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| Are Chihuahuas easy to
housebreak?
My experience has been that it is a little tougher to get a Chihuahua housebroke than it is a bigger bred. It takes diligence, patience, and lots of paper towels!! It can be done, though. It is up to the new owner to carefully watch their new puppy's behavior to see when they are looking for a spot to potty and to take them out on a regular basis. There needs to be lots of rewards when the job is done outside. Chihuahuas don't like the cold weather, so it is much tougher in the winter months to train a puppy to go outside. I have had several clients train their new pups to litter boxes. All the pups leave here pad trained, and possibly outside trained if the weather is warm.
I leave food available all the time. Make sure that you see your puppy eat at least three times a day, four times for the very small puppies. When you bring your new puppy home, keep the food and water available in whatever room your puppy will spend the most time in. Don't expect a new puppy to go to a different room to find it's food. It is very important that small breed dogs eat several times a day while they are puppies to avoid hypoglycemia What brand of dog food should I feed my Chihuahua? Aren't they all the same? No, they are not all the same. In fact, there are really only a handful of really good quality dog food with a safe level of protein for puppies. I feed Nutrapet Innova Adult Dry (not EVO), Innova Adult Dry Red Meat, TOTW, and Merrick Wilderness and Merrick Before Grain. They all contain an excellent meat content with little to no grain content. It is amazing that so many people are not aware of, or just don't care, about what is really in the food that we feed our pets. Please do your dog a great big favor and visit this webpage, www.bornfreeusa.org to see what is really in pet food. It is disgusting. You can also visit this website: www.dogfoodanalysis.com to review the dog food that you are currently feeding. At the bottom left of the page is a link to an alphabetical index of all dog foods made. They are an independent website and are not trying to push any brand over another.
This is low blood sugar, and is common in the toy breeds. Most puppies outgrow it, but for some, it is a lifelong problem. Symptoms of low blood sugar are a staggering gait, glassy eyes, and sometimes either limpness or rigidity. If the dog doesn’t receive immediate help, he can suffer seizures, unconsciousness, and finally, death. Treatment involves putting some white Karo syrup in your dog’s mouth, calling your veterinarian and heading for the clinic. Once you know your dog has a tendency toward hypoglycemia, you can prevent further attacks by changing his feeding schedule to small amounts several times a day and avoiding sugary treats. Too much sugar in his food can put your puppy on a rollercoaster ride of sugar highs and lows rather than keeping his blood sugar nice and level. Keep these signs in mind: First stage: Lethargy (lack of energy) Is your puppy sleeping at a time of the day that he is normally active? Puppy's movements seem "jerky" and puppy is wobbly and shaky. Puppy may be limp. Puppy may not lift its head by itself very easily. Lack of coordination (staggering, stumbling, falling) Second stage (CRITICAL, call your vet): Body is totally limp. Puppy cannot lift its head at all. Third stage (EXTREMELY CRITICAL, seek veterinary help immediately): Body becomes completely limp, usually the head tilts back and the neck becomes stiff, puppy appears to be dead or have seizures while unconscious or semi conscious, or puppy may be lying on its side making swimming motions and unable to get up. Puppies not as severely affected may be able to walk, but stagger and fall. Slower heartbeat. Body temperature drops. Mouth is stiff and gums become white.
No matter what stage your puppy is in,
start emergency care. Give your puppy Karo syrup immediately.
Drip it directly into the dog’s mouth. Continue while you call
the vet. Give as much as you can get down the puppy’s mouth.
Also try EnerCal or NutriCal. Keep these ingredients where they
are easily accessed. Keep the puppy warm, and keep
administering the Karo until you reach the vet. Remember
stress usually triggers hypoglycemia. What time did your
puppy last eat? It is important to feed your Chihuahua
several small meals throughout the day along with plenty of water.
I recommend keeping food and water available all day. If
your Chihuahua tends to get overweight, put him/her on a high
quality weight maintenance dry food Is the Weight Chart on the Internet Accurate? Not in my experience, it isn't.
