One of the most crucial components of owning a dog of any breed and size is introducing him to people of all shapes, sizes, and types, as well as other dogs. Without great socialisation skills, the Chihuahua can grow distrustful of people and pets, as well as very possessive of its owner, refusing to allow family members to be near them. With effort and a little persistence, you may prevent or assist your Chihuahua from becoming scared or aggressive towards people and dogs.
A Must for Every Chihuahua.
Tearfulness is the most common behavioural issue seen with Chihuahua rescue dogs. A dog\\\\\\\’s dread can range from extreme caution to the release of its bladder and intestines. Fearful dogs are also the leading cause of dog bites. The majority of dog attacks are not caused by a confrontation with an aggressive, dominating dog, as many people believe. Fear biting happens when a terrified dog is placed in a scenario where she believes she is being confronted with a life-threatening danger and has no way out. In the dog\\\\\\\’s eyes, the option is between protecting herself and dying. This might happen in the most harmless of situations, such as a Chi on a leash with an owner attempting to encourage her to stand still so that a young girl can pet her. According to Chi, she has no way out (the leash and her owner are confining her) and is in danger (the little girl).
Fearful signs include a tucked-under tail, ears flattened against the neck, mild crouching, shivering, hiding under the owner, and attempts to flee. In extreme instances, a dog may urinate or faeces, or it may bite in self defence.
Fear might be rooted in the Chi\\\\\\\’s DNA and increased by her upbringing (her interactions with people and dogs). Fearfulness in a Chihuahua with outgoing genetics might be caused by abuse, neglect, or a lack of socialisation. As you can see, how the Chihuahua is reared has a significant impact on how outgoing she will be as an adult. So, if you possess a puppy, you have a significant influence on her temperament, whether she is genetically predisposed to be scared or not. If you own a rescued Chihuahua who is afraid, she Not a lost cause! You can assist your Chi overcome many, if not all, of her worries. Socialisation is the most effective approach to bring a timid dog out of her shell (or to keep a pup from becoming shy).
Recognising \\\\\\\”Pancaking\\\\\\\”
Chihuahuas are vulnerable to predators. Hawks, owls, and other large birds of prey can easily swoop down and capture a puppy or adult Chi. Perhaps as a result of the breed\\\\\\\’s early ancestry and the need for self-preservation, the Chihuahua reacts differently to sudden overhead movements. Pancaking, as Chi owners refer to it, occurs when a Chihuahua actually flattens herself on the ground. A big shadow passing overhead or the tiniest disturbance in the trees can elicit this defensive response. If a Chihuahua pancakes from time to time, it does not indicate that she is timid, shy, or afraid. This is a natural reaction.
Overreacting
If you notice your Chi pancakes regularly for nonthreatening motions (the ceiling fan) or sounds (a aircraft overhead), you can make her recognise these are not harmful by using one of the training approaches listed below:
Do nothing. Dogs will follow their humans. If the sound or movement does not startle you, and you do not respond to your Chi\\\\\\\’s pancaking, the dog will eventually realise there is nothing to be terrified of.
Reward positive behaviour. Locate your Chi\\\\\\\’s comfort zone (the distance from the thing at which the Chihuahua remains calm) and reward positive, calm behaviour. Work in inches towards the target while continuing to encourage good behaviour.
De-sensitize your dog. If your Chi pancakes in response to a specific sound, such as a jet passing by, you may be able to eliminate this behaviour by repeatedly playing a recording of jets (softly at first) until your Chi becomes accustomed to the sound. Do not comfort your chi. The last thing you want to do is take your Chi into your arms and console her, no matter how much her pancaking tugs at your heartstrings. Comforting a scared dog will just make her respond worse the next time. Why? Because your Chi perceives your cuddling and cooing as a reward for her behaviour, which reinforces the very behaviour you wish to stop.
What is the definition of a timid or shy dog?
Though the Chihuahua is loyal, devoted, and sometimes mischievous with people she loves well, this is not a breed that is naturally extroverted and social with strangers. She is considerably more likely to observe someone unknown from a distance (her comfort zone) and approach them on her own terms when she is at ease. Working on socialising your Chihuahua is especially crucial if it has a propensity to be suspicious.
A puppy or adult dog that has not been exposed to many nice humans will grow increasingly reclusive. Even a well-adjusted Chi who was well socialised as a puppy can become more wary of people if she is not constantly introduced to nice strangers throughout her life.
