Timid Chihuahua, need help [Archive] - Dog Forums

Penmann

04-14-2006, 09:07 PM

I've have a ten year old Chihuahua that I've had since she was six months old, thus I am somewhat familiar with the breed. More recently purchased another Chihuahua that was four months old. The puppy is now nine months old, however I've noticed an unusual behavior in him that I'm not exactly sure how to work with. Unlike my older dog, the puppy is quite shy and submissive with humans. Its to the point that when I apprroach their sleeping area to give thm a rub, he bolts and runs behind the nearest applience he can find. Once he sees that I'm playing with my older dog, he springs back out and jealously joins the play. The minute I get back to my feet again, he becomes veryshy and shrugs away the first chance he gets. He's housetrained and does not pee in submission when I approach, but by the same note he his extremely nervous and jumpy when people are around. Sometimes he'll be in his crate and I'll hear him jump inside of it when I'm watching tv for a while and do something as simple as put the remote on the coffee table.

He loves attention, but when I approach him to give it to him (or anyone else for that matter), he backs away. I've tried to make him approach with food, but he will only approach me when I squat, lie on the floor, or play with the other dog. Its to the point that whenever he does approaches a person, he almost creeps, being sure to stay as low to the ground as he can.

I've never gotten loud with my dogs, nor have I been abusive in any way, but he acts as though he's been abused.

He's not like that with my other dog, they play together a lot and sleep together and whatnot.

crestie_rsq

04-15-2006, 02:22 PM

I suggest you get him into an obedience training class. These classes are excellent for building your dog's self-confidence. Even if you've been thru the classes before, it's about teaching your new pup that the world, noises, people, other dogs, etc. is FUN FUN FUN. Get him out for socialization. If he's too overwhelmed by all the commotion at PetSmart type places, go to your local Home Depot or Lowes. Have a bucket of small, yummy treats and ask the patrons to take a treat, approach slowly and give him a treat. Even if he doesn't take it from them, he'll soon catch on that strangers are not so strange.

Good luck.