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!
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Comments 164
I DID WANT TO ADD THAT THIS BLOG HAS REALLY GOOD INFO IT IS VERY CORRECT. PLEASE REMEMBER OWNING A TEA CUP UNDER 3 1/2 LBS TAKES ALLOT MORE CARE. tHEY NEED TO EAT LITTLE BITS SO THEY EAT MORE THAN TWICE A DAY. THEY NEED TO GO OUTSIDE MORE OFTEN BECAUSE THEIR BLADDERS ARE VERY SMALL. THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR TEETH BRUSHED AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK, A VET CLEANING ONCES A YEAR AND THEIR DENTEL CHEW AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK. CHIS NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT TO BE SOCIALIZED. TAKE THEM TO A PET STORE WITH TREATS AND LET PEOPLE AT THE STORE GIVE THEM A TREAT, IT ALSO GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO MEET OTHER DOGS. IF YOUR TEA CUP DOES NOT WANT TO EAT AT ALL GIVE THEM SOME PUPPY FORMULA THEY WILL DRINK IT AND SHOULD POOP. MY LULU ALMOST DIED SHE WENT TO 1 LB. AND THE VET SAID SHE WAS GOING TO DIE IF I DID NOT OPERATE HER BELLY AND GET THE MULCH OUT. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS I FEED HER FORULA WITH A DROPPER AND GAVE HER PUPPY CAL. IT COMES IN A TUB AND IS LIKE A HARD HONEY. PUPPIES LOVE IT AND IT HAS ALL THE VITAMINS THEY NEED. PLUS A MADE A MUSH OUT OF YOGART AND COTTAGE CHEESE AND RICE, BOILED IT TO A MUSH THEN PUT IT IN THE BLENDER. I THEN FEED HER EVERY TWO HOURS FOR 2 WEEKS UNTIL HER BODY ACIDS FINALY PASTED THE MULCH. SHE IS NOW 3 YRS OLD AND WEIGHS A WHOLE 3 LBS. MY NEW BABY IS NOT A TEA CUP SHE WILL BE 5 LBS WHEN FULLY GROWN. HOPE THIS DIET CAN HELP ANOTHER LITTLE ONE.
I HAVE 2 CHIS lULU WHICH IS 3 YRS OLD AND IS 3 LBS. TAN COLOR tHEN I BOUGHT A NEW SOLID WHITE PINK NOSE TRACED IN LIGHT BROWN. BABY 8 WEEKS OLD GIRL NAMED HER LOLLI SHE IS NOW 4 MONTHS AND IS 3 LBS. AT FIRST LULU DID NOT LIKE HER, MY 19 LB BIG GIRL HATED HER AND GROWLED AT HER, AND MY 11 LB. CRESTED LOVED HER. LOLLI IS TENASIOUS, SHE LOVED OUR BIG GIRL BECAUSE SHE WAS BLACK LIKE HER MOM SO EVERY TIME BIG GIRL WOULD GROWL I WOULD GENTLY TELL HER NO AND LOLLI WOULD WAG HER TAIL AND SCRATCH HER FACE. nOW WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PACK. OUR BABY FOLLOWS EVERYONE OUTSIDE TO THE POOP ARENA AND IS ALREADY ASKING TO GO OUT. SHE KNOWS ALL HER BASIC COMMANDS. I LOVE MY BABIES AND WHEN BIG GIRL AND GEISHA GO TO DOGGIE HEAVEN I WILL HAVE NOTHING BUT CHI. FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH TINY ONES LIKE LULU BE CAREFUL THEIR INTESTINS ARE SO TINY IF THEY EAT MULCH OR ANYTHING THEY SHOULD NOT IT BLOCKS THEIR TRACK AND THEY COULD DIE BECAUSE THEIR FOOD DOES NOT GO INTO THEIR BELLY.
I HAVE A POM-CHI WHO IS ALMOST 2 YEARs OLD named Boggles. when he was about 9 weeks old he’s run around biting my toes and followed me everywhere around the house. it took me a few months to realise he was teething (as he is my first puppy) and needed a gnaw stick or small bone. He loves playing with leaves on the ground because of the sound they make. Loves his clothes, even brings them to me to put them on (whatever he wants to wear at the time) and is so well behaved when putting his harness on for “walkies” time. He is so smart he even knows what “Cuddles” means and jumps up in my lap and cuddles me with his front paws. The only problem i have with him occasionally is he likes stirring other neighbours dogs (tapping at the fence, cheeky boy) and when i take him for walks he barks at everyone (human or other dogs). I’m slowly getting him to reduce the barking by saying “leave it” in a calm tone as i noticed he is full of anxiety which is apparently how this breed is. Hope this has been helpful.
I have a male and a female chi. My male, Milo begs to come to bed at night and says Mama!
I have a “Chorkie” chihuahua/Yorkie, his name is “Alfie”. He is 3 years old. He is VERY serious, quiet and lazy. But he is very loyal and loving and very rarely he acts like a puppy but when he does it is wonderful! He has a little deer butt and a goatee! Lol! I love him very much!
My dog Is 3 Bern around kids all his life. But for some reason everytime he sees one kid he tries to bite him. Never fails. I don’t understand Why. Can you please help me out.
I love my Chihuahua Roxy. My husband got her for me 5 years ago and she is my baby. I realized in the past couple months that she has been licking a spot on her leg. I’ve searched it and it seems to be a “hot spot” anyone have any advice on this?
I HAVE A CHIHUAHUA AND SHE KEEPS CRYING WHAT DO I DO?
