My puppy wont come to me
By Shelbi1118
@Shelbi1118 (21)
United States
October 2, 2010 8:00pm CST
I have a 5 month old Chihuahua puppy whom I adore and who I know loves me too. The problem I have with him is that he just wont come to me even when I know he wants me to pick him up. I have to always chase him and it can get pretty annoying at times. He may want me to pick him up, but when I go to get him he just keeps backing up more and more. I cant understand why he does this and what to do to make him stay or come to me. Even if I have treats, and try to get him to come, he always stays back just enough so that I cant reach him and the way I finally do get him if I want to take him out or whatever is, I have to just try to catch him which I finally do and he loves it that I am holding him. I dont understand this kind of behavior. Did you ever have this happen and if so how did you handle it?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@Shelbi1118 (21)
• United States
3 Oct 10
yep! I agree and I understand and think about how he must feel being so tiny. I do that,I get right down on all 4's and he still keeps backing up. lol But, I get him eventually and he loves it when I am holding him From the last response I just received it appears to be how they are. Thats something I did not know. :-)
@jeanena (2198)
• Bucklin, Kansas
3 Oct 10
Hi Shelbi
I use to raise Chihuahuas that seems to be one thing they are famous for . some of them grow out of it and some never do . They love you and love to be held and before you know it he will be just jumping into your arms because they are famous for their jumping skills ..lol
The most annoying thing is when they want to get in bed and snuggle and they are beside the bed whining , wanting in bed , you try to pick them up to help them into the bed and they keep backing away . Irritating! That's when you need puppy steps ..
@Shelbi1118 (21)
• United States
3 Oct 10
hey! Thanx for replying. I had no idea that other chihuahuas did this as well. Makes me feel better in a way knowing that its not just mine. I do have the puppy steps, for the living room couch. I haven't used it for the bed yet since the cats are usually always there and I dont need conflict in the middle of the night. He bullies the heck outta all 4 cats, and chases the heck outta our Mainecoon already lol Plus, he loves his little bed anyway, right next to mine,so that's not a problem so far. I'll just have to keep trying with the other thing.
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
3 Oct 10
Try feeding him with your hand. That was what I did with my cat when it was a kitten. It used to lick milk from my palm. And we bonded very well when it was alive.
@kodukodu84 (1569)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 10
Hi Shelbi, I think your puppy just wants to play with you all the time. I used to have a puppy too and she wanted me to play all day with her. When I tried ignoring her, she would do anything to make me bothered enough to start playing and chasing her. She will makes noise or disturb anything in the house if I don't play :) so maybe he just wants to play.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
3 Oct 10
I wonder how come you know he loves when you are holding him, as long as he doesn't want to come to you when he knows you're going to pick him up?
I don't think he really likes it when you pick him up. He's not a little puppy any more, his personality becomes to change into an adult's one.
Be sure that if he wants you to pick him up, he will be near you, actually jumping on you, begging you to pick him up. But if he backs up more and more, this means he wants to remain down, as a grown-up dog. You should give him more freedom, and try not to suffocate him with your love. What we, humans, think is love (I mean holding in our arms and kissing), may be annoying to some dogs.
Yet you should work on making him come to you when you call him. Try not to pick him up every time he comes when called and give him a reward EVERY TIME he comes to you. Take a reward (a treat or a toy he likes the most) and call him. When he comes, give him the treat and set him free. Ignore him for few minutes, and then try again. This way the calling command will be a pleasure to him and he will be eager to come. From time to time pick him up, pet him a little then put him down again.
I don't think he really likes it when you pick him up. He's not a little puppy any more, his personality becomes to change into an adult's one.
Be sure that if he wants you to pick him up, he will be near you, actually jumping on you, begging you to pick him up. But if he backs up more and more, this means he wants to remain down, as a grown-up dog. You should give him more freedom, and try not to suffocate him with your love. What we, humans, think is love (I mean holding in our arms and kissing), may be annoying to some dogs.
Yet you should work on making him come to you when you call him. Try not to pick him up every time he comes when called and give him a reward EVERY TIME he comes to you. Take a reward (a treat or a toy he likes the most) and call him. When he comes, give him the treat and set him free. Ignore him for few minutes, and then try again. This way the calling command will be a pleasure to him and he will be eager to come. From time to time pick him up, pet him a little then put him down again.
@ayumitakashi (4462)
• United States
3 Oct 10
You should have started off by making kissy noises and clapping your hands so that he comes towards you. Start doing that now and keep doing it. Since the first day I got my dog when she was small I would do that and everytime I do that she comes towards me. Sometimes I crouch down as well and she runs towards me to kiss me. Try it and if not then try with some treats or something until she gets used to coming towards you.
