Oh Oh Oh!!!! I know how to help!!! It was on "me or the dog" a few nights ago and I TiVo'd it!!! I have to do the quickie version because company is coming and I can do a better version later! the small dog on the show had all of these problems.
So, for barking you have to desensitize him. You do this by having a friend come over who is planning on being really patient. They ring the door bell and you sit with Max in the room and you don't walk to the door until he quits barking, if he starts barking again you turn around and go back to the first room. Eventually you'll make it to the front door. Your friend will have to know it might take a LONG time. You repeat over and over until he doesn't bark anymore. You might have to do it 20 times or more, each time should be better. Also a few days might be needed. For people. You put him on a lead. Every time he starts barking at a person (probably your friend again), you turn around and walk the other way. When he is calm, you try again. If he barks, you turn around and walk the other way again. Each time you should get a little closer, until EVENTUALLY you'll be able to walk by without him noticing the person. The same with strangers. Then you go practice around strangers, every time he acts aggressive, turn around and walk the other way, and then try again. It's fear making him bark and by walking the otherway, it lets him be in control so he doesn't need to bark or try to bite. Gotta go! Shell On 6/16/07, Sheila <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello, my name is Sheila and I have a very serious problem that I need some advice on.I have a 3 year old Chihuahua named Max, and I am very seriously thinking of giving him up today because he just bit a young girl at my apartment complex. I am sitting here shaking and trying not to cry because I can very easily see myself getting sued over this. Max can be loving with me sometimes, but he hates everyone else. He chases and bites at people where I live, for the simple crime of just walking by him. He does not listen to me when I call him and when I try pulling him back he just lunges after the person again. This is not the first time he has lunged at someone, barking and with teeth bared, and he has destroyed the vertical blinds in my apartment from jumping up and down barking at people passing by. I can't have visitors to my place because he is so awful. It's to the point where no one can understand why I keep him. I'm not sure if I can afford to get him trained. I live paycheck-to- paycheck, and I'm a part-time student. He is neutered, so that's been taken care of. I just don't know what to do, I'm at wit's-end with this dog. I jokingly asked my vet last year if they made doggie Prozac. My family had a Chihuahua when I was growing up, and she was the sweetest, most obedient dog. It's because of her that I accepted this dog when he was being given up by my brother. He can be loving at times and sweet with me, and it's for those brief flashes of sweetness that I continue to deal with the aggravation. I just don't understand his behavior, and I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. I would give him to someone if I felt sure they could correct his behavior problems and he would have a better home than the one I can give him. Can someone knowledgable about Chihuahas give me some advice on this? I realize there are not enough good homes for the dogs that are out there, let alone one with such aggression issues, and I'd rather not give him up. But I am fast seeing that I may have to for both of our benefits. Please help! Sheila
