Diesel is a spoiled brat. Anytime anything doesn't go his way, he sits down, throws his head back, and howls until someone helps him out.

Gracie is hogging the food bowl. (There are two, but we can only eat out of one...) Diesel sits on his tiny butt right beside her and howls until we make her share.

Someone has a toy he wants - he howls.

I go upstairs to get dressed in the morning - there is a gate at the bottom of the stairs because someone in my house likes to clean out my cat litter box for me. Diesel sits at the bottom and howls until I come back down, or at least come to the top of the stairs and say 'hi'.

I try to sleep in - my hubby gets up and takes them all out, and always forgets to put the gate up on the stairs. Diesel comes and sits beside the bed (still too little to jump) and howls...

Okay, so I agree that these are disciplinary problems, no matter how cute this little tiny terror looks with his head thrown back, howling. But, here's the catch...It's also the way he lets me know he needs to go outside and potty. If I'm busy and moving around or sitting down, he will sit at my feet and howl until I take him outside. He has been the most amazing dog to housetrain that I've ever encountered, although I am sure the older dogs have helped considerably - but he didn't get this howling thing from them - neither of them are howlers.

I think it's because he's so little and he's learned that it really gets my attention, so it's stuck...

So, how do I stop the 'temper tantrums' and still hang on to the 'I gotta pee' notifications????

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He sounds irresistable! lol!
The only advice I can give is this: Never, Never give him an ounce of attention unless
he is quiet. Set up a schedule to take him outside and forget about him "asking" to go out.
Good luck! He's such a cutie

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"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet." - Edith Wharton

He IS irresistible, and that's part of the problem!

Pedro (my demon dog who hates everyone and everything) caters to him and babies him. Gracie (the grouchiest Chihuahua to ever walk this earth) allows him to sleep on top of her. It's not just my husband and I who have spoiled him, unfortunately.

I like being told when he has to go outside...But we live in a group of townhouses that are attached to each other - I'm not sure how well my neighbors like being woke up as early as we get up just because Diesel wants a lift into the bed!

I think his problem is actually encouraged by us, even though we don't mean to do it. Howling gets him what he wants, so he does it. And when you look down at this little 2 1/2 lb dog with his head thrown back giving it all he's got, it is so difficult to be stern. But I know that's what I need to do...

Just a tad more dysfunction to my already dysfunctional group! And we raised this monster ourselves, so there is no one else to blame!

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I feel your pain! LOL! One morning I was making scrambled eggs and decided
to "share" with Tabitha and Jerry. Breakfast has NEVER been the same

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"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet." - Edith Wharton

Oh, all 3 of mine think they have to have a bite of whatever we're eating. One of us will usually try to choose the safest thing for them to eat for their little stomachs and give each a tiny bite. Then we can usually have some peace and quiet to finish our meal!

I just thought if I got one as a pup and raised it (my other two are rescues) I could work all the kinks out of it as we went along. Maybe it's just my household that brings out the bad behaviour in them! Just like with my kids when they were small, we tend to find their antics funny at the start, and by the time we want to stop them, they're expecting us to laugh rather than scold them.

I am a bad dog momma, but I bet if you asked them, they'd say I'm the best!

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Love this story. Its the funniest. Diesel sounds like a hoot. I love the choc and tan chi's! I would say you lucked out on the potty training thing. We just got our first chi, he's almost 5 months. We trained him to a litter box with pads. He does excellent, most of the time..but if I am not paying attention...I think he would be just as likely to pee on the floor.

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I love this story too, and I love this website because it's a bunch of people like me with dogs like mine. Your little Diesel sounds like a hoot! We got Lulu almost 4 yrs ago when she was 9 wks old and weighed 1lb 12oz. When I told my husband I was bringing home a chihuahua (spur of the moment I just couldn't leave that little creature in that baby bed in the pet store, and we had NEVER had a dog before) he asked me if I had bumped my head! Needless to say, we ADORE her!! She loves me way more than my kids even though they try to tell me different. I could talk about her all day. They have you from day one with their little tricks and special little personalities.

I know what you mean Lulus Mom. Hubby thought I was crazy too. I never even liked chi's before..embarrassed to say that, but they have a way of worming their way into your hearts. Now I'm OCD about Chi's. I totally get why people love them so much.

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