Hi I've had a girl chihuahua for about 2 years now and I barely got another chihuahua(a boy). The problem is that when we tried to introduce the new boy dog my girl chihuahua started growling at him and jumped on him. What can I do for them two to get along? Also can anyone give me tips on how to stop my girl dog's growling? She growls at us whenever we get near and we can't seem to figure out how to make her stop. Any help at all would be appreciated.
How do my dogs get along?
- Thread starter rebelde33
- Start date
First...has she always growled at you?
Second....If she has not been growling at you, when did it start? Did you change your routine any?
Third...if it just started happening has she been to the vet to make sure that nothing is wrong with her?
Fourth....it she has always growled at you...I would try to get a behavourist to work with on this problem....it is to hard to do it over the internet.
Second....If she has not been growling at you, when did it start? Did you change your routine any?
Third...if it just started happening has she been to the vet to make sure that nothing is wrong with her?
Fourth....it she has always growled at you...I would try to get a behavourist to work with on this problem....it is to hard to do it over the internet.
Well she started the growling about 8 months after we got her. She's not allowed in the house because she makes too much of a mess and goes to the bathroom inside when we let her. Would taking her to a vet be a good idea? Do they charge much? The last time we took her she was sick from eating chicken bones and got treatment but it costed $200 to just get her checked and get her medecine. She doesn't growl AT ALL at my mom but she does to me and my siblings and I have no idea why.
Okay... I am going to say first that there are a huge amount of red flags here that make you sound like spam or a troll, but if you are not here is my feedback.
I am sorry that the dog is not allowed inside. There are many people here who can help you with house training so that you can bring her inside and love on her full time. Unfortunatly her being outside for those 8 months could be a strong cause for the agresion, maybe when she is allowed in the house she feels she is protecting it, or she is affraid you are going to put her back outside?
A life for a dog outside away from there family is no life at all. I do not believe in getting a dog to keep them outside. If you are not there to train a dog because they are outside then you can expect issues. A dog does not know better if no one is around to train them. Have you thought about crate training to help with house training?
Dogs should never be given cooked bones, EVER. That is why it was so expensive at the vet. There are many reasons behind this and you can do research, but to cut it down to the basics, cooked bones splinter.
Is she protecting your mom maybe? or maybe she does not understand that you are over her in a pack status? She needs to understand that everyone is above her. This can be done with training methods, which I will leave the experts to explain to you.
I am sorry that the dog is not allowed inside. There are many people here who can help you with house training so that you can bring her inside and love on her full time. Unfortunatly her being outside for those 8 months could be a strong cause for the agresion, maybe when she is allowed in the house she feels she is protecting it, or she is affraid you are going to put her back outside?
A life for a dog outside away from there family is no life at all. I do not believe in getting a dog to keep them outside. If you are not there to train a dog because they are outside then you can expect issues. A dog does not know better if no one is around to train them. Have you thought about crate training to help with house training?
Dogs should never be given cooked bones, EVER. That is why it was so expensive at the vet. There are many reasons behind this and you can do research, but to cut it down to the basics, cooked bones splinter.
Is she protecting your mom maybe? or maybe she does not understand that you are over her in a pack status? She needs to understand that everyone is above her. This can be done with training methods, which I will leave the experts to explain to you.
As a fellow Chihuahua owner I have to say I'm am very distressed to read that your Chihuahua is not allowed inside. These are inside dogs, they were never meant to live outside.
Toilet training is all part of dog ownership. It takes time and you have to put up with a few puddles on the carpet (and yes that can take months and months to correct...but you do it because that's the responsibility you've taken on). She makes a mess because you let her, you have to teach her not to. She is a dog...doesn't speak our language and has no concept of right or wrong.
Sorry, I know I sound harsh but I just love these little dogs so much.
Here are a few things you can do, since your mum isn't getting any aggression from her I'll assume your mum cares for her.
Get your mum to stop taking responsibility for her and start to divide up the care between the whole household, particularly you and your siblings. You (all children in the house) should feed her (and she shouldn't be free fed).
Try NiLiF (Nothing in Life is Free)...this means making her do something for you before she gets anything (including affection). I'll assume again that she knows how to sit...so make her sit before you give her anything (including food). Ask her once (don't repeat the word over and over again) and if she doesn't do it, don't give her what she wants. Leave it a while (5, 10 or 15mins) and then ask her again. If she doesn't do it, she doesn't get it at all.
