Little Tino....what a darling little guy...showed them the way.......
Liza is so non-confrontational and tolerant. She doesn't play with other dogs - doesn't bother with them - but allows Timmy to lay against her sometimes - grumbles when the cats get in her face to snuggle with her - but they usually win unless she's just to irritated she gets up and moves. Timmy plays with anything and anybody...altho he grumbles when Charlotte wants to snuggle near his face (altho he does nothing and she knows he'll do nothing and she'll snuggle wherever she wants). SO it's still pretty harmonious. I think I'm spoiled - having animals that get along without any issues for such a long time and then in comes this little chi.... but I think it's all gonna be ok...I have a tendancy to worry too much when the delicate balance is knocked off balance even in the slightest... "I wish my book of life was written in pencil … There are a few pages I would like to erase" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pam Dean" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, March 5, 2012 10:22:06 AM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training You know sometimes it is a case of fine tuning things like the crate possessiveness. They are like people and we can't expect them to be carbon copies of each other. When I introduced my Chihuahuas to my hubby's Jack Russell, it was chaos for quite a while. My two Chihuahuas were very bonded and the Jack Russell was used to being a spoiled, out of control, only dog who ran the show. He growled and bit and acted out constantly..But my chis had their beds and toys and he had his and god forbid anyone crossed anybody's line..lol..After five years my Chis tolerate him and he them but they have never bonded . But the Jack has learned that I will not tolerate him going psycho and beating up on my dogs..I am very strongly firm with him and he has learned actions have consequences for once in his life..lol. But the strange thing is when I brought Tino into the pack. Tino is used to being more of a pack animal vs a people animal(although he adores us) and of course he was very ill for the first two weeks he was here. He integrated flawlessly. I think they sensed he was weak and ill and there was no infighting or possessiveness from anyone. He has absolutely no malice towards anyone. He is all about loving and fun. He uses whatever bed he chooses,wants to cuddle with the pack, plays with everyone's toys, steals food lol, and pesters everyone..And they are all ok with it..I truly think he has shown them what a pack is and how they should behave and all are better for it. From: Lynda <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, March 5, 2012 9:23 AM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training I tried something the other day and we've been 'attack' free for 5 days. I shut Charlotte's crate door and pulled the towel over it (she's not it in - she doesn't use it until I'm ready to leave for work)....I haven't had one incident since then. I still sense that she wants to do something but doesn't act on it (not sure if it's a combination of the crate being shut and the loud voice I used when she takes off after my Liza)...she's been awesome... I picked her up after she ate a few cheerios the one day and she did grumble (but I didn't pay any attention to her)...she got over it. Now I'm not convinced it won't happen again - but I think she made great strides in 5 days. I also find her 'falling to her back and showing me her belly' much more than 2 weeks ago... Good Charlotte Rose... xoxo "I wish my book of life was written in pencil … There are a few pages I would like to erase" From: "Pam Dean" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 3:52:47 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training LOL..you know sometimes they bond and sometimes they just tolerate each other..as long as they don't murder each other, it is all good. From: Lynda <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 1:27 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training Liza holding hands with another dog....? Ewwww she says - no way mom - dogs are stinky- I'll hold your hand instead...(ha ha)...Kumbaya...OMG TOO FUNNY!! I will try that training with her initially - at least I can start somewhere before seeing the trainer. At night I do make her go 'bedtime' into her crate - the other 2 doggies come to bed upstairs with me - but about 2:30 - she's screaming like crazy- and...I'm absolutely fine about going down and bringing her up and allowing her to sleep with us - but I need her to initially go to bed on my terms...When I do bring her up - she buries herself under the covers against my leg and immediately goes to sleep. That just started recently - (she slept all night in her crate no problem). There was a very loud truck that went past our house that back fired at like 2:00 in the morning that scared the heck out of all of us. I went down and brought her upstairs coz she was screaming and shaking like a leaf. We all fell back to sleep lickity split. I'm AOK with it tho...I rarely sleep through the night anyway - and she's pleasant when we get up and pleasant 95% of the time...it's that 5% that I want to decrease rather than increase. Liza doesn't do stairs and Char too little to go down right now (altho she goes up them with ease and grace) - so I carry them together down the steps and they're touching - she doesn't have a problem with that - altho I can see this thought bubble above Liza's head saying 'Oh God that chi is touching me again'. THANKS PAM... "I wish my book of life was written in pencil … There are a few pages I would like to erase" From: "Pam Dean" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 12:35:25 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training I worked with him exactly like the phrase. I would give him a treat, something that required a little work, and then I would wander in and I would