Long haired Toy Chihauhua needs help on many levels..........?

Sounds like you have a dog that was mishandled and not properly socialized by the breeder. First and foremost I would find out if the skin condition is going to cause any health related issues that could be harmful to your dog. If not then I wouldn't entirely worry about the bald patches. I have a cat that had an allergic reaction to her yearly vaccines and now has a bald patch but she's healthy otherwise. The hair is the least of your worries, your dogs temperment and potty issues should be your main focus. How did the breeder train the dog? Many breeders especially of small dogs use paper in their kennels because they have so many dogs it's near impossible to bring them out for a potty break. If this is the case then you need to have some patience and persistance. It's a habit now for your dog to pee and poop wherever he wants to and you have to break the habit. The only way to do this is to retrain. Decide first if you want your dog to go outside or inside. I have four chi's and they all use a potty box. It's a box made by purina called second nature that is designed for dogs. I use flat newspaper on the bottom and when it's soiled I simply roll it up and throw it away or burn it. I found it is easier because my chi's hate going outside in the winter (snow is not their thing). If you want to use this method then get one of the boxes and start training. Put your chi in the box on the paper and tell him to go potty, do this every couple of hours and keep an eye on him if you see him circling or acting strange like he's going to potty pick him up and put him in the box and tell him to go potty. Talk in a normal voice. When your dog finally does go in the box then reward him with a treat and act really happy and tell him good potty. You have to use the same words over and over whatever words you want to use are fine. Also, when you are not home or can't watch him constantly don't let him have full run of the house. The biggest mistake dog owners make is letting their dogs have full run of the house before they are potty trained. Put the box with the dog wherever you leave him when your not home. If you want to train your dog to go outside do the same thing every couple hours take him outside to the area you want him to use. It's frustrating but if you give it some time and as I said patience and stick to it you will have a great little dog that knows where to potty. Nipping and biting is a serious issue and needs to be addressed sooner not later. I would let him smell my hand and try not to be too aggressive in trying to pet him or her. Go slow and let him get acquainted with you and his new surroundings. Also his nipping and biting might be pain related I would get him checked by the vet. If he's got those issue's with is skin because the breeder was careless then who knows if there is something else wrong. Take care and good luck. A good book for learning about chihuahua's is called Chihuahua's for dummies, check it out. It gives a lot of good useful information about chihuahua's.

I would consult with a groomer about the hair issues. They may have some suggestions about how to get the hair to grow back more naturally. As for the potty training you need to crate train him. Even though he is a year old he will still benefit from crate training and if done correctly he should be potty trained quickly. As for the nipping and biting you need a good dog behavioral specialist who will evaluate and work with your dog (they will help with the potty issues if you are still having a problem too). You can get a referral from your vet. This is a serious issue that must be dealt with right away. He might only be a pound but dog bites can be serious. Good luck.

i have 2 longhaired chi's they are so cute! My recommendation would be to take him to the vet or a trustworthy grooming salon and shave him completly. Starting new sounds like the best choice to me. After that take him to the vet to check out his skin, it will be easier without all that fur. Maybe even go to a different vet for a second opinion if the first doesn't help. To help with the scaly skin, ask if you can put mosterizer on him or get a prescription lotion or something. For the potty issues, you can hire a proffesional dog trainer for a couple of weeks if you are desperite. Hope this helps, GOOD LUCK!! :)

There is something called "Triamnicilone cream" that has to be prescribed, but it really helps with skin conditions; in dog and humans too. I used to have a dalmation and she was a nervous-tempered dog. She would gnaw and bite her skin until there were open sores. We started using that cream and it helped tremendously. Altough it was an ongoing process with her, because she kept right on chewing herself. Ask your vet for it and see if it helps. I'm not entirely sure on the spelling, but I know it's close.

Please watch the show called,,"The Dog Whisperer".He is amazing.