Q. My husband and I are taking care of my husband's grandmother's 5 month old chihuahua for a couple of months while she is in the hospital.  The dog has been around many dogs, due to the fact that his grandmother has 7 chihuahuas but hasn't been around many people outside of my husband's grandparents.  The dog is very fearful.  He generally hides in the corner some where.  When we try to interact with him, he typically runs away.  When we do catch him (which we have to do to get him to go outside to use the restroom) he'll typically bite.  He seems to spend a good portion of his time, hidden in a corner, literally shaking with fear.  I am sure that he bites out of trying to defend himself.  I really don't know how to help him feel safe.  We've tried putting him in our laps and petting him.  We've also tried giving him treats.  Any suggestions?

A. It sounds as if your grandmother’s dog is not socialized and is biting out of fear. Unfortunately he may be past the age where he can be re-trained to respond normally to people. But you may be able to make his stay more comfortable. I would recommend confining him to a dog crate or a small room. Feed him twice a day in the crate or room and try to make “friends” with him when you are feeding him. Leaving a thin leash attached to his harness or collar will make it easier to extract him when it’s time to go out. (He will probably need to go out just after eating.) Once he has been reassured that he has a safe territory, you may be able to bring him out for short periods of time to get used to your family. When he gets overwhelmed and fearful, he may growl or try to bite, in which case it’s best not to over-react - just put him back and try again later.

I hope these suggestions help. It sounds like a very difficult situation.