Someone please tell me not all chihuahuas are like this. Rita is the bossiest little thing ever! I thought dachshunds were hard headed. I’ve had three and I think if you put them all together, they wouldn’t compare to Rita.
First, she loves Vince and doesn’t have much use for me . . I just can’t understand that! 🙂 But, maybe it’s like kids – the girls usually like dad best; the boys seem to like mom best. All my dachshunds were males. Rita is a girl.
Rita sleeps in her little bassinet on my side of the bed. It’s hard to get out of bed with her there and I never wake up during the night. Vince gets up several times so it’s easier for her to be on my side of the bed. At some point every morning, usually around 5:00, she comes flying over me, goes to Vince and wants to play. He plays with her a bit, til I threaten them both if they don’t get out of bed and let me finish sleeping, but I don’t think she’s slept past 5:30 for the last week.
Yesterday morning Vince had an eye exam so he left home about 8:00. I got a load of laundry going, got the breakfast dishes put up (Vince cooks Rita an egg every morning and I think that’s part of why she wakes up so early – anxious for her egg). I decided to go back to bed. I had just gone to sleep and Rita began howling. Sitting on the sofa howling! She wanted someone in the living room with her. I thought . . she’ll stop so I’ll just wait her out. Nope, after about 15 minutes of her howling, I got up.
Then last night, she kept getting on Vince’s lap, then back on the sofa, then on his lap. She wanted him to go to bed. I said “Rita, are you ready to go to bed?” She understands “bed”. She started barking and barking and she wouldn’t stop. Vince said “I guess I’ll go to bed with her!” I said “NO! That just reinforces that she can be so demanding and get her way!” So, he didn’t go to bed and she finally curled up on the sofa and went to sleep. It wasn’t even 9 p.m. Vince told me that when I’m gone, she sometimes starts wanting to go to bed before 8. I said “What do you do?” He said “Well, she won’t stop barking til I go to bed.” Ahhh, it’s Vince’s fault she thinks she can demand what she wants.
I’ve never seen a dog that was so demanding.
Sara Fridley says
Our cat used to be that demanding about getting up every morning. You could set your clock by his 5:00 am wake up call. He would actually come stand on top of me until I would get up. And a 20 cat standing on your chest gets your attention. But he’s 18 now and seems to like sleeping until about 8:00.
Judy Laquidara says
I think that happens to all of us when we get old! 🙂
Rebecca in SoCal says
I’m not sure. My husband keeps getting up earlier and earlier. Now he comments if he sleeps to 5:30. This is without pets. (Thank goodness–I can’t imagine keeping his schedule when he travels.)
Sandi B says
We have a Shih Tzu. I have NEVER had a dog like her. She throws temper tantrums, has to have the last word, and holds a grudge. For days on end.
And, yes, she is demanding.
Who would have thought a little dog could be such a tyrant?!
Judy Laquidara says
Really? That is strange. I would have thought they would be sweet and not spoiled little monsters.
Susan says
You are giving me reasons not to have pets. =)
Nelle Coursey says
Our dogs do that all the time! Guess they have us trained.
Joyce says
I guess you need to treat them like a toddler…and only reinforce good behavior…LOL
Judy H says
Well, to be fair, you offered bed. She just agreed!
Diana G says
We have a very spoiled German shepard mix; talk about hardheaded and wants her way. She gets it with my husband as he’s wrapped around her claw and I am the strict one. She will pout for days and then run to him when he comes home after I have corrected her. He then knows she had a bad day.
I sure miss my terrier mix dog’Brie; she was so special and giving to both of us. After her stroke I was her seeing eye person to help her out. Maybe that is why she was so special.