Hi Shanna,
Thanks for the advice. I’m glad that someone on the board is experiencing something similar with their Chi at home. If I put Jack on the floor when he growls at my mom he does not go after her. I believe that he knows that the growling is wrong and that he shouldn’t do it and you are right I have to be consistent with this practice. The times that I have used the time out technique with Jack I have not used his crate for this. I do not want him to associate a time out with the place where he is going to sleep that night. When Jack is in the house, he has the leash on him with the harness. It doesn’t seem to bother him in the least and it allows me to get ahold of him quickly by the leash if he does growl at my mom and I need to take control of the situation. I never considered the idea of a water bottle. I appreciate the suggestion. I would NEVER hit any of my animals. They are my children and responding to aggression with aggression is just going to make it worse. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kavi Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 12:13 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] My dog Jack......advice needed please Hi Amanda It sounds just like my Ricky, a Chi I adopted 4 months ago from a shelter. I have learned a lot from this chi group & have learned by trial and error. If Jack will not bite you mom, then when you are holding him and your mom approaches you and he growls/barks etc. put him down on the floor immediately. This will show him that you will not hold him if he does this. You have to continued to do this until he understands that he will be put down when he growls or barks at anyone. Have treats when he behaves Now my Ricky is more the type that will go after the person he is growling or barking at, so putting him down means nothing to him. Chi's will bond with one special person. My Ricky like my hubby, my daughter (to a point) and HATES her boyfriend who lives in the house. (but that is another story). It takes time for a new chi to adjust to a new home with new people and other animals. Ricky is my only dog. He is doing much better nowadays. You must be consistent in discipline. I had to resort to a water bottle with Ricky. Now I only have to show it to him and he will stop. When Jack behaves, make sure you have a yummy treats he loves, so you can reward him immediately. If Jack sleeps in the crate, do not use it as punishment. that is confusing to him. You can remove him from the situation also as you said you have done by putting him in the bathroom for 5 min. If it were me, I would put a harness & leash on him and create the situation with your mom. (have your mom come into the room when your holding Jack. as soon as he growls or barks etc. put him on the floor and lead him by the leash out of the room to the bathroom. I would keep doing this during the day until he learns not to misbehave. (remember to treat for good behavior!). That is so important. Just leave the leash on him. Let him drag it around with him if you have to.. so you can remove him quickly if needed. He will get the message soon. If he will bite her if you put him down, I suggest a water bottle. ONLY squirt him ONCE each time he growls and tell him NO... when he stops, give him a treat and tell him he is a GOOD BOY... GOOD BOY! Ricky eats that up from me... I hope this helps some I know there are many smart people on this chi list that will also help you. whatever you do please do not ever hit your dogs with anything, not your hand, not a newspaper, not at all. only use your voice. Shanna Kavi's Christening N Communion Store Children's Christening, Communion, Formal Wear + More http://stores.ebay.com/Kavis-Christening-n-Communion-Store <http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb053_ZNxdm115XXUS> --- On Wed, 11/24/10, Dunwoody, Amanda <[email protected]> wrote: From: Dunwoody, Amanda <[email protected]> Subject: [Chihuahuas] My dog Jack......advice needed please To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 8:54 AM 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.
