I like this advice. And there are those dog owners who allow their dogs to become the pack leader of their household, which is a bad idea even with a small dog.

I do allow that Beau is a rescue, however, and not a puppy, and it certainly is easier to train a puppy from scratch than it is to fix an issue in an older dog.

But Tal, maybe you and Beau could benefit from some professional training advice?

Thankfully Beau has a good home with a person concerned about him.

You should meet some of the chihuahua/terrier mixes I know, I am not sure that even Cesar Milan could get them to behave in all situations. He is easy to pick up though. I mean Beau not Cesar. ;) For instance, the last time I saw Milo and his owner at the Lynnhaven Postal Center I had tried to arrange it so that Beau did not encounter Milo, but Milo's owner and Milo stopped to meet up with a dog that look quite a lot like Milo. Beau arrives and starts barking a the highest volume he has. I pick him up and he continues this barking and thrashing even when I tie him into the golf cart. I am pleading with him to calm down but he continues this craziness-- witnessed by probably six other Lynnhaven people at the Mail Center-- up until I get Beau out of sight of Milo. Milo's owner takes off in the golf cart while Milo stares at us thinking probably why this dog goes NUTS whenever he smells him.

I could get a shock collar of some sort. The other problem chihuahua/terrier I know from Doggie Doo Run Run has one of these. Beau and that dog get along quite well and are good friends.

There is a chihuahua/terrier at the Lynnhaven Postal Center that looks quite a bit like Beau and they get along just fine also but if I try to pet him, he will snap at me.

These dogs think they are Great Danes and have a huge attitude.

There are even entire shows about this breed.

This is one here, you will see a common theme with each dog:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_31Pk3nCIY

Much of this show is about El Diablo starting around 19 minute mark...

Caesar makes it look easy, I do not have what he has, his timing is amazing. I had one dog in my life I never could help. She had food aggression issues, never dangerous, but just stiff and growly.

I am sure Ceasar could have fixed pretty quickly, but he is a bit expensive :)

Beau is lucky to have someone, and I hope I do not sound preachy (not my intent at all), but I do believe you have more power than you think...

-good luck!

Thanks. There are some mean chihuahuas in that video.

Beau and Milo and their owners now just avoid one another. Milo is showing more attitude now too.

Beau gets along well with other Lynnhaven/Belvedere/Ashland dogs like with the very amusingly named Bo Derelict, Obi Wan Kenobe, Bailey, Gidget, Smidgeon, Buddy, and others at Doggie Doo Run Run like Scout II, Cooper, Lillie, Jack, One Eyed-Jack, Jon Snow (love that name), Jade, Bailey, Lillith, Roscoe, Lilly, Petie, Maggie, and sometimes Barrister (a very good name for this tiny thing that always get the last word).

Tao, you made a couple of telling comments. One, you said that Beau "pulled" around the pool to get to Milo. Two, you pleaded with Beau to calm down. The other thing is your picking him up. Basically, you're letting Beau be the alpha dog. When he starts to take the lead, make him sit and then heel until he gets the message that stretching out to full lead is not okay. When he sees Milo, make him sit. You do not move from your spot until he has sat and stayed sitting enough for you to see some control. Picking him up defeats all messages that you're the alpha. It may get him away from a situation, but it teaches the dog nothing.

Also, you've got a mix that has two very stubborn breeds. That means that training will be hard work and you'll never be allowed to let up. The one day you let Beau take the lead or not sit is the day training will have to start all over. Good luck, tis not easy task but it can be done.

I just have a 5 foot or so leash. No lead. I do not like those really long leads. It is only this dog Milo that Beau dislikes and he has never been close enough to Milo to even smell his butt or do anything else. I pull him in the other direction.

Beau is an alpha dog but he is a happy alpha dog. Beau I admit is quite spoiled.

Jon Snow is about the same mix of breeds. Also a stubborn pooch but he seems quite happy. Smidgeon too but Beau is OK with him.

Milo's owner and I kind of just work it out so we are at the postal center at different times or she keeps Milo at one end while I am at the other.

There are a few dogs on-and-off at Doggie Doo Run Run that do not get along with Beau. I just pick him up and go to another part of the dog park, go home if that does not work or go to some other dog park or some other place to walk.

Milo is a very sweet beta dog and that may be the problem.

Heard lady in store the other day who took her dog to some kind of dog whisperer or medium. possibility?

I too hate inadequate long leashes giving the dog nearly total control to make mayhem!

I use a few strategies...most important is to shorten hold on the leash so that the dog is directly under me. This makes my hold a lever with maximum power to keep the dog in position. Second is to have an adequately thick lead to allow dog to feel the tension at the neck. A police dog trainer was impressed that my large dog responds perfectly with only a thick canvas lead, not needing leather. Third is to place my body between the animals to block their view.

Merry Christmas to you and Beau!

Thanks. Merry Christmas as well to you.