About 1.5 years old, has gotten very territorial in the past 2 weeks or so. If moved, or sometimes touched after getting comfortable, has started to snap and "chase away" me and the girlfriend. Hasn't bitten, even though she has had chances, mainly growling, and snapping, like what a dog would do to another when being approached with food. Any ideas what can be done to help curb this type of behaivor? My GF thinks it's because she is in heat, but in my mind thats still not acceptable, especially when this was never a problem in the past.
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Territorial Chihuahua
skieking
Mar 03, 2008 12:29 PM
Replies (2)
KDiamondDavis
Mar 04, 2008 07:31 AM
>>About 1.5 years old, has gotten very territorial in the past 2 weeks or so. If moved, or sometimes touched after getting comfortable, has started to snap and "chase away" me and the girlfriend. Hasn't bitten, even though she has had chances, mainly growling, and snapping, like what a dog would do to another when being approached with food. Any ideas what can be done to help curb this type of behaivor? My GF thinks it's because she is in heat, but in my mind thats still not acceptable, especially when this was never a problem in the past.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Being in heat could definitely explain it. Time to have her spayed. This behavior makes her not a prospect for breeding, anyway.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47
Chelle
Mar 04, 2008 10:14 AM
This is not acceptable behavior and this little Chihuahua Princess in my house would be taught house rules and obedience lessons. You don't have to be mean to have dogs learn to respect you, but you have to show them they need to earn their privaledges. For me a dog that is showing that behavior would not have access to sleeping on a bed or elevated area for a while- the ego can't handle it. Teaching a dog to "sit" before allowing them up on a bed or to "stay" before putting their food bowl down for dinner goes a long way in helping solve these types of problems. My dogs need to do a simple "down" before I pet them or a "sit" before I let them outside to run and play. Nothign is done mean, but they need to do something for me before I do something for them.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles
