What Does It Take To Make A Chihuahua Happy?

What does it take to make a chihuahua happy?  First of all, it's love and attention.  Chihuahuas are the kind of dogs that love to be with their people. Most of the time, they choose one person out of the family who they cling to most, but not always. In our household, my chi prefers to lay beside me, but also loves the attention of my hubby, my son and my stepson. My hubby's chi prefers to be with him, but will follow me around the house, especially when it's time to eat.(of course) Chis can be more friendly if socialized more so it depends on your situation.
Chihuahuas also need a soft warm spot to lay. Mine prefer to have a blanket large enough for them to snuggle underneath as if to burrow. During the nights, my chis prefer to sleep in their own kennel, as if they needed their privacy (ha!).
Chihuahuas also need to have a good kibble that's small enough for them to eat well, and some like some of the wet dog food as well, but make sure it's a good quality one.  Chi's also need plenty of water. I leave a bowl of water filled at all times.
Chihuahuas love to play, well most of them do. My Bella loves to play, but my hubby's Shorty Dog does not care about any type of play...he likes to just lay around.
Chihuahuas are a hearty little dog, but they act as though they are the biggest dog in the world. My dogs do not understand that they are small. They are actually fearless. They are wonderful barkers and alert you to anything that's not normal activity but they do not make a good guard dog, although my chis just so happen to act like they are ready to jump the person who even gets close to me, and sometimes can act like they are going to ankle bite.
Chi's need a good veterinarian to take of their needs such as keeping them up to date on shots and taking care of their health. These little dogs deserve the best care they can get, so make sure that you like their vet. Along with this, they need some grooming if they have alot of hair, and if not, then a little bit will do with regular nail clipping too!
A place to go to the restroom and do their duties is good and if they are an inside only dog, then doggie pee pads are a must!, along with a patient person to teach them where to go and not go.
Chis also enjoy toys, a nice comfty bed, and sometimes they enjoy clothing and jewelry..lol, but mine do not do well with clothing unless it's cold outside!

Puppy Chewing Tips

I named my littlest chi "Bella" but am now wondering if I should have named her Miss Bite-Everything-In-Site!.....I know that she is a puppy, and all puppies chew but she has tons of toys to chew on, but prefers to chew on the cords that connect to my computer and almost demolished one totally. I had to raise the computer up higher to prevent her from finishing off that one cord and start on another, and it's not as if I am not home, because I am. She just stays so busy that it's hard to follow her around all over the place.
For this reason, I am now going to give a great tip, especially for puppies.
Puppy-proof the house, and that means tying up all cords, putting away the shoes that you don't want chewed up, making sure that no extra food drops to the floor so they can get it, keeping the rug or floor vaccumed or swept as best you can, and even keep your pee-pads or newspapers out of reach because they will chew on EVERYTHING!
I have found that the "kong" toy with a treat inside will help or even detour some of this but if your chihuahua puppy is as rambunctious as mine, then it's going to be a contstant battle. Just remember, chihuahuas stay puppies for quite awhile and they teeth so they will really need to be watched really well....and don't forget--they are just puppies!

Chihuahuas and jeaoulousy

Chihuahuas can be really demanding, especially if they think they are being challenged. My Prissy dog thinks that she owns me, and if ANYONE else in the family comes near me, give me attention or takes more of my time than SHE thinks they should, she is right there, up in my face, licking what she can, to get more of my time. She is a jealous little thing for sure. Chihuahuas love being the center of attention and will try every little thing that they can to get your attention. Of course, my chis deserve all the love in the world because they are absolutely wonderful. My chi loves jumping up and down, grasping at the edge of my shirt when I get online because she thinks that she needs to be sitting on my lap. She fiercely wants my undying attention. Funny, how these very small dogs can be so jealous.

Chis and Outdoor Cold Weather

I don't know about you, but my chihuahuas are strickly inside pets. However, there are many chi owners who let their chis outside. I believe they love smelling the cool air and feeling the cool ground beneath their feet. I know that when my front door is open, since the screen door is there to allow them to soak up some sun, they love sunbathing, but cannot be allowed to bathe there too long because they start panting terribly. In very cool, or cold weather, however, they need to have a sweater or coat on to protect their small little bodies from getting too cold. They shake and shiver when they are cold, as well at other times, but they should not be allowed to get too cold. There are so many cute sweaters out there these days, why wouldn't you want to dress them out when they go out? They might like going outside "in style".

