What is wrong!?

Actually, if it were me, I'd see if you can drop him at the vet tomorrow.  That way they can look him over and you can still get to work.  I've done that many times with some of my past pets.

Great idea. Except there is no way I could get him to the vet and be at work on time. It takes 15 minutes to get to the vet from my house. It'd take me 30 to get from the vet to work.

I'm sorry I don't have much advice for you, but I do agree with Calliecritters that it might be a good idea to start crating your dogs while you are gone... just to keep them out of harms way, since you cannot guarantee, otherwise, that they are not being mistreated in any way while you are gone.  It may be something physical causing his behavior, but either way, I honestly think I would still consider crating from now on...simply because I would personally be pretty reluctant to leave my dogs around people I didn't *know* I could trust.  Not everyone appreciates dogs...and unfortunately, you don't get to choose your family.

Good luck, I hope you figure something out.

(Edited for typos).

calliecritturs

while you have houseguests like this, go and buy 3 small crates and crate them IN YOUR ROOM while you are gone.  (lock your door if you have to -- but they shouldn't bother with the dogs if you aren't there.)

You can leave radio/tv on while you're gone.  Crating is not cruel -- and I think it's Chico who is a bit afraid of the crate, so if you crate the other two you can leave him out of the crate but IN your room with the door shut.  He may not be terribly happy but it's easier than him getting hurt or plagued to death.  (and frankly this may be part of your answer about why he's been so ill-tempered lately)

there are times when you gotta do what you gotta do in order to keep them safe.  If this won't work for some reason then figure out what you CAN do to keep the dogs out of everyone's way.  Just saying "you shouldn't do that" isn't going to work (particularly if you are the obvious one who treats the dogs 'better' and no one else cares as much as you do).

It's too hard for Mom to make sure they stay out of everyone's way (even if she claims she'd be glad to do it) -- when you have a volatile situation like that sometimes you just plain have to take things into your own hand and MAKE SURE no one can get to your dogs.

As usual, Callie has very good advice. I know you don't like crating, but if you honestly feel like the people in your house might heckle or even kick your dogs, you really owe it to the dogs to keep them safe no matter what it takes. Even if it means crating them and putting a padlock on the crate, or just leaving them loose in your room and locking the door. I think if you step up a little bit and take a more proactive role in managing your dogs' environment to make sure it's calm and safe and non-threatening you'll probably notice some big behavioral improvements in all of them. I know it made a huge difference in Rascal's behavior when I stopped expecting people to be nice to him and expecting him to be nice to people and instead kept him out of all situations where I wasn't in control of what was happening (such as guests, or things out in public) and instead introduced him to scary things slowly, and on our terms. It really was a behavioral 180 - a completely changed dog.

I hope Pedro feels better soon, and that the vet can figure things out. Poor little guy. 

Well, I've gotten frustrated with this mentality on another thread this week too.  I mean, geeze, call work, tell them the dog is sick, you will be a little late because you need to drop him at the vet on the way in.  I don't know what else to say, obviously it's past time now.  So, hopefully, he either got to see the vet or is OK today. 

You've got four dogs, if something happens you need to do better than say nobody is open, can't get there, etc.  You have to work these things out when they happen. 

Sorry, if that sounds harsh.  I'm not trying to be mean just trying to help.

This is about the saddest thing I have ever heard.  It sounds like he is being abused while you are not there.  Chi's are very sensitive and cannot take people yelling at them or kicking at them.  That is just so very sad.

You need to protect your dogs.  Crate them and lock them up in your room or have your aunt watch them.  To do otherwise is abuse imo.  Someone could really hurt him - he is tiny and helpless. 

I am sending prayers for both your little guys.

Sorry it makes you frustrated, but how do you think I feel?

I mean I'd love to just not go in at all and stay here and make sure he is safe, but I can't do that. I've missed tons of work lately due to me having a miscarriage. I had so much pain with that I couldn't move. My last day is Thursday because while all of that was going on, I just couldn't go to work, so I put in my two weeks notice. These last few days are what I depend on, because it's all the money I'll have for awhile. I'm honestly not trying to sound rude either (and i don't mean it in a rude way), but it's not always that easy to just drop everything and go.

Today he is fine. Still hiding and shaking a little, but is wagging his tail, giving me kisses and is excited to see me. I'm still going to keep a close eye on him though. My dad knows if he starts acting strange, to call me and I'll get off work.

You do the best you can do and let us know he's okay. I don't know how to tell you how to deal with your family and such advice might not be wanted, either. I just know that they need to come to an understanding with you.

Update: Pedro is back to normal! (Well, almost.)

I highly think he was just under too much stress. After all you guys "pounding it into my head" that crates really aren't bad, I'm going to try and invest in some, soon. He's acting so much like himself today. What a relief. Still a little worried around people ..but he's not hiding, not shaking, giving mom LOTS of kisses, eating.. and just about everything else.

Thanks for all your support and good advice.

Anyone know any websites where they aren't too expensive? I kind of want to get them a little big so they have room. ..Or do they need a lot of room?

About the only advice I could give, if you can't find what you want locally is to certainly peruse the shopping pages of our host, dog.com.

And I think you may be on to something. Pedro needs his own safe place to decompress and be unbothered, which may also help with your family. If he's not underfoot, they may not holler at him as much, which would certainly have added stress.

Mine have the medium size crate (I think it's on sale from Dog.com for around $31.00 - its the 26x18x16 size).  My two seem to prefer a larger size crate than the normal recommendation.  Plus then you can put a much-appreciated pillow in it and some blankets without squishing your dogs! 

I so love Chihuahuas and want yours to be happy so if you need help, please PM me.  I will do what I can to help you and your dogs.

Wow, $31 is not bad. I was thinking around $40-50 for each one.. gosh. lol. Thanks.

*What do you think: http://homeandkennel.petedge.com/Midwest-Starter-Series-Crates-MW124.pro?parentCategoryId=194&categoryId=310&subCategoryId=502

I got Rascal's newest crate from Dog.com - this one: http://www.dog.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=080111%20001 

The size/style depends on your dogs - do they tend to like to curl up in small spaces, under the blankets, things like that? Rascal does, so he's happy with his 25x17x17 crate (and he doesn't spend much time locked in it anyway). If your dogs tend to prefer to stretch out or don't like to be enclosed, I'd recommend a wire crate in a bigger size.

Craigslist is also a great idea. 

I`m so glad to hear Pedro is feeling much better. If you live anywhere where they have second hand stores or pawn shops look there. I got a crate for Molly for $9.00. It was in great shape too. I did wash it out with bleach water just to be careful. Garage sales are another place to fine crates cheap. Where I live garage sales won`t start up for a few months as I live where it feels like the coldest place on earth. Mollys crate is large enough I could fit two of her in it easy. If she wants to be alone she goes way to the back and you don`t even know shes in there. Then at times she wants to really stretch out and takes up the whole crate. Good luck with your pups. Hope everything works out for everyone.