Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Chihuahua advice please!

11 replies

Lapsedcataholic · 20/06/2023 11:17

Well she's a chihuahua mix but has the personality of a chihuahua from everything I read.

Our little girl is a rescue, she was dumped in a park and picked up after a couple of days by someone who spotted her. He couldn't keep her so we took her. 2 x vets rang the registered owner who hung up when told the purpose of call. So I guess she's ours now.

When we got her first I obviously wasn't sure if her previous owner would want to take her back so I didn't start training her immediately. Now I'm trying to but having absolutely no success. She's really really not food led, so what rewards for good behaviour would work? Even though she was only 11 months when we got her, she has zero interest in any dog toys.

Also, she's incredibly nervous of everything and walks are so stressful for her, there are times I have to carry her otherwise she'd squirm out of her harness and bolt for the nearest bushes.

I'd love to be able to put her in a kennel for a week and go on holiday but I'm despairing at this point, I feel she'd be so so upset to be "abandoned" by me. She just about tolerates my husband and really hasn't taken to my son.

I love her so much but I want her to learn some recall and obedience, and I hate seeing her so nervous and stressed.

Please can anyone give me some advice or tips? We're used to dogs, and have always had rescues, but never anything as challenging as this!

This is a pic of her sitting on my shoulder, one of her favourite spots -

Chihuahua advice please!
OP posts:
Softoprider · 20/06/2023 11:22

I have a Chi. He is bright and lively and food led. I had another Chi who was much more timid. It is too easy to carry them to the point where it becomes the norm. Remember this is the same species and much bigger dogs.
Put the dog down ! I mean place obviously..LOL
That is your starting point. Do not carry the dog. It has legs OP. There is a reason for those legs !

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 20/06/2023 11:43

I would stop trying to walk her at all for now - if she's so nervous she'll bolt she can't be having much fun. I would also forget training her until she's much less fearful and much more settled.

For now I would just focus on bonding with her in the house and garden. Sit and talk to her, let her hear your voice and learn that you're not going to make her do anything that could hurt or scare her. Stroke her if she'll let you, but don't force any affection onto her yet - it should all be on her terms.

It sounds like she's had a really traumatic time of it and you won't gain her trust by pushing her to do things she's not ready for.

Original poster
Lapsedcataholic · 20/06/2023 12:16

Thank you for replies. @Softoprider I only carry her when I can tell she's about to squirm out of her harness. I bought the smallest harness I could find but she's only 2.75 kg and can easily, and quickly, wriggle out. Have had two occasions where she did so and went into dense hedges, resulting in me kneeling and crawling and trying to coax her out, once for 2 hours as the light was fading. Had many passers-by asking if I was alright, was I sick etc!

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts yes I didn't walk her for the first 6 weeks but then I thought she might have calmed down sufficiently. I've tried tiny walks, up and down our cul de sac, just so she'd know where to come back to if she escapes from the house. She's escaped a couple of times by following me out the door and, because she has no recall, I ended up both times crawling along the footpath until I managed to get hold of her. Anything coming along, a car, a pedestrian, a helicopter overhead even startles her into bolting!

OP posts:
Newpeep · 20/06/2023 12:17

Don't walk her. No walk is better than a bad walk. Play games, do food puzzles and just let her find her feet. Once she's a bit happier, eating and sleeping well you can just pop a lead on and sit by the front door and let her take you where she is comfortable to go.

Recall and obedience will come. She won't be able to learn when she is stressed.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 20/06/2023 12:19

Bless her she's obviously had a pretty horrible time of it 😔

It's not nice to think a bite but it may be worth looking at some medication to help calm her down a little so that she can actually respond to training and food etc.

Some dogs are just so anxious that they can't respond to anything out of the house without that bit of help.

Original poster
Lapsedcataholic · 20/06/2023 13:53

Yes I think I'll give up the little walks until she tells me she's ready. She does get very excited when we get our other dog ready for a walk, but for her the anticipation is better than the reality. And she often gets the zoomies round our back garden so given she's so little, that's probably enough exercise!

We think she was probably abused somehow by a man as men generally freak her out.

OP posts:
Delphium · 20/06/2023 14:06

You really need a harness she can’t wriggle out of. Perfect fit harnesses are excellent. They are expensive initially but they wash well and will last years. My chi is smaller than yours and doesn’t even take the smallest size they do.

bunnygeek · 20/06/2023 16:31

It may be worth seeking out a good registered behaviourist experienced with nervous dogs with unknown histories. They should be able to work with you to put together a plan the whole family can work with.

I have an 8 year old PomChi whose about 2.6kg, I've only had her since December, she's reactive so we're starting Dog School Reactive Dog classes next month to help her. Unfortunately I do tend to pick her up when we're passing dogs 10x her size and she's going absolutely apesh*t, that's a fight you wouldn't win sweetheart! But it's definitely worth trying to keep all four paws on the floor where you can, we do, but she's also very foodie so a tasty treat can sometimes get her attention away from other dogs. Dogs Trust also have a Behaviour Support phone line which you may find useful:
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/how-we-help/behaviour-support-line

As for harnesses, for my girl we have a Heele harness from Amazon, cheap but it fits her and is step-in rather than over the head which she's not a fan of. A real wiggler could probably slide out of it, it helps my girl is fluffy so not as slippery as a short haired dog!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09QS15B9N/ref=pe_27063361_487055811_TE_dp_1
My Chi & Me have lots of small harnesses with measurements:

Soubriquet · 20/06/2023 16:36

What harness are you using? I have a perfect fit and it’s literally perfect for my 2.5kg chi. She used to be a Houdini but she can’t get out of those.

Not all dogs are food motivated but you can usually find something. Fresh chicken, primula, cheese, some other fresh meat. There’s always something that can tempt them

Monkeysocks38 · 10/07/2023 16:33

I've got a Pomchi and a Chichon. The Chichon wasn't food motivated at all but a dog behaviourist recommended some small treats I've only been able to find on Zooplus and he loves them. I have no idea why he likes them so much but they're seriously like crack for dogs! https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_treats_chews/low_fat/chewies/457035?ref=reorder

Chewies Mini Bone Treats Mixed Pack 6 x 125g | zooplus.co.uk

Chewies Mini Bone Treats Mixed Pack 6 x 125g: Sugar-free bone-shaped chews with salmon, lamb, game, beef, poultry & tripe. Ideal for training small-breed dogs.

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_treats_chews/low_fat/chewies/457035?ref=reorder

New posts on this thread. Refresh page