How do I get my chihuahua to like my husband?

I adopted two chihuahuas a few weeks ago while my husband was away for a week. They were rescued from someone who rescued too many pets and couldn't care for them all. They are supposedly 5 months old. The male has been fine with my husband from the minute he returned home but the female seems to be terrified of him. She cowers and sometimes even growls. I'm afraid it'll turn into biting soon. How can we all work together to make her like him? Any good suggestions?How do I get my chihuahua to like my husband?
Catkeypurr is right on the money. Your husband should take the lead in caring for your female. He should definitely be the one to feed her. Also you %26amp; he should do some desensitizing of the female together where you are all sitting on the floor. He can offer the female some yummy treats from his hand. (no eye contact/standing) -- just good times and food. Once she gets more use to him - he should walk her. Since you are asking your husband to take on a lot of responsibilities with the female dog -- YOU should be taking some of the other household chores off his hands. He takes out the garbage? -- you get to do it now while they are training together. Nothing worse than a resentful person in the house to sour the emotional mood.





And as the two of you should be doing some obedience training with the two dogs in any case -- why don't you both go to class together? It would be fun.How do I get my chihuahua to like my husband?
I find the usual way to win a dog round is for that person to feed and exercise him. Otherwise it's just a matter of not forcing this issue. Let the dog come to him and do not extend a hand etc. Just act natural - if you want to come see me, that's fine, if not, that's fine too. And get your husband to go down to their level - they are tiny dogs after all. If she sees the other one being comfortable with him, eventually she'll join in.





Were these two living together? If so that will help because she may well follow his lead, eventually. Obviously something in her past has caused this - assuming she's like it with all men? And this is the trouble with rescues - they always come with some sort of 'baggage', and it takes time, and patience, to bring them round to your way of life.
If you and your husband work together, it would be easier. If seems frightened, reassure her, pet her and give her a treat.





When your husband enters the house or comes into a room, reassure the dog and give her a treat.





After a few days of this, maybe your husband and you could try sitting together and calling the dog over. Give her a treat, reassure her and pet her til she seems calm. Have your husband offer her a treat once she seems calm.





Hopefully, she will look at your husband as a source of treats, and forget about her anxiety.





Maybe she was abused by a man, and this is her way of responding to it? We never know what animals have been through before we get them.
He needs to be the one to feed, walk etc. The more involved he is in the care of the dogs the faster she'll relax with him.





If you have no trouble handling her, pick her up %26amp; hand her to him then walk away. Have him just hold her quietly %26amp; without petting or making eye contact then set her down.
I watched this on 'the dog whisperer' and he said feeding treats isn't ideal because if the dog is nervous she won't want to be fed.





He managed to solve the problem by sitting near the dog and talking to the owner with a treat in his hand. They just ignored the dog until she was ready to approach him and then he just gave her the treat but didn't try to stroke her or overwhelm her.
Time and patience. Have her just spend time in the same room as him while he reads or does something quiet. They could nap together or watch TV together -- don't force anything. She might be frightened. Be glad that the male is OK with him. With rescues U have to be extra patience.
Have your husband give your dog treats and when you guys are sitting next to each other call the dog on to your lap but dont let your husband make sudden moves because chihuahuas are easily startled.
Well most female chihuahuas take favor towards one person, but if your husband just ignores her she will start to feel sad and will start to feel like she needs him and will start to warm up to him.
i would guess your husband is really tall, think about your dog she needs to look up at him which is scary for her, and who can blame her. What does your husband do around her. Basically if he makes her to sit on his lap or to hold her this wont help. You need you husband to sit on the floor, so he is closer to her level and let her come to him when she is ready, this wont happen over night. If he feeds her a little treat this will help, and if he plays with the other chi , the scared chi will think he is not as bad as she first thought. Chis dont like loud noises, shouting etc so she see him as a threat. It time and love. I have a little boy chi that was scared of my husband it took him 3 years to get used to him, and now he will sit on his lap when he wants and will jump up his leg but wont let him pick him up.


If a scared chi can see that another chi is fine with him, then your half way there. If your husband is scared of her, nervous of her then your dog will no and this will make it a lot harder for her to trust him. Hope this helps, good luck Maria