Help wanted with a new 1 year old female chihuahua

Question
Hi there, my name is Suzy and one week ago I purchased a 1 year old female chihuahua puppy from a breeder here in Whangarei, New Zealand. I got her home and i am having some problems with her, firstly , she is very very timid, she bit my husband when they first met and has never seen a cat before, we have three of them here and two pomeranian dogs who we are keeping outside at present so Angel our chihuahua doesnt get to scared. she wont pee or poo outisde despite me taking her out regulary and in fact in 7 days has pooed twice and peed maybe 5 times, she isnt eating much either. Angel is my first chihuahua and im not sure what to expect, she sleeps on the bed with us and this morning, i noticed she had peed through our bed. have you got any ideas, on how to manage her. thanks so much for your time. kind regards, Suzy, ps, I am home all day with her at present.

Answer
Hi Suzi...

Do you have any further information on this Chihuahua?  Like how it was kept at the breeder's house?  So often, these older Chihuahuas that they sell have not been socialized at all. Chihuahuas tend to be timid for sure when in new surroundings and facing new circumstances, but this Chihuahua has the extra burden of being one year old when taken from the breeder's premises. There's a strong possibility that this little dog hasn't been around any people other than the person who fed it for the last year of it's life.  Here in the U.S. breeders often keep their dogs caged - I don't know if that's the case in New Zealand or if you have laws against that?

I'm sure it was very unpleasant in that she bit your husband when they first met, but being taken from the breeder's house and into a new situation may have been just horribly overwhelming for her.  Also, it's very common for Chihuahuas to bond with just one person right away.  It has been my experience that when I've rescued Chihuahuas that they bond with me immediately and are absolutely grateful (in their expressions) that I got them out of very bad circumstances.  Rescue dogs have often taken much longer to accept my husband who is very gentle and loving towards the dogs...  Oddly enough, after a lengthy adjustment process, the dogs often end up really adoring my husband.

I don't think that you need to keep your Poms outside if you can provide an isolated area for your new Chihuahua.  It's very important that you provide an area just for her that's either a bathroom, a bedroom closed off with a baby gate, or an area that you make using an exercise pen.  I think it's a good idea to let dogs get to know each other during an adjustment period by sniffing under a door or looking at each other through a baby gate or ex-pen.  Just make sure that the new dog is not situated in such a way that they feel like they can't get away from the "strange" new dogs in their life.  I also like to suggest that you take bedding from the new Chi (that she's used) and present it to your Poms so that they can become accustom to her scent.  You should do the same thing with the bedding that your Poms use - put that in the isolated area where you keep the Chi and let her get use to their scent.

This little dog doesn't pee or poo outside because she probably never was offered that opportunity at the breeders.  Like I said, many breeders often keep their dogs caged or otherwise confined and they are not potty trained in any way, shape or form.  

Did you ask the breeder what they were feeding this dog?  If not, give them a call and ask.  I have a feeling that it wasn't the best of foods, so you should google, "premium, human grade dog food" and take a look at the different brands that offer optimium health for your dogs. When you decide on a premium food for this little one, add it to what the breeder was feeding very gradually until you have only the new food in the dish after a period of time.  If you need any help choosing a premium food, write to me.  I consult with nutritionists and pet food manufacturers quite often to keep updated on what's best.  I also have three Chihuahua experts here (my Chis) that can tell you what they like best!!  

Suzy, while I think that Chihuahuas love to sleep with their "people" and I most certainly let all three of mine sleep with us, I think that you need to get this little girl situated in just one area while you train her to use a potty pad and get use to the other dogs in the family.  Maybe that isolated area will be your bedroom with a baby gate at the door and a dog bed on the floor? In any case, she needs to learn where her potty pad is, etc.  I think it's very overwhelming to let a dog have the run of the house when they're new!!  They don't know what to expect or what's expected of them!  You can potty train a dog to a pee pad and have it do it's business outdoors later with no problem at all....

You mentioned that this is your first Chihuahua and that you're not familiar with the breed (or words to that effect).  Suzi, I would like to suggest that you go to my AllExperts page and click onto the "thing" that will take you to past questions and answers.  I really think that reading much of the info. there will really provide you with a lot of information on the breed and answer some of your questions, too.

I would like it if you would write me back and answer some of the questions that I've asked above and let me know what you think of the advice that I've given thus far...  Okay?!?

Jo Ann