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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Viewing a puppy on Sunday-terrified.

101 replies

UtterlyTerrified1 · 07/07/2023 16:45

My 19 year old has saved diligently for the 5 months she has been working in order to buy a puppy to be trained as her assistance dog (she has autism and bipolar disorder). We are going to view a chihuahua puppy on Sunday from a reputable breeder. She is desperate for a chihuahua and has been for years. I am terrified!!

We had a French Bulldog x Pug x Staffordshire Bull Terrier for 8 years-rescued him at 2 1/2 and had him until he died. He was very much my dog and I loved him to the moon. However, I have enjoyed the freedom of not having a dog since he passed-no rushing back to make sure he isn’t lonely, no dragging the little dd (aged 4 at the time) out for walks 3 x a day over the holidays or in the evenings on a school night, no incontinence issues etc.

We are in rented accommodation and I am home full time for the next 3 years as I am studying. The landlord is happy for us to have a dog, and as she is to be trained up as an assistance dog she will be dd’s when she moves out (but due to her diagnosis she will not be moving out any time soon). However, I am a very anxious person and am really struggling with this.

I’m scared of the damage to the carpets during toilet training. I’m scared because we don’t have a garden. I’m scared because dd is 19 so all the actual grunt work will fall to me. I’m scared that we will never find anywhere to live if our current landlord gives us notice to quit because we have a dog. I’m scared that the dog won’t like us. I’m scared that I don’t know how to look after a puppy, and I am scared of what will happen when I do go back to work after my degree. I am absolutely fine with having a dog in the house. I love dogs, but all I feel is fear and trepidation at the moment. Please help!

OP posts:
Twilight7777 · 07/07/2023 19:24

Twilight7777 · 07/07/2023 19:23

Pretty you can’t buy any dog and make them an assistant dog, they have to be specially trained from very early on. Usually it’s the person needing the dog is assessed as whether they are suitable for the dog, and it’s usually a very long waiting list. I think the way you could do it is if you were willing to pay a lot of money to a trainer.

Pretty *sure!

HighlandCowbag · 07/07/2023 19:29

I am in a similar situation. We lost our beloved whippet last week. She was v old and doddery by the end so didn't need much walking but also slightly incontinent (overnight or 4 hours plus), was I think.senile and forget she had been fed and quite needy for the last 12 months and it all fell to me. Am also doing a degree with 1 more year to.go and hopefully doing an MA afterwards but also quite busy with horses, ds (aged 9) and our own business plus because dhs job is full on most of the household shit falls to me.

We all.want another dog but the practicalities of a younger dog needed lots of walks and training is terrifying, I only just manage now.

Ive said wait 6 months to grieve old dog. I don't see anything changing in 6 months so not sure what will happen, but whatever we decide I am not accepting the full responsibility.

Favouritefruits · 07/07/2023 19:38

Do you mean more of a emotional support dog? I doubt very much a chihuahua could be an assistant dog but might be nice to cuddle and stroke if one is feeling overwhelmed. It sounds like a car crash waiting to happen, I would put my foot down.I love dogs we want our own but after we lost our dog I enjoyed the freedom, much like you!

Totalwasteofpaper · 07/07/2023 19:42

Leo227 · 07/07/2023 16:55

I can't think of a worse breed as an assistance dog..

This

The whole thing has disaster written all over it

FictionalCharacter · 07/07/2023 19:50

If this is real, please, please don't do this. A chihuahua? It will be disastrous for you, your daughter and the poor dog.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 07/07/2023 19:56

If she wants an “emotional support animal” a cat might be a better choice? Ours is my best little chum, and while she is demanding (total pest) around food, and wanting in and out of the garden, she is generally pretty low maintenance. I was always more of a dog person but she is such a funny wee soul and there is nothing more soothing than a cat purring on your lap.

Not sure she would be a good assistance animal, right enough.

WomanFromTheNorth · 07/07/2023 19:59

Chihuahuas are very nervous, snappy dogs - understandably because they are so small. They would not make good assistant dogs at all.

wetotter · 07/07/2023 20:03

I share PP's reservations about the choice of breed.

But want to add that individual temperament is also important, and you simply cannot know this of a puppy.

If you want a good assistance dog, you need to register with an assistance/service dog agency and be prepared to wait for a good match.

finewelshcheese · 07/07/2023 20:05

Who's training it and how do you suppose it will assist her? I can't imagine a chihuahua being that useful. It may become a lovely pet, but that doesn't make it an assistance dog.

TheLifeofMe · 07/07/2023 20:09

A Chihuahua as an Assistance Dog?!? A friend works for the Guide Dogs for the Blind and a percentage of Labradors fail the training and they are one of the easiest breeds to train. Who is going to train your puppy? If you are worried about toilet training then surely the assistance dog training will not be carried out by you or your daughter. If you do not have a garden you are asking for trouble straight away. Dogs need an area to go to the toilet and wander around to sniff. I personally would not be getting another dog for the reasons above.

