I just got a new pet chihuahua on friday, and his tail has been down ever since..(3 days). It is up outside, I think he is kinda scared of my dog but he does it when my dog isnt around too. He trusts me alot, and he always runs to me when hes scared.. Do you think he was abused? I recieved him from a military family, and he was very well cared for...They got him frmo a breeder. I love him and I dont understand what is wrong. It was up when it was around my grandmas dog (he likes her!)..please help. Im so confused right now.. Is it just because he's scared of the new environment?(no diarrhea or anything, and he acts fine) he is a real skittish boy though
2007-03-25 16:44:26 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
His tail is down because there is another dog in the house, and that dog has let him know that he is the alpha dog. It is a sign of submission and has nothing to do with how much he likes you.
You might try letting both dogs know that you are the pack leader. Insist that the other dog defer to you--you go through the doorway first and correct his behavior when necessary.
Watch Cesar Millan on his show The Dog Whisperer. He also has a book out called Cesar's Way. Great tips on how to raise your puppy.
2007-03-25 17:05:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldnt worry about it too much. Usually most puppys and more timid breeds of dogs will tuck their tail underneath when in new environments. When we got our new puppy who only lived in a 2x2 wooden box with her siblings, she freaked out and whined for days. She was a mess. Her tail was down pretty much for about a few weeks or so, maybe more. She was very scared of everything. Her tail was down a lot because when dogs are scared or unsure of things they put their tail down. Eventually she got used to us and her surroundings and her tail was up more than down. All you can do is to be as loving as you can and avoid hitting or yelling because this will take away all of your trust. Eventually he will get used to things and will become more of a confident dog. I'm sure the new environment for him and new people is hard on him and it will take a while before he gets used to things. Good luck and have fun with your new doggie!!
2007-03-26 00:03:28 · answer #2 · answered by Jenny 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs have very sensitive hearing - and many of them are noise-sensitive because of that. Is he reacting to loud noises? Sudden movements?
Many times, we want to tell our dogs "It's OK.....it's Ok......" when they react and cower. I believe that this will encourage your dog to keep right on cowering. Be kind to your dog and watch out for him, but try to not ever make a fuss over any "I'm scared!!!" behaviors. Make mental notes to yourself, remind your family to maybe not do extreme physical things around the dog - especially because he is a new member of your household. Look out for him, but don't coddle.
Using reward-based training will do wonders for his confidence. Never force your dog to deal with anything that he's scared of by making him get close to scary things - this is called 'flooding' and it's not cool!
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/
and
http://www.clickertraining.com/
are great places to start.
2007-03-26 00:29:48 · answer #3 · answered by Misa M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know?
2007-03-26 00:47:44 · answer #4 · answered by iceball vs. fireball 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