Infants - This dog is not for me, what do I do? I need serious opinions, even if they're rude!?

This dog is not for me, what do I do? I need serious opinions, even if they're rude!?

Ok, so I'm having a real dilemma and I'm extremely confused. Quick background: I am a full time student, work part time and volunteer at an animal shelter twice a week. I've had quite a few dogs growing up and I've met hundreds of dogs and their distinct personalities. Have NEVER had this problem. I made a huge mistake in October: I really wanted a dog and I had never had a full Chihuahua but I live in an apartment and I thought that would be the best dog for me. I found one from some people online and I paid half the payment and then I was to wait until he was 8 weeks. Now, during this time I was having second thoughts because I started working and taking on tougher classes. But I figured I could work it out. A couple of days later, the people call me and say the mom dog is sick in the hospital and can no longer take care of her 3 week old puppies. It was VERY tiring, but I took the puppy and managed to raise the dog into a "healthy" 6 month old that he is now. The first couple of months were perfect: He learned things VERY fast and he rarely had an accident in the house. He even impressed people when he knew how to fetch at 6 weeks. I was surprised at how good I thought I had it. But just before the holidays started, everything went from perfect to very bad. Just to name the main problems: For no reason (I did not change absolutely anything: my routine, my visitors, his food, ANYTHING) he began pooping and peeing on the carpet. This frustrated me, but I forgave it and just started training him from scratch again. But soon he began forming an extreme separation anxiety - whenever I put him in his gated area that he had slept in every night since practically birth (the bathroom which is HUGE compared to how much room he needs and has everything) he would cry uncontrollably as if he were in extreme pain - and no, nothing was wrong with him. At first I scolded him, then I researched and began ignoring him. It only ever got a little better and has never completely gone away. A few weeks ago I started walking him WAY more, until he was exhausted and he has since began marking inside the house! And he also pooped in the kitchen floor which is something he had NEVER done before. The accidents and the crying and other problems I won't even go into (he bites and barks really loudly at everyone, etc.) have driven me insane to the point that I have began considering giving him up. I cannot afford the $100+ for training classes because I barely make enough to eat (and I am a vegetarian who can’t eat just anything). I love him but I made a mistake by getting a newborn whose personality I did not know at all. I should have done way more research. It also doesn't help that at the shelter, I've built a relationship with a pitbull blend named Ariel that I plan to adopt and who is just perfect for me. But now I'm about 5 months deep in this problem so what should I do? It would hurt to give him up but in the end, wouldn't it be best?

