Before anyone goes off on me, I know it's my fault for not socializing her well enough when she was a puppy BUT I have a 2.5 year old female chihuahua who hates EVERYONE except me, my parents, my boyfriend and occasionally she'll be okay with my boyfriend and I's roommate (he lives here off and on as he is a Marine). She loves to go to the lake and car rides but I can't take her to the dog park or Petsmart/Petco because she HATES people, I'm not even sure how she'd react with other dogs because she is so concentrated on the people. If someone gets within one foot of her she will growl and she WILL try to bite them. I don't know what to do. Is this behavior correctable?
2007-09-11 17:32:59 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
First, Chihuahua's can bite and they can do it fast. While they will not take off an arm, they can and have taken off fingers. So do not force the dog.
Second, you need to condition the dog that people are good. One of the best ways is food. Whenever you introduce the dog to a person or a person to the dog, make sure the person has a dog treat (that the dog likes) to give to the dog. If you do this every time (and keep the dog a bit hungry) the dog will soon learn that people = food. Rather than hiding or running away, the dog will come for the food.
Here is how we do it. We carry our Chihuahua out in public in a dog purse. One that is deep enough the dog can duck down out of sight and feel safe. That is usually carried on our left side. When we come up to someone we hand them a dog treat. All we have to do is say "food" and the dog's nose will pop out of the purse. When the stranger holds the food out so the dog can smell it, the dog's head pops out. Then the stranger gives the treat to the dog. Of course, the dog will duck back down in the purse to eat it. But after a while, the person says, "food" and the dog will come out again for them. Another treat and we are well on the way of the dog getting use to that person. After a number of times, whenever the dog hears a stranger's voice, the head is out looking for the food.
Yes, it is bribing the dog, but that is much better than forcing the dog to be friendly when she is scared. And if she is eating a treat, she is not biting the hand that feeds her.
2007-09-11 18:03:58 · answer #1 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. depending on how old it is. We just got a two month old Chihuahua. We are so luck. She is loveing. Loves to be with humans and she already has my poodle Petee wrapped arround her little fingers. They love the interaction. You must spent a lot of time with her. Be patient, be loving, most of all give her praises where praises are due. Our Chihuahua likes to make noices, when I am gone into another room. She is in her play pen. I taught her the last two days. She is very smart. And now , she is much better in her pen while left alone. She knows that she does not get the attention when she is nutty. The same goes for your dog. You need to let them know what you expect from them. A good dog trainer could do wonders but also your time and effort will pay off. And be presistent.
2007-09-12 19:04:41 · answer #2 · answered by angelikabertrand64 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you can train a chihuahua to like people. I have a chihuahua/rat terrier and she does not like a lot of people to get around me. I can take her out for a walk and if someone gets close to me, she will growl because she believes someone is going to hurt me. Like in one of the other answers you received, they are known to be very close to their owners. You have to make sure that when she is around other people that you are around as well. She needs to know that no one is going to try to hurt you. She is probably very used to being around you and not around others like you stated. Chihuahua's are very skittish dogs anyway. They are very protective of their owners. I believe you can train her, just keep working with her. Mine has not been around a lot of people either but you do have to teach her not to bite. Be stearn!! She will learn. I have heard chihuahua's are mean dogs too, but I would not trade mine for the world. She is the best thing in the world. Good Luck!!
2007-09-12 01:14:28 · answer #3 · answered by carole bostic 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are going to have to do a lot of work with her. She is going to have to get into the social mode. Keep getting her around people and pet her and comfort her. Let people touch you, but keep her from biting them. She is just being protective. But it is going to take time.
2007-09-12 00:41:55 · answer #4 · answered by smittybo20 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, in my experience with chihuahuas, they are naturally very of protective of their mommy/daddy anyways. then not being socialized well in her toddler years just compounds the problem.
I'm not the dog whisperer or anything, infact, i'm dealing with the same thing with my little pomchi. i'm just trying to make up for lost socialization time. force him into the arms of visiting friends and family (hehe). i dunno if it's doing any good, though, it's the only thing i can think of.
2007-09-12 00:52:20 · answer #5 · answered by anti_emily 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think chihuahua are very mean because my father in law has one and when there are people she barks at them and she is such a trader cause when her owner is not around she acts like all innocent and when he is around she tries to bite you.
2007-09-12 00:38:47 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