Post by paige1222 on Feb 20, 2016 13:05:16 GMT -5
Before I even get started I'm sure you can tell by the subject that both types of these dogs are prone to yapping, growling, nipping and so forth. My little girl is just now 7 months old and I got her at 5 weeks old, which now that I look at it was irresponsible on my part as I personally think that that's too young. I also got her from a lady I had never seen before who was selling "full blooded chihuahuas" outside of petsmart who only had the puppies, so I didn't get the see the parents and their temperament. Yeah I know, it was terrible of me.
Anyways, since the day I got her she has been attached to me at the hip, which I hear is also common in chi's and mini pins. She has been scared of other people, besides those who reside in my household since day one. She is a very nervous dog and hunkers down when I go to pick her up and has since I got her, mind you I have NEVER and would never even so much as think of hurting her.
She also barks continuously at strangers and if they persist in bugging her, which honestly annoys me because you can clearly tell she needs her space, she will growl. After several more warnings to the strangers, she will snap at them. I do correct her. I will admit to smacking her butt when she just won't listen, but only in extreme situations, such as when she snapped at my grandma. I'm not aggressive toward her but I let her know when she does something wrong and other than being scared to death of strangers, she is smart as a tack and knows many many commands.
I still live with my parents so my second dog has sort of become theirs. She is a yorkie who gave birth to stillborn pups. After this, she became incredibly close to my mom and I was tossed out the window lol. However, I do have experience with training dogs. The yorkie, Bridgette, and I, won first place in a showmanship competition and did lots and lots of training. She is also super laid back, never barks, albeit she is near 8 now, but she never was hyper or outlandish.
Chica, the chi/mini pin, is completely different. I somehow don't see this as a bad behavior though, because I think a dog, much like a human, has their limits and when they are pushed, they get aggravated just like us humans do. I do think the barking may be a bad behavior, but the growling/snapping is the only way she knows how to tell someone who scares her to back off. If they try to pet her she will bark and run away, unless I'm holding her, in which case she will climb up my shoulder until she nearly falls off the other side trying to get away.
I have self diagnosed her with separation anxiety as well, because I can't even go to the bathroom without her following me in or crying outside the door, which is fine with me but it makes things difficult for her when I have to leave, as I do sometime to commute to college. If I dare put her in her crate and then leave she will howl and cry until no one can think straight, which I obviously also discourage. If I leave her running loose in the house when I leave she may pace back and forth and whine a little but is generally fine.
If you have happened to read allll the way to the bottom of this post, I'm simply asking for advice. To be honest though, I'm not into the, "the dog shouldn't get on the couch/bed etc because you're the alpha and it teaches them bad manners" and yadda yadda. I do realize I am the alpha in the house and other than the separation anxiety and fear of strangers she is very very well behaved. (I sound like a true mom huh? Haha lol)
I once read somewhere that a dog can't talk and only has barking/growling etc. to communicate with humans and after a number of times of politely warning you that you're bugging them they are liable to lash out. Then people take that for aggression when it's not really and I agree with that.
Anyways, I'm just looking for advice so let me know what you think and what you'd do if it was your dog.
Anyways, since the day I got her she has been attached to me at the hip, which I hear is also common in chi's and mini pins. She has been scared of other people, besides those who reside in my household since day one. She is a very nervous dog and hunkers down when I go to pick her up and has since I got her, mind you I have NEVER and would never even so much as think of hurting her.
She also barks continuously at strangers and if they persist in bugging her, which honestly annoys me because you can clearly tell she needs her space, she will growl. After several more warnings to the strangers, she will snap at them. I do correct her. I will admit to smacking her butt when she just won't listen, but only in extreme situations, such as when she snapped at my grandma. I'm not aggressive toward her but I let her know when she does something wrong and other than being scared to death of strangers, she is smart as a tack and knows many many commands.
I still live with my parents so my second dog has sort of become theirs. She is a yorkie who gave birth to stillborn pups. After this, she became incredibly close to my mom and I was tossed out the window lol. However, I do have experience with training dogs. The yorkie, Bridgette, and I, won first place in a showmanship competition and did lots and lots of training. She is also super laid back, never barks, albeit she is near 8 now, but she never was hyper or outlandish.
Chica, the chi/mini pin, is completely different. I somehow don't see this as a bad behavior though, because I think a dog, much like a human, has their limits and when they are pushed, they get aggravated just like us humans do. I do think the barking may be a bad behavior, but the growling/snapping is the only way she knows how to tell someone who scares her to back off. If they try to pet her she will bark and run away, unless I'm holding her, in which case she will climb up my shoulder until she nearly falls off the other side trying to get away.
I have self diagnosed her with separation anxiety as well, because I can't even go to the bathroom without her following me in or crying outside the door, which is fine with me but it makes things difficult for her when I have to leave, as I do sometime to commute to college. If I dare put her in her crate and then leave she will howl and cry until no one can think straight, which I obviously also discourage. If I leave her running loose in the house when I leave she may pace back and forth and whine a little but is generally fine.
If you have happened to read allll the way to the bottom of this post, I'm simply asking for advice. To be honest though, I'm not into the, "the dog shouldn't get on the couch/bed etc because you're the alpha and it teaches them bad manners" and yadda yadda. I do realize I am the alpha in the house and other than the separation anxiety and fear of strangers she is very very well behaved. (I sound like a true mom huh? Haha lol)
I once read somewhere that a dog can't talk and only has barking/growling etc. to communicate with humans and after a number of times of politely warning you that you're bugging them they are liable to lash out. Then people take that for aggression when it's not really and I agree with that.
Anyways, I'm just looking for advice so let me know what you think and what you'd do if it was your dog.