Public Comments

You work at an animal shelter, yeah? Can't you just hook him up with some old lady who has time for this?
So instead of properly training the dog you have now you're going to get rid of it and get another? He was taken away from his mum and siblings at three weeks, of course he's going to have behavioral issues! If you can't handle him what makes you think you can handle a new one? Dogs are not like rinse and repeat. They are a commitment that you are obviously not taking seriously enough. Rehome him if you must, but do NOT get another dog.
I applaud you for trying to do what is best for your pup. Unfortunately, when the so-called "breeder" had you take the pup at 3 weeks of age, you should have "walked away" then. If they had truly cared about the puppies, they would NEVER have let them go at that age, regardless of mom's health. THey were lazy S.O.B.'s who wanted to get rid of the pups ASAP. No, this pup is NOT for you. Take it to the shelter, humans society, whatever it is called in your neck of the woods and they will find him a good home. Yes, it will hurt but you seem to have a lot on your plate already. Having said that, I would seriously reconsider the pitbull mix that you are thinking about adopting. Perhaps you should wait until you are in better financial circumstances. While I understand your desire for a dog, what happens if the pit mix gets a torn ACL or something that is going to cost a lot of money??? Also, they eat a whole lot more than the smaller dog you are most likely going to send to a new home! Good luck
Classic problem of a puppy removed from it's mum too early (I know this wasn't your fault). Unfortunately pups from about 4-10 weeks are the most impressionable they will ever be. This is the age they actually learn doggy "manners". Many pet shop pups exhibit the same problems as you are experiencing. You seriously need someone who can help this dog become better behaved, but you might find that he will always have problems because he missed out on that essential development and socialising stage. Unfortunately you will have to spend money on his training, or give him up. The main problem is that he will not be very "adoptable" for most prospective owners - sad situation. Good luck with whatever you decide.
You need to be honest with yourself about what you are willing to do to keep the dog at this point and it sounds like you have already decided that you are not able to deal with all the issues that are cropping up and you have essentially already moved on (formed a relationship with another dog). I am sure there are many who will disagree with me, however, there is no point in "blaming" yourself in having thrown in the towel with this dog any more than it would be to discover you are no longer in love with the guy/girl you met three months ago. If the relationship is not there, then it just is not there and that goes with pets as much as it does with human companions. I would put out a flyer on bulletin boards or a free ad paper looking for a good home for the puppy and be honest with any potential interested parties about the need to re-potty train him and his need for human companionship (he doesn't do well if left alone for long periods of time). If you are unable to find him a new home in a few weeks I would contact a rescue center that is a no-kill rescue and tell them that you are unable to meet the dogs needs, that he needs more time and attention than you can give him, you do not have the money to keep him and ask them to either take him or to help you find him an appropriate home. You need to go on with your life and not waste time feeling guilty, like I said, you are apparently not a good match for this particular puppy and if you try to make yourself continue on with this dog it is possible that you may begin to resent him deeply and your anger over that can manifest into other issues and there is no need for that to happen. Good luck.
Well dont worry he is just going through a faze only feed him 2 time a day(breakfest and dinner) one cup, only give him 20 to 30 mins to finish it, if he dont take it away and give it to him for dinner. When you get home make sure you let him out every hour so he can do his business after a while you can cut down on the time. Try to teach him that it is alright for you to be gone when you sleep or even go out with friend. At night just agnore him he will catch on that everytime he starts barking dosent mean you have to get up and pet him. He is just try to get your attention. Dont give him up then you are just giving your problem to someone else that is not the ansewer. Not everbodies animals are like them they all have different personalities then yours.
Since I don't think you can afford a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, I suggest that you get the dog neutered, if possible, and contact Chihuahua Rescue to take him. The Rescue people stand a very good chance of being able to iron out his behavior problems, if anyone can. Do a web search on "Chihuahua Rescue in (Your State)." You should be able to find several. Perhaps one of them will take him. Since you have never known Ariel in a home environment, think long and carefully before you bring a dog into your home that could potentially do hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage in one day (which YOU will have to pay for) if she has separation anxiety, fear of storms, someone spilled food on the carpet and it tastes good (bye-bye carpet),or just gets bored. If, as you say, nothing changed(?) in your life or routines but the dog began to act differently around the holiday season, the changes could be due to the facts that the puppy was bred in a puppy mill and was taken from its mother and siblings too young. Taking pups too young (before 8 weeks of age) from their litters has been linked to some very bad behavior problems. Marking behavior usually begins at oraround sexual maturity, which is six months fora small dog. If you can't get him into Rescue, what then?
If you can't afford to send this dog to behavior classes (I do understand), then you are going to be in for a shock when you get a large breed dog. Everything about them costs more: food, medicine, and grooming. I think it is great that you've chosen to bond to a dog before getting one, but if it were me I would wait until I wasn't a full time student anymore. It's soo hard going to school full time and usually after school there is a chance you may move around some. Pitt mixs or even dogs that resemble pitts can be difficult to find an apartment that will take them. If you do give up the chi I would contact different rescues in the area to see if they would take him. Good luck.
That $100 that you say you cannot afford to train your current dog, is going to be spent anyway in the difference in food cost for the new pitbull in just a couple months. So, that is not a legitimate excuse. You don't want to put the time in for your new dog, and you want to trade it in for something else AND you want others to cosign this abandonment. Put your efforts into the commitment you already have. Also, until your dog is better behaved, your time should be spent with him, training him, instead of your volunteering. Your first priority should be your own commitments, then the volunteer work, as noble as that is. You can go back to the shelter after you have your own dog straightened out. You should not get the new dog. Fix the old one.
I would first look into what you are feeding your dog and maybe switch to a better pet food. Maybe this one is causing bad behavior because your dog is allergic to this brand. I don't think grains really agree with dogs - especially corn and wheat. I would look into what other owners of this breed are feeding this type of dog and maybe look into making homemade simple meals for your dog. Most pet food is probably equivalent to junk food, so think about how people behave when they eat junk. Give this a try before taking on a pitbull as they eat even more food.
Yikes. The breeder should not have given you the pup. I DO know how much work it is, been there done that. Singleton, handraised puppies do not get the k9 interaction they need and often develop problems. So do not feel guilty. You have obviously tried. Now: advice. Seriously. Turn in your chi. Do not get another dog yet. You just have your plate too full. It isn't fair for a dog, nor you.
I think that you need to follow through on the commitment you already made, for a few reasons. First, you didn't do your homework when you bought this poor pup from a scum who didn't care enough to keep him until he was at least 10 weeks, and that is your cross to bear now. Second, I read no mention of any kind of formal training, or even any real research on Chis, so you failed there and need to correct it through training. Third, there are already over 10,000 Chis in rescue across the country, so what makes you think there is any room for your mistake? There are probably the same number being euthanized because there is no room left in rescue. Fourth, you do NOT rid yourself of one dog to adopt another. If you can't handle the first dog, you do NOT consider getting another one. Sounds like a classic case of not doing your research up front, and having buyer's remorse on the back end. Deal with your error and accept your responsibility. This blameless pup deserves that.