is the chihuahua the right pet for you?
the chihuahua, with its apple-head skull and large luminous eyes, can wear a remarkably human expression at times and will want to be with you most, if not all of the time.
warning: don’t buy a chihuahua if you don’t have the emotional real estate in your heart or the time for the complete love and attention of this furry little pet. they are like children.
chihuahuas can be smooth coat or long coat, apple head or dear head, blue coat or merle coat, there is no chihuahua breed standard distinction made between the two in the united states since both smooth coat and long coat can occur in a litter. experienced chihuahua owners say that each dog of this breed has their own unique personality; this is a very individualistic breed.
a few generalizations can be made. chihuahuas are graceful, energetic, and swift-moving canines. they have often been described as having “terrier-like” qualities; that is, the qualities of being alert, observant, and keen on interacting with their masters. they are extremely loyal and get attached to one or two persons.
these tiny and sometimes teacup size dogs are certainly unaware of their diminutive stature: they can be bold with other dogs much larger than themselves, and protective of their masters. they are fiercely loyal to their masters and wary of any strangers or new guests introduced into the household, which the chihuahua considers to be its personal domain. for these reasons, chihuahuas make good watch dogs (not guard dogs!).
the chihuahua needs a great deal of human contact: touching, petting, and general attention. if the chihuahua does not get this, she or he will use various attention-getting tricks until you give her/him attention. like using paws to lightly scratch the hand, a signal that says, “pet me now!” some owners who have had other, more independent breeds may find the chihuahua too needy. however, they give a lot of love and affection in return for your care.
keeping more than one chihuahua can greatly ease the dog’s stress when left alone each day if the owner works. they will compete for your attention when you get home though. because they are by nature gentle, loyal, and sweet-tempered, chihuahuas are ideal for single people, the elderly, the handicapped, and shut-ins.
chihuahuas will keep you company for hours by lying on your lap or beside your torso if in bed, and treat you like royalty. no one with a chihuahua in their household will ever be truly alone. they are quite happy in apartments, as long as there is enough to play with and explore.
opinions differ on how to bathe a chihuahua. some say that bathing too often removes the natural oils from the coat, and thus dandruff will result and the coat will look dull. others say that shampooing on occasion with certain brands of shampoo can actually enhance the sheen of the coat. chihuahuas should be bathed at least twice a month, otherwise they develop an unpleasant smell. this is actually due to the skin cells that humans sloth off onto the chihuahua! so humans are the main contributors to that smell that can develop.
when bathing, take care not to get water into their ears, as an infection can develop. you will need to trim their nails at least once a month too. on the smaller dogs, cat claw trimmers can be used. it’s good to start a nail trimming routine early on so that your dog becomes accustomed to your handling its paws not to mention getting used to the clippers. owners should also be aware that chihuahuas are prone to knee problems like luxating patellas or “weak knees.” this can occur as they get older. if it causes difficulty in walking, take your dog to the vet.
if a chihuahua pup has its american kennel club official certificate papers, a new pup can run up to $600.00. the papers (which the breeder provides) mean that the parents of your chihuahua pup is registered with the akc and that the puppy is registrable.
additionally, some chihuahua breeders provide pedigree papers which trace the family history beyond the immediate parents. these papers are vital if you plan to enter your new dog into exhibitions and competitions. these certificates and papers ensure that the dog is a purebred; however, just because a dog has papers, doesn’t mean it is any more special than a pup bought from a friend.
toy breeds live the longest of any size dog. expect a life-span of 11-18 years.
when buying a leash for your chihuahua, remember that its neck is rather small and delicate compared to other dog’s necks. you cannot (and, indeed, should not) yank your dog around by the leash. a body-harness for small dogs is recommended for two reasons: safety and comfort. if fitted right, it will give your pet a secure and comfortable walk, and harnesses also ensure your dog cannot run into traffic or a bigger creature.
chihuahuas also prefer several small meals per day, rather than one big meal. they are high-strung dogs. “high-strung” can be defined as: barks easily, does not adapt easily to change in environment, is suspicious of strangers and will growl at them, and flips in circles and jumps around when excited (like when you come home after a five-minute absence, for instance). your friends will see the worst side of them and never believe you when you tell them that your little buddy is really a gentle, sweet-natured dog.
are chihuahuas good with children?
generally, no. however if you socialize them with children at an early age, chihuahuas will go out of their way to love, protect and accept children.
do chihuahuas need clothing?
owners must be very sensitive to the fact that short-haired chihuahuas, and even long-haired ones, are vulnerable to the cold. in temperatures of 35-40 degrees fahrenheit, it is recommended that you dress your chihuahua in a warm dog sweater for brief walks. walking your chihuahua in temperatures below 35 degrees fahrenheit is strongly discouraged, especially when there is a wind-chill factor.