Socialisation is the key.
As a Chihuahua owner, you should understand that socialisation is a process that begins when a puppy is whelped and continues throughout the dog\\\\\\\’s life. The well-socialized, amiable Chihuahua will readily warm up to strangers and should accept strokes and snacks from pleasant humans. She should not cower, shiver, shake, bark, snap, or charge at others. Given that the Chihuahua is a breed that is prone to being standoffish with strangers at first, how can you know if your Chi is a naturally timid or shy dog, or if she has simply not had enough socialisation?
Dealing With Fearfulness
If you\\\\\\\’re working with a young puppy who is already scared of strangers and uninterested in people, even within a decent comfort zone (twenty feet or so), your Chi most likely has fearful genes. If you have acquired an adult Chihuahua that is timid and shy, you have no way of knowing if her fearfulness is inherited or influenced by her environment. Whether you\\\\\\\’re working with a naturally shy puppy or a well-socialized dog, your technique to socialisation will be essentially the same. Working with a fearful Chihuahua will just require more effort from you.
Aggression in Chihuahua
A snappy Chihuahua? Really? Absolutely! This breed is known for its deep attachment to a single individual. This is quite true: the Chihuahuacan becomes aggressively protective of her person, growling, snapping, and charging anyone who approaches. This can be a major concern for anyone, including people who live alone. Preventing this type of guarding demands the same effort as keeping a huge, guarding breed from becoming overly protective. To teach your Chi that people are pleasant and good, expose her to as many friendly strangers as possible early in her life. You want her to recognise an outstretched hand as a sign of a tasty food, not an act of hostility.
Threatening actions.
What your Chihuahua perceives as aggressive behaviour is not always what anyone else would see as threatening. When working on socialising your Chihuahua with friends, make sure they understand what acts your Chi will consider unacceptable behaviour on their part and which motions may enhance the likelihood of her acting aggressively towards them. Your Chi may interpret any of the following as aggressive actions.
Reaching to pat the head, making direct eye contact.
Sudden movements, squatting at the dog\\\\\\\’s level, using a sharp, loud, or deep voice, and leaning over the dog\\\\\\\’s back
Going nose to nose, or face to face.
Breaching the limits of your Chi\\\\\\\’s space or a specific The comfort zone
Puppies
Everyone loves puppies, and Chihuahua puppies are no exception. A puppy\\\\\\\’s first twelve weeks are the most impressionable for imprinting social behaviours, so take advantage of this time! Until your puppy is fully immunised, invite as many guests as possible into your home to meet him. Make sure your pals understand that they should allow the puppy to approach her rather than try to pet her. Give your pals some delightful snacks to offer her when she approaches. Once she has warmed up to someone, she can be patted. If she continues to skitter away when she sees a hand, ask your companions to ignore her and allow her to approach again.
Take your Chihuahua with you in the car whenever possible so she can meet people and visit places outside the house. If she acts angrily towards individuals as they pass by your car windows (as in a parking lot), she must understand that this is not acceptable. Don\\\\\\\’t yell at her since it will simply make her more excited. Place her in a down (see Chapter 14, page 195). Wait a moment to ensure she remains quiet before praising and rewarding her for the good work.
The reason a Chihuahua with violent tendencies being put down rather than sitting is twofold. First, the down is a position of submission that reinforces your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s need to listen to you. Second, it is extremely impossible for a dog to bark when in a down, so you rapidly get a calm dog that can be rewarded for acceptable behaviour.
Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, she is susceptible to several fatal canine infections. As a result, your puppy should avoid touching the floor in areas with high dog traffic. Carry her into the veterinarian\\\\\\\’s office, put her in the cart at the pet store and keep her in a carry bag so she can peep out and observe what\\\\\\\’s going on without walking into high-traffic areas.
Furthermore, taking a puppy outside on a regular basis reduces the pup\\\\\\\’s territorial hostility or possessive guarding of her home and yard. Regular walks, car excursions, and trips to other sites, such as parks, can all assist to extend your dog\\\\\\\’s horizons and reduce her focus on protecting the house and home.
Adults
If you adopted an adult Chihuahua from a rescue or shelter, you won\\\\\\\’t have to worry about her displaying signs of possessive aggression right away. She is still trying to form a bond with someone in your household, most likely the one who spends the most quality time with her. This is the key time to ensure that the Chihuahua does not develop an attitude towards other individuals in the household.
