Quote:
Originally Posted by Catgirl64
I think there has to be something going on with the owners of these dogs. I never wanted a Chi until one was given to me, and she is a total love sponge to everyone. Honest. Everyone.
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Socializing a dog is always important. If not corrected, any dog's natural tendencies become protective, and when that happens, trouble follows.
Chihuahuas are well known to have a cranky disposition, but they're no different than any other dog. When corrected properly, they're just as sociable and friendly as any other dog is.
You must have done a good job with yours.
It often doesn't take very much to show a pup who's the boss, but since the Chihuahuas are so little and delicate looking, I think it's likely too many of their owners would rather cut them slack for bad behavior than hurting their delicate little feelings.
That probably comes from how much folks think of their dog as being their fur baby.
A grown Chi may be tiny, but it's still a full-grown dog, and dogs do not think of themselves as being babies when they're grown. In their minds, they are just as big and serious as any other dog.
The entire fur baby thing often puts a real conflict into the relationship between man and dog. Once any dog understands the human is the boss, he's a happier dog who knows his place in life.
A really happy dog is a dog who feels very secure and respected at his position on the bottom of the totem pole.
Work is nothing for a dog. They love a job. But being the family's decision maker is hell for a dog, and none of them want it.
The big thing for all dogs is the assurance that everything is cool. Dogs always want everyone to be contented and cool with what's going on. They are happiest when comfortable and secure in their life's role in their pack.
Dogs are quite happy being at the bottom of the family totem pole because it's secure. A dog who doesn't know just who the boss is will decide for itself who that person is. If there is no likely person who appears to be the boss, the dog will decide to take that job on itself.
And once the dog is the boss, no one in a family is happy. Dogs rule their packs quite a lot harsher than human families are ruled, and that's when the real bad behavior starts.
And then the dog goes to the pound. I wish folks would take the time to learn how to train a dog before they get one much more often than they do. It would really cut down on the misery that comes from ignorance.