I don't know who came up with that chart, but I have yet to have a
puppy follow it. It is better to go by breeder experience
than that chart. For instance, I had a puppy that was 2.75
oz when born, very, very tiny. He is huge!! Then I
have had pups that were 4.25 oz when born that are now very tiny,
3.5 lbs. One thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't take
much to weigh 5 lbs. People think that a 5 lb. dog is large.
IT ISN'T!!! A 1/2 gallon of milk weighs that much!!
I have had people ask me for a dog that will weigh 3 lb full
grown, and when I tell them that I have one that will weigh 4
lbs., they say "Oh, that's too big" It is very hard to see a
pound difference in a Chihuahua!! One of the health problems that Chihuahuas could possibly face is a collapsed trachea. I suggest that they wear a harness when taken on walks instead of a collar so that there is no pressure on the dog's trachea.
Absolutely!! All dogs have anal glands that could become too full and rupture. Therefore, they need to have them expressed every few months. If your dog is on a soft diet and has a soft stool (bowel movement) and doesn't get much exercise, chances are that his/her anal glands are full. Dogs can keep their anal glands clear on their own if they have a solid stool and get plenty of exercise. They also need to have their toenails trimmed every 8 weeks so that it doesn't interfere with their ability to walk correctly. A bath every couple months helps to get that old hair out of their coat and keep down the shedding. Check with your local groomer to see what they would charge for that service. They might even be happy to show you the proper way to express the anal glands and trim the nails on your own. Another thing to remember is to keep their teeth clean. Small breed dogs tend to retain some of their baby teeth, and that needs to be taken care of by your vet. Plague build up can lead to heart, lung, and liver damage from the bacteria in the plague. So it is very important to keep up on the dental work for the health of your Chihuahua. It can be an expensive cost, so are you prepared and financially able to provide that for the life of your Chihuahua?
I don't think so. All dogs are pack animals!! Which means that they should be part of a pack, even if it is only a pack of two. Although you should be the pack leader, you shouldn't be counted as one of the pack members! Watching my pack of Chihuahuas interact, they show so much attention to each other and give each other so much affection, that I just don't ever recommend having a solitary dog, whatever the breed. The exception to that would be if you don't work and can be with your dog most of the time
Chihuahua puppies always seem to
be under foot!! ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, watch where you are If you live in the country,
hawks and other birds of prey, coyotes, skunks, badgers, and mountain
lions can be If you just have to feed human
food, remember to always give tiny, tiny, bites. They can choke so
easily on a big NEVER feed your dog grapes,
raisins, onions, chocolate, macadamia nuts, or garlic. They
are very toxic to A Chihuahua is not meant to be
an outside pet. Because of their small organs, they can't store
energy like Always keep a nice warm
blanket for your Chihuahua to bury themselves under, BUT... before you sit
down, Exposure to other dogs, dog
parks, pet stores, or wherever there has been other puppies, before their
shots are
They can be if you let them.
All it takes is a little discipline to get them to not bark. I use a
water spray bottle.
No, they are not. Just
remember that you need to be very careful in your discipline so not to
hurt your puppy.
The AKC Breed Standard describes
the Chihuahua as a small dog that comes in two varieties or coat
types and ranges up to 6 lbs. The only different "variety" or
distinguishing characteristic within the breed standard is this
difference in coat variety (long and smooth). There are NO size
categories within the Chihuahua! The term "teacup" has been
used so much that it just seems normal to the public.
I use that term also, although I am completely aware that there is
no such thing!! I am aware that it is just a
term used to describe the size of a puppy and that the puppy can't
be registered as a "teacup" or "toy." Just beware of
breeders that tell you otherwise. A knowledgeable
breeders will tell you that there is no such thing as a "teacup"
or a "toy" Chihuahua. Are the Chihuahua puppies listed for sale always out of your Chihuahuas? No, not always. I have
several friends that are trusted, respected Chihuahua breeders.
