Dog bit me out of fear because I was angry...how to better deal with this in...

...the future? Earlier, I was trying to get my Chihuahua to take his medication. He doesn't like to take it and even if I put it in food, he will either separate the two and spit out the pill, or simply won't eat either.

I tried using the method where you gently open their mouth and place the pill behind the bump of the tongue. He still spits it up...and the more I keep attempting, the more frustrated he gets with me and starts to show his teeth.

Well, when he started to show his teeth, I started to yell at him..his growling escalated along with my yelling and trying to get him to take the pill, until he eventually bit me. Once he bit me, I smacked his bottom (obviously not hard seeing as how he is only a Chihuahua)..and I put him in his crate.<--I know this was the wrong thing to do...but I did not know how else to react. If I just walk away when he does this, he will think he can do it every time I want him to take a pill.

How do I avoid this in the future? I don't want my dog's first instinct when he is scared, to be biting. But at the same time, how do I not yell at him for showing aggression? Naturally, when he bites or is mean, I want to reprimand him, but I feel it will only get worse....so what do I do?


Let me also add-- he's actually well trained and extremely intelligent..and is always a very good dog. He only shows aggression when I am yelling or reprimanding him- and I know I need to stop the yelling, but what other way can I train him where that isn't necessary?

And if any one has any tips on how to make pill taking time easier for both of us, I'd really appreciate it.

If he starts being aggressive and I simply walk away, he will think it's okay and that he can do that every time I want him to take his daily medicine. So rather than reprimanding him, how do I show him who is in charge without all the hostility?
Kate, I did actually read both articles. I found both of them very insightful..but the first one was kind of already common sense and didn't really help me on what I actually should do (just that I need to not forget that his behavior is normal and that I can't respond to it the way I did)...the second one was very useful but sort of only explained where those behaviors came from and what not to do. But I really do appreciate you showing them to me, they were very informative. I guess I'm just looking for...like..a more specific approach..almost like directions.