Josh- after you recent reply, I am convinced that it MUST be related to your GFs dog! LOL- have to ask- did your GF's chihuahua bark a lot the first time he/she met your SV? If yes.....was it the typical small dog type of barking....(ruff...ruff....wuh wuh wuh wa wa wa) ENDLESS high pitched hyper barking? This same style of barking seems to drive my F2 Nuts when she is outside on her leash/harness at the same time that our neighbors have their small "yapper type dogs" out. My girl is nervous by nature when outside on a harness.....(seems to prefer being inside) and the neighbor's small, hyper dogs drive her NUTS! Every time she hears the non stop barking, she gives them a "WAA- OOO" sound in reply! Our neighbors have one of those electric fence systems on the edges of theor property- their 4 small dogs run freely outside during the day- and tend to bark at all of us when we are in our back yard. LOL- they try to act "so tough"! I realize that these small dogs are simply, trying to defend their property....and they HATE it when we are in our own back yard! I have warned my own children to NOT try to pet these dogs. I have first hand experience in knowing that they WILL snap at strangers! For the protection of my kids, I am working on making friends with the "psycho small dogs" next door! Next question--- please describe your GFs dog's behaviors when YOU stay at her place. Is he/she defensive or aggressive toward you being there?
In my case, I have noticed many very interesting things in regard to my SVs behaviors. She does seem to dislike the neighbor's small dogs...BUT she is ok with larger dogs that she has never met! At last years Vet Check, there were all big dogs in the waiting room. My girl hates being in her carrier- so I took her out of it in the waiting room and hooked her leash to her harness to safely permit her to sit on my lap as we waited. She had interest in trying to check out all of the larger dogs who were in the waiting room at the time and showed zero fear of them. The dogs were trying to sniff her- and she wanted to sniff back. I of course, did not trust these dogs. Even though their owners had them well restrained, I would not let her get near them-but she WANTED to check them out! LOL- the other cat owners in the room thought this was amazing.
We also own an older Yellow Lab. Bella was the ONLY cat that I have ever owned who has been nice to him. After reading your story, I can't help but wonder if SVs may be annoyed with the personalities of smaller dogs if they are not used to them????
Some insight on my end re Chihuahuas- My Aunt had several Chihuahuas when I was a kid. LOL- one of them was called TIGER for good reasons. Tiger was given to my mom when he was a pup. I was born a bit later and the 2 of us must have bonded when I was a baby. My mom gave that dog back to her sister when she started to help out with my dad's Office. That dog never forgot about me- and always tried to "defend me" every time my older cousins came close to me at family get-togethers! LOL- he was one tough little dog who always made a point of defending "his territory"! I was in 4th Grade when he died- and he was such an awesome dog! Could it be that your GFs dog is showing aggression toward your SV with the endless barking? LOL- the dog may have a need to defend HIS territory (your GF).....and your SV may remember the initial meeting meeting between the 2 of them? LOL- if the dog was yapping his/her head off, your SV may have been thinking "WTF is this crazy creature"? LOL- my Bella can't stand small dogs for the same reasons!
YES- please try the scent transfer process. Let's take it one step further......have your GF brush her Chihuahua.... tell her to take all hair out of the brush and place it on the shirt that she is leaving at your home. You should consider trying to do the same for her......Give her something that has the scent of your SV on it for her dog to experience. After hearing your story....I am convinced that things will improve if the 2 of you can find a way to have your pets accept each other. The scent transfer process is a START.... The 2 of you need to work toward gradually introducing the animals to one another as well. Seriously- would it not be better for the 2 of you to share BOTH of your pets in your relationship with one another? Look deep within yourself.....if you feel that this GF is "the one for you", then both of you can work together toward this Goal of having the pets get along.. If this is not right for either of you at this time, the efforts may not be worth it for either of you to start an intense socialization process between the 2 pets. Hope this helps!
