Dog Spelled Forward

Amalie is displeased

Skipping Bandit

For those of you playing the home version, I am skipping a dog. If the segment with Nunu was pointless, then the one that followed, Bandit, was like moving Jay Leno to 10:00PM.

Amalie and the Baby

Amalie is the third Chihuahua from Hell. Amalie’s family consists of Kim, Lance, Harley (a 100+ pound mastiff), Amalie (a 7 pound chihuahua), and Mason, Kim and Lance’s new baby. In the opening we see Amalie snapping at and chasing Harley around. The producers think this is impressive. I think Harley is just a really patient and wonderful dog.

The problem is, of course, between Amalie and Mason. It seems that once Mason became mobile, Amalie started to growl and snap at Mason. We see a frankly scary scene (photo above was captured from it) where Amalie seems to be guarding either a toy or her bed from Mason. Only Amalie’s self-control saves Mason from a bite. (Kim seems to think her poorly timed correction has something to do with it. No. Sorry.)

So what does Cesar do? Please note that in the video Cesar is using what was previously introduced as Amalie’s favorite toy.

“Cesar demonstrated that even babies can become pack leaders.” I’m just going to come out and say it: I think that just might be the most idiotic thing I have ever heard on television. And yes, I grew up watching TV in the ’70s.

Cesar explains to Lance and Kim that if he interrupts Amalie as she starts to focus and/or react to Mason that her “brain will never escalate to something higher than that.”

One of two things is happening here: either Cesar had already conditioned his “snap” as a punisher, maybe with a smack or a leash jerk or it is simply acting as an interrupter. Either way, what happens when he leaves? Are they supposed to continue doing this? Will she just stop reacting to Mason?

Let’s say Cesar is right, and interrupting a dog before she snaps or growls will eventually stop her from doing so permanently. How many times, and under how many different circumstances, must you do this before the threat of her biting Mason goes away completely? Would you like to bet the safety of a child on that number?

Wouldn’t it be better to address the underlying cause?

Based on the very brief footage we were shown (I wish I could share more) my guess is that Amalie guards her bed and possibly the entire sofa from both the Mason and Harley. She also guards her toys from Mason. I would consider:

1. The baby just can’t play with Amalie’s toys. Put her toys away and take them out only when the baby is napping or at least not able to get where they are.
2. Train a give so you can safely get things away from her.
3. Work on some other exercises for guarding.
4. Train a leave-it as a safety cue to head off troubles.
5. Limit Amalie’s access to the sofa. She can only come on it when invited.
6. Stop letting Amalie terrorize Harley. It’s not fair to him.
7. Work on creating happy, fun, safe, and rewarding, experiences for Amalie while Mason is around.

Last, take a good look at Amalie toward the end of the video. Does she look happy? Heck, does she even look comfortable? Yet again, Cesar’s solution is not a calm dog — it’s a shut down and quite possibly terrified dog.

Dog Whisperer Commentary: Chihuahuas From Hell 2 is a post from: Dog Spelled Forward

Related Posts

1. Dog Whisperer Commentary: Chihuahuas From Hell 3
2. Dog Whisperer Commentary: Chihuahuas From Hell 1
3. The Dog Whisperer Commentary: Bella