Oh boy! I am so sorry you are going through this...we have 3 chihuahuas and we love them so much. Just from what I am reading I wonder if your chi thinks she is the one in charge. Some of what you are saying seems to indicate this. Peeing on your bed shows that she is boss...not you. are you in a place where you cou,d do some sort of obedience training? Although they are tiny creatures we have taken each of ours to puppy classes and or agility training. It gives them a different focus and it works to bond and establish a hierarchy. If you can't do that there are plenty of online resources for training dogs. Most people think that because they are so tiny they don't need commands but for us it has been essential in having a good harmony in the home. Hope some of this helps. Truly chis are such great little creatures...but they will run you if you let them!
Major behavioral issues, please help!!
Hello there. I'm new to the forum and to Chi ownership and I'm hoping someone here can offer me some advice because I'm utterly desperate. I love chihuahuas, have wanted one for a long time and I finally got one last year. However my dream has turned incredibly sour as my now 13 month old chihuahua is a complete NIGHTMARE. No exaggeration, she's horrendous. She barks at everything and everyone she sees or hears in a mad demented sounding outburst, she is fearful and anxious of everyone and won't go up to anyone. She resource guards and growls & bites at me if I try and go near/stop her doing something, she rarely obeys commands and if I don't give her attention because I'm doing something else she pees on the floor.
I have been trying for months to stop the barking but nothing works. I've tried saying 'no', introducing her to people, staying at a distance, water squirts, distractions, clicker training, desensitisation, counter conditioning, rewarding quiet, nothing but nothing does any good. Same with the resource guarding, have tried teaching drop, leave & take, swapping for food etc. Doesn't work. She seems to be going backwards if anything as she's also started peeing on the floor if she's ignored. Last night she peed in my bed.
I am absolutely at my wits end, I never expected owning a Chihuahua would be like this and the thought of another 15 tears of it fills me with dread quite honestly. I won't have much of a life and neither will she. She is a very small chi, 3lb, my mother has long wondered if there's something wrong with her mentally and I'm seriously starting to think it too. I've not consciously babied her, she got socialised as a puppy, and I got her from a good show breeder whose dogs were lovely so I really can't understand why I've gone so wrong and have a mess of a dog who behaves as if it's from the worst puppy farm possible. All I wanted was a friendly little companion not something I've got to psychoanalyse at every turn. I love her so much but I can't live with her behaving like this forever.
I have been trying for months to stop the barking but nothing works. I've tried saying 'no', introducing her to people, staying at a distance, water squirts, distractions, clicker training, desensitisation, counter conditioning, rewarding quiet, nothing but nothing does any good. Same with the resource guarding, have tried teaching drop, leave & take, swapping for food etc. Doesn't work. She seems to be going backwards if anything as she's also started peeing on the floor if she's ignored. Last night she peed in my bed.
I am absolutely at my wits end, I never expected owning a Chihuahua would be like this and the thought of another 15 tears of it fills me with dread quite honestly. I won't have much of a life and neither will she. She is a very small chi, 3lb, my mother has long wondered if there's something wrong with her mentally and I'm seriously starting to think it too. I've not consciously babied her, she got socialised as a puppy, and I got her from a good show breeder whose dogs were lovely so I really can't understand why I've gone so wrong and have a mess of a dog who behaves as if it's from the worst puppy farm possible. All I wanted was a friendly little companion not something I've got to psychoanalyse at every turn. I love her so much but I can't live with her behaving like this forever.
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Thank you for your reply. Is this forum relatively quiet? Or have I posted in the wrong place? Just wondering as it's a while since I made this thread and there's been no new ones in the meantime, have I chosen the wrong board.
Just had the most horrendous evening. We had visitors down so I was expecting some noise but nothing as bad as I got. My chi barked manically non stop at everyone the ENTIRE HOUR. Seriously. She would not shut up and nothing I did would calm her down. She wouldn't go to anybody no matter how much coaxing. The kids wanted to pet her but no way could they go near her. The very few times she did ease up as soon as somebody moved she started up again. Nobody could have any conversation as you couldn't hear yourself speak let alone someone else. My guests left with a headache, too polite to say how awful their visit was and probably now discussing how Godawful my dog is. The rest of the family have got a headache from the stress. Heaven knows what my neighbours must think. It was absolute chaos start to finish and I'm at my wits end. I can't spend the next 15 years avoiding having visitors over. I'm so embarrassed, upset and distraught with her behaviour I could cry, this is not what I envisioned when getting a chihuahua. Everyone I speak to says theirs loves people. I feel like taking her back and getting another dog but I love her so much it'd break my heart to give her up. Why oh why would a 13 month old puppy have such a fear of people?
Just had the most horrendous evening. We had visitors down so I was expecting some noise but nothing as bad as I got. My chi barked manically non stop at everyone the ENTIRE HOUR. Seriously. She would not shut up and nothing I did would calm her down. She wouldn't go to anybody no matter how much coaxing. The kids wanted to pet her but no way could they go near her. The very few times she did ease up as soon as somebody moved she started up again. Nobody could have any conversation as you couldn't hear yourself speak let alone someone else. My guests left with a headache, too polite to say how awful their visit was and probably now discussing how Godawful my dog is. The rest of the family have got a headache from the stress. Heaven knows what my neighbours must think. It was absolute chaos start to finish and I'm at my wits end. I can't spend the next 15 years avoiding having visitors over. I'm so embarrassed, upset and distraught with her behaviour I could cry, this is not what I envisioned when getting a chihuahua. Everyone I speak to says theirs loves people. I feel like taking her back and getting another dog but I love her so much it'd break my heart to give her up. Why oh why would a 13 month old puppy have such a fear of people?
