[mangenty]

I need help with my 4 month old Chihuahua. I bought him from a friend who breeds chihuahuas when he was 8 weeks old. When I first brought him home, he was pretty scared. After a week or so he was finally comfortable in my home and was a normal, playful puppy. He would run and jump around the house and loved to play with his toys. But when he was around 10 weeks old, my other dog (Jack Russell Terrier) bit him after he went after her bone. It was a pretty painful bite that made his eye swell a bit and caused some more swelling under his jaw (chin?). He cried for about 2 minutes straight - well more like screamed until I could finally calm him down. It scared him real bad and he has never been the same since. Now he shakes all the time and always has his tail between his legs and his ears straight back. He always has this sad, scared look on his face and it breaks my heart. He doesn't want to play anymore (AT ALL) and only gets mildly happy when outside. If I'm not around he will just stay in the same spot shaking and not move at all. This has been going on for about a month or so and it just worries me that he will stay like this for the rest of his life. He hasn't made any improvement whatsoever even though I try to be loving with him.

I'm wondering what I should do. Will he grow out of this fear? Is there anything I can do to help him become how he used to be - a playful, loving chihuahua? I want to help him with this problem while he is still young so it hopefully doesn't become permanent. Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions.

[Shreya]

he needs to see a vet for antibiotics, he may have injuries you can't see. as it has been a month and he is not happy and scared all the time, its better that you take him to a vet.. the vet will be able to determine the real cause of your dog's unhappiness..

your dog is very sensitive and emotional.. he needs extra care and love.. just show that you really care for him and love him and you will be able to see the changes in him and his behavior.. his beautiful smile will lighten up your mood too..
all the best..

[taesnasunt]

maybe taking the little guy out to a park where its just you and him and away from the other dog a few times a week/month will help him regain some confidence as well. hes small in a big world and most small dogs are afraid of the bigger ones.

[german sheep]

Give one of your dogs away!
Your little chihuahua will have a life i fear. He can not come out of his fear because the reason of its panik lives with him together 24 h a day.
Would you like to live with an tormentor together all of your life? I guess no.

The other thing is maybe when you have bad luck your chihuahua will never be able to change his attitude because it happened in its sensible phase and all fearful situations that occur in this time influences behavioural problems that are irreversible for the rest of its life.

The littlan knows that the human is not able to safe him in dangerous moments and he will decide in those situations of his own. That means lately you will have problems with aggression against other dogs.

gs

[Lara's mom]

Surely, there has to be a better answer than giving one of the dogs away!

[german sheep]

I'm not here to make people happy but to give an advice to help the dog, and the second dog is the cause for its behavioral issues.
If you think there is a better solution for the whole life of the little chihuahua in safety without stress I'm open for it.

LG
gs