When handling your new Chi, be very gentle. A dog's natural reaction to pain is to bite the source. Until you know if your Chihuahua has any touchy areas, use caution. While stroking your dog, watch for flinching, a quick turning of the head (a warning of an upcoming snap), yelping, and trembling.

Keep in mind, too, that a sensitive area may not be an area in which the Chi is currently feeling pain. Past injuries or parts of the body that previously experienced pain (for instance, an ear that was horribly infected) can still be reactive areas, or locations to which the Chi will respond as if he is truly in pain.

Watch Your Reactions

It is an unfortunate fact that many rescued adult Chihuahuas have had very limited exposure (if any) to living in a home. You may find that the dog you've adopted takes everything in stride and expresses only curiosity to the various sounds emanating from such things as household appliances, air ducts, rolling garbage cans, and the vacuum cleaner. If, however, your Chi shows tearfulness toward something in your home, you need to know how to react.

To help your Chi overcome her fear of a certain household object, the mantra is, “Ignore bad reactions, but reward good behavior.” For example, if the sound of a flushing toilet sends your Chi flying into another room, trembling, just do nothing. Do not attempt to run to the rescue, cuddle, and coo to the shaking dog.

Dogs interpret positive physical contact with their special humans as the greatest reward of all. Since you are rewarding your Chi for running from the flushing toilet, you have reinforced your Chihuahua's reaction to the flushing toilet. It is better to ignore frightened or noisy (barking) responses to ordinary sights and sounds but reward positive responses. Over time, your Chi will show less and less reaction to what she fears.

Danger Zone

Statistically, the greatest percentage of severe dog-bite injuries inflicted to owners occurs when a new dog is brought into a home. This is the time at which the dog is under the greatest stress, and all breeds are more likely to bite at this time. The more quickly the dog adjusts to the home, the less stress she is under, and the faster the risk of a stress-induced bite decreases. It could be a few days or a few weeks.

What this means to you, however, is that you should not put your newly adopted Chihuahua in a position in which she could become frightened, overwhelmed, or feels she is being directly challenged. Give her time to get acclimated and, most importantly, to trust you. Avoid confrontations by limiting the dog's access to one room and preventing her from being able to steal any items that she can't have.

Additionally, don't trust your Chihuahua. Your newly adopted Chihuahua must earn your trust. This takes time and does not occur overnight. Think of it this way: Would you trust a complete stranger to come to your home and watch your children while you were away on vacation? Of course not. But we often expect an adopted dog to behave perfectly, even when under extreme stress. So, keep this in mind. Go slowly with your Chihuahua. Give her a chance to prove her trustworthiness.

With the proper care and love, it won't be long before your Chi looks up to you.