Like many other small dogs you can find flooding into California shelters on any given day, Hummus was a small tan Chihuahua mix.
Standing firm on his teeny legs, this lightweight gentleman came into Pets Unlimited’s program from Antioch with what some might call a Napoleon complex. Little did he know that shelter life could prove to be his Waterloo; the odds were more than stacked against him.
Typical of many small dogs when they first come to us, Hummus was under-socialized, under-trained, and typecast right from the start as a “yippy Chihuahua.” This, compounded with the fact that he was 9 years old, meant Hummus was very unlikely to move out of the shelter quickly.
When we take in a senior dog – one over 7 years of age – we know he will probably be with us for longer than our average turnover of 30 days. Indeed, ageism is one of the hardest battles shelter dogs face when awaiting their forever homes. It makes no sense, because even a small dog can live a long, happy, and healthy 15 years plus! Typically, the immediate response these under-appreciated canines receive from potential adopters is a hasty rejection due to assumed health problems and short lifespan, as well as that infamous myth: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Hummus also faced the challenge of “Chihuahua syndrome” – a widely-held stereotype perpetuated by films, television shows, and even many breed-description books and websites – that Chis are barky, shaking, nippy, and impossible to train. Any shelter attendant can tell you this is simply not the truth. Granted, without proper training and socialization, any small dog can have big behavior problems. The popular trend has been to put your wee friend in a designer bag and carry him around in loud, over-stimulating public spaces, which would be a problem for most dogs without careful training. The shelter system is currently inundated with these “purse dog rejects” who were never given the chance to learn the important life lessons of socialization and basic training. This massive flood of small dogs into the system begs the question, “Why do we put these dogs in such difficult circumstances without training them to handle it?”
Pets Unlimited has always been a safe haven and rehabilitation center for a large selection of smaller dogs. We have hosted many “terrible Terriers,” “problematic Poodles,” and of course the “cantankerous Chihuahuas,” but have found time and time again that these little guys just need some training and controlled exposure to the world in order to become civilized canines.
Such was the case with Hummus. Under-socialized with other dogs and with people, he would bark and growl at everything out of sheer confusion and fear, from a leaf rustling in the wind to the biggest Great Dane you’ve ever seen. He figured that he could make the scary thing go away if he just let loose with his best Cujo impression!
Fortunately, within two weeks, the patience of our staff, some remedial socialization, and a bit of clicker training paid off and Hummus realized the error of his ways. Instead of causing panic, the bustling world outside became motivating as Hummus’s desire to meet other dogs was sparked. Now a full-fledged playgroup rock star, this wonderful prancing fellow is a social butterfly, loves to show off his charming play-bows, and can wag his tail – without yapping – like the most well-trained Lab. Still on the lookout for his new family, Hummus continues to make progress and hopes a live-in playmate is in his near future.
Hummus has proven that small, older dogs not only can learn new tricks – they can learn things often deemed impossible for dogs well past the important puppy socialization period. He is one of the many Chihuahuas that surpass people’s expectations of the breed.
So the next time you are looking at that “doggie in the window” who has a little bit of grey around his muzzle, or a cage card that reads “Chihuahua mix,” don’t count him out – he’s probably a perfect diamond in the rough.
Ariana Luchsinger is the Lead Dog Attendant at Pets Unlimited Shelter & Adoption Center. She is a Certified Trainer and Counselor at the Academy for Dog Trainers, is proud owner of Bitchin’ Dog Training, and loves sharing her life with wife Brenna, 10-year-old Cattle Dog mix, PoppySpoon, and her two eccentric cats, Pigeon and Poe. You can contact Ariana by swinging by the shelter or emailing her at marmaduke27@hotmail.com.
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