Chihuahua as Home Defense Dog?

[Jerry_NJ]

I have posted recently on a rescue I am participating in for an estimated 5 year old Chihuahua, Jasper.  The posts have centered about various issues, one being house training.  That, in his third week with us, can best be described as a  "work in progress"...We still take measure to prevent him from having unsupervised use of the house unless in his crate.

To my subject:  yesterday Jasper was lying with my wife on her day-bed and he was sound asleep when I came into the room and sat it a chair next to the bed.  My wife said she had to get up and carefully did so and left the room.  She had been gone only a couple of minutes when Jasper woke up and seeing me came to the side of the bed.  More background, my wife is undergoing chemo and is easily chilled so she had on an outside type soft yarn stocking cap on her head.  When my wife returned to the room she came in no more than maybe 3 or 4 feet from the bed and when Jasper saw her he didn't make the visual match to my wife and went into guard dog mode.  Loud barking and snarling in a fierce "attack dog" looking mode.  It took several seconds to calm him down and there is no doubt he was prepared to take on the stranger who had just entered the room..never mind he is about 10 pounds.  That is big for a Chihuahua, but still a very small dog.  He seemed undeterred by the size of unannounced being stepping into the room he was, it appears, guarding.

I have read Chihuahuas, as are many other small dogs, are fearless defenders of "their people".  We haven't yet had a house guest in the time we've had him, so I will be prepared.  He is walked on the street and is in general passive about other people, but is nervous about other dogs, all of them we've passed, much larger, in the 50 to 90 pound class. Jasper also seemed interested in chasing White Tail Deer on our property.  Wilson, our recently lost Westie, ran free on our property and would take of in full attack whenever he spotted one or more deer on the property.  We had no problems with Wilson going far off the property, and on a few occasions crossed the property line to chase deer, always turning back.  I currently think we can not let Jasper out on his own unless we install a fence to restrict his travels.

[Margot49]

When the aide comes to shower my Mom (and I specified to the agency anyone coming here must be dog friendly) I start a routine with the dog. I put out 3 small treats I have them give Lexie when they are here and she has to to tricks to get them so she has to make eye contact and listen to them.  When I am expecting the girl, I will ask Lexue who us coming.  "Is Heather coming?" And her ears perk right up.  When Heather gets here, there is now very little to no barking.  
Now, the UPS guy is a different story.  

[JanisM13]

I agree with the suggestions and statements made by Margot and
Ginger, Jasper may have been startled and not sure it was Barb,
doe she always wear the cap or was she feeling more chilled that
day so this was a different look?
When Ben has come in from outside, heavy coat, gloves and comes
inside many times the dogs "don't recognize him" although they don't
show teeth they do growl, a few bark then everyone is barking.
Ben tells the NO BARK, it's your dad and then they all realize that it
is their "dad" and everyone quits and some drop their heads down...
WOOPS that was a mistake! He never used their name when he does
this, we want them to associate their name when they come to us not
for a correction, it's just a correction ( the action he is dealing with not
the dog.)
As Ginger said, move him off of the bed ( he may have not realized
Barb had left and was in guard mode FOR HER thinking she was
still there?  The to let him know his actions were not a good thing as
she said, ignore him like he does not exist this should show him you
are displeased WITH WHAT HE DID...his actions.
As for when company comes over, ask them to ignore him, don't pet
or reach for him and don't talk to him if he barks tell him NO let  him
get used to the idea they are ok,they are welcome and they don't really
care if he's there or not, later they can interact with him, maybe offer a
piece of dry food as a treat so he learn "oh people who come here are pretty good."
As for the hesitation with other dogs, you remain calm Jasper can feel
your stress or worry but just keep walking as if they are not there, if he
feels no worry from you by how you react he should learn it's just a dog.
Jan

[Jerry_NJ]

Thanks, I posted mostly as a biit of positive behavior.  I Westie was much the same but he was deaf so he never responded to a noise.  Jasper, always barks when he hears the garage door open.  I suspect the shelter was opened in the morning with a garage door opening somewhere in there rear as the staff and/or volunteer arrived.  I have heard and read that "if you want a watch dog" get a small dog.  The big dog may be happy to wait in ambush rather than raise an alarm.

He has not done that to me ever, but he still runs from me if he believes (most often correctly) that I want to put him in his crate or take a walk when he doesn't want to.  

We've pasted the 24 hour point on the toilet issue and I just left him, following dinner, in his crate because he would not come out .. he saw me put my coat on, grab the outside leash and put the plastic bag of chicken pieces in my pocket.  Yes, I think he knows the plastic bag as he has watched me take it out of the refrigerator and give him a piece.

He has eaten rater well today:  1/4 cup of kibble ground with raw carrot, he ate it all. He like our Westie, Wilson, likes ground carrots blended in with the kibble.  He later ate a 1/4 cup of Wellness Kibble for Small breeds. I understand and believe it is bet to feed dry Kibble to help clean teeth.

He remains an "in the lap" yet "run with tail between the legs" split personality.  I've ranged off the subject, but I am left as we enter the third week of the Foster home experience with some disappointing lack of development. That too led me to put a positive reaction on the "guard dog" part.  I figured he felt enough at home to want to defend it.

I don't know if the slow progress is due to me, the breed, or his past experiences.  Yes, some combination and the last two are things I can't change.  So I continue to think of ways I can approach him, and get better development of his training to live in a home.

[Margot49]

Agree with Ginger.  Even when I helped with Greyhound rescue, people would ask if they were good watch dogs.  Some were, not ours.  Told them if they wanted a watch dog to get a Chihuahua.  :-)

Our mix has barked at my husband coming home.  She will also bark if someone is at the door.  When I have someone come help with my Mom, she will have a barking fit.  I tell them to ignore her and, yes, I tell her "Stop.  Or Enough!"  

Sounds like Jasper might be getting a bit territorial.  Yep, tell him No! And off the bed he goes.

[ginger899]

Haha!  That is 'little dog syndrome'. They think they are Great Danes those little dogs, or German Shepherds! But it seems he needs to chill a bit more, and shouldn't have gone into full attack mode when your wife came back....
Okay he'd been in a deep sleep, and probably woke with a start. He might even have been still dreaming! But try not to give him any encouragement or positive reinforcement when/if he does this again to either of you. Laughing or making any noises, or attention he could take as positive reinforcement. A "No!" sharply, and then a gentle but firm push down off the bed should do to show him that is inappropriate. Then ignoring him for a little while until you decide if he can get back up again.
It might take him a little while to feel subconsciously at complete ease in your home. After all he hasn't had long there so far, and there may still be a bit of fear-aggression?

Forgive me if I'm wrong and took this too seriously!