I have a chihuahua named pluga. I had her for almost a year now. I have no idea how old she is and pretty much nothing about her. The people I bought her from said they found her. They had another chihuahua tho so I doubt it. Anyway, lately she’s been crying a lot and she’s super skinny. She doesn’t want to eat. I mix her dry food with the can food and she only licks the can food if hungry. I don’t have money to take her to the vet and I don’t count on my parents. What can I do?
we had two chihuahuas since they were puppies and we thought they’d be together for life; however, one of them just died at only five years of age. this hasn’t been easy on our little girl since she’s had to be alone during the day for the first time. However, we don’t know if we want to try bringing another dog into her home now. I’ve read that it can cause more problems than it solves. got a lot to think about.
I fostered a shelter dog named Emmie, because someone broke her pelvic and I nursed her back to health. She is a chihuahua/terrier mix and she was 3 years old. I eventually adopted her and she is my sweet baby, but she sometimes attacks my husband and I am concerned because she really bites hard. We do believe a man abused her, because she does not like men. Can anyone give me some advice?
I’ve had my dog holly for 13 years now and im 18 shes been with me most of my life but as she’s gotten older ive started to worry about when her time will come , but she still active and playful at times but to be safe I’ve decided to take her to the vet for a check up hopefuly she lives to be 20 but this just makes each moment more precious
I have a Chihuahua and he’s my life. His name is lucky. also have another small Chihuahua Lhasa mix. Lucky is five years old and is fiercely protective of me. He does have a few personality quirks. He Barks excessively, cases people out of the house and also Marks his territory everywhere – other than that he is perfect. Does anyone have any ideas to help with these quirks. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Does anyone know where i can get the additional $100 or so for his vet to remove those teeth? PM me if any info. Ive done petcare, care credit and all org
Im a chi grama solely for about 4 years since my daughter moved and left him, Chiquito 4.7lbs and 7 years. To me and my hubby by the way gets jealous sometimes too. So last year he had to have 3 teeth extracted. I had no clue about brushing dogs teeth. And I also heard chi’s have dental issues. And all i knew to feed my poor baby was poison from china. With fillers, and by products. Soft foods. That caused alot of his dental problems. They need some hard kibble type food to help remove plaque etc. So I agree with the article above. Oh yeah. I had no clue why he always itched and scratched. Lol poor Lil guy. Until I started working for a pet chain store. He had food alergies to- beef, wheat, & the stuff i couldnt pronounce on his bag of food. I stopped the junk treats that he would flip for and changed his food several times. Grain-free (Bill jac) was the one. His hair was the first I noticed to change. He was hairless prior, & had tear stains. For his reaction to the allergies. He also use to shake his Lil deer-head so much.. Yes now he has more hair and is more livly. Only bad thing is his health has been affected by more decayed teeth. Oh did i mention he was imbreed and and needs from what the vet can see at least 3 more extracted(teeth). Long story short. I want to share to who might need. Research your fur babies food and treats. I give him grain free Blue Wilderness salmon treats.
We have 3 Chihuahua’s and ate the best best, my wife has always had big dogs and now prefers chi’s, only warning I have is, the own that’s 6 yes old and our new rescued one is very protective of me and the house so we have two lock them up when guest come over, now my wife’s is a little attention freak and cries, and I mean cries, tears pour out of her eyes, if you don’t pay her attention. In long, we are a true Chihuahua family and wouldn’t have it any other way, but yes, VERY protective over house and me lol
I have 2 chi-poms one gets stressed over many things, yesterday some friends came over with their small dogs, 2lbs and the other was about 10lbs,and he was stressed most of the day any suggestions on how to help him overcome this kind of anxiety ,
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My chi is named Everlasting love. I call her Luvy for short. She is wonderful. I got her when she was 17 months old shortly after my husband passed away. I had made a promise to my husband that I would get a dog and I think he brought us together because our love is everlasting. Anyways she is 2 years old I feed her. I feed her purine one smart blend mixed with a little Cesar gourmet filets in sauce and she loves it. She loves to get on my lap and get in my face and paws it. She is such a troublemaker. Luvy has kept me sane.
I have a 2 year old chi named Mobee whom I love with all my heart. I would not recommend a chi to just anyone as they need more looking after than other larger dogs. for example i dont leave mobee in the garden alone because a snake could eat him. I have to watch small children as they can easily harm him without meaning to and thre is always the danger of him being bitten by a larger dog.
I AGREE because HAVING A CHIHUAHUA AS MY FIRST THIS REALLY helps ME!!!!
Food questions: we had the same problem with our “Angel” …. the only food she will consistently eat is PURINA PUPPY CHOW.. SHE WILL OCCASIONALLY EAT THE “BIG DOG” FOOD, BUT HER MAIN DIET preference is the puppy chow… i tried expensive dog foods and wet foods.. the only other thing she will always eat is “people food”.. I know the puppy chow is too high in calories, but i cannot make her eat what she does not like.. also, if you feed “people food”, it is best to prepare special for your baby… boiled or baked unsalted boneless chicken is a good option, but she also loves fruits and veggies too.
is pedigree for puppies good for my 5 month chihuahua to eat because i feed her but she really dosent eat
My chi is very pickie on eating dog food and don’t want it any ideas on how to get him to eat it . I have got all kinds to try with I’m
I have a question I have a little 3 year old chihuahua she is about 3 pounds and loveeeeees the sun. Well her lately shes been acting funny and she cant walk and stiffs up after a little while in the sun. It freaks me out she will be going to the vet soon just asking for opinions im scared