Yahoo Answers is shutting down on 4 May 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
is my chihuahua depressed? shes not herself since my partners mothers dog had to live with us?
my chihuahua is almost 3 and shes always been a lovely pet, always loved playing with the children, also loved snuggles and has never left my side... if im sitting on the sofa shes lying beside me, if i go in the bath she sits on the mat beside the bath... if i go to the toilet she waits at the door and if i go to bed she comes to bed. but since my partners mum took ill and is unable to look after her dog... hes come to live with us, hes a jack russell parsons and hes lovely, very friendly and playful but hes quite a bit bigger than her but it didnt bother her at first.,.. they played alot and there was no problems. but hes been here a while now and my chihuahua has changed alot, first thing i noticed was she hides upstairs on the bed most of the day and wont come dwn unless i put the other dog in the garden. and something else which worries me is she wont eat her food.... i put her food out and she sniffs it then walks away, iv tried closing her in the kitchen but she wont eat her food!! then the other dog will go and eat it, then eat his food and my dog goes over to his empty dish and licks it clean. its so upsetting for me that she saves her food for her. iv tried feeding her different times of the day when shes showing me shes hungry by licking her bowl... but she still wont eat her food. why is she doing this? is she depressed? the only time she appears happy is when i take her for her walks and its just me and her
yes it is a bab ygate on the kitchen doorway i dont shut the door on her. yes i have mentioned to my partner i dont think this is working with his mums dog being here but hes quite upset by this and really wants to keep him here so iv tried hard to make it work out while hes at work all day but the dog doesnt listen to a word i say
1 Answer
- Verulam 1Lv 77 years agoFavourite answer
Obviously having another dog on 'her' territory is a step too far - she was quite happy to be an only dog and for that reason, maybe you'll have to decide whether you can keep the incomer.
For starters, feed them completely separately, so there's no chance of bowl swapping. Rather than shutting her in the kitchen, can you feed the dog in a crate, or use a baby gate across the kitchen door so the door isn't actually closed? And set up a place for her where she doesn't have to be in contact with the other dog. Parson Russells, and other Jackies, can be quite dominant and even if there's no direct aggression going on, she could well be intimidated by him.
Bottom line - you may have to rethink keeping the dog.
