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Canine Behavior/two year old chihuahua

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Expert: - 4/9/2008


Question
how can I get my male chihuahua to stop weeing all over my house? He even wees on his dinner and if anything is left lying around he wees on it. I also have a female mungral she is old. Oscar my chihuahua is very frisky towards her and she doesnt like it.  I have bought a bitch spray to try and keep her off her sent but nothing seems to be working. Also Oscar barks at everybody who enters the house even if he is familiar with them.  Im at a loss and would really appreciate some advice on how to train him

Answer
I assume your male Chi is not neutered and it appears that your bitch is not spayed.  However, even if she is spayed, the intact male knows she's female.  He seems to be marking everything in sight in order to establish his right (as male alpha) to the older female.  He must be neutered.  This testosterone related behavior will slowly extinguish, although some marking behaviors will remain because he is being neutered past 18 months of age.  After he is neutered and his surgical area has completely healed (several weeks), buy a belly band.  This is a device which prevents the dog from urinating inappropriately and they are available online.  Following several weeks of being self regulated by this device, he should stop attempting to mark indoors.  You can safely remove it and watch him closely; be certain to reward his appropriate urination outdoors during this transition period (although he's not exhibiting house training problems by marking, it can generalize.)

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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