chihuahua attitude

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jo Ann,
My sister has a Chihuahua, which is about 3 years old, and she has a horrible attitude.  Whenever someone tries to pet her or hold her, she growls and starts baring her teeth at our other Chihuahuas, which starts a dog fight.  It's quite annoying.  Anyway, this started happening about a year or a year and a half ago.  Do you know why she is acting like this and what we can do to stop her from acting like this?
Thank you,
Trisha

ANSWER: Hi Trisha...

Chihuahuas are known for being VERY devoted and protective of their beloved people and I have the feeling that your sister's Chi is letting the other dogs know that they better not get near when she's being pet or held. I also get the feeling that she's the "alpha" dog in the family.  

You say that this started happening about a year and a half ago.  What changed at that time?  Did you get more dogs?  Also, how many dogs do you have in the family right now and what sex are they and are they all neutered and spayed?  I take it that you and your sister live at the same residence.  Is that right?  How many people and dogs live where your sister's dog lives?

Get back to me with the answers to those questions and I'll be better able to evaluate what's going on.

Jo Ann

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

QUESTION: Hi,
My sister and I are only in our teens, so ya we live in the same house.  We have five Chihuahuas, two moms and three of the babies, each 3 years old.  They're all female.  Our parents couldn't sell them and we don't have the heart to like, take them to the pound.  

Answer
Hi Trisha...

I have to say that I'm not surprised at all that your sister's Chi is acting like it does being that she lives in a household with so many other female dogs.  It's not uncommon at all for female dogs to exhibit aggression like she's doing under these circumstances.  You didn't say if any of them are spayed and I'm assuming that they're not.  You really need to get these dogs spayed (if you haven't already) so that they're not so hormone driven.  How your sister's dog is acting is not the dog's fault - it's common and very natural and it's something that YOU need to remedy by getting everyone spayed and keeping the dogs separate at those times that the aggression becomes an issue.

Professional breeders don't keep their "whole" dogs (meaning dogs that are not spayed and neutered) together most of the time due to how they may fight, etc.  Many times people will adopt too many female dogs and have severe aggression problems occur also.  In your case, you have two female dogs and THEIR female babies...  

I wouldn't want you to take the babies to the pound either.  Either get them spayed or keep your eyes open for really good homes for them.

Jo Ann