For food this means that she doesn't get offered food again until her next meal (feed her twice a day and only leave the bowl down for about half an hour).
Basically this is just so she knows that you...all of you...control the household and the resources (ie: anything she wants/needs). Hopefully after a while she'll start to respect you a bit more.
Get your mum to correct her verbally (never physically) with a short, sharp "Ah-ah!" the second she starts to growl and when she stops she must be immediately praised for doing so. (actually this is something everyone in the house should be doing, but since she seems to respect your mum more I mentioned her)
She has to know exactly what she can do and what she can't and there can be no confusion. Once you decide on what's right and wrong, it stays like that.
Please...PLEASE bring that girl into your home. You'll enjoy her so much more as a pet and companion and she can be part of a family.
Now as far as the pup is concerned. I'm curious about how much socialisation your girl has had. Chihuahua's are actually known for dog aggression (they have quite a 'terrier' temperament) and must be socialised really well in order to accept other dogs (which they do easily once socialised).
If she's not been socialised it may be that which prevents her from accepting the new boy. She might feel a little threatened by him also.
Perhaps ignoring the pup while she's around and getting her to sit for you and when she's quiet and nice give her treats. Try to prove to her that the pup is a good thing.
Hopefully we'll have some trainers come online and give you more (and possibly better
) advice than me, but that's the way I'd handle it anyway.
This will all take time. Nothing is going to change instantly, you'll have to work at it and be dedicated. But that's all a part of dog ownership and personally it's one of the most enjoyable things about it...working with and teaching your dog new things.
Cass.
Toilet training is all part of dog ownership. It takes time and you have to put up with a few puddles on the carpet (and yes that can take months and months to correct...but you do it because that's the responsibility you've taken on). She makes a mess because you let her, you have to teach her not to. She is a dog...doesn't speak our language and has no concept of right or wrong.
Sorry, I know I sound harsh but I just love these little dogs so much.
Here are a few things you can do, since your mum isn't getting any aggression from her I'll assume your mum cares for her.
Get your mum to stop taking responsibility for her and start to divide up the care between the whole household, particularly you and your siblings. You (all children in the house) should feed her (and she shouldn't be free fed).
Try NiLiF (Nothing in Life is Free)...this means making her do something for you before she gets anything (including affection). I'll assume again that she knows how to sit...so make her sit before you give her anything (including food). Ask her once (don't repeat the word over and over again) and if she doesn't do it, don't give her what she wants. Leave it a while (5, 10 or 15mins) and then ask her again. If she doesn't do it, she doesn't get it at all.
For food this means that she doesn't get offered food again until her next meal (feed her twice a day and only leave the bowl down for about half an hour).
Basically this is just so she knows that you...all of you...control the household and the resources (ie: anything she wants/needs). Hopefully after a while she'll start to respect you a bit more.
Get your mum to correct her verbally (never physically) with a short, sharp "Ah-ah!" the second she starts to growl and when she stops she must be immediately praised for doing so. (actually this is something everyone in the house should be doing, but since she seems to respect your mum more I mentioned her)
She has to know exactly what she can do and what she can't and there can be no confusion. Once you decide on what's right and wrong, it stays like that.
Please...PLEASE bring that girl into your home. You'll enjoy her so much more as a pet and companion and she can be part of a family.
Now as far as the pup is concerned. I'm curious about how much socialisation your girl has had. Chihuahua's are actually known for dog aggression (they have quite a 'terrier' temperament) and must be socialised really well in order to accept other dogs (which they do easily once socialised).
If she's not been socialised it may be that which prevents her from accepting the new boy. She might feel a little threatened by him also.
Perhaps ignoring the pup while she's around and getting her to sit for you and when she's quiet and nice give her treats. Try to prove to her that the pup is a good thing.
Hopefully we'll have some trainers come online and give you more (and possibly better
) advice than me, but that's the way I'd handle it anyway.This will all take time. Nothing is going to change instantly, you'll have to work at it and be dedicated. But that's all a part of dog ownership and personally it's one of the most enjoyable things about it...working with and teaching your dog new things.
Cass.