My chihuahua bit my brother!?

Question

My chihuahua has bitten my mom, my sister and now my brother. We've been having him for 6 years now. He's very attached to me, maybe its why he hasn't bitten me even if I act annoying. I know its wrong that he bites my family but he gets so annoyed if he's sleepy and we're bothering him.....not all the time but he has already bitten three times. He bit my brother today and I tried punishing by raising my voice at him and leaving him in the restroom with the light off for a while. My brother got in the restroom locked it and started beating him up. I was so mad I kept banging on the door....but got really mad at my brother. My sister says I just don't understand since he hasn't bitten me before. I mean I can imagine but he did made him bleed.....but not as getting stitches or anything.....I still know it was wrong for my dog to do that. But did my brother really have to do that? I saw how he puched him before he lquickly locked the door.

I don't want to get a new dog or anything. I know of other chihuahuas who are very mean. My dog is so sweet except when you bother him too much. Which he all do b/c he's so cuddly and cute. I'm not surprise he'll get annoyed. I don't think my brother should beat him up. I was already punishing him!

Answer 1

now i have seen everything. people who would rather put family in jail than get rid of a dog. yes dog bites hurt alot and your brother hitting it serves the little bugger right. good thing it is not a crime to be stupid becouse alot of you would be locked up for life.

Answer 2

That is ridiculous. What your brother did is very wrong, and your sister gave the lamest excuse ever. There is never an excuse for animal cruelty. By 'beating' up the dog, that is only allowing him to become aggressive and defensive, and will begin not to trust the other members of the family anymore. What your brother did was make it worse, so he should probably expect more bites. Tell your family not to bother the chihuahua when he is sleepy-- tell them to respect his space. Don't treat him as if he is below the family, but as an equal member. Also, maybe enroll him into a class, or read some books dealing with dog biting/agression. :/ Good luck!

Answer 3

I would think considering his age, he can not really be changed. He's protective over you thats all. Imaging how you feel at the end of the day.. When you're tired, you don't wanna be bothered right. Neither does your dog. If he doesn't like your brother, sister, mother, then they should just leave him alone. He's given them warnings. They're the humans they should accept that he doesn't like them and move on. And considering what your brother did, that was EXTREMELY wrong. The poor dog probably already forgot that he bit your brother. So in the dog's mind he was getting beat for no reason, which reinforces his dislike for your brother. Maybe you can get the people your dog doesn't like to give him treats when they come in contact w/ your dog. Maybe he'll eventually warm up to them. If not, then have the humans leave the dog alone. Hope this helps some.

Answer 4

You could try taking your dog to obedience school and/or talking with professional trainers and see what they would advise. I would also consider taking your brother somewhere to be shown what can happen to someone who abuses animals. If all else fails, your dog may need to be in a home that can provide more stability. Your brother was wrong in beating the dog. There is no excuse whatsoever for what he did. Maybe he has done it before and the dog just found the right time to get even with him for all the hostility he has shown the dog. I've never heard of putting a dog in a dark room and leaving it. Since your brother beat the dog, do you have any doubts that he will do it again? It would be cruel to keep your dog in your home as long as your brother is there. Get rid of the brother, keep the dog. Anyone who beats a dog should be punished.

Answer 5

The way that your brother reacted was completely wrong!!!! He is contributing to the aggression problem. You should never bother a dog while it is sleeping or eating. That is bite prevention rule number 1. Also, giving the dog a time out is not really a solution either. Dogs don't really make the connection the way humans do. If biting is becoming a serious problem with your dog, I would seek the help of a professional animal behaviorist in your area. Chihuahuas are extremely territorial by nature and invading their space can be asking for trouble. Please Please don't let your family continue to hit him. It will only make the aggression worse, as will hitting him with a newspaper to discipline him.

Answer 6

What I did for my dog is to put him in his Crate or Box or Cage for a while in my dark room as soon as the dog does it. If you wait too long, the dog will not know what its done and will get confused and the punninshment wont do any good. Try that, and if that doesnt work, i would suggest calling a trainer or asking one at a place like PetsMart or look one up in the phonebook. Im no expert but that worked for my dog. I hope you have some luck. And you could also just leave the room and tell your family not to pay any attention to the dog. That might be what it wants, ATTENTION! Good Luck! :)

Answer 7

What your brother did, was very heartless and cruel and unforgivable. The #1 rule is , never bother a dog when they are sleeping or eating. The reason your brother got bit, was because he broke the #1 rule. The poor dog, was only defending itself and it's immediate territory. You might want to mention to your brother, that he could get arrested for animal abuse.I have five chihuahuas of my own, and I've never personally had a problem with any of them. A dog's love is unconditional, and they deserve to be treated with love. I'm not trying to be mean, but I just can't accept it when someone abuses any animal. I really hope the poor dog is ok!

Answer 8

first off thats animal abbuse and ur dog can be taken away from u guys easly because of ur brother second chihuahuas disslike little kids they wont put up with them the dog thinks she/he is protecting him or herself ur dog has dont nothing bad just protecting them selfs they are the smallest dogs in the world and there only protcetion is there teeth. dont lock ur chihuahua in the bathroom yelling at the dog is enough as she/he really didnt do anything wrong there is a link added that will tell u about the temperment of chihuahuas and hopefully help u understand chihuahuas better

Answer 9

First of all, if your brother is beating the dog then that would be reason enough to bite him. I'd bite someone too if they were beating me up. Not to mention that's animal abuse. Stop being mean to your dog, don't bother him when he's sleeping, it'll just make him mad. And actually, I wish I hadn't have read your question because it disturbs me that you've had a dog for 6 years and letting someone beat it up. That's wrong.

Answer 10

By beating the dog, you probably just pissed him off. I would tell your brother to smell his pillow before he lays on it tonight. Also, dogs can smell when we are angry or annoyed or scared of them so he knows that you care and maybe that is why he has not bitten you yet.

Every time he snaps at someone, smack his little nose. If he persists, you may want to take him to the vet to see what the problem is.

Answer 11

If I knew where you lived I'd turn your brother in for animal abuse!!!!! He'd hopefully go to jail and they would take your dog!!!! It was even wrong to put him in a dark bathroom. I hope someone does take this dog and it gets a good loving home. There is a reason he is biting people!!! They have probably been mean to him,teased him or aggravated him. Find this dog a good home before your brother kills him. I'd bet he wouldn't beat one of my dogs( Doberman Pinschers) like he did your tiny little dog!!!!!!!!!