I really feel for you, I've not had a chi, (I've always wanted one) but am very familiar with the insane barking as I had a toy poodle who did that, it looks like they could have an apoplectic fit or a heart attack at any moment and as you say, they look completely bonkers.
She did go to dog training which helped - but the insane barking when she was excited or screaming at someone at the door didn't really start to dissipate until she got older. She was really really bad in the car, in the end we crated her in the back but still needed ear plugs. The neighbour hated her.
As for the weeing, we once had a dog who would jump on the bed and wee, I think she knew we disapproved of carpet watering and thought maybe the bed would be more acceptable. That particular dog was a nightmare to housetrain but she got there in the end (I despaired frequently).
If it were me I'd ignore the resource guarding and If I really wanted something she had I'd put oven gloves on and just calmly take it without saying anything. I would try to ignore the bad as much as possible. You could pop her in a different room when you have visitors?
If it's any consolation the little yapper and I ended up absolutely adoring each other and I was and still am completely devastated that she's gone.
Have you considered getting her a friend? She'd be more confident with back up (my two certainly are).
She did go to dog training which helped - but the insane barking when she was excited or screaming at someone at the door didn't really start to dissipate until she got older. She was really really bad in the car, in the end we crated her in the back but still needed ear plugs. The neighbour hated her.
As for the weeing, we once had a dog who would jump on the bed and wee, I think she knew we disapproved of carpet watering and thought maybe the bed would be more acceptable. That particular dog was a nightmare to housetrain but she got there in the end (I despaired frequently).
If it were me I'd ignore the resource guarding and If I really wanted something she had I'd put oven gloves on and just calmly take it without saying anything. I would try to ignore the bad as much as possible. You could pop her in a different room when you have visitors?
If it's any consolation the little yapper and I ended up absolutely adoring each other and I was and still am completely devastated that she's gone.
Have you considered getting her a friend? She'd be more confident with back up (my two certainly are).
Oh no, it sounds like you've had an awful time. Have you had her to a vet yet? It sounds like she's got some anxiety issues, and they may be able to provide a medication that helps--especially seeing as you're trying a bunch of other things that haven't worked.
One of my chihuahuas also had anxiety, and got wound up so tight he couldn't learn. Medication helped relax him to where he was able to be trained.
It takes a little time to find the right meds, as each dog is an individual, but I think it might really help seeing a vet in your situation.
One of my chihuahuas also had anxiety, and got wound up so tight he couldn't learn. Medication helped relax him to where he was able to be trained.
It takes a little time to find the right meds, as each dog is an individual, but I think it might really help seeing a vet in your situation.
My Libby is a puppy so I bought her a Bad Bunny Shirts to wear around the house so she’ll get used to wearing clothes as an adult. I’ve tried three times, but she manages to get it off every time. The longest she “halfway” wore it was 30 minutes because she fell asleep before she could finish taking it off.
Sorry I've not replied. My little girl has just had a big op to to fix two hernias that I suddenly noticed she had and been spayed at the same time. She is now recovering but developed a lump the vet says is scar tissue which has meant several visits but I'll start another thread for that. I took her out in her stroller today and she's barking left right and centre at everybody. She wasn't this bad before, she would pass people quietly for the most part but now she just barks crazy. She barked like mad in the vets (though sat perfectly calm and quiet on the table with me out the room) and I'm worried that she now views everyone as something that inflicts BIG PAIN and this has made things worse. How can I stop this?
Did you ask the vet about anti-anxiety meds while she was there?Sorry I've not replied. My little girl has just had a big op to to fix two hernias that I suddenly noticed she had and been spayed at the same time. She is now recovering but developed a lump the vet says is scar tissue which has meant several visits but I'll start another thread for that. I took her out in her stroller today and she's barking left right and centre at everybody. She wasn't this bad before, she would pass people quietly for the most part but now she just barks crazy. She barked like mad in the vets (though sat perfectly calm and quiet on the table with me out the room) and I'm worried that she now views everyone as something that inflicts BIG PAIN and this has made things worse. How can I stop this?
Yes my vet recommended PetRemedy. She's also on a calming supplement.
Oh goodness, I’ve come on here to learn more about chis before hopefully getting one but you have described my fear. I would also be devastated if my dog were like that, as I too have this fantasy of a cute and cuddly companion, as a comfort from my crazy kids! I don’t think I can take the risk!
Hi Embop, don't let this put you off. My chi is a wonderful companion and a joy to me and my household, it's with other people that's the problem. At home she's beautiful, sweet and loves being cuddled, sitting on your knee etc. Outside or with visitors it's a different matter. Seeing other people sends her into a crazy barking fit. I'm doing an online training course with her to work on the issue and I did manage to have visitors at the house over Christmas which she mainly stayed quiet and in the same room so it's definitely helping.
I won't lie, I adore my chi and am hooked on the breed but it's not exactly what I was imagining owning one. It's incredibly frustrating and upsetting to have a tiny cute dog who naturally is an instant people magnet that won't let anyone near her. If a dog barks at other dogs that's one thing, if it barks at other people it's a different matter completely.
I won't lie, I adore my chi and am hooked on the breed but it's not exactly what I was imagining owning one. It's incredibly frustrating and upsetting to have a tiny cute dog who naturally is an instant people magnet that won't let anyone near her. If a dog barks at other dogs that's one thing, if it barks at other people it's a different matter completely.
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