BlueWolf Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 So I'm two weeks in into my internship at an animal shelter that has both cats and dogs. I'm loving it there so far. There are plenty of friendly dog (I already have a few favourites!), but three of them decided to absolutely hate me from the very beginning. As in, viscously attacking the fence that is separating them from me as soon as they hear me. Being a male is apparently always is a point against you for scared dogs. I've been making a lot of effort to get them to trust them and now, two weeks and lots of treats they're now as far as wagging their tails fiercely once they see me approaching. They are a Belgian/German Shepard Dog, a Belgian Shepard Dog and a Rottweiler. And out of all the big and 'vicious' breeds I'm currently struggling with a chihuahua He's growling at me from the opposite of his kennel and has apparently already bitten someone. Yet, other people can lift him up and carry him around just fine. I'm trying to get to the same point, or at least so that I can put his leash on to let him out. I sat in his kennel with him, talking and offering him treats and food which he completely ignores. It is fine when I sit still. He crawls forward to get a sniff but runs back and starts growling if I even move a finger. I sat there almost an hour I think and he still doesn't trust me. So of all the breeds, it's the chihuahua that I have the most trouble with getting friendly with me. Really?? I'm not giving up though. When I have nothing to do for a moment I'm just going to visit him again, talking about life and stuff until he gets used to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osinn11 Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Great question! We have a few friends that have Chi-who-a-who-a's...and they all seem to be this way! Rare you see one without it's tail between it's legs...constantly shaking and barking! In time they typically warm up to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Might be reacting to a previous bad experience, or just very nervous. In time i'm sure you'll crack it! My hubby has to hide from llamas, they absolutely hate him! When we were out in Canada his uncle had a petting farm with a llama and it used to run back and forth trying to get within spitting distance of him! So funny, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Chihuahuas are probably my least favorite breed. I just remember growing up and my aunt had one and it would run around and literally bite your ankles. It would NOT shut up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Not a fan of the breed either, many of them are aggressive and no one does anything about it because they're so small. If a big dog was to behave like some chihuahuas I've seen and met it'd be taken straight to the vet to be PTS. Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 I'm not a fan of them either. When I volunteered at the shelter, there was this one that was just a menace. It bit me a few times, and would not stop barking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueWolf Posted September 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 It's more that they appear so unpredictable. Whereas for a big dog you KNOW when they don't liek you or that they trust you enough to touch them. They tell you when not to come any closer, etc. But for this one I'm not able to figure it out so easy. Although at one moment it's clear he's scared (blinking eyes a lot, no direct eye contact), the next moment he just walks towards to me to sniff my hands. I'm not going to touch him until I'm 100% sure but he's making it very hard for me to determine which phase he is in. My hubby has to hide from llamas, they absolutely hate him! When we were out in Canada his uncle had a petting farm with a llama and it used to run back and forth trying to get within spitting distance of him! So funny, lol. But llamas are so cute! I have two llama friends at the petting zoo. Though initially it's quite scary when they run towards you at full speed just because you have food with you, once you get used to it they were just like oversized dogs that you can pet just fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Most of you will have heard me tell of when we first met Echo our White GSD She was exactly the same. We simply went in ignored her barking. Sat in her kennel just as you do Talking and staying low That's the important thing about greeting a scared dog, stay low Being above a scared dog is a threat to them. When she came over to sniff, hands were out but flat on the ground for her to sniff. It took 6 weeks of this before we could take her out for a walk. before she would trust us enough to stand and pet her. Now she's my devoted girly. Although most of you that have met her have been greeted by teeth. I think you may have to dig yourself a tunnel to get low enough for this chihuahua though Jos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueWolf Posted September 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 I think you may have to dig yourself a tunnel to get low enough for this chihuahua though Jos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed #5 Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 I can handle most of the Chihuahuas - and there are a lot of them down here on the border. What I have problems with are Dachshunds - I can't read them at all! All I've got to do is get within 20 feet of one and it's time to guard my ankles! I'm with you, give me a big dog any time! They generally seem to be able to let you know what they're thinking - a dachshund - all they seem to think is "Gimme an ankle!