I have never had a pet who is so... emotional.

jen74145 · #1 06/19/12, 08:30 AM

That's a polite way of saying "Sensitive and easily hurt".

I've had a few beloved shelties, and lived with one beagle who hung her head in misery at so much as a stern "No". I thought they were a bit much. Yes, well, enter the chihuahua, adopted this March from the pound. He makes them look positively stoic.

Really, DH has scolded him mildly a few times. Ehh, dog can live with that. Me though? Oh for heaven's sake. A firm "No!" and he acts like I've kicked him. I made the mistake of calling him a Bad Dog (oh, the shame) when he was yodeling at 4:30 in the morning. I think I broke his heart with that one.

He has decided it's in his best interests to make friends out of the housecats. This is simultaneously adorable and pitiful. However, he got into the cat food this weekend and when our girl came over to investigate, he bristled and snarled at her (No worries. He's six pounds, she's eleven, judicious, and has her claws). Upon figuring out what on *earth* that strange noise was (ever heard an angry chi? Because,

) I got onto him with a firm "Oh, no sir! No!" He stopped immediately, and crept to his spot on the back of the couch, where he curled up, tucked his tail under his belly, dropped his ears, and glanced at me reproachfully. For an hour. Seriously, dog? Eventually I patted him and told him it was alright, and then, oh hurrah! The sun shines once more!

DH compared him to a delicate sugar bowl; one wrong move and he breaks into pieces until you put him back together again. I've never ever had a dog who gets so "But, but.... you said you LOVED me! Why are you being so meeeeeeannnn? *sob*"

Of course, he is just as joyful when praised as he is miserable when scolded. I'm amused by it all, so... whatever. My dog has self worth issues. LOL

Other than that, he's working out beautifully.

I know I'm not alone. Who else has one so... ah, sensitive?

wanda1950 · #2 06/19/12, 09:58 AM

"Drama King"!!

PNP Katahdins · #3 06/19/12, 10:08 AM

He's playing you. Big time. Sounds like it's working. Enjoy your new boy.

Peg

mekasmom · #4 06/19/12, 10:10 AM

We have six right now. We have had more than that over the years. I think it is a chihuahua trait to be sensitive. They are like babies. They need constant love and soft correction.
We have a three pound white one right now that you have to talk very softly to because she is so timid. She's 9mo old, and has always been timid since we got her. But she is sweet.

NickieL · #5 06/19/12, 10:14 AM

hahaha the coon hound would do similar, only she knew she'd done bad even before we had to say anything and she'd go to her spot, curl up, thump her tail and look up at you sooooo forlornly.

GrannyCarol · #6 06/19/12, 12:10 PM

I'd say you have to be a bit tougher and not let him play you like that - ignore the drama king antics and praise him when he's happy on his own. However... my new puppy is awfully smart and learning how to manipulate just fine, thank you! lol

Oh well, have fun, he sounds a cutie.

jen74145 · #7 06/19/12, 02:34 PM

I'm not too worried about it. Oh sure, he gets all hurt... but then he never does whatever I got onto him for again. He tries to groom and snuggle with the cats... they're kind of digusted by his overtures. Poor guy.

Okay... we have pet rats. Hush, they're sweet and gentle. Get down off the chair. Come on. Down, they can't hurt you through a screen.

But he, being a chihuahua, wanted very much to kill the rats. I had to get onto him one time when he tried to get hold of one. The end. I was lying in the grass reading last week, one rat out enjoying the sun, and little dog by my arm. She walked up to sniff at him, he sprang away in his rush to Not Touch her. He won't take food out of DS's hand without being told it's okay. He likes to go places with us. Doesn't dare touch the chickens or chase our cats. Great with almost-four year old DS despite the occasional chasing or squeezing.

I'm just really not worried. Besides, he's ten years old, half blind, and has a heart murmur... I'm not as uptight with him as I would be with a puppy.

It has been beyond refreshing to have a dog who is told something once and takes it to heart. I just wish he didn't take iti so deeply personally!

