Is it healthy when a dog secludes itself for several hours (6+ hrs) when its owner leaves off to work?
Oct.29, 2009 in
Health
hello_puccalove asked:
Whenever I leave off to work, I am told that my 2 year old chihuahua always goes to my parents back room and curls under a small dresser. She waits there for me until I get back from work and only gets out of the room to eat around noon time. If you invite her to come join you she begins to growl since she seems to want to be alone. This has been going on for several months now. We have another male chihuahua, hes younger, but he doesn’t seclude himself since my sister (his owner) is usually there. Is this a male dog dominating thing? When I return back from work she gets out from hiding and returns to her normal walking about, happy, playful behavior.
Whenever I leave off to work, I am told that my 2 year old chihuahua always goes to my parents back room and curls under a small dresser. She waits there for me until I get back from work and only gets out of the room to eat around noon time. If you invite her to come join you she begins to growl since she seems to want to be alone. This has been going on for several months now. We have another male chihuahua, hes younger, but he doesn’t seclude himself since my sister (his owner) is usually there. Is this a male dog dominating thing? When I return back from work she gets out from hiding and returns to her normal walking about, happy, playful behavior.
October 31st, 2009 at 7:55 am
My smaller female is very much the same way. Some Chihuahuas are strictly one person dogs. they only want to be with their owner and no one else. If she chooses to be like that then let her be as long as she comes out to eat and to go potty as needed.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:43 am
normal
November 1st, 2009 at 8:35 pm
thats does seem like a very healthy behavior. from what your saying, it sounds like you might spoil her? perhaps carry her around alot? if so, you should cut back on it. chihuahua’s are naturally nervous dogs. i would seek out a dog trainer to get some tips on what to do
November 4th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Apparently she feels safe there. And she feels safe when you’re at home. She growls when she’s approached by someone else because she’s afraid – and fearful dogs will attack if their warnings are not heeded.
This has nothing to do with domination. It has to do with your dog seeing you as the pack leader and not feeling safe when you’re not around to protect her.
There’s no harm being done to her by her seclusion, and there’s nothing you can do to help her get over it while you’re at work. When you get home, you can help boost her confidence by taking her to obedience classes or by buying a book and teaching her basic obedience yourself (sit, stand, stay, down, heel, etc.). If she likes to jump when she’s playing, put a few hurdles in your back yard and teach her to jump over them. Build up her confidence and she’ll stop hiding; but as long as she’s fearful, it’s better for her to hide than for her to feel constantly threatened.
Hope this helps!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Yes, it’s normal. I have a large breed and a small breed dog, and when I leave, I’m told that not only will my dogs not play, but they are sullen, and lay in my chair or on my bed till I get home. THEN they play etc.