Should I give my Chihuahua anti-depressants?
July 15th, 2009 | 
Author:
BananaQO asked:
Whenever I have friends or family come over to the house, my Chihuahua goes crazy and starts barking. It's not a friendly bark either. He has run after children and tried biting their feet. Now all my nieces and nephews are afraid to come over to the house. I've tried to slowly introduce him to each of them. I even tried to us a ****** bottle to make him stop and nothing is working.
Whenever I have friends or family come over to the house, my Chihuahua goes crazy and starts barking. It's not a friendly bark either. He has run after children and tried biting their feet. Now all my nieces and nephews are afraid to come over to the house. I've tried to slowly introduce him to each of them. I even tried to us a ****** bottle to make him stop and nothing is working.
I place him in my bedroom and lock him in there, but he is starting to EAT my door.
I've researched many pills online for dogs, but I don't know where to go from here or if I should even consider that as an option. Let me know what you think!!
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Posted in Dogs
Kansieo.com
Consult an expert; your veterianian!!!!!!
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Maybe. You should be asking your vet this. Definitely don’t self-prescribe your dog anti-depressants!
Since you’re referring to veterinary medicine and behavior, I’d suggest you find a veterinary behaviorist. Here are some websites to help you:
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I know I know- why don’t you get a trainer instead of drugging your dog?
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Take him to the vet & ask his advice. Maybe you’ll have to start getting him used to a cage, a little at a time, then you can place him in it when company comes over. I don’t blame the children for not wanting to come over. You may have to decide if the dog stays or goes. I wouldn’t own a dog that acts like that & that breed is super sensitive.
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How about a crate? It might be a better solution than drugging him or leaving him free reign in your bedroom to eat your door.
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TAKE THE DOG TO THE VET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE VET CAN GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CALM HIM DOWN BUT IF YOU JUST GIVE HIM PILLS YOU CAN KILL HIM
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No wonder nothing is working, you’re not doing what you should be! I would go psychotic in your dog’s situation too. Psych meds will just ***** him up worse if they don’t kill him!
You need to exercise him more. Give him longer walks each day, and get him exhausted before you have company over. If you’re short on time try running him up stairs for a bit, that’s got to be good exercise for a tiny dog. Also give him appropriate things to bite (dog toys, rawhide chews) every day and praise him when he acts interested. Work with obediance and when people come over put him on a down stay sometimes. Also keep him on leash when they come and give it a sharp tug and say “No!” when he starts running/lungint to bite, and praise him a lot when he is nice (or indefferent) to people. Really the most important thing will be good daily exercise though you would be amazed how well this takes care of so many behavioural problems!
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research ‘genetically weak nerved’
I have one exactly like yours, so I understand. If she weighed 140lbs I would have her euthanized, but since she is so small, we can control her easier. I wish you the very best with your pet. Please have her altered and never breed her. You don’t want to create more like her.
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There is herbal calm by Azmira and mellow mutt by dogswell but these are only to assist you and not to replace training. A ****** bottle does not work, think about it this way, when it rains do you think you did something to cause it? You need to be the boss and she will do what you say when you say it. Sometimes we forget that little dogs are just that, dogs. do not let her on your lap. I know this is hard but she can be beside you but never on you. this is dominance. also you go through doors and halls first. when you walk she needs to get out of the way, do not step over her. when she gets out of hand gently lay her on her side and hold her there with your hand until she has relaxed and is no longer tense. If you know your dog well you know before she gets to this point. As she starts to get that look of obsession snap your fingers, say ahh (like you would in karate) and get her attention. Do not take her away from the situation. make her confront it peacefully with you in charge. When guests come over keep her on a leash. when she starts with the unwanted behavior (that look before barking) tug the leash not hard but you do want her to feel the collar move and it should be just below her jaw and not at the base of her neck.
There are two keys to having a successful dog/ guardian relationship:
1.Consistency
2.stay calm
anti bark
Have you tried positive reinforcement for good behavior? It’s worth the time and effort. You can probably have good results if you just encourage calm behavior. Also, give your dog something to do when there’s company over- like a Kong or other like toy. You can also try hiding treats around the house so he’ll be occupied
I say no to the antidepressants.
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Anti-depressants aren’t what you need for your hyper dog. You haven’t mentioned that he’s crate trained, but anyway when you know company is coming crate him ahead of time in a quiet room with a chew toy – it’s too much like a punishment if you do it out of frustration while you have company. I have read and heard that lavender essential oil can be very calming for a stressed/hyper dog. A few drops of lavender rubbed in the hands and gently cupped over the muzzle – “The oil… acts as central nervous system sedative, thus is known as a calming oil. Refrain from purchasing lavenders labeled as ‘Lavender 40/42′. This is lavender to which Linalyl acetate has been added.” – Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals, Kristen Leigh Bell. It might be worth a try, lavender essential oil isn’t expensive. Good luck.