Need to sort out problems with my chihuahuas before pup arrives

[Totallyfloaty35]

Hi all,i have 2 Chihuashuas,they are pretty well behaved but i need to sort out a few niggles before new pup arrives end of Dec.
Main prob is that when another dog approaches the y go potty,they not to bad with little dogs but big dogs make them nuts.The boy especially chases them growling and barking and then looks terrified when they chase him back.The elder female is a little better she barks and chases but generally returns when i call.Yesterday i took them to a huge field and they were fine at first other dogs were there but quite a distance,then a labrador bounded up and got very close to my 3yr old and they went crazy.It took me 5mins to get my male back and was embarresing.
I have been training them and they are fine with other dogs when they are on the lead(they do get a bit upset though if dogs off the lead come over but after a few mins are fine again.
The other thing is 5 nights a week at 1am and 4am they start howling,it lasts about 30secs but its really loud, im not sure how to make them stop as when i go downstairs there is nothing that i can see disturbing them.
Also my elder girl nearly always toilets in the house overnight,she goes out around 11:30- midnight and gets let out again at 7am but most mornings there is a wee and poo in the kitchen.
Sorry its long, thanks for reading

[snigger]

Are you totally committed to the new pup in December? Is it a chihuahua too?

Personally, I'd advise against adding a newby to the mix if you're not entirely happy with the status quo - it's only going to be ten times harder as you'll have to train the puppy in the face of an indisciplined 'pack'.

I'm no expert, so sorry if that sounds harsh, but at the very least I think you should be seeking the advice of a small breeds trainer before pressing ahead with puppy.

[Totallyfloaty35]

I have spoken to vets and a behavourist before(my Shar-pei had fear aggresion) and she thought the bad habits with other dogs were learned from my Shar-pei who had her head ripped open by 2 labradors and hated all other dogs for ever more.I was also told that Chihushuas are like that with big dogs(this from the vet) which i did not think was very helpful, hence the lead training,recall training i have been doing by myself.Behavourist told me i need to approach friendly calm looking dogs with owners and ask to introduce my dogs to desensitize them?
Also got told some Chihuahuas are never house trained but my girl used to be,we moved house though an we dont have a cat flap which she used to use any more.

[ClivetheCatfish]

Is it you who is getting a Newfie? Or am I confusing you with another teeny dog/huge dog owner?

[minimu]

I am going to say something you won't like and I do not mean to offend. I am a qualified behaviourist and think that adding a new dog to the pack will only increase the bad behaviour in the other dogs.

Unfortunately dogs do not tend to pick up the good behaviours just the annoying ones! I would personally want to sort out the issues with the dogs I have before adding another one to the group.

Often smaller dogs will respond quite aggressively when meeting bigger dogs as you have found out. It can be a long slow process to get them relaxed around other dogs and is a case of one step forward and two steps back. You do need to introduce your dogs to friendly and calm dogs as much as possible. You need to work on a 100% recall at all times and this can only be done by gently building up the distractions. You also need your dogs to be so relaxed around other dogs and so interested in you that other dogs will have less appeal to them. I am sure you can do this but think for anyone if you are also socialising a new pup and training a new pup you just will not have enough hours in the day for it all.But really wish you a lot of good luck.

I would also want to sort out the weeing and pooing indoors before a pup comes along. Have you crate trained you dogs? I would restrict the area they can have at night. As for the howling have you though what that will be like with a newfie pup joining in!

I wish you all the luck and I would get the advice of a good behaviourist.

[sullysmum]

Give the girl chi to me to join my three girl chihuahuas then she can learn their good behaviour! :D

[chegirlknowswhereyoulive]

Minimu can I ask you a question?

I have a lovely Chi x pom who is 10mths. He is a good dog, neutered and we have been to training classses. Happy and very good with the DCs and other smallish dog.

He chews a lot but I can deal with that.

He has started to pee on the sofa and I am finding that very hard to deal with!

Any ideas?

Sorry to highjack but I would love to hear if you have any advice for me. Thanks.

[ClivetheCatfish]

Look:

here

[minimu]

chegirlknowswhereyou... make sure you clean the wee of the sofa with a specialist pet cleaner as this will take away the smell. If you use a household cleaner although clean to us it actually makes the wee scent stronger to the dog.

When does he wee on the sofa? Are you around and sitting on it or does he go off on his own and do it?

[chegirlknowswhereyoulive]

He tends to do it in the morning when he is let out of the kitchen but he may do it at any time (but not in front of us).

He sleeps in the kitchen and is let out first thing into the garden so I dont think he is doing it because he needs to wee.

Do you think he is doing it as a protest at being on his own at night time?

[Totallyfloaty35]

Clive, yes its me getting a Newfie.Sullys, i could never part with my girl chi she is lovely with my dcs and all my friends are always trying to steal her away as she such a sweetie.
Minimu, my boy was crate trained ish,he used to toilet in it,so gave up an trained him my usual way an now he is fine.My girl i think is just used to a catflap and so i dont think she was ever really trained to hold on.Thing is she can hold on all day if she feels like it.I can put them in a penned area in the kitchen,do you think that would help? Do you think the fact that she is not spayed will have anything to do with it?
My friend thinks its the foxes that set off the howling,her jack russel goes off at roughly the same times and she lives up the road.Im not so sure, although they do sleep in the kitchen and it backs on to the garden.My Shar-pei never used to join in with the howling though.
Well my puppy is not even born yet,so i have 2 and a bit months to get their behaviour up to scratch.

[spugs]

Can you not have a cat flap put in?

My papillon puppy has issues with other dogs especially bigger ones and its taken 3 months of very careful introductions and work to get her to the stage where she just cowers and doesnt bite. Shes just started this last week to attempt to be playful with other familiar small dogs which is a huge thing for her (she runs away as soon as they play back).

Have you tried socialisation classes or training school with them?

[Totallyfloaty35]

Hi Spugs,the reason we decided not to get another catflap is because my boy dog always charges through them hell for leather smashing them to bits(he broke 6 in the last house)and it got to expensive to keep replacing.
My dogs are not to bad with smaller dogs and Chihuahuas are always pretty good with their own kind,but i know what you mean about spending ages doing intros.
My dogs dont actually bite other dogs they growl,bark and run rings around the other dogs,if it runs after them,they run back to me and try and climb up my legs.
We have seen a trainer/behavourist but it was mainly in relation to my Shar-pei,i was told Shar-pei are very hard to train as they not into food rewards or bothered all that much about pleasing you(aint that the truth) but the Chis she said to do what you have just done,lots of intros to other dogs,recall work etc.
Have decided to walk them last thing to see if it helps,just up the road to see if they will "empty" outside.