A PET sitter has vented her fury after repeatedly being bitten by a dog of the same breed.
She vowed never to sit the canine again because they are “aggressive” toward anyone except their owner.
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Rover is an app that connects pet owners with services such as boarding, house sitting, doggy daycare, and dog walking.
A sitter took to Reddit’s RoverPetSitting forum under the handle u/yes_mango_ to rant about her recent experience.
She said chihuahuas have made her believe a dog’s aggressiveness is not always the fault of a bad owner.
“This is the 4th chihuahua I’ve dog-sat since being on the app and the 4th chihuahua that has tried or successfully bitten me,” she said.
“I’m very wary and patient with them always, taking hours or even days to let them be comfortable around me.
“Lots of treats, lots of space, sweet talking, and no sudden movements around them.
“I had a 12-day stay with a chihuahua owner who made an effort to walk his chihuahua with me 3 times prior to my stay so the dog would get comfortable around me.
“Apparently, that wasn’t enough because the dog was super aggressive and anxious with me for the first 5 days and refused to let me put a leash on him AND refused to go outside cause the doggy door scares him (he’s 10 years old btw).
“So I spent every day cleaning his p**s and s**t in the house and kept trying to get the leash on him.
“He finally calmed down after a while and started trusting me and then one day while cuddling with him on the couch he turns around and bites me aggressively and tears my skin.”
The Redditor said the experience made her feel angry and frightened.
She was left confused as to why anyone would want to own a dog that’s vicious to everyone except their owner.
“You can’t have people over,” she said.
“You can’t have others watch the dog.
“You have to make sure your dog doesn’t go after kids while walking outside especially cause kids love touching cute doggies.
“I’m just done with chihuahuas… every single chihuahua I’ve watched has been aggressive while their owners just jokingly say ‘Oh well he’s just a typical chihuahua lol.’
“Has anyone else experienced this or am I just unlucky?”
Signs your dog could turn dangerous
Expert advice from Dr. Sara Ochoa, who has been practicing veterinary medicine for over five years.
Ochoa told The U.S. Sun observing a dog's behavior can provide clues that they might act out.
“A dog that looks tense all over with its fur sticking up or teeth showing is more likely to snap,” she said.
“Staring real hard without blinking could mean trouble too.
“Growling is also a warning the dog is getting mad.”
She said dogs may tuck their tail between their legs when they feel scared or threatened.
“Staying calm and keeping space may help things not to escalate if a dog seems on edge,” she said.
Responses to the post were mixed as people shared their experiences with the breed.
“I’m always a little wary of chihuahuas, and keep a close eye on their behavior at the Meet and Greet,” one person wrote.
“I’ve had trouble with quite a few, but they can be very sweet (on occasion [laughing]).
“I will IMMEDIATELY decline if the owner refers to their dog as a ‘typical chihuahua lolz’ though, to me it reads that they don’t care if their dog has bad behavior.”
“As a multiple-time chihuahua owner it is 100% the breed [laughing],” another said.
“I’ve had dogs that have been literally all around the country, handled by different people, exposed to everything and they still hate and will wilfully bite strangers!
“They are just very much one-person/family dogs and they have that terrier spirit.”
Other commenters described chihuahuas as “sweet” as they defended the breed.
“I had a Chihuahua and she was the sweetest dog ever!” one person said.
“She loved everyone especially if they were new! It's definitely an owner issue who didn't socialize properly.
“I personally think people should get a certification to own a dog.
“Too many dogs get put down because the owner doesn't know how to train or treat the dog they got.
“Dogs or any pets are not a toy it's a living thing that needs love and guidance.”
According to the American Kennel Club, chihuahuas are intelligent small dogs that require a “firm but gentle” approach to training.
They can be up to 8 inches in height and weigh less than 6 pounds.
Owners may have to carry their chihuahua if it starts panting and struggling to keep up during walks.
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