I have some puppy regret

[Powertothepetal]

I just feel so out of depth

This will be really long....

I bought a border collie puppy years ago, I was never able to successfully teach her to walk nicely on a lead and a combination of her breed (which I now know often are not sociable with other dogs) and some out of control dogs behaving aggressively to her meant that she matured into a fairly dog intolerant adult, not ‘dangerous’ but grumpy, would growl at most dogs if they approached her.
But, she still wanted to meet other dogs and sometimes was fine and had a few dog friends.
Apart from those two issues she was and is a fantastic dog.

I wanted another but experiencing aggression from other dogs and her and other dog’s owners and being unable to do much to protect her due to her size seriously knocked my confidence and I wanted a breed less likely to be dog reactive and super small so I could move it easily if necessary.

So I bought a chihuahua puppy.
He is lovely but he could not be more different to my collie and frankly, I honestly don’t know what to do to manage him properly and feel like I am failing.

My collie was so outgoing and confident, basic things like putting a collar on and going for a walk were no issue whatsoever.

The chihuahua is nervous.
He was so scared to wear his collar (to the point of yelping when you tried to clip it) that I threw it away and opted for a harness.
While the harness is easier to get on he is scared of that too.
He is scared of the leash clipped on and off aswell.

I often have to carry him for the first few minutes of a walk as he’s scared then he relaxes and seems to thoroughly enjoy walking.

As a puppy my collie adored attention from strangers, being so small and cute everyone wants to stroke the chihuahua but again, he is scared.
He is getting good at walking past people and he can usually sit quietly and take treats with people walking around but he isn’t comfortable at all with strangers actually approaching him.

When it comes to training, unsurprisingly, my collie was super keen to work and please people and therefore easy to train.
The chihuahua is very clever but he only wants to learn if he is hungry and will only do as I ask if hungry.
There is pretty much zero desire in him to please people and work.

My collie likes to play with you, fetch or tug or finding items and so again, training is easy because if she isn’t hungry enough for a treat a toy can be substituted.

This little guy wants to play alone.
He wants to run around and rag his toys.
No desire to play with people at all.

The little puppy isn’t particularly affectionate either, unless he’s tired, then he wants to snuggle in your lap, but the rest of time he wants to pester my other dog, play with his toys, eat and any attempts to stroke up generally result in (non aggressive, puppy) biting.
He’ll run to you happily to say hello too but that’s about it.

He won’t walk in the rain, toilet training is going appallingly.

I just feel really out of depth.
I have no clue how to train and motivate this little dog and have visions of him maturing entirely untrained and completely disobedient.

I had a Chihuahua. He died last year. I had him for a long time. He was spirited and happy and very loyal to me but not so much to the rest of the family.
He was a gentle little soul but he did not enjoy people stroking him which people tend to be drawn towards dong when they see a very small dog. Yes I know they are cute but when they are so small and all these hands reach down to pat that tiny head it can make them snappy if you are not careful. Because of the breeding some of them get headaches. Brain too big for the small 'applehead'[ skull
He was another of my little lame ducks in that I rescued him.
He had been returned to the breeder when the owner broke up with his girlfriend.
Whenever a man came into my house with boots on he would hide under the furniture and then rush out and 'bite' the offender on the ankle.
I would get "did your dog just bite me"?

Your dog will want to please you. Give him a treat when he does well and he will be your friend for life. I often see people with more than one. I think they are quite gregarious with their own breed. I know my little chap would get all giddy when we met other Chihuahuas.

In many respects he sounds like a typical chihuahua! They are notoriously difficult to house train and hate wet weather, so that should be no surprise. My little pup (v. small yorkie) hates the rain, but is quite happy if I pop his coat on AND carry a golf unbrella so he can pee in comfort.
I think the perceived lack of affection may be due to you having another dog, which will receive more focus from the puppy than you. Mine is not that affectionate with me, but he's a typical terrier and would rather play rough games. He doesn't want to be picked up and babied at all. He, too, likes ragging my other dog best of all.
Mine screamed when I first put a harness on him. I just persevered with a few minutes a day. You shouldn't even try to use a collar/lead combo on such a tiny delicate dog.
Could you set a couple of periods aside each day to do some one to one with your pup, without the other dog being present (and a distraction)? You need to figure more in his life perhaps.
I have never had a Chi, but I have read there are distinctive different types, of which some are very friendly and some are standoffish. I have read about this online. Perhaps someone will come on with more Chi experience.

I've just read your other thread and realised he's only 11 weeks old, I think you're expecting a lot from him tbh!

I think you need to slow right down and start in building his confidence and your bond. Is he already fully vaccinated? I would keep him away from all other dogs and strangers and let him watch the world go by from a distance.

Oh.. did not realise he was a baby

I've just read your other thread and realised he's only 11 weeks old, I think you're expecting a lot from him tbh!
I did wonder if I was being a bit unreasonable, he’s just so different to what my other one was like and I keep comparing him to her.
I should try and stop.

I’m not used to a puppy frightened of (what I perceive to be) such small, insignificant things, like a simple lead clip!

I think you need to slow right down and start in building his confidence and your bond. Is he already fully vaccinated?
He is fully vaccinated.

I would keep him away from all other dogs and strangers and let him watch the world go by from a distance
He doesn’t want to.
He’s a conflicted little soul.
I was carrying him on walks at first and that was fine at first then he just decided one day he wanted to walk and kept trying to jump straight out of my arms!
Would whine and get angry and start biting if I kept holding him so I let him walk (I do pick him up when he gets tired).
Once he’s past the house he loves walking, just gets very scared when people bend down and try to touch him.

In terms of training you have kind of gone from the Ferrari to the push bike . I say this having both breeds.
I have three, two are rescues. None of them like being stroked by strangers, one would take their hand off if they persevered ( well make little holes in it anyway !).
My boys hate going out in the rain, they would prefer to toilet inside in the dry thank you very much.
One of them hates going for walks, one of them hates having the harness on but loves walks
What I’m trying to say is that all the things you mention are quite normal for a chi.
He is only 11 weeks, frankly if you ever get him reliably house trained it will be a bonus so at that age I’d chill a bit but absolutely keep working on it.
Honestly they are small cute adorable and utterly addictive but just because they are small does not mean they behave like little toys and in no way will he be a trainable as a collie. Your collie has been bred for generations to work and please people. Chihuahuas expect to be pleased by people 😝

Having a puppy is really hard work and chihuahuas are a very very specific breed of dog that have all sorts of little odd characteristics you’ll need to get used to. But it does get easier if you put the work in.

Are you planning on going to any puppy training courses with him? It could help your bond enormously. Look for one who has lots of experience with small/toy breeds.

Also, at 11weeks has he had all his vaccinations? If not he shouldn’t be walking yet.

I don't mean keep holding him, I mean tell starngers not to touch him. Let him watch from afar and get used to the sights, smells and sounds before expecting him to cope with being approached and touched.