Adopted Male 18 Month Old Chihuahua and he seems to not get along with our female Papillon

Question
QUESTION: Dear Jo Ann,

I have read some of your posts and was hoping you could give me some insight to the male Chihuahua (18 months old) psyche. We have had our new little boy for 6 days now and he is on medication for kennel cough. The kennel cough is clearing up nicely, but is it possible that it would make him more aggressive?

We already had a female Papillon (14 months old) and when they played at the shelter on a "meet and greet" did very well together. He tried to mount her a fews time, but she told him no and they started to play some.

Now that they are both at home we have them separated most of the day, due to the kennel cough but play with them together at night. When they play he acts more dominant and that is fine (I know they have to work it out).

What I don't like is that when he has a toy and she tries to take it he snarls at her and has snapped at her. I have immediately told him no and taken the toy from him to let them both play again. He also was aggressive towards her when she was in his area of the house.

Is there anything else I can do to nip this behavior in the butt now?? I appreciate any guidance that you can give me.

Have a good evening,
Elizabeth

ANSWER: Hi Elizabeth...

I don't know if we're dealing with "male Chihuahua psyche" here as there's lots of elements involved.

I'd like to know if you have any type of history on this dog? Did he come from a breeder originally?  Were you told that he was abused? Did the shelter offer any explanation as to why someone would give up an 18 mo. old Chi? Has he recently had vaccinations (those very often can cause aggression, but we'll stick to the fact that he's currently in new surroundings for now)?  However, if he's from a shelter, I'm certain that they vaccinated him and he may have been vaccinated before (which isn't good). Is he neutered and, if so, when was he neutered in relation to when you got him?  Can you tell me what you mean by "his area of the house"?  Just describe it for me and give me an idea of how big it is, etc.  What kind of toys are they playing with and does he show aggression over certain ones?  Oh, and what medication is he on?  Medications to treat kennel cough vary and some are controversial.

Elizabeth, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that you really should not have both of your dogs in the same area or allow them to play together until the new Chi is completely over the kennel cough.  Kennel cough can be transferred through the air because microbes are carried in the air and, most certainly, dogs playing together can transfer it to each other. It can be contracted from contaminated surfaces also. Your Pap may also have it now as the incubation period is 3-10 days.  I don't poo-poo kennel cough as it can cause damage to the windpipe of a dog. I'm actually quite opposed to these "meet and greet" activities at shelters due to the likelihood of one's own dog contracting kennel cough.  I have a tendency to prefer how reputable rescue organizations will bring a potential "new" dog to your house to see how the dogs get along while checking out your house for adequate fencing, etc.  Ideally, dogs do better meeting on neutral territory, but, that's not always a possibility with shelters and the such.

Keeping them isolated until the Chi is totally recovered serves a second purpose:  He is able to adapt to his confined space and get a chance to realize that he belongs and that he doesn't have to display dominance to be able to have "his space" or his own toys.  I just think you will have a better adjustment period this way.  And, you certainly are going to have an adjustment period - it can be a short one or it could go on for a year or so.  He may always establish a bit of dominant behavior and he will most likely be your "alpha" dog.  It works out, though.  Everyone learns and knows their place in the pack.  Right now, it's been six days and it's probably pure confusion for him.  Even if he's on nothing more than antibiotics or a cough suppressant, I can't help but believe that they do have an effect, even it it's just to make him feel even more insecure.  Haven't you ever taken cold medicine that just made you feel "out of it"??  Must feel awful to a dog that has been in a shelter and is now in a new, strange home.

Let's discuss the "snapping" and other displays of aggression once you have answered the above questions.  Oh, I'd also like to confirm that your Pap is spayed...

Jo Ann

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Jo Ann,

Thank you for your quick response. We have no history on him at all. We adopted him from the Animal Humane and he had been transferred from another shelter. So no explanation was given. He has recently had vaccinations and he was neutered on the 19th of August, so no long at all before we got him. Approximately 10 days before we got him.

What I mean by his area is a section of our hallway that can be gated off from the rest of the house. It is about 15 feet long by 4 feet wide. Our Pap is gated in the kitchen so that they do not have unsupervised contact. I think we caught the kennel cough right in time because it has cleared up and he is no longer having symptoms. The medicine they gave us was Doxycycline 100mg 2 times a day. I do see what you mean, cold medicine ALWAYS makes me feel out of it!  lol

They have been better with each other, I think its just me being a nervous mommy. The little bit we let them play has been him and her trying to show dominance and I'm ok with that, just want to make sure I'm doing my part to keep them both safe.

Our Pap is spayed and was about 4 months before we adopted him. I believe in spaying and neutering, it helps prevent accidents.

Would his being neutered later in life cause him to have a bladder problem? He can't seem to wait to go to the bathroom and always pees while we are trying to get his leash on. This got a little better when we acted calmer around him but today we found out he had been peeing next to his kennel and it had been collecting underneath it.
I appreciate all your help!!!

Have a good night.
Elizabeth

Answer
Hello again, Elizabeth...

It sounds to me like you're doing a whole lot of things right.  I like the large area you're confining him in and that's very good that he's recovering so fast from kennel cough.  Good for you for believing in spaying and neutering!!!  And...hey, it's absolutely okay to be a nervous mommy.  I think it shows that you are concerned and want to make sure that you're doing right by both of your dogs.

I can tell you right off that being neutered, getting his shots and then being medicated is a whole lot for this new Chi to tolerate physically. That's another "gripe" I have with rescues - the fact that they put a dog through so much at one time.  It's very difficult for a dog to handle anesthesia, possibly pain meds., vaccines and antibiotics in a short period of time and all of that may be contributing to his displays of dominance or aggression.  You didn't elaborate on the nipping, so I'll let you get back to me on that if you choose to.

Elizabeth, I'm concerned about the urination problem that you've described.  Two things come to mind:  The first is that it's simply something called submissive urination that happens when they get excited or are unsure of themselves.  That would account for him urinating when you put the leash on him and how he was better when you were calmer, but I'm not understanding the urine next to his kennel.  By kennel, do you mean dog crate?  Does he usually do his "business" outside?  Is he forced to hold his urine for long hours, like when people are at work?  Chihuahuas are known to have bladder problems caused by a couple of things.  When we see reoccurring bladder stones, that can mean a potential liver shunt and blood work is most certainly in order. I think you should observe him closely and record how often he needs to urinate and make an appointment with a trusted veterinarian.  It simply can't hurt to have a urine test done and get a nice little examination done on him while you're there.  

Submissive urination (if that's the problem) generally lessens in time as a dog adjusts to his surroundings.  However, I have a rescue Chi here that was horribly abused who still urinates submissively after being here for almost 8 years.  That being said, don't conclude that your dog is only submissively urinating if you have even the slightest doubt in your head that he could have a greater problem.

I hope this helps and please write again if I can be of any future help.

My best to you and the dogs that are so lucky to have you...

Jo Ann