say "drop it". He already knew the phrase but hey Mom this is a real good treat and maybe I will drop it or not. If he dropped it I would calmly take it away, give him praise and kisses, and give it back to him. If he gave me attitude eyeball wise or verbally, I would take it away period. He got to where he knew I meant business and now I reinforce once in a while but really he is good. It sounds like Charlotte is trying to establish her dominance. Now the crate thing..that is not surprising. Many Chis are protective of their crates(dens) or even beds. Mine have separate beds..Tino..the new rescue has his playpen. I tend to stay out of the pack establishing and working out their alpha issues. Unless it gets of course abusive or someone is getting bullied or hurt. There are usually layers within pack..You are the alpha but there is usually a step down alpha and so on. Normal pack behavior.It usually gets worked out and I don't think you can force a dog not to be alpha with a pack as far as the dogs are concerned. Either they will accept Charlotte as the alpha or they will put her in her place when they are tired of her attitude. It is always your pack to run but IMHO I would give them a shot working it out first..Maybe they will end up all holding hands and singing Kumbaya..lol From: Lynda <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 11:38 AM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training Hi Pam....good to know that I'm not the only one having this issue. She gave me 'that' look (I call it the 'chi eye' - coz she only has one good eye) I was first hurt and astonished that one of MY dogs could do that - then the growl. WOW. Now I say sternly 'don't give me that chi eye' and she usually stops or rolls on her back. How did you work with him ? My other two dogs do not steal treats or even get near each other's bowls and such...Timmy and Liza are very respectable of each other and of Charlotte; however, Charlotte is given her food bowl last in the kitchen - I set down Liza's first and then Timmy's in the diningroom but it's only a few feet away. She is not allowed to approach the diningroom until both Timmy and Liza are done (this I see she has figured out). It seems when Liza might be milling around the kitchen just sniffing (no food or treats involved) - if she gets too close to Charlotte's crate - Charlotte goes bezerk. SO this a.m. I shut the crate door and put the towel over it so it was not an 'elephant in the room' sort of thing - I saw that 'chi eye' towards Liza but she didn't act on it - and as soon as I saw it I would say 'be nice Charlotte' or 'No Charlotte'. When she snapped for the 3rd time yesterday I was upstairs for 2 minutes getting some laundry - as I flew down the steps say 'Charlotte No' - Charlotte was already on her back leaning against the bottom of the couch knowing very well she had made a boo boo. Liza is not one to growl or fight back - but that 3rd snap from Char - Liza did growl back but it didn't seem to phase Charlotte at all. I like that sentence 'mommy give and mommy takes away'... Lynda "I wish my book of life was written in pencil … There are a few pages I would like to erase" From: "Pam Dean" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 11:25:43 AM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training I went through that with Bino who is extremely submissive, except for his food, especially treats. The first time he gave me "that stare" when I went to check on him and his treat I was shocked. Then the little growl. Not too intimidating from a 3 lb chi but I am like you..I don't allow any aggression and they certainly don't run the show. I worked with him for a few months, and he learned that Mommy gives and Mommy takes away. lol..But he is still not good with our other dogs trying to steal his treats. And I guess I ended up letting them work that out between themselves. I do send them to separate corners to eat treats and I monitor the situation. From: birdylove5 <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 11:11 AM Subject: [Chihuahuas] Aggression Training Hello chi people...such good chatting going on - I've had so much to read and absorb these last few weeks. Charlotte Rose is growing quickly - getting tall - 6 months old March 14 - how time flies.....and....a bit more sassy than is acceptable. Which leads me to my email. I remember someone saying they were a dog trainer (Pam?)...sorry it slipped my mind who possesses this gift. I have contacted a local doggy behavioralist in my area. I met her years ago when she was teaching a basic puppy class that Timmy (schnoodle) and I attended. She's well known for being firm but gentle and getting results. Charlotte is showing slight signs of possession and food aggression. I need to nip this in the bud NOW so it doesn't get worse - before she ends up hurting one of the other animals in the house. None of her aggressive incidents have been provoked by any of animals in the house -no one is taking her food/treats or taking her 'stuff' - it's all been 'her' and how she's perceiving things I believe. She has growled at me on occassion as well (I was petting her telling her what a good girl she was after she ate her treat) - it was the slightest of growls -but totally unacceptable. I know that some people allow these little dogs to get away with just about anything - but I know that this is not the right kind of behavior for any animal. ALL of my other animals live in harmony - so ..it's time for Charlotte to join the pack and know that Mama is the alpha. I love her dearly - with all my heart - so I believe teaching her the right way is another way I can show her how much I love her. After only a few short months of having her - I can't imagine my life without her. She gets spayed in April and I'm already a nervous wreck with worry. I'm waiting for the instructor to call back to set up an evaluation session and then we'll move on from there. WISH US LUCK... Hugz to all, Lynda