Everyone in your home, as well as those who come to visit on a regular or infrequent basis (such as the babysitter), should spend time socialising with the new dog and forming a strong friendship. These people should also be able to teach your Chihuahua basic commands such as sit, down, give, and stay. This not only gives them more power over the dog, but it also establishes their place as her leader.
You should also spend time walking your adult dog outside the home, taking her on vehicle rides, and visiting other locations for play and training sessions. The more time you spend outside with your dog, the less possessive your Chihuahua will be about what she deems her domain. Make sure to exercise your Chihuahua. There\\\\\\\’s a lot to be said for a sleepy dog versus one with pent-up energy and anxiety.
If your Chihuahua has already developed possessive aggressiveness against someone in your household, consider expert help to retrain your Chi. Never jeopardise the safety of anyone in your household. Though a Chi bite may not appear to be dangerous, it can be both physically and emotionally damaging.
Where to Get Help
Seek professional help if you have issues with anger or fearfulness that are severe enough to induce fear biting. If you are currently working with a professional dog trainer or a member of a training club, enquire whether this person or a member of the club specialises in animal behaviour, particularly dogs with aggression or fear biting issues. This is a highly specialised area of training, and not every trainer is equipped to assist. If you suspect that this is beyond the realm of a trainer\\\\\\\’s knowledge or if you don\\\\\\\’t like the training methods proposed by the instructor, such as anything requiring punishment, go with your gut.
Animal Behaviour Specialists
Certified animal behaviourists, veterinarians with an interest in animal behaviour, and veterinarians who hold diplomas from the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists (ACVB) are examples of people who specialise in assisting pet owners with their dogs\\\\\\\’ behavioural concerns. Certified animal behaviourists hold a Ph.D. in animal behaviour and are certified by the Animal Behaviour Society. To find someone in your region, go to the Animal Behaviour Society\\\\\\\’s website at www.animalbehavior.org.
Veterinarians
Veterinarians that specialise in animal behaviour are more difficult to discover; nevertheless, your veterinarian should be aware of any colleagues in the region who have this additional training and expertise. If not, go to the websites of the American Veterinary Medicine Association (www.avma.org) and the American Animal Hospital Association (www.aahanet.org). Only veterinarians who have successfully undergone further and substantial training, research, and instruction in the speciality field of animal behaviour and have passed a critical peer assessment by the ACVB have the title of diplomat. Because of the time and effort required to obtain this title, there are very few veterinarians in the country who are diplomates in this field. To see whether you are fortunate enough to have someone in your region, go to the ACVB website (www.veterinarybehaviorists.org), which has an up-to-date listing.
Working with strangers.
It is pretty easy to train your Chihuahua to tolerate family members and friends that visit frequently. These folks are around on a fairly regular basis, so your Chihuahua is used to meeting and welcoming them. She has time to realise she can trust these people; they feed her delicious snacks and give her the time she needs to warm up to them. Then there\\\\\\\’s the new individual, or stranger. Your Chihuahua has never seen this person before. He could be wearing a floppy hat, sunglasses, a flapping coat, and smelling strange. The stranger could be tall, small, thin, or heavy. The stranger could be a toddler, a teenager, or an elderly person. He might be any race, too. How will your Chihuahua react when she sees the stranger? It depends on how much socialisation you have done with her.
With an aggressive dog, your best option is to visit a training school where all of the strangers are expert dog people. These people will know how to be as nonthreatening to your Chihuahua as possible and may be a huge help in supporting you with your dog\\\\\\\’s training.
If you\\\\\\\’ve taken your Chihuahua to as many different settings as possible to meet and greet people of various shapes, sizes, and ages (all of whom gave your Chi a small treat), your puppy or dog should be quite accepting of strangers. It\\\\\\\’s fine for her to sit at your side and examine the person for a moment before moving towards the nice stranger carrying the treat you gave her.
It is not acceptable for your Chihuahua to growl threateningly or seek to crawl up your leg and into your arms. If your Chi reacts like this Approach strangers with caution and avoid forcing the situation. Remove your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s comfort zone from the person and let her view strangers from a distance. If someone asks to stroke your dog, respectfully answer, \\\\\\\”No, she\\\\\\\’s in training,\\\\\\\” or something to that effect. It is your responsibility to keep others at bay until your Chihuahua is more comfortable.
