My Chihuahua barks at dogs she wants to interact with but is scared.

Hi there. I'm so sorry to read about Scarlet's troubles. There are a lot of reasons dogs can bark. They can be nervous or scared, protective of their families, excited in general, curious, etc. Lack of structure and exercise can make them more nervous as well. Some dogs respond to you teaching them a "bark" or "speak" command in a very quiet setting when there isn't anything making them bark. This shows them that you will tell them when it's time to be vocal. You can also try crating her in a kennel when people come over. Once everyone arrives you can let her out to socialize. The kennel isn't for punishment, but just her private, comfortable area where he can feel secure when the stressful situation occurs. Placing her in the kennel in a separate room can also help break her of the barking if you just let him "bark it out" without yelling or responding to her until she is quiet. Desensitizing to the stimulus can be helpful too. I am including a link that I think has some good informa

Poor pup! Lots of dogs have this problem, and it's definitely something that can be improved. The basic treatment plan for this issue involves teaching your dog to associate good things (usually treats!) with seeing people and other dogs. You need to start at a distance where he is able to notice them without immediately reacting - so depending on how severe his problem is, you may need a lot of distance at first! Every time he looks at a person or another dog, praise and reward with a treat. If he's barking or not interested in the treats, this means you're too close - back up a bit to where he's comfortable, and try again. It can be hard to do this on your own at first, so I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer to work with you in person. He/she can help you set up controlled training situations at first to practice, until you and your dog are both comfortable with how things are going. Punishment of any

Your Chihuahua sound like most Chihuahuas I see every day. Be patient and gentle. Once puppy vaccines are over, consider enlisting in puppy or behavior classes. Expose your puppy to new stimulus slowly but repetitively.. Positive reinforcement might be a key element. A treat given by a new person may go a long way.

Chihuahuas are, by nature, noisy little guys. It's likely that they evolved to become excessive barkers because their small size makes barking one of the few ways they can gain attention. For more facts and characteristics about Chihuahuas, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/chihuahua

Your best option is to have a professional trainer come to your home and evaluate her during these situations. They will be able to give you the best advice. Behavior issues are not quick fixes and if you don't know what you are doing you could make the dog worse instead of better. These types of behaviors should be handled by a professional. I don't know where you are located so just do a google search for in-home professional dog trainers (like Bark Busters or Sit Means Sit) or you can probably get a reference from your veterinarian. ( https://sitmeanssit.com/ )

Introduce her, gradually, to one dog then another and another. Do this in a neutral area, such as a dog park or field. Correct negative behavior/responses immediately and praise/reward good behavior. Use a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, to help decrease any anxiety.Given her age, get her enrolled in an obedience class and puppy socialization classes.

Aggression and fear are complicated. Some dogs can make some progress with appropriate guidance and consistency. For such guidance you will need to work with a trainer or a behaviorist. They must show you how to read his body language and how to respond in a fashion to modify their behavior. Certainly you can read many books about training and canine behavior as it is all helpful but likely you will still need professional assistance. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I'm sorry to hear Dallas is suffering from anxiety. Dogs can become anxious when separated from their owner (even if it's a quick trip to the store!) or when moving into a new place. I would recommend encouraging independent play by offering Dallas a kong filled with frozen peanut butter or another toy/treat that encourages him to play by himself. I would also look into a pheromone collar and thundershirt to see if that can help him as well. If these suggestions are not enough or you have further concerns, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

Poor Rascal! It sounds like he's very fearful of many things outside, which is why he barks at them. This problem is usually very treatable, but you really need to work with a professional who can give you some hands-on guidance in how to help him with his fear - it sounds like he may also be a good candidate for anti-anxiety medication, at least in the short-term. Your best option would be to make an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Rascal in person and help you put together a detailed plan to help him. This plan would normally include recommendations on how to help manage him so that he isn't put in situations that are scary and overwhelming for him, training techniques to help with his fear by teaching him to associate good things with the things he's currently afraid of, and possibly medication as discussed above. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Hi there. It sounds like Dinky is protective of you which is normal given his history. You are the most safe and stable thing he's had, so he's going to bond strongly as you described. It would be good to try and get Dinky to detach from you a little which is difficult. I would not let him sleep on the bed, and try and encourage independence. I would also get a canine behaviorist involved to help. There is a natural anxiety medicine called Solliquin which can help dogs a lot. I'd ask you vet about that as well. Best to you and Dinky.