I think it's time to rehome my dog

[Winelover93]

I have a chihuahua he's just turned 5 I got him in 2012 when he was a puppy. He is very snappy my boyfriend has just left for work and gone to stroke him and he's just bitten him. This isn't the first time he has bitten someone.

I have a 8 month old boy he's not very interested in him (unless he has food on offer)he doesn't like kids he hated my neice when she was baby but loves her now she's older.

Also I live in a very small flat in Leeds he's obviously not even meant to be here so taking him out all the time is a nightmare so I've put down a puppy pad in the toilet. Since we have been here he has started peeing on everything plastic bags my bed ect.

I honestly don't think I could get rid of him he is my life! but sometimes I think maybe it's not fair on him.

Here a photo of my baby

That's your error op.

He is a dog. .
You have given him too much status and now he isn't safe.
Time to move him on to a proper doggy owner. .

Oh dear, well the flat situation is not good is it? He might be small, but he still needs exercise, and teaching him to go in the house again is bound to cause problems

Can you afford to see a behaviourist about the snapping? What have you tried so far?

It's not worth having a snappy dog with a baby around the consequences are too awful to contemplate. I'm a dog lover, owner and walker and wouldn't normally advise this but I don't think you have much choice. If you do decide to rehome him please take him to a rescue centre and don't advertise him as free online, I've heard horrible stories from my friend who rescues dogs of them being used as bait dogs if you put them up as free to good home :(

No it's really not ideal at all it won't be forever but it's not great.
I take him out throughout the day but obviously he still needs the loo in between these times.

I don't know how much they cost really but will have a look into it now. He doesn't bite all the time thats the second time in a good few years but it's not ok as I wouldn't want it happening again.

Oh god no would never give him away for free! I want to try a few things first before looking into that

Why don't you just take him out when he needs a wee? I live in a flat with a dog and just take him out as often as he asks. It is a faff with 3 small dc but needs must.

He doesn't always ask though sometimes he just goes of sneakily like now. I've just taken him out and he's gone and pissed on my bed

He sounds stressed.

As do you. Find him a new home - but do it properly.

people dont put down pads! they take their dogs out of the building to toilet.

take him to vet, perhaps he is ill? hence snapping and peeing on your bed?

The thing with chihuahuas is that they are very stubborn and people treat them like babies because they're all cute and small but they are still dogs and need all the same rules as a big dog (not saying you've necessarily done this btw). You need to get the aggression sorted which, I'm not going to lie, will be no easy feat. They are also known for being hard to house train so I'm not entirely surprised he's weeing in the house, you have to be rigorous with their toilet training. Is he castrated?

And he wont necessarily always ask for the toilet, you need a routine. Mine go out every few hours but during training it was more like every half hour and lots of praise when they go

He doesn't sound happy so yes, I'd rehome him. Make sure he goes to a suitable house though.