in this, as in other aspects of dog maintenance, keep your dogs’ health top priority, not your own desire. it is a characteristic of the chihuahua to prefer to sleep under a cloth or blanket. they will even get under pillows in order to feel snug. if you are raising a pup, be sure to provide them with a soft towel or blanket in their sleeping area so they can burrow underneath it. don’t be surprised if your chihuahua scrambles under your blankets at night, even though your house or apartment may not be particularly cold.
chihuahuas are quite the sun-worshipers. they prefer to bask in the sun for hours and have been known to lie in a spot of sun no larger than the size of a half-dollar! unfortunately, they are not sensible in this regard and will stay in the sun even when panting begins.
watching your chihuahua in hot weather to be sure that they don’t suffer from heat stroke is a genuine chihuahua health concern. chihuahuas do shiver when they’re cold, but they also shiver when they are wary, excited, unhappy, or frightened. this is a result of having a high metabolism, and is a normal characteristic of this breed.
the amazing ebook, caring for chihuahuas made easy, breed information, health care and nutrition teaches you about chihuahua ownership and shows you how to properly care for such a small dog! every chihuahua owner should have it!
below is a sample page from the section on chihuahua facts!
164 Comments.
I have a brendle its a male people tell me its very rare does anyone know about it ?
My chihuahua is my best friend. She is constantly by my side, even when using the rest room. Cocoa is five years old and still not potty trained, partly because I work twelve hour shifts. Any suggestions?
I recently got my second chi, he’s now 11 weeks old and exhibits all the best traits of the breed, as he’s so little he’s friendly with everyone & has barked a whole three times in nearly three weeks I’ve had him, we don’t agree on toilet places much as yes but a more loyal little companion I could not ask for, he goes everywhere with me including work, he can be a real baby but by and large stands proud with tail prominently curved, he’s not vocal as I mentioned but very very smart, he’s learnt some simple commands already and likes being in the car, most times he’s vocal if he needs the loo but does lapse at times, he’s constantly at my side & will get out of his bed to follow me even if I go a few steps, it’s been a long time since I had an animal in my life so there is some adjustments for both of us but by and large good, I sought him out & he will become my best friend & companion, his name is Tigger after the cartoon character, I might add he learnt this in just two days ! He understands me when I say outside, sit & blanket, I hope he will learn many more things but steady going as his attention span right now is tiny so repetitive short training seems to work, loved reading everyone’s comments !
My concern is that my chihuahua at night last couple weeks has been not sleeping at night but I have been very stressed myself and she has never slept this close to my shoulder and night what may be the concerning problem of the Chihuahua?
I have a Lil drama queen .. she was my daughtersecond when she (alviria)was about a year or so old my daughter married and move out, she took alviria with her, this little cutie would stand at her door when we left and howl it sounded like help lol it got so bad we had to take her back to our farm with us,where she was used to being, she adopted me as her owner and that was 7 tears ago lol love her so much we are inseparable
I fostered 3 little toy chi, I adopted one of them, Laycee, she’s my little princess, but she won’t come to me, she’ll just keep walking by me. She won’t cuddle, she’s not needy at all. She just turned 1 year old, I have 7 other dogs, my biggest one a standard poodle, she loves him to death, and him her. I want her to love me, want to be in my lap, she does go under the covers by me when we go to bed.
She gets along with all the dogs, even my new foster puppy.
She’s my first Chi, I love her so much, what am I doing wrong, I feel like she doesn’t love me😞
I have a baby chihuahua named Lilly and she is the cutest, sweetest adorable thing I have ever had. I always wanted a chihuahua all my life and now I finally got one. I love her to death. She is my child. I also have an aussie who I adore but Lilly is way more cuddly and affectionate which is what I wanted in a dog. I’m so obsessed with her! Words can’t even express how much I love her.
I have a two year old chi male long haired cream colored and cute as a button. He gets along with my two older Bichon Frises, and loves cuddling with them, and of course us too. He has a very sensitive stomach and gets stomach aches if he eats to much or something new. His knee will go out occasionally ,which is very painful… But, if you are looking for the most loving, loyal, baby, the chi could be your fur child to have , especially if you are an empty nester. The long haired ones shed a lot, so if that’s a problem a short haired one might suit you best. But which ever one you get, you will have the most unconditional , loving companion .
I have a new baby chi and The vet told me she is healthy but a very small dog even compared to other chi pups, any how she advised she should always have clothing on in winter even in the house.. well my baby does not like this, she just sits in a mood with me and I feel really bad. Soon as we take them off she’s off jumping around playing with her toys but then I feel her paws and ears and I can feel she is cold, but she is not shaking.. Any advice on how to make her a little happier would be great.
I’m thrilled I found this sight!!!