Hi, my name is Carla. Our family adopted a 5 mo old chihuahua rescue dog. She was bred at a puppy mill and was there for 4 mos when the puppy mill owner called the rescue place and said to come get she and her 2 sibs or else they'd be euthanized.
Our family had been strongly considering getting a puppy but wanted something small and fairly calm b/c we have a 9 year old son who is afraid of dogs. Well, we went to this rescue booth a week ago and saw her. She was so very very calm and sweet and let everyone pass her around without any shaking or signs of being nervous. My son held her and loved on her and she just ate it up. We thought, "OK, we wouldn't have thought chihuahua for a family with kids but perhaps she is more accepting because of her background." She got spayed about 3 days ago (rescue's rules). She seems to be feeling okay and is on pain meds once a day.
My concerns are that day by day as we have her she seems to like other people less and less. The first few days she let all the neighbor kids hold and love on her and yesterday she growled at the neighbor girl. She loves me and my husband. She tolerates my son holding her. She does NOT like my 6 year old daughter. My daughter is pretty calm and mature but she IS 6. She will do anything to get away from Lydia. Lydia was sitting there with my husband on our bed the other night holding her, being very calm and Leila (our puppy) BOLTED as soon as she got the chance and jumped off our 3 1/2 foot high bed (Leila is 7 lbs). We were so scared that she hurt herself but thankfully she didn't. The other day Lydia came up to Leila and Leila snapped at her.
That is my primary concern but in general, Leila runs from anyone, including me when I try to pick her up or come toward her. She is just way more antisocial than she was at first. We *thought* she was meek and quiet b/c she was scared and it was all new and that she'd come around. She has no idea how to play. Doesn't care a lick for her toys. She wants to lay under a kitchen chair in the corner, in her crate or under my bed all day.
I'm going to call a trainer today. Do you think that having a trainer would help with her being more friendly and learning to be more playful? I'm thinking an in home trainer with my kids present would be good. I will do just about anything to make this work.
Any advice would be great!
Our family had been strongly considering getting a puppy but wanted something small and fairly calm b/c we have a 9 year old son who is afraid of dogs. Well, we went to this rescue booth a week ago and saw her. She was so very very calm and sweet and let everyone pass her around without any shaking or signs of being nervous. My son held her and loved on her and she just ate it up. We thought, "OK, we wouldn't have thought chihuahua for a family with kids but perhaps she is more accepting because of her background." She got spayed about 3 days ago (rescue's rules). She seems to be feeling okay and is on pain meds once a day.
My concerns are that day by day as we have her she seems to like other people less and less. The first few days she let all the neighbor kids hold and love on her and yesterday she growled at the neighbor girl. She loves me and my husband. She tolerates my son holding her. She does NOT like my 6 year old daughter. My daughter is pretty calm and mature but she IS 6. She will do anything to get away from Lydia. Lydia was sitting there with my husband on our bed the other night holding her, being very calm and Leila (our puppy) BOLTED as soon as she got the chance and jumped off our 3 1/2 foot high bed (Leila is 7 lbs). We were so scared that she hurt herself but thankfully she didn't. The other day Lydia came up to Leila and Leila snapped at her.
That is my primary concern but in general, Leila runs from anyone, including me when I try to pick her up or come toward her. She is just way more antisocial than she was at first. We *thought* she was meek and quiet b/c she was scared and it was all new and that she'd come around. She has no idea how to play. Doesn't care a lick for her toys. She wants to lay under a kitchen chair in the corner, in her crate or under my bed all day.
I'm going to call a trainer today. Do you think that having a trainer would help with her being more friendly and learning to be more playful? I'm thinking an in home trainer with my kids present would be good. I will do just about anything to make this work.
Any advice would be great!