People often joke about Chihuahuas and their anger issues. After all, it’s pretty funny how such a small dog can be so mean sometimes.
Of course, with the proper treatment and care, even the angriest little dog can calm down and learn to relax.
Lucille is a chihuahua that has feral behavior. She had no prior interaction with humans, so she was terrified. When her adopter, Michelle, tried to approach her, she would lash out and try to bite.
Lucille spent a lot of time inside her crate because she was afraid of everything. Michelle had to interact slowly with Lucille, pushing the dog out of its comfort zone. It was a necessary step for the chihuahua’s emotional development.
Michelle had to wear gloves every time she took Lucille out of her crate. The dog would constantly try to bite, so this type of protection was needed. Day in and day out, the feisty chihuahua never failed to attack the glove and squirm away from Michelle’s arms.
One day Michelle discovered something that changed the way she interacted with Lucille. The small dog accidentally exposed its belly, so Michelle tried to give a belly rub. Surprisingly, that action made Lucille stop squirming. It was the first time that Lucille fully accepted physical touch.
Eventually, Michelle was able to do away with the gloves and touch Lucille with her bare hands. The chihuahua never acted out from that point forward. At certain times, it was Lucille who demanded belly rubs.
After getting over her fear of physical touch, Lucille had another fear to overcome. She was afraid of the stairs at the back of Michelle’s house. Lucille’s fear prevented her from stepping outside and exploring the backyard.
Thankfully, Michelle had other dogs who showed Lucille that the stairs were not scary. The chihuahua took her time, but she eventually mustered the courage to descend the steps. With that done, Lucille had successfully conquered all her fears.
Source: The Dodo via YouTube.
