 8 weeks of their lives. She will introduce the puppies to very gentle children and possibly the neighbors and some other gentle people too. She will also encourage some encounters with other dogs and animals to.
Obviously you will not have much control over your puppies socialization during the first 8 weeks of his life while he is with the breeder. This is why you should buy your Chihuahua puppy from a responsible Chihuahua breeder who takes the steps to socialize all of the puppies in the litter for you.
Your Turn - Socialization Your Chihuahua From 8 Weeks On
Some breeders won't release their puppies until they're 12 weeks of age. This is so the puppies can spend that extra few weeks with their mother and their littermates. But some breeders will let you take home your puppy after he is 8 weeks old.
If you do obtain your Chihuahua puppy at 8 weeks of age, it is essential that you continue to socialize him. Your puppies experiences within the first 12 weeks of his life will stay with him forever and play a big part in what his disposition will be like as an adult.
Introduce him to a wide range of situations and environments. Pet him, play with him, love him, smother him in attention, introduce him to other pets, introduce him to children and adults, take him for walks in the yard, do everything you can to introduce him to the world in a relaxed and non threatening way.
You can never socialize your Chihuahua puppy to much. But the goal is never to frighten him. He must always feel safe and secure at all times. You are definitely not trying to put him in situations that will intimidate him. Every experience he has should be a positive one.
As soon as your Veterinarian gives you the all clear (he's had his vaccinations), enroll him in Puppy school. In puppy school he will meet and interact with a bunch of other puppies and get to build his confidence in dealing with other dogs.