I just got four strange children out of my home (it's being shown) and he ate up the attention. Just sat there grinning and tail going like wild. However, of course he's now napping, lol.

emdeengee · #8 06/19/12, 06:04 PM

I think I have a 125 pound Chihuahua if sensitivity is one of their traits. Douglas also takes everything very, very personally but fortunately he has a short attention span and forgiving heart.

TJN66 · #9 06/19/12, 08:21 PM

Oh my lol...I would love to see a pic of him =]

SageLady · #10 06/20/12, 02:36 AM

My chi is the same.

I think it is just the way the breed is. I wound up with this rescue chi by accident, but he is just the sweetest most emotional little loving dog on earth! And when he is gone by God I will have another!

Chihuahuas, gotta love 'em!!!

fffarmergirl · #11 06/20/12, 07:01 AM

I have a shepherd mix like that! DH scolded her and put her outside one time, over a year ago, for peeing on the floor (she's getting old and I guess her bladder isn't what it used to be). Now she thinks she's banned from the house. We have invited her in over and over again but the only time she'll come inside now is if there's a thunder storm and she's scared. Then, she comes in and lays on top of me - all 90 lbs of her LOL

She's a quick learner, though. She follows me into the garden and she's learned not to step on my seedlings. I just have to softly say "Watch it, Babe." and she backs away from whatever she's standing near.

mekasmom · #12 06/20/12, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageLady

but he is just the sweetest most emotional little loving dog on earth! And when he is gone by God I will have another!

Chihuahuas, gotta love 'em!!!

They are like young toddlers with all the emotions and sweetness too. I read a sign once that said, "Chihuahuas are like potato chips. You can never have just one. "
I know the person who painted that knows the breed. They are the original velcro breed.

jen74145 · #13 06/20/12, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageLady

My chi is the same.

I think it is just the way the breed is. I wound up with this rescue chi by accident, but he is just the sweetest most emotional little loving dog on earth! And when he is gone by God I will have another!

Chihuahuas, gotta love 'em!!!

This. Exactly.

I doubt I'll ever be without one now. He's my shadow and little friend. Loves to do everything a big dog does, just in a tiny, convenient package.

And OH, I have met the sensitive shepherds! LOL, I remember one day I took my sheltie to be groomed and heard this crying. It sounded like a tiny, brokenhearted puppy, so I peered over the counter and tried to coax the poor thing out of hiding. From under the desk slinks this huge shepherd, in abject misery. The receptionist came round and said he had been dropped off that morning, but always just melted down when his people left, so they kept him in the office to ease him a bit. There is, I think, nothing as pitiful as a sad GSD. Giant doe eyes all mournful, radar ears dropped, body slumped like he's been kicked... aww.

jen74145 · #14 06/20/12, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekasmom

They are like young toddlers with all the emotions and sweetness too. I read a sign once that said, "Chihuahuas are like potato chips. You can never have just one. "
I know the person who painted that knows the breed. They are the original velcro breed.

I quite possibly tease my husband that next time he decides to go work overseas, he may well come home to a small horde of "my" dogs. LOL.

I would love for mine to have a companion. He gets so excited when other dogs notice him and ask to play, and really gets on well with them; he made friends with a same-aged pitt when we last camped. I was so nervous he'd start something with her at first, but nope. Buddies.

Our pound seems to often have old chis like him come in, and DH and I have talked about perhaps adopting one this fall. However, the man wants a GSD (though he's waiting for a few years until DS is older) and I do adore my shelties. We live near a military base so there are often well behaved, middleaged dogs that love everything in need of new homes. We'll just see. I know DH wants a dog to run with and hoenstly, it probably wouldn't be so nerve wracking camping with the dog and child if we had a dog with us who wasn't just bait for the predators in our area. Anyway. /ramble

**beccachow** · #15 06/20/12, 01:32 PM

Cricket and every other chow I have ever had turns thier backs to you, and either hangs head in sorrow or sticks nose up in air as if to say, "So?? (sniffle snuffle) I don't care...(sniffle)"

Sonshine · #16 06/20/12, 01:56 PM

I have always had shelties, but a little over a year ago I got my first chi. She's such a princess. I can relate to the antics, because I just look stern at her and she acts like I killed her best friend. She mopes around and is constantly looking to see if I'm noticing.