Hi Randi, I changed the subject line and would prefer it you could just keep using this thread, so I can keep track of everything. It isn't necessary for you to copy and paste my responses/questions in between your answers, please just reply in the usual manner. I would appreciate that very much.
Okay, feeding a normal dog in the crate is the correct thing to do. I am not sure what pee parers are unless you meant to type pee papers. But you didn't say where these papers are, so I think you mean in the crate? Well, we we get to the housebreaking part after we get her over her fear of people. One step at a time. Training her fear: There is really three method's to help a dog like Peaches, I think the slower approach will be better for her to start with. If no improvement is made within the first couple of days, then we will try the other method. Her fear of people, could be just that she is a nervous chi coming from bad breeding, or it could be that she was cage bound for months on end with no attention, or it could also be combined with abuse. Or there is something physically bothering her. No way of knowing for sure. First I understand that you have the cage on a table for warmth, just in general, dogs don't like to have their den up high, as it makes them feel insecure, and at this point Peaches feels insecure enough, so if there is anyway that you can put the cage on the floor, I would do that. If it is an open wire cage then you can put blankets over it and just leave the front uncovered so they can see you. Plus extra blankets inside the cage will also help to keep out drafts and keep them warm. T-shirts and sweaters will also provide extra warmth. The living is a good place for them to get use to all the activity and sounds that are going on. Start by putting M&M in another room during the training session. Leave the cage door open. Pick a quiet time, TV is low/or off, and no kids running in and out etc. Pick a time just before it's feeding time. You may want to block off the room to contain her for the first couple of days of doing this: Sit on the floor, at a distant from the cage but not totally facing the cage door. You kind of want to watch her from the corner of your eye. Have her bowl of food at a distant from the cage, and about an arms length from you, so that she sees the dish. Sit and read or work on your lap top, or whatever you want to do. Plan on being there for atleast an hour the first couple of times for the first day. Do not talk to Peaches, you want to act very relaxed and don't make eye contact. You want her to eventually become curious enough that she wants to eat and knowing that you aren't going to grab her or say anything to her. You are probably going to have to do that a couple of times a day (I am assuming that you feed them both twice per day as Chis need 2-3 small feedings per day to avoid a drop in there sugar) and for a couple days, until she appears to be eating comfortably being that close to you. The odds are after she eats, she will want to run and hide in her cage. She may also want to walk around and explore the room, which is what you want. She needs to explore and smell to help her get over her fear of her environment. She needs to know that you are not going to interfere while she is doing that and that she has the freedom to go back to her den when she chooses. Now if she doesn't come out of her cage after half an hour, then move the dish to the front of her cage allowing enough room that she has to have her full body out of the cage to reach the dish. You stay at the same distance. The next feeding move the dish a little further away from the cage and the next day again move the dish further away from the cage. Keep doing that as eventually the dish will become closer and closer to you. But the important part is that she must think that you are ignoring her, so no talking and no sudden gestures. It is best if you are the only one in the room when you start this. This method has worked with feral dogs, and usually around the third day, you will see her becoming more and more relaxed. Then she will come over to you and smell you out, but will be on guard and still afraid. When she gets to this point, again still do not confront her, but let her do her own thing. If she should stop some where along the way and mess on the floor, don't say anything and don't move, just ignore it until after the session and she walks back to her den, then clean it up. Let me know as much in detail as you can how each session goes, because there are varibles for each dog's needs. Taking her to a training class to get over her fear outside of her new home is not advisable, it will only heighten her fears and she is not ready for that by a long shot. Besides for any of those classes the dog has to be leashed and you have to be able to handle the dog. Peaches does not have the typical socializing problem, hers is much more deep rooted then those classes can deal with. She has to get to know and trust you first before she can be socialized to others and other dogs in a group session. Having a good trainer come to your home that doesn't believe in a force method could help, if after a week you feel you and or your hubby can't do this on your own. Just so you know, I use to train the large breed aggessive dogs. I would only use a force method on a dog if everything else fails. A chi thrives on human interaction and in my opinion it doesn't make a difference how nasty the dog is, they can't live without love