i have a 11 month-old(about) chi which i have juz got a week...

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Question by nash
Submitted on 12/1/2003
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i have a 11 month-old(about) chi which i have juz got a week ago... he follows me everywhere i go and will cry if i close my room's door (he lives in a fenced area in my room), which can be quite heart-breaking esp. when i have to go do stuff... i saw other FAQ answers and understand the bark-ignore,quiet-praise method... ignore is simple enough... but how do i praise? do i have to 'train' the praise or juz anything that sound pleasant and nice? also, what if he keeps crying? i cannot be avoiding my room till he stops and finally go in to praise him... and if i go in halfway while he is crying, am i actually rewarding him for crying? is there any way to make him more independent?

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 12/2/2003
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Maybe he's afraid you will desert him just as his previous owner did? I don't know the circumstances by which you acquired him, but chis bond very closely with their owners. Can you leave him in his enclosed area but not close the door to your room? If you can, and he doesn't cry, no matter how short that time is, then you can praise him for being quiet. You don't have to use any specific words, I just found it easier to use No Bark, etc. since it was consistent and easy for me to remember. You do have to be consistent, he will key in on certain words and learn what they mean. You may just have to tough it out once or twice, leave him in his enclosure, go to another part of the house and let him cry. It sounds cruel, but it isn't, lots of parents have to do that to their human infants. As soon as he's quiet, praise him from wherever you are, you don't have to go there in person to do it. This will actually reassure him that just because he can't see you doesn't mean you aren't there. If you have to go into your room while he is crying, ignore him, don't look at or talk to him, that way he's not rewarded. I'm fairly certain that he will become more independent once he is secure that you will always come back, but again that will take time. I'm sorry I can't give you the easy one step solution, but there isn't one that I know of. Good luck!

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 12/29/2003
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Chi's tend to really like the company of other chi's. My two are just over a year apart, Gremlin was adopted first and was 2 years old this Halloween. Nixie came to me just under a year ago and was 1 year old this Thanksgiving. They are great company for each other. I don't know how this would work for you, as Gremlin was very stable as only and Alpha dog before we picked a sister for her. I'm hesitant to advise you either way, hopefully other owners will give you their thoughts. I do suggest that if you get a brother for him, that you take him with you to help pick out the new puppy. That way it seems like the first dog thinks it's his idea to add another to the household, less territory battles.

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Answer by nash
Submitted on 12/5/2003
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Thanks chimama!! i have been thinking about getting another chi to accompany each other when i am away.. will it solve (or reduce) the problem? or will it result in TWO crying chis? should i get another chi which have a small age gap with this one?

Answer by j-girl
Submitted on 5/1/2006
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well what u can do is leave him in his area ALONE for maby a day and he will probably get used to it now all dogs cry when ther away from the ones they love he might cry if he sees u affter u try my technique but thats because hes trying to get ur attention

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