The Xoloitzcuintli is a breed with above average intelligence, and, therefore, it is highly trainable. If you have the right training methods, you can train your Xolo for all sorts of purposes, even competitions. Its agility and versatility also enable it to perform tricks well.
If you are serious about training your Xolo, it is best to start at a very young age. You can begin by socializing it, and helping it get used to its surroundings. You have to teach your dog to interact and mingle with humans and other animals. This is especially important if you have other animals like cats in the house. If you train it to befriend other pets at a young age, it won't be a problem or nuisance at home. By socializing your Xoloitzcuintli, you will also expose it to communication with humans.
As early as three months, you should begin training your Xoloitzcuintli. A puppy Xolo should start getting familiarized with equipment, routines, and its environment so that it will be adept in whatever you plan for it in the future. Your Xoloitzcuintli should get used to travelling, eating, and sleeping in a crate. It should also learn to be comfortable with humans around, and behave itself in front of strangers and other animals. If you have a lot of guests coming to your house, it is best that you have a well socialized Xolo. It is important to start training your dog early because it is more difficult when it becomes older. Generally, older dogs already have their established habits and ways of doing things, and they have difficulty adjusting to new methods.
If you are planning to enter your Xoloitzquintli for dog shows, you should find out what is required of your dog during competitions. One of the basic things you need to train your Xolo to do is to stand for examination. Most dogs cannot stand still when they are being touched, but competition dogs have to remain still so that the examiners can check them. Teach your dog to stand still and move only when instructed. You should also teach it to walk on a lead like the way dogs are led in dog shows.
One of the trickiest things is to teach your Xolo to open its mouth for examination. It is crucial that your dog should submit to this kind of inspection. Open its mouth and run your fingers through its teeth. Once it is used to it, you should have other people inspect its mouth and teeth as well. This way, your Xolo will not panic and get defensive when its teeth are being shown and judged at the show by strangers. Puppies can easily accept this but adults may get aggressive if they are not used to being examined.
If you are serious about training your Xoloitzcuintli for competition, you should enroll it for dog show classes. The professional dog show trainers will show you how to turn your Xolo into a champion.
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