20Aug/103
My dog hates other dogs? How can I teach him?
I have a four year old chihuahua mix that we adopted half a year ago. He has a little problem. He is a sweet dog and all toward humans, but once he sees a dog, (sometimes a human or electric wheelchairs [you get my point]) he goes crazy. He starts barking and going angry and nuts. I try to calm him down but can't. I yell NO and I pull him away, but then he goes nuts even worse. I tired the sitting technique, where I try to make my dog sit when he sees a dog but it doesnt work. ANY IDEAS?
THX
August 20th, 2010 - 09:50
First, you shouldn’t be yelling ‘no.’ It confuses the dog because it’s a word used in everyday conversation and he could be doing something completely okay, but then you’re correcting him.
Second, you shouldn’t put him away. It’s not teaching him to deal with it – it’s teaching him that you’ll take him away.
What should happen is that if he starts to even get the LEAST bit aggressive you should say "uh uh" "ah ah" "tsst" anything OTHER than what could be heard in a normal conversation, but something you can use to correct. Then start petting the other dog to show your pup that the other dog is ok and good. Keep him on a leash so you can gently correct him and he can’t get at the other dog.
Let him get close to the other dog so he can smell the other dog, but make sure you’re SHOWING him that the other dog is a friend and NOT someone to attack.
August 20th, 2010 - 09:50
Even though chihuahuas r one of the smallest dogs they r more aggressive than other dogs. I guess your dog isnt that friendly, when he sometimes barks at ppl or wheelchairs he just scared try to calm him down by petting him nicely
August 20th, 2010 - 09:50
I have a Chihuahua crossed with a Pomeranian and I got him from my vet when he was about 4 too! I had similar problems, he was prone to leaping up on his back legs and virtually lunged at all bigger dogs, as you can imagine he would have been the worst off if things ever got out of hand. So what did I do? Well I got a really good cat harness (normal dog harness was too big) and would take him for walks on the lead and expose him to lots of dogs, obviously you need to make sure he is not in danger, always watch him and be ready to pick him up quickly if you need to. Just keep going for walks as much as you can, correct him for his unwanted behavior and praise him for his good behavior it’s that simple. Make sure you behave with confidence and always keep him on a lead, NEVER yell at him, just show him with quick short jerks on the lead that you are not happy with his behavior, yelling at a dog just excites them and they always take it as a sign to bark more and go nuts more. Don’t smack or hit him but just use your fingers in a kind of ‘bite’ action to correct him, usually the best place is the back of his neck, this is how adult dogs correct puppies, also you can make a growl or hiss noise at the same time so that eventually the growl or hiss is enough. So to recap, lots of walks, put him on the lead, walk with confidence and he will get in step with you, short sharp jerks on the lead to correct, use ‘biting’ action if you have to, along with a hiss or growl, never yell, because if you loose it he will loose it…Good luck:)