With the scared dog, you\\\\\\\’ll be able to go closer to people while rewarding your dog for remaining calm. Eventually, you\\\\\\\’ll be able to limit your dog\\\\\\\’s safety zone so that strangers can toss her a treat. Once she\\\\\\\’s used to it, you can begin to close the distance between the person tossing the treat and your Chi. Your ultimate aim is for your Chihuahua to sit calmly and approach a stranger on her own to accept threat.
Remember two things. First, you should never place someone at risk of being bitten. Second, never give up on your Chihuahua. The Chi that exhibits aggressive behavior—whether due to possessiveness, territoriality, or fear—is the dog that requires the most socialisation. Your hard effort will pay off. It just might take some time, patience, and dedication.
Chis are very social dogs who enjoy meeting and playing with other Chis, however it is best to socialise them as puppies, especially if you have other dogs.
Introducing Other Dogs.
Chihuahuas are affectionate towards one another. If that dog is a Chihuahua, whether it has long or short hair, your Chihuahua will most likely want to engage her in some good old wild Chihuahua play. It is rarely a difficulty to introduce two Chis to each other. The Chihuahuas will want to sniff each other to get to know each other, and then one or both of them will dip into a play bow and the dogs will run off.
On occasion, Chihuahuas may not get along at first glance. Signs that the encounter is not going well include rigidity in a dog\\\\\\\’s body, rising on tiptoes (to appear larger), a stiffly wagging, elevated tail, and, of course, growling, snapping, or lunging. Determining why a Chihuahua is violent towards another is more difficult. Here are some questions whose replies could provide a clue:
Where are you making the introduction? If either Chi is on her home territory, she may be territorial. Try introducing the dogs in a neutral setting, like a park.
Is one of the Chis an intact male? Males that have not been neutered are more aggressive towards other males than neutered males. Intact men are also more prone to demonstrate improper attention in females, which the female will nearly always reject.
Are both Chis dominant, \\\\\\\”I want to be the leader\\\\\\\” types? If neither Chi is willing to assume a less prominent role, it may be tough for these two to play together.
Are the Chihuahuas on a leash? Many dogs who fight while on leash would get along great if they were off leash. Consider introducing dogs in an enclosed, neutral area without leashes.
Is one of the dogs guarding something? Even the most docile dog can turn ugly if he has a favourite. There may be a ball, toy, or chew in the vicinity. Make sure none of these unusual objects are in the nearby.
Is the Chihuahua protecting you? This is highly possible if you are leashed to your dog. Again, take the leash off in a neutral location and stand away from your dog.
Is the other Chi simply not getting it? Sometimes a dog simply doesn\\\\\\\’t comprehend how to play fairly. This is the bully who continues to pick on another dog despite the latter\\\\\\\’s repeated warnings to back off. The bullying dog should be taken from play and made to sit in time out until he calms down. If he continues to pick on the other dogs, you should remove your dog.
Chihuahuas, of course, can and do play nicely with other breeds. Fearful or timid canines may not want to interact with dogs that are significantly larger than them, so these Chis may prefer to associate with other friendly toy breeds. Bold Chihuahuas, on the other hand, may be ready to face the world, regardless of whether it is a safe move for them.
When Chihuahuas are young, they learn how to play with other dogs. Once in your care, puppies should play with friendly, vaccinated older puppies and adult dogs. After your puppy has completed her vaccine series, her socialisation with dogs will continue in her puppy training class and through your continuing introduction to friendly dogs.
Before allowing your Chi to join in the fun, observe how the larger dog interacts with the small dogs. Some large dogs are extremely delicate, aware of where their bodies begin and end, and can sense what will happen if they nudge a little dog too hard. Most big dogs, however, are unaware that they cannot use the same force on a small dog as they do while playing with another large dog.
Some breeds and mixes of breeds have extremely strong prey drives. Depending on the game they were bred to hunt and kill, a Chihuahua bouncing in an open area could be mistaken for prey. Dogs of any breed with a reputation for being cat killers should not be allowed with your Chihuahua to avoid any fatal misidentification.
Allowing your Chi to play with a dog that is significantly larger than she is carries some danger. Keep in mind that even the gentlest of dogs may grow enraged by something your Chihuahua does—though we\\\\\\\’d like to believe they are, Chis aren\\\\\\\’t perfect—and decide to remedy the situation. This controlled chomp would convey a message to another huge dog without causing hurt. For a Chihuahua, the adjustment might be fatal.
