Expert: Jo Ann - 11/22/2010

Question
I have an unaltered 4 year old chihuahua. We have had her since she was a pup. She has always been strange and very skittish. We have not been mean to her or anything, she is even scared of the sound of hard food crunching when she is eating. She does not really like to be petted on a lot of spots on her body. She has recently started behaving as if she does not understand anything we tell her. We will ask her if she wants to go outside to potty and she will jump out of her bed and start towards the door and then turn around and go back to her bed or into another room, or just walk very slow. She has always been strange, but recently she has started behaving very strange.  

Answer
Hi Michelle...

Although it isn't unusual at all for Chihuahuas to be very skittish and sometimes considered "strange acting" by those that have not had Chihuahuas before or who are not quite familiar with the breed, I think that acting scared with the sound of hard food being crunched is excessive.  It really concerns me that she's been acting like she doesn't understand anything that you're telling her recently.  I can understand asking her if she wants to go potty and then having her walk back to her bed or walk very slowly because many Chihuahuas just don't want to do their "business" out in the cold and it is cold most everywhere in the U.S. right now.  I'm in "sunny" California and we have a frost alert tonight.  Luckily, my three Chihuahuas are trained to a pee pad and/or dog box.  

When was the last time you had a full blood panel done on her?  When was the last time that she had a full physical examination?  I think you need to have both things done. There are a number of medical causes that could explain your dog's behavior and your really need to start off with an exam and full blood panel for sure. Without a doubt, you really need to take a look at medical causes and rule those out before ever considering behavioral causes.

Aside from that, the only other thing that I can think of is that there has been some sort of major change in this dog's life - for instance, a new dog or baby in the family, someone new living at the house, a recent litter of pups placed, etc.  Do any of those things sound familiar?

Don't hesitate to write me back with answers to some of the questions that I have asked and, for sure, make an appointment with a qualified veterinarian for a full physical and blood panel.

Jo Ann