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 After meeting my host family's two chihuahuas I think they're not that bad. Just nervous, because the world is so big in their eyes. Your story reminds me of Diamond in his first days at home... So skittish, so terrified. You can see that he wants to come close but runs away when somebody approaches him too quickly. Except he didn't growl. Anyways good luck Jos and I would LOVE to see a pic of that Belgian Shepherd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueWolf Posted September 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I will try getting some photos of the dogs tomorrow In fact, I might even film it when I get to feed him because his routine is so funny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I will try getting some photos of the dogs tomorrow In fact, I might even film it when I get to feed him because his routine is so funny I can just picture it. Tiny, little, minute chihuahua with enormous attitude and Jos in full riot gear armoured like a bomb disposal expert and a bowl of food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueWolf Posted September 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I can just picture it. Tiny, little, minute chihuahua with enormous attitude and Jos in full riot gear armoured like a bomb disposal expert and a bowl of food. Nah, I meant the belgian sheppard The chihuahua just sits in the corner, growling at me when I put his food down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I can just picture it. Tiny, little, minute chihuahua with enormous attitude and Jos in full riot gear armoured like a bomb disposal expert and a bowl of food. LOL I'm sure Jos is talking about the Belgian Shepherd but that made me laugh I can just imagine the Chi wearing a sunglasses, biting a cigar and screaming "Now leave!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Btw quick question is Belgian Shepherd = Belgian Groenendael = Belgian Sheepdog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Btw quick question is Belgian Shepherd = Belgian Groenendael = Belgian Sheepdog? Pretty much any dog with the name Shepherd i.e. German Shepherd. Will have originally been used for Sheep Herding. and so yes is a sheepdog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Pretty much any dog with the name Shepherd i.e. German Shepherd. Will have originally been used for Sheep Herding. and so yes is a sheepdog. no I meant are those three names referring to the same breed? Because there are four types of Belgians and I don't know if "belgian shepherd" refers to Groenendael or Tervuren or whichever of the four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueWolf Posted September 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Btw quick question is Belgian Shepherd = Belgian Groenendael = Belgian Sheepdog? Had to look it up because our names for them are a bit different and noticed I made a mistake. I used Wikipedia to go to the English wiki page and that went to Belgian Shepherd Dog which I now noticed is not a breed but rather a GROUP that consists of 4 breeds: Groenendael (in the US also known as Belgian Sheepdog) Tervuren Malinois and Laekenois (not recognised in the US). So turns out the one I meant was the Malinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 aww a Malinois I thought you were talking about Groenendael. It's a breed we don't usually see in shelters, which is why I asked for a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARRINGTON Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I hate and I repeat HATE little yippee dogs. If you own a little yippee dog that barks the whole time I am there then I am probably going to avoid your house like the plague (this is probably pregnancy nerves as I can't stand much of anything) and once she is born I will not be taking her to someone's house who cannot control their dogs barking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed #5 Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Jos, now that's interesting. The malinois are used here as guard dogs (police and military) was surprised to see them with the other three. Learn something new every day here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueWolf Posted September 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Jos, now that's interesting. The malinois are used here as guard dogs (police and military) was surprised to see them with the other three. Learn something new every day here. The Malinois used to be used as a shepard dog just like the German Shepard. It's just that nowadays they're both often being used for different purposes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny_Caity Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I like to call this 'Small Dog Syndrome'. All dogs I've met below knee height seem to have it, they're nasty, scared and can't socialise from my experience. My friend used to say (cruel, but it did make me chuckle) 'It's not a dog if you could kick it over a fence!' - Caity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 I like to call this 'Small Dog Syndrome'. All dogs I've met below knee height seem to have it, they're nasty, scared and can't socialise from my experience. My friend used to say (cruel, but it did make me chuckle) 'It's not a dog if you could kick it over a fence!' - Caity ouch LOL sounds like one of those jokes that would make me feel bad for laughing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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