Hi Joan I've spent more and more time with her. She also has as a few small toys. But she's not really interested in playing. I've tried a ball. She runs from it. She has a stuffed toy to sleep with. No interest in that at all.
She's very clingy. And while I understand that her time in the shelter must be traumatic, I'm not really sure what to do about this little girl. I had her with me on my lap for a few hours this evening while I took some time off to watch the telly - she definitely likes being with her person. But I can't have a constant lap dog. Nor can I have a dog that howls every time she's left alone. I'm not sure which has got me more anxious at this point - the retching cough or the screaming when she's put away for the evening. I recognize that some of this is an adjustment issue. And I could probably deal with just about anything other than the constant need to be with me. That has got me going a bit batty. At this point, I really think she needs to be with someone who can give her more attention than I can. Or someone who actually wants a constant lap dog. OR better yet - someone that has another dog for her to curl up with. I'm hoping things will settle down in the next few days. I'm dreading Sunday because I have to be out quite a lot of the day at meetings, and I can't bring her with me. I wish she were well, than I could put her in with Sylvia. Right now she's in the bathroom (because of the coughing...otherwise neither of us gets any sleep). And she's scratching at the door and howling. She will probably settle down in about 10-15 minutes. I hope. But...as I said. This is a little beyond me. I'm not sure how well I'll deal with a month of neurotic dog. I do care giving. I don't do so well with the hand holding. At this point, I'm already starting to feel a little at wits end because I just don't know what to do about her. I want to get her healthy. I want to get her calmed down. But this has seriously got me pulling my hair out. --- In [email protected], Joan Croft <joan_croft@...> wrote: > > Do you have any dog toys? Mine love to run after I throw them and bring > them back. I think that the barking and whining when you are home is > because she wants to be with you. Give her a little play break of about 15 > minutes and play with her and hold her. Then, if you have stuff to do, put > her back in her area and give her a tiny treat to let her know that she is > not being punished. > > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Peggy & The Girls > Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 6:41 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Re: Pia Update > > > > > > > Amen Lynn. Poor Pia has only been there for 3 days and has no clue as to > what is expected of her. Any type of training should be done after she is > well and acclimated to her new environment, usually that starts after two > weeks. She misses her former owners and can't understand why she is in > another 3rd environment so soon. Pia, as well as all shelter dogs are very > confused when they are in a new home and it takes time for them to adjust > before any training starts. If she is housebroken, then their is no reason > to coupe her up. Anyone who knows Chi's, understand that it is part of their > breed to want to be with their master all the time. A year old Chi is a > puppy and full of fun and wants to investigate every thing and should be > allowed to. How wonderful that she wants to run and play and is trying to > ask you to play with her. How honored you should be that she wants to be on > your lap as much as possible. > > > > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > > > From: catdancerls@... > > Date: 5/6/2011 8:59:50 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Re: Pia Update > > > > > > Please give her more time Autumn. She's been through a lot and she is not > sure of what her place in your life really is yet. I am sure she is still > very apprehensive and trying hard to sort things out in her sweet little > mind. I am not really much of a dog expert, but instead of quarantining > her, which seems sort of cruel when she is so unsure of things in her new > home, I wonder how it would be if you were to put her in some sort of x pen > that is near you with some toys, etc., such as Gloria suggested so you are > nearby to help with her separation anxiety, since she seems to have somehow > bonded to you. And maybe sometime during the day, with your supervision, > let her rip up and down the hallway much as she likes to expend some of her > pent up energy and anxiety she must be feeling about her new surroundings. I > found that trait so hilarious and sweet in the little girl Chi I had visit > with us for a week did exactly the same thing. > > > > When I babysat my friend's Chihuahua, Mia, she was a nervous wreck initially > about being in a new place, but she seem so comforted the more I talked with > her and explained exactly what was going on here, that I was keeping watch > over her while her mommy was away. When I did research on the computer and > it was nap time for her, I placed her on the sofa close to me with a large > blanket up the open end of the sofa to buffer a fall in case she tried to > get down. I gave her my small rufflely pillow that I use to support my back > because our sofa is very deep and she seemed to love burying herself into > that pillow, I think because it had my scent on it. She would pop her > little head up every now and then (so cute) and I would reassure her all was > fine and she would go back to sleep. She was a different dog from the day > she arrived here to the day my friend came to pick her up and I think that > will occur with you and Pia also as each day she feels more secure and > comfortable with the love that unfolds between you and she, the walks you > two are enjoying together will help cement your bonding process and there > will be come to a pattern in your relationship that is filled with love and > trust. > > > > I wish you all the best with your new and very adorable faced girl, Pia. > > > > Lynn > > > > > > > > In a message dated 5/6/2011 1:10:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > joan_croft@... writes: > > Pia continues to improve. The cough still isn't great. But her energy levels > are up. There's a definite drop in malaise. She ate without problem this > morning. She also seems to be drinking. > > This is the first time I've actually heard her bark. And cry actually. > Because she's not enjoying being put in quarantine. In the hallway. > > She is food motivated. So we spent a few minutes working on Come and Sit. > She also seems to enjoy going for walks. > > Right now she's really unhappy about being in quarantine...But this is > another thing she has to get used to. I may throw her travel bag in there > for her to get used to. But I'm hoping to nip potential separation anxiety > problems in the bud right now. > > But at least she's definitely acting more like a dog. > ------------------------------------ We are now on Facebook! Join today! http://www.facebook.com/groups/chihuahuasclubYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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