LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

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Hi Andy,

Your male's behavior is partially a strive to assert his dominance over his new housemate, but in another way it's like he has a new toy. It will be difficult to discourage the unwanted behavior in the beginning, but just keep distracting him from the behavior as soon as you suspect he has something in mind. Redirect him into a more suitable activity. Once the newness of the situation wears off, you should see some drop in the activity. Neutering your dog could help, and it will certainly prevent unwanted litters, but it may not be a cure all for the situation.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i forgot to mention that i have recently got a xxxxx and he tries to hump her all the time i spoke to the vets at rspsa and its a six to eight weeks wait to have him done i have tried to seperate them even though she not in season is there any other way i can deal with it till then but she was in season not so long ago

-- Contributed by: andy

Hi Andy,

The best advice I can give you is to enroll this dog in obedience right away. JRTs are small but mighty (typical Terriers), and your dog has decided he is dominant over you and your children. You've got to establish your own dominance in the family pack in order to get his behavior under control. Obedience training will help you do that, and your instructor will help you address the nipping and aggression. And since the children's safety is a prime concern, don't hesitate to confine your dog when necessary until the training begins to take hold.

Thanks for sharing your situation. Good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi i have a male jackrussel keeps tryin to go for my children wen ever they go near the tv unit it gets to the point wen i have to put a muzzle on can you please help im worried 4 my children gettin bitten

-- Contributed by: andy

Hi Bev,

The good news is that some of this hyperactivity will fade as Nico matures into an adult dog. You just have to get through the next six months or so, but it should happen. Once Nico fully recovers from his procedure, it's going to be necessary to take him out for daily exercise to burn off some of that excess energy. Long walks, fetch, supervised swimming in a very shallow pool can all help take some of the hyper out of your dog. In addition, obedience training will also help you gain more control over his behavior. Imagine being able to give your dog a command to "sit" and "stay". Obedience training can do that for you, and your dog is old enough to attend classes once he finishes healing.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope you find this info helpful. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

NICO IS A SMALL BREED CHIWEENIE. JUST HAD HIM NURTERED AT 6MTHS. NICO IS A VERY HYPER DOG. HE JUMPS UP ON EVERYTHING, TAKES A LOT TO CALM HIM. HAVE A 10YR OLE DASHUHUND AND HE RUNS HER OVER. WHAT CAN I DO? NICO MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS. NOW I HAVE HIM ON MEDICATION TO CALM HIM WHILE HE RECOVERYS FROM SURGERY. WHAT AFTER THAT. PLEASE HELP THANKS BEV

-- Contributed by: BEV

Hi J and A,

Yes, anxiety can come on very suddenly, but there is usually a cause. You did the right thing by taking your dog to the vet for an exam because such a personality change is often linked to a medical reason. So far, the vet has hasn't been able to find one, but you should keep watching your dog for more clues.

In the meantime, try to keep things as normal as possible around the house so your dog feels safe enough to relax again. It's possible that something about the spot you visited may have triggered a memory for him, so just try to be supportive without feeding into his anxieties. Sticking to your regular routine is the best plan for now.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We adopted a chihuahua at the spca 7 months ago and he has been a happy and relatively calm dog since then. Yesterday, we took him on a walk, he "used the grass" and immediately became very anxious and basically pulled us home with his ears back and tails behind his legs. He proceeded to run around the house panting, running in circles (like how he does when he's trying to get comfortable to sleep) and acting very anxious. We took him to the vet and he expressed the glands after a full exam and he seemed to be OK after a while. Then it started again. He is not crying, no pain, just acting very strange. Have you heard of sudden anxiety in dogs?

-- Contributed by: J and A

Hi Lee,

It sounds like blocking your dog's view of the front walk might be what you need to do. Could you possibly gate your dog in the kitchen or bathroom during your absence? Perhaps crating her would be helpful if gating her isn't possible. These are just two suggestions for curbing the barking. You might also consider purchasing a bark control collar. These collars are sound activated and deliver a stimulus to interrupt the barking. You have a choice of a static charge collar or a citronella spray collar.

I haven't personally used a collar on my dogs, but I've heard reports that they are safe and useful when used according to the directions. I'd recommend using the collar for training while you're at home to make sure of this. Just know that these collars aren't safe to use on dogs that have true anxiety problems. Typical nuisance barking usually doesn't fall in this category.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find one of these suggestions helpful. Good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I live in a retirement village and when I go out my dog barkes at anyone wlking past. I am starting to get complaints. I am at home a lot but cant stay here just for her. She is not along as I have another dog who does not bark. HELP

-- Contributed by: lee pitcher

Hi DJ,

This might just be an anxiety issue. Some dogs are what I refer to as nervous piddlers. You can try lowering your energy level when he comes to you before you pick him up. Hopefully this will help your dog relax as well and avoid these little accidents. There is also an outside chance that your puppy has a mildly weak bladder at this age. He still has a bit of growing to do, and his bladder will likely increase in size as well. Many dogs outgrow this problem, and hopefully yours will too. If the problem becomes bigger than it currently is, don't hesitate to ask your vet to examine your puppy.