StillWantingADog · 07/07/2023 20:11

I think you need to properly research what an assistance dog is. A chihuahua it is not.
do some proper research!

Leonberger · 07/07/2023 20:26

MIL has a chihuahua and she hasn’t even managed to train it to use the toilet outside nevermind anything else. She is literally the most independent neurotic hard to train creature I’ve ever met and I’ve had a fair few dogs! As soon as it rains or is a tiny bit cold she point blank refuses to go outside at all so I’m not sure she would be any good to take anywhere either other than in a handbag.

Shes an okay companion but that’s about where the skills end. In fact I can’t even think of one thing she could do well enough to assist anyone in anything!

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 07/07/2023 20:33

I've lived in a flat with no outside space with an adult dog, and it was doable but still a pain, especially on a winter evening when you have got to take it out last thing, in the dark, cold and rain, alone.

There is no way on Earth that I would ever get any puppy if I had no outside space, let alone a breed as hard to house-train as a chihuahua. It will make you all miserable. I like chihuahuas - fostered one for a bit, and it was a force of nature 😀 But this is not the right choice for your family at the moment.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 07/07/2023 20:36

StillWantingADog · 07/07/2023 20:11

I think you need to properly research what an assistance dog is. A chihuahua it is not.
do some proper research!

She's not going to use it as a guide or hearing dog. Read the links above. Assistance dogs are much, much broader than just vision/hearing impaired support these days - they can do everything from anticipating an epileptic person's fits to providing emotional support. So the suitable breeds are much broader too.

Maybe it's you who needs to do some research?

StillWantingADog · 07/07/2023 20:41

Hi @MissLucyEyelesbarrow thanks I def do know exactly what an assistance dog is. I also know how difficult chihuahuas are to train so it’s not a stretch to believe they are incompatible.

some chihuahuas, professionally trained, may make excellent assistance dogs but the OP has not suggested she is getting any external help with the training. I think she is talking about an emotional support dog which is a different thing altogether

uncomfortablydumb53 · 07/07/2023 22:28

Sorry but this won't work
A dog as a companion is a nice idea
All the chihuahuas I have known have been neurotic and snappy
Not the best for emotional support even if you could make it work in a flat
A cat would be better

nirthernmoneky · 07/07/2023 22:29

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

FishOnAPlane · 07/07/2023 22:33

Do you mean emotional support dog, rather than assistance dog?

Not a chance I would attempt to get a puppy without a garden, how will you actually toilet train it?

tara66 · 07/07/2023 23:15

NoStockingsNoSoxes · 07/07/2023 16:48

I hope I’m not derailing by saying er what a chihuahua? As an assistance dog?

Honestly I would have to say no if she’s not capable of caring for it herself and you don’t want a dog. It’s really asking too much of you.

Yes this - do you both know/not know the general temperament of this breed?

SageHearts · 07/07/2023 23:23

I don't think that's how assistance dogs work! You don't just pick any old dog and train them, it's the other way around.

People do though. My friend has an assistance dog due to being deaf and she joined a few Fb groups she thought were for qualified assistance dogs. She thought they were support groups, OMG did she get her eyes opened. There is no assistance dog register in the UK so anyone can buy a dog and train it themself then call it an assistance dog. There’s no regulated standards that these dogs need to meet to be classed as an assistance dog, no paperwork is needed etc. Some of the dogs on some of the groups she’s on are rescues or family pets that people ‘train’ to mitigate a disability, it’s absolutely shocking.

justasking111 · 07/07/2023 23:31

I know two people who have chihuahuas. They're both yappy, untrainable and erratic. Please don't opt for this dog.

Togiveandtoreceive · 08/07/2023 06:38

You can’t even be bothered to come back here OP to clarify the situation / address concerns / thank posters for advice and perhaps ask follow up questions

this poor poor puppy. I am hoping this is a good and astute breeder

CovertImage · 08/07/2023 08:42

Togiveandtoreceive · 08/07/2023 06:38

You can’t even be bothered to come back here OP to clarify the situation / address concerns / thank posters for advice and perhaps ask follow up questions

this poor poor puppy. I am hoping this is a good and astute breeder

I don't blame her.

Apart from a couple of honourable exceptions this thread has mainly consisted of smart-arsed, negative comments about chihuahuas by people pretending that they didn't realise that the dog is intended as emotional support for her autistic daughter rather than a "true" assistance dog.

Togiveandtoreceive · 08/07/2023 09:00

@CovertImage

more like concerned about a puppy joining a family completely not set up for a puppy that is difficult to toilet train (no access to a garden), not keen at all (the Op) with a ND daughter that the OP is already doubting her commitment

Togiveandtoreceive · 08/07/2023 09:00

Oh and with daft expectations as to training and assistance