Sometimes some of the puppies listed for sale belong to them.
All guarantees and policies are the same for every puppy listed
for sale on my site regardless of who owns the dams. Although there are many different looks and coat colors to the Chihuahua breed, I strive to meet the breed standards. Those puppies that don't meet those standards are priced less than what a show quality, perfect conformation puppy would be. Also, the unique coat colors, such as blues, blue fawns, brindles, merles, black and tans, are also higher in price. I also take into consideration the puppy's size. Yes, "teacups" are more expensive due to the fact that they are harder to care for. They have very special needs when it comes to their carefully monitored feeding schedule. I carefully monitor all puppies eating habits, but the smaller the puppy, the more attention needs to be given. So if I have a puppy that will be larger than breed standards, they will be less in price than that perfect conformation puppy will be. Also, I am a small breeder with
just a few litters per year, so I don't spend extravagant amounts
of money advertising. This allows me to keep my prices more
reasonable than some of the other breeders!! Should I breed my Chihuahua? First of all, what is your reasoning for breeding your dog? Is it because you have heard that the females make better dogs when they have at least one litter? Is it because you feel that you can make lots of money from the puppies? Is it because you think your dog would make such a wonderful mother that you don't want her to miss out on that experience? Or regarding your male, is it because you just don't see why it matters to have him neutered? Maybe it is your ego that makes you want him to keep those testicles? It absolutely makes no difference in the female's personality whether she has a litter of puppies or not. And, it isn't easy to find good homes and make lots of money off of the puppies, either. Since Chihuahuas are a toy breed, they don't produce a lot of puppies per litter. And since they are so small, chances are that she will have to have a c-section to deliver the pups. And believe me, those aren't cheap. Not to mention the fact that she could even loose her life trying to deliver the puppies!!! If you are an inexperienced breeder and have never been around when an animal is having a baby, then you really have no business starting with a toy breed dog!! They are not like bigger dogs and things can go wrong in a very short amount of time. Then there is the care of the babies. They have to be carefully monitored for weight gain and to be sure that the temperature is just right. You might have to supplement them every couple of hours with formula during the first weeks of their lives. Then there is the expense of vet visits to have dewclaws removed, health checks, and vaccinations. And then finding them good homes is also time consuming. I am very picky about who gets one of my pups. Just because you have the money to buy one doesn't mean that you will get one!! I have turned down many people just because I didn't feel that my dogs would be a good fit with them. And it isn't cheap having a website and paying for advertising, either. So now, do you really think that you can make lots of money from the puppies? And you have to remember that they are still dogs, and your female isn't just dying to have a litter of puppies just so that she can have the experience of it all!!! On to the boys. When you leave a dog a stud, it is a high probability that they will mark their territory. Even if you have them housebroke, I bet that when you aren't looking, they are lifting that little leg on something! And there is a higher chance of them getting prostate cancer when left unaltered. You have to make sure that your yard is fenced securely because if they get a whiff of a girl in heat, they are very clever at finding ways to escape. Plus, if you have the stud and the female, it is extremely hard to keep them apart. They have to be kept in totally separate rooms for a few weeks so that no accidents happen. And, like I said, those boys are extremely clever at finding ways to get the girl that is driving them crazy! On the other hand, if you are an
experienced breeder, truly love the breed, know how to breed
for quality, healthy puppies, can spend the time to socialize the
puppies and find them the perfect home that will love them and
care for them in the same manner that you do, can afford the
expense of good vet care, and don't mind cleaning up the spots
left by the boys and the mess the puppies make, then by all means breed your dogs. Are Chihuahuas Smart? I think that they are brilliant!!! They seem to be very smart. I just found out an interesting fact about the breed from Animal Planet's Dogs 101, and I thought I knew it all already!!! They have a bigger brain per body size than any other breed of dog. That explains why I think they are so smart! They have to put all that brain to use somehow!!!!!! Awesome.
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