Deanna,
Hi! Thanks for replying to my email. I appreciate your advice and can totally see where you’re coming from. I guess I’ve just been watching too many episodes of “It’s Me Or the Dogs” where Victoria Stillwell will tell dog owners to complete remove the dog from the situation if they are acting out. I definitely want Jack to realize that this type of behavior will not be tolerated at any time. I want him to know that his good behavior when we are alone together in the home and mom is at work, should continue even when she is home. So, I have a question. What you said about not giving Jack the time of day, really good advice, but do you mean don’t even give him treats? Don’t let them interact at all? Just pretend he’s not there and let him approach her on his own time? I just want to make sure I understand. I know for me, seeing a Chi and having to ignore him would be SO HARD! My mom can do that though. What do you suggest regarding the growling in the crate when she approaches. She doesn’t even have to act like she’s going to try to get him out of the crate or open the door, he just growls. She gives him a sharp “NO!” at that point but it shows that he doesn’t see her as pack leader because he does not listen to her. For example, this morning she walked into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, went into the living room to sit and enjoy her coffee (I wasn’t up yet as she leaves for work an hour before I do), and he immediately started growling and he wasn’t even out of the crate yet. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Deanna Corey Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 11:25 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] My dog Jack......advice needed please Hi Amanda, congratulations on your new addition!!! How fun...a new Chi! What you explained to me sounds exactly like aggression...fear based...but aggression none the less. I am of the personal belief dogs do not understand a time out...their Mommies...when teaching them proper puppy behavior wouldn't send them to a corner or a bathroom. Dogs do not "reflect" on their actions and then decide to do better. We like to assign our "human" traits to our furbabies but it just isn't effective to do so. I even have my own doubts how well "time out" actually works for children LOL. Aggression in any form is acting out...whether from fear or anger...and should be not tolerated ever. Simply teaching the dog the appropriate "re-action" when he feels fear or anger should be your goal. In my house...any form of aggression is met with an immediate resonse. I have too many dogs in my dog park and humans in my home to allow out of control actions towards humans or other animals. If one of my guys displayed what your sweet little Jack is doing, he would be swiftly put on his side and held until he relaxed and realized that "I" do not want that behavior...not acceptable...and that I am in charge of him...my voice would be stern, my hands would be firm but not rough. This would be repeated until he stopped showing signs of acting out innappropriatly. This should come from you...his mama...his pack leader...his boss. Chihuahuas usually want to be the boss...we call it "short mans disease" around here...trying to be tougher...more incontrol...more assertive than anyone else...because they think they "need" to. They need to learn that that is your position. AS far as your Mom...she should not speak softly or weakly to him...that just reinforces his fear of her...her weakness...her place beneath him. Have your mom simply ignore him...have her not give him the time of day!! She should go where she wants...sit and be where she wants and Jack should get out of her way...she needs to have assertiveness and purpose in her actions...and not give one flip to where Jack is or what Jack needs. He will come around...right now he sees her as weak and a target. Little Mister Jack simply needs to be put back in his place. LOL Obviously this is just my opinion...and what works here in the dog park...but I hope you find the answers to what works for you. Your poor Mom! Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, Deanna Deanna-MouseMyrtleTGnon-CaNb-1uB-1<http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/247842/sn/1502550796/name/Deanna-MouseMyrtleTGnon-CaNb-1uB-1.jpg> and The Dog Park Pack: Nugget, Shuai-Li, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable, Madison and Caleb and honorary non-dog members of The Dog Park: Stella-Macaw, Stanley-Amazon, Miles the cat www.joys4toys.com <http://www.joys4toys.com/> ________________________________ From: "Dunwoody, Amanda" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, November 24, 2010 8:54:34 AM Subject: [Chihuahuas] My dog Jack......advice needed please Jack is a 3 year old Chihuahua that I adopted approximately 4 weeks ago from a local animal rescue. He and my other dog, Twiggy, also a rescued Chihuahua I adopted in September, have adapted to having me as their pack leader fairly well. Jack is still adjusting as he has not been in the house as long as Twiggy. I am familiar with the Chihuahua breed and know that they often pick one person to have as their "owner" and can get snippy with anyone else. This description fits Jack to a T. My mother lives with me in my home. When she approaches me and Jack is on my lap, he has snapped at her. He doesnt' react this way all of the time but he will rear back at her sometimes too. If Jack is in his crate and she approaches the crate, he growls at her. I have taken to removing Jack from the situation when he snaps at her as I am holding him. I place him in the bathroom for approximately 5 minutes as a "time out" and then bring him back into the living room. Do any of you have other suggestions? Should she be the one that removes him from the situation to show him that she has control of the situation? I am responsible for the training that goes on in the house. When Jack snaps at Mom she walks away from him telling me that she was just trying to be nice to him and he just won't let her be nice or even pet him. I have encouraged her to speak with him in a soft calming voice and tell him good boy when they are together in the same room so that he associates her with GOOD things. He will wait for her to put a treat down on the floor and wait for her to walk away and then he will eat it. This makes me feel as though he is fearful of her. Any suggestions on how to help this? I don't see this as aggression, I really feel that he's fearful of Mom and just doesn't know how to handle it. I don't want to coddle him and go awww it's OK Jack because I feel it's teaching him that it's OK for him to snap at mom or other guests who come to the home. Luckily, we don't have much company at this time and she is the only one that he's snapped at. I want to nip this in the bud before it becomes an even bigger issue. I appreciate any advice you might have on this issue.
