How I Used A Fart To Control My Chihuahua

Yesterday morning, I think I hit a low point as a dog mom.

If Gizmo knew what I did to her, and that I laughed, she might never forgive me.

Meet Gizmo The Chihuahua:

 

This precious thing came into my life while I was volunteering at Alaqua Animal Refuge in 2013. She was part of the largest hoarding case they had ever taken in.

There were 97 dogs trapped in a single-wide trailer. They were covered in feces, urine, and fleas… so who knows what she’s been through BK. (Before Kelly)

Now, she is happily living with myself and her big sister Trixie in my 24′ Travel Trailer. We live out West on public lands with PLENTY of walking/running space.

You can read about Gizmo’s hoarding case here.

But Let’s Talk About The Fart Factor…

When Gizmo The Chihuahua needs something, like to go potty, she makes a peculiar little noise. It sounds a lot like a baby alligator. Like, almost exactly.

It varies just a little, but when I hear it, I IMMEDIATELY wake up.

Never heard a distressed baby alligator? Click below for ‘Gizmo’s’ sound.

So thankfully, she asks to go outside and potty. That’s GREAT.

But sometimes she does it, like, during hours that aren’t so cool. Like in the middle of the night. Getting up, letting her out, and having to BE out there with her because it’s dark and there are predators who want to eat her, sucks.

Many times it’s super cold out. Sometimes there has been snow. No, I don’t like getting up and standing outside in the cold almost every night.

Until now, I would always get up because I don’t want her to go in the RV. She ALWAYS goes, so she’s not lying about it.

She doesn’t just go out to explore. But lately, I’ve wondered…

‘Can She Hold It?’

And this is Gizmo’s “I need to go potty” face.

So recently, I have just been giving her my sharp little ‘Ahh!’ noise that means ‘no’, and it seems to be working.

She usually crawls back in bed and I go back to sleep.

Which leads us to yesterday morning.

Gizzie was under the ‘kitchen’ table making her noise. Around 6 am. (Not too early but Momma wasn’t ready to get up.)

So I did my ‘Ahh!’ sound back at her. She persisted a little. Not much. But enough.

A Little Background

Yeah, you need a little back story. This little dog can be afraid of her own shadow. She weighs only 2.4 pounds.

TWO POINT FOUR pounds. When you’re counting ounces, you know something is tiny.

A fly could pick her up. When you’re that small, everything in the world is a giant and theres a fear factor built-in.

I can’t blame her for being scared of certain things.

But I don’t understand why she is afraid of certain sounds.

For instance, fart sounds.

She will run for cover if she gets the tiniest wind of that harmless sound.

(Get it? Wind?)

Come to think of it, this is my second dog that is scared of farts.

Where have I gone wrong?

Now Back To The Fart…

That morning she didn’t comply with my ‘Ahh!’ request. She kept annoying me with her little alligator squeak.

Just then, I felt an incoming (outgoing?) fart building up.

An idea popped into my head. One that was shameful but could be equally hysterical.

Did I dare?

Would it be mean?

I thought ‘What if I let it rip and see if it snaps her out of asking to go out.’

So I did. I farted.

Hard.

She’s a badass in some regards.

It worked. The effect was INSTANTANEOUS.

The poor girl shot back over and crawled into bed and burrowed into her blanket…

and I almost died laughing…

‘Did I really just do that’?

‘Did that really just work’?

Yep.

I laughed all day.

I laughed because it worked. Also, I knew she didn’t know what I had just done. But I knew. I got my way. Using gas as ammunition.

I almost didn’t want to post this because it could be interpreted as ‘mean’. Maybe I’ll even get a few hater/trolling comments. (sigh)

No, I have never, ever used fear to control my Girls. Just this once. For the comedy factor.

Hey, it was just potentially too funny to not try. She didn’t know where it came from! She didn’t know I did it, or why.

She’s OK!

Still, I felt dirty afterward, like ‘Did I just use a fart to control my chihuahua?’

I did.

I’ve ‘made it up’ to her with plenty of love and walks and kisses. (The usual)

I hope my use of gas that one time doesn’t traumatize my Chi for life. 😂 (I’m joking, of course. She’s fine.)

I love that little girl with all of my heart! She (and Trixie) bring a boatload of joy into my life.

I think they have a very good life and I am lucky they chose me to be their life hostess.

XOXO Gizzie! I Love You, Girl!