When selecting which dogs your Chi can and cannot play with, it is always best to err on the conservative side. A huge dog does not need to have malicious intent to gravely damage or intimidate a Chihuahua.
When Your Chi Is Dog Aggressive
You are walking your Chihuahua on a leash when another person approaches you with their dog, also on leash. Your Chihuahua reaches the end of the leash, rears up on her hind legs, and starts lunging, snapping, growling, and snarling. What are you doing?
First, count your blessings that the other dog, which weighs around sixty pounds more than yours, is on a leash. Two, be grateful that the other dog does not respond to your Chi\\\\\\\’s aggressive advances. Third, understand that your dog\\\\\\\’s behaviour is not exceptional. Dog-dog aggressiveness is unpleasant, but it is a type of aggression that may be addressed, reduced, or eradicated. To address your dog\\\\\\\’s aggression concerns, start by ensuring that your Chihuahua understands the \\\\\\\”Down\\\\\\\” command. This is the position of submission, informing the Chihuahua that he is not the decision-maker in this scenario. Physically, the down prevents a dog from barking or growling. If your Chi is in a complete down position with elbows on the ground, she will remain quiet. If those elbows leave the ground, she will not be quiet. If she appears to be considering getting up from the ground, repeat the instruction and make sure her elbows are on the ground.
Expect to meet other dogs throughout your walks. Know your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s comfort zone. In other words, will she remain silent and simply observe another dog if it is fifteen feet away? Twentyfeet? Keep your Chi at this safe distance when walking past another dog. Talk with your Chihuahua. Tell her how nice she is for being quiet, and give her a treat. Then begin to breach the safety zone. This time, you can expect your Chihuahua to attempt to bark at the approaching dog, so place her in a down-stay. Pay attention to your Chi rather than the other dog, and praise and treat her for being so quiet. If she tries to get out of the down, take her a bit further away and place her in another down (where you know she will be calm). Continue to draw her closer while ensuring she remains in the down position.
If your dog is making good progress and you can keep her in a down position on the same side of the street as approaching canines, you can try walking past them. Move your Chihuahua a few feet or even yards back into her new safety or nonreactive zone. At this distance, keep your dog near to you but on a loose leash. Ignore the other dog and talk to your Chihuahua in friendly tones, occasionally tossing her goodies as a reward for paying attention. If she tries to bark at the other dog, put her down. Pause. Praise her for coming down, then release her and continue walking.
Your goal is to pass another dog on the same pathway without your Chihuahua making a sound. If you\\\\\\\’ve done your training properly, she\\\\\\\’ll be fully focused on you, expecting your next request. Whatever you do, never give up on your little kid. The worst thing you could do is not walk your Chihuahua. The second worst thing you can do is walk him without addressing his dog-dog concerns.
Are you overly optimistic?
If you speak with enough toy-breed owners, you will almost certainly hear a heartbreaking story about how a beloved pet was killed by another dog, as well as how nasty some of these other dogs are. There have been reports of loose dogs attacking and murdering Chihuahuas while on a walk with their owners. These stories are horrific and heartbreaking because if the other dog had been properly secured, the situation would not have occurred.
Someone advised me that my violent dog might be terrified of other dogs. How could this be?
Dogs who are terrified of other dogs may act aggressive. In reality, these shy dogs are putting up a good show so that other dogs perceive them as a dog not to be trifled with. The timid dog usually waits until the dog has passed by before behaving violently. Give this dog greater space between other dogs on walks, practise meeting nice dogs off-leash (where she believes she can escape), and avoid tenseness. The leash provides a direct line to your Chi. If she senses your fear, she will not realise you are scared and will make a scene. She will believe there is something to fear and will appear more hostile.
However, there have been situations in which the toy dog was off leash and began the attack on the leashed dog. The Chihuahua, like many other toy breeds, is feisty enough and has a large enough self-image (that is, she is unaware that she is severely outmuscled and outsized) to perform something like this. Most dogs, regardless of size, will respond to being bitten by biting back.
Never let your Chihuahua run off leash. Work on your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s recall so that if she gets away, you can avoid a serious confrontation. Also, work on minimising your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s aggression towards other dogs.