My suspicion is that your chi was probably taken from his mother/littermates
too soon. The last few weeks of their 12-14 weeks with mommy and
littermates is where they learn confidence and socialization. Because
chihuahuas need to spend more time in the litter than some other breeds,
they're frequently sold too young. Hence the fearfulness and non-social
personality.
Your chi would benefit a LOT from a good obedience trainer. It seriously
builds a lot of confidence. Be sure you find a trainer who uses positive
reinforcement ONLY (like clicker training) and one who doesn't use leash
jerks (NOT good for a chihuahua's trachea). Also, since you have a shy dog,
either take private classes or find a trainer who has small classes where
you dog will not be mixed in with a bunch of big, rowdy dogs.
It's not just a matter of training your puppy, though; people need to learn
how to approach the dog properly. In the files section of the group's
homepage, there's a .txt file, Dealing With a Fearful/Hostile Dog, that I
uploaded. You might want to check that out.
One of my chis, Chiclet, never met a stranger in her life and loves
everybody. When I got Luna, she was shy and totally terrified of everyone.
I had to do a lot of work with Luna, but like Chiclet, she goes with me to
pet friendly conventions now and really enjoys all the attention and loving
she gets there.
Anne
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