chiuaua questiions for anyone who can help!

[nikkip_2682]

we just adopted a 2 year old female chiuaua 2 weeks ago. She's our first dog. I have some questions about training her for any chiuaua owner that can help. Her name is Peaches. She's a sweet dog but came from a breeder and lived with a lot of other chiuauas. She was paper trained at her old home and now since we've brought her home she has used the paper sometimes. She will poop her and there around the house and now I'm nervous that she's done more around the house. I'm wondering how I train a dog that kinda knows where she should go. My next question is her reaction to my daughter and husband. Peaches really attached to me in the beginning. She would follow me everywhere. I have a three year old who has been doing excellent with peaches. Whenever my daughter comes near peaches will growl. When I say growl it's just a low rumble in her throat, nothing too threatening. Now, she's never tried to attack my daughter and she's done really well with peaches' space. Peaches had no experience with children before she came here so i knew it would take some time. But she'll also growl at my husband. Any suggestions on how to make her a little bit more social?? Other than those two issues she's really a great dog and I can really see some potential but this is all new to me and I just need some suggestions on how to train her.

[amabsher]

Ok... lets take one issue at a time.
First issue... Potty.
When Chihuahuas change homes, they do not take the "rules" of one home to the other without some encouragement. It sounds to me like you need to go back to some puppy basics.

There are two main methods of potty training a Chihuahua... one is the use of confinement. You can make up a pen area with a bed, food, water, toys, and potty pads (I don't reccomend the use of news paper as it encourages your dog to potty on other papers like say your phone bill! Yikes!) When you see your dog showing interest in the potty place... give them positive reinforcement by telling them how good they are for using the potty place (even if they don't use it yet). If you see your dog use the potty place... take them back to the scene and give them a treat or a petting or play time reward. I leave the urine for a day to let them know that I approve of their potty place choice but, I always clean up the poo as it happens... try to emit a happy energy while cleaning up from the "good" potty place. You want them to know that chosing this spot really makes you happy. If your dog is having overnight accidents, you may need to use a crate at night to help your dog realize that she can hold it and to help develop the muscles that will hold it... if your dog has overnight accidents in the crate for more than 3 consecutive days and you have tried restricting the late night eating... I would have your dog evaluated by a vet before proceeding with potty training... potty accidents can be the result of stress, diet change, and or a possible infection or weak immune system. Never spank your Chihuahua or take on an abusive tone about a potty accident... this does not tell the dog to not potty in an inappropriate place... this tells your dog that you do not like potty... this will also make your dog not want to potty where you may find it and so she will start hidding her potty and she also will not potty when you take her out on a leash as she thinks that you do not like it when she pottys.... rather than where she pottys. You should use the confinement when you cannot watch her closely. If your dog is in a crate and she cries really bad like she has to potty? Take her potty. Don't make her suffer in the crate just because you want her to hold it. Learning to hold it and developing muscles takes time and should not be expected to be an over-night lesson. This will also teach your dog that if you listen to her communication that she needs to potty, she can tell you when she needs to potty and that you will accomedate her needs.

The second method requires that you get a long leash and a properly fit harness... keep her on a leash or in her confinement (pen or crate) 24 hours a day for 3 to 5 days. Listen to your dog when she tells you she has to potty and take her to the potty place. She may need privacy to potty if you have yelled at her for her previous accidents. Tell her she is a good girl and let her potty and then go back to what you were doing... if she doesn't potty the first few times... you may have to repeat the "offer" to potty several times until she understand this is the only place she is allowed to potty and that potty "here" pleases you. Always reward your girl when she pleases you. Never punish for accidents but, YOU CAN be unhappy (I grumble and complain to myself) while you clean up accidents and they watch you. Dogs learn about us by watching our behaviors but, only have fear when we punish them (not fear about accidents, just fear of us.) Also, use an enzyme based pet oder and stain remover to clean any areas that have been soiled. Regular cleaners do not remover the scent of potty (as far as a dog's nose is concerned) and dogs are very instinctive in their physical responses... it they smell potty, they want to potty too. Another issue may be marking... if your pet can't seem to control potty behavior, spaying or neutering may offer some relief of instinctive behaviors.
ok... moving on to pet agression and protective behavior.
First off... never caudle your Chihuahua for protective behavior. Reject it immediately by putting her on the floor or in a safely confined spot (in the case of your 3 year old daughter). Use a firm voice to let her know she has made you NOT happy. Interact with your friends or family in a happy manner so your dog can see that you accept and preffer these people. After she has settled and it is clear these people (or other animals) are accepted in your life, you may reintroduce her to them. If she growls, put her down or away. Always offer for her to be reinvited so she will learn to accept these people. Never put your dog away or reject them "perminently" as this just teaches her that she can't be a part of their lives. When you are introducing her to others (or re-introducing as the case may be) make your focus be on the others rather than her. After she has accepted them, you may reward her with your affections or a treat. Another great way to socialize your Chihuahua is to attend Chihuahua Meetups which can be found at www.meetup.com this will also let you meet other experienced Chihuahua owners who may be able to help you learn about her breed and breed behaviors.
I hope some of this helps your situation. I am sure you will make a great Chihuahua Mommy as you are asking all the right questions and you are reccognising important issues. Good luck and let me know if I can help you further *smiles*
Anne Marie Absher

[amabsher]

In addition to my first response... you mentioned you just got a 2 year old girl from a breeder... is there any possibility she may be bred? Pregnent dogs have lots of potty accidents and it is not their fault... anyway, that was just something that popped into my head after I posted earlier.