and once they get a taste of it, they are yours. It's good that M&M is a sweetie, because believe me, Peaches is watching every single interaction that you have with her and analyzing it. So Peaches will be a great teacher, even if you don't see the results right away, be assured that Peaches is very much aware of your good intentions, but her fear is the only thing preventing her from joining in. I am very curious about one thing though, didn't the shelter list her sex on her cage card , or even look at her to determine it? You mentioned that you had them to the Vet, again didn't he check her out and tell you what sex she is? Also am curious when you had them to the Vet, did he check her teeth out? If a dog is in pain, as in bad teeth that hurt, or something else is bothering her then they can also be aggressive. Another thing is that a shelter is required by law to give a dog a rabies shot before releasing it, and some require dogs to be spayed/neutered before releasing them, all of which would have given several people the opportunity to check what the heck sex he/she is. Just a heads up....when ever you adopt a dog from a shelter a full Vet examine should be done and not by the shelter Vet Tec. They should have their teeth examine, and a full blood test done, especially if spay/neuter has to be done. This will give you an idea if anything is wrong and what to expect from the dog. If Peaches is an in tact male, aggression is bound to be more constant. They both will need the Booster shot and a KC shot and Parvo shot is a must, it is way to risky not to have the first shots done, again they will probably towel Peaches to hold her long enough to give her the shot and can also determine her sex and see if she is spayed or neutered. Ever consider the possibility that if she is an unspayed female she could also possibly be pregnant and that could also cause fear, anxiety, and aggression. So a real good Vet exam is so important. Good luck and I hope you try this and keep posting daily. Peggy _____________________________________________________________________________ ________________ She eats in the crate. I put M&M in another crate so I'm sure each one is getting their fair share. I'm feeding blu Buffalo small bites twice a day. She won't move from the side of the crate till my hand is out and the door is closed. As long as the door is closed she will come to her dish while I'm standing there. I just let her go to the bathroom on the pee parers cause my biggest fear is she'll bite and get lose then we'll scare her more chasing her down. She will close her eyes when you talk to her. I think she's just scared and maybe the other dog was socialized either before these guys had her or she's just so sweet they paid more attention to her. And I'm really leaving her alone but talking to her cause I thought it was best not to put pressure on her. You can't even get near her to put a finger on her without her charging you. Thanks for helping. If I can't do this there is a training daycare in the next town that can probably get her socialized. She also runs a dog rescue. Randi Randi, I am going to write to you and explain a method that you can use, but can't do it right now. Will send it to you later. In the meantime, are you feeding Peaches in the crate or some where else in the room? Does she come to you for food, or do you have to leave the dish down and walk away so that she eats, or will she eat right in front of you? I need to understand this little girl a little more, and understand more of exactly what you guys have been doing as far as feeding and what and how have you been doing to housebreak her since you are giving me the impression that you can't get near her. Can you get a leash on her? Peggy _____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________ The vet said she has a scar so probably is spayed and I can't get close enough to the other to see what sex Peaches is! My guess female Great the vet said she's around 2. Peaches looks about the same age. We have them on a table off the ground for warmth and they're in a 3'X2' cage I wanted to keep them in a safe yet secure place till I can react with both of them. It's in the livingroom so they can see us all the time. She goes to the farthest end of the cage and just looks at you and if you crowd her she shows her teeth. She does bite cause she nailed my husband when he tried to put her in the cage. We had to tip it just to let her slide in. And she bit the girl at the shelter. When I hold M&M and sit on the couch which is close to the pen she'll go in her bed and watch us and when I talk to her she'll close her eyes. We picked them up on Monday so only four days Thanks again. Randi Are they neutered and spayed? I will try to help you, tell me what Peaches does when he sees you walking toward him. What does he do if you reach your hand out to him? Just explain as much as you can about him. How long have you had him now? Peggy -------Original Message------- From: Randi Grennan Date: 2/23/2012 7:53:49 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Chihuahuas] here they are [1 Attachment] [Attachment(s) from Randi Grennan included below] The brown one I call peaches and the cream one M&M which is short for mini Molly cause she's the spitten image of my Molly who died last year at 17. M&M is sweet as can be but Peaches you can't touch cause he'll eat you up. He gets sorta close but that's it. Anyone know of a website to handle this. Right now I leave her alone Randi