Thanks for you question, and congratulations on your newest family member. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a 6 month old chihuahua named skid. i have had him about a week or so and have been crate training him to housebreak. he is doing good only having one accident the day we got him. however when i go to pick him up he pees almost every time, however only in the apartment or outside by the front door, anywhere else he doesn't. he will be fine and run around and to me until i call him or want to pick him up then it comes out. any advice?

-- Contributed by: DJ

I have the greatest chihuahua ever we've had him for 5months "pacho" is 9mths old he was so perfect taking to kennel training right off and hardly had an accident out side the kennel. I live in Alaska so it it really cold right now "pacho" hate going out in the cold. we took our sweet little dog on an AZ vacation and when we returned and went back to work he became a diffrent do. peeing and pooping out side his kennel even after a spanking and verbel disaproval he still go's in the same place everytime and most recently started doing it anywere he wants. I dont know how much more of this I can handle we do love "pacho" but he is not the same dog we had a couple of months ago.

Hi Dee,

I understand your frustration, but spankings are not acceptible and only serve to break the trust your dog has in you. I recommend that you begin training again as though for the first time. You will also need to use an enzymatic cleaner in all the areas your dog has soiled in order to remove all traces of residual smell. Otherwise Pacho will be drawn back tot he scene again and again.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you're able to get things back on track. Patience and consistency is the key.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Dee

I have a 5 pound Chihuahua/Poodle mix and sometimes she acts like she is having an anxiety attach for a reasons I have no idea for. She shakes and acts like she doesn't know what to do even though nothing has really changed about her surroundings. She is well socialized with my other animals, I have another dog and a cat, as well as the rest of my family. My home is a calm household so noises and big actions are not an issue, Should I be looking at some type of calming medications or suppliments?

Expert Reply

Hi Paul,

I have experience with both of the breeds in your dog's mix, and some of them can be a little high strung at times.

From what you describe, I don't think your dog's anxiety attacks are as bad as some I've witnessed, although I realize it can be unsettling to witness them. I'm not a fan of medicating unless it's absolutely necessary, so my question is how responsive is she to you when she's upset? Does picking her up and giving her some calm, loving reassurance help ease her anxiety? I've found this to be enough in many cases myself, so it's worth giving it a try.

That said, it's also possible that there could be an underlying medical condition that hasn'tyet become obvious. It would be a good idea to keep a diary of her attacks for one week, and include details about the way she acts as well as any activity going on around her. This may give you clues as to what is setting her off, but it also might help your vet with a diagnosis.

Thank you for your question, and I hope you find these suggestions helpful.

-- Contributed by: Paul R

first of all i wnt to say thank you for your help; i have a small chiwawa*cant spell*who hates my step son; he bites at him, growls i mean this dog is horrible; we have tryed doing all these things but it doesnt work, i am afraid this dog is going to have a heart attack, and my stepson lives with us. save my dog please

Expert Reply

Hi Beverly,

Your Chihuahua doesn't have an anxiety problem so much as an aggression problem. He doesn't know his proper place in the pecking order.

When your dog shows aggression toward your step son, as the true pack leader you should be the one to intervene and lay down the law to him. Tell him "no" firmly and repeatedly, and position yourself between your dog and your son.

If your dog isn't settling down at this point, it's time to make him lay down. You're actively putting him in a submissive position, but you're not harming him. This is the type of language a dog understands. Make your dog continue to lay until you feel his body relax. This is a sign that he is giving up.

If he resumes the bad behavior after you let him up, make him lay down again, but this time confine him to his crate or another room once you let him up from the submissive position. This way he gets no further drama reward for his bad behavior.

After a couple hours of confinement, allow your step son to let him out and give him a treat. Hopefully this will help your dog identify your son with something positive, and perhaps they can begin to build a good relationship.

Thanks for your question, and I hope my suggestions are helpful.

-- Contributed by: beverly

Hi Elizabeth,

I'm glad you got something useful out of the article!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Thanks that was helpfull. My 18mth cocker bitch has started showing signs of anxiety and I wanted to know why.

-- Contributed by: Elizabeth Ruprecht
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