Chihuahuas and sickness

All is pretty quiet in our household since Shorty had his seizure, however, Shorty has been limping a big and not wanting to use his left foot. I don't know if he got it caught up in a blanket or rug or what happened, but I will be taking him to the vet if he doesn't start feeling better pretty quick. He is eating alright and still seems to be doing his normal routine. What can we do as petowners to be sure that our pets are happy? One thing that I have learned with chihuahuas is that if they are eating, that's a great sign, especially since they can be such picky eaters. If you notice your chi acting a little different, be sure and call a vet to check that out.....never know what's going on.

Rabies Shots and Chihuahuas

Chihuahuas seem to come in different sizes these days. Many people love the tiny tiny ones but that's not always the best. If they are too small, they can have many health problems. A chihuahua has to be big enough to at least see so you don't step on them, at least in my opinion. However, I do have 2 chihuahuas who are fairly small in size, perhaps you would call them petite. They have good sized bodies but their little legs and feet are small. If you have chihuahuas, of course, you must take them to have their yearly rabies shots. I think that my vet has chosen to shorten the dose a little because they are so small. Chihuahuas can also have reactions to rabies shots, such as the case with one of mine, who swelled up so large, face and all, that it was scarey to say the least. In this case, we took him back to the vet immediately and found out that from now on, before he gets his yearly rabies shot, we have to give him a tiny amount of children's liquid benedryl. Please don't go and give this to your chis without checking with your vet first. You have to know how much to give them and your vet is the one who can let you know how much.

Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Chihuahua Owner?

The chihuahua breed is such a special type of dog. Not just anyone can own one. I have found that many people like to get such a small dog for their children, which doesn't always work out well because chi's seem to prefer adults over children. They like the lifestyle of being a lapdog. Here are a few things that it takes to be a chihuahua owner.

1. love ---- This is number one here because a chihuahua really wants to be loved on. They enjoy having love from "their" person.
2. attention --- Oh boy do they love to have the attention! Chihauhuas normally expect to get most of the attention around the house and when they don't, they do things to get that attention. Chihuahuas demand quite a bit of attention. They love to play.
   
3. time ---- This breed of dog really likes the companionship of their people. They love being on your lap, or perhaps right beside you wherever you sit. My dogs never give me the opportunity to sit on my favorite chair alone. My dog doesn't even like me being on my computer alone....she thinks she deserves to be on my lap looking on at all times.
4. caring --- Chihuahuas need a caring owner, one who cares enough to be sure to look after their health issues, taking them to the vet when needed, keeping up on their shots, picking out the right kinds of foods for them (as they are very fussy eaters at times)
5. understanding --- chis need someone who is going to understand that they do not really reach their grown adult life until they reach 2 years of age, and that means more time willing to take the time to train. Chis can be very stubborn and have a tendency to do things their own way and this is sometimes a bit hard. They need an owner who is understanding that they are a unique breed in their own right and wants to please their person but it may take longer than other breeds due to their stubborness. I think that patience is the key here as well. My chis love to bark, and that is not always easy to tame. But no matter what, I still love them just the same.
   

Cleanliness

Keeping your chihuahua clean is so important.....now, I don't mean to bathe him/her every week but perhaps every other week. You will need to bathe with a very mild shampoo. If there are fleas, what works for me is bathing them in the blue dawn liquid dish soap, rinse extremely well and most fleas drop dead right away. Not only do chihuahuas need to be well groomed, but their bedding needs to be kept clean as well as their kennels and blankets, especially in the case of fleas. Washing out their food and water bowls are important too, but make sure to rinse well, because chis can turn their noses up to strange smells. My Prissy dog gets mad every week when I take her blanket out of her kennel to wash and once it's clean, she wants to take control of it. What a silly dog I have. Chi's sure do have alot of personality, that's for sure.

Chihuahua tips and facts

Getting a chihuahua is really a wonderful thing. But please do your research before just rushing out and buying one. Chihuahuas are a very loyal breed. They are loving, but tend to prefer one or two people out of a family rather than loving them all the same, and in my experience, they prefer adults to children. They are not guard dogs but make excellent watch dogs. Being the smallest breed of dog, they are very brave. They will stand up to a very large dog not even realizing how small they are. They do tend to bark alot, they have a tendency to shake, which is normal. They may shake when they are happy, as well as when they are scared or cold. Most chihuahuas are very much lap dogs and love to be with "their" person. Chihuahuas love to burrow under the covers and snuggle up as they do get cold easier than other breed of dogs. They are finicky eaters and do not like to potty on the papers when the papers are already soiled. They like it clean when they go or they may tend to potty "off" the paper spot. Chihuahuas have a mind of their own but are such a sweet dog that you will be glad you got one. Here is my website link where you can find out more about chihuahuas.http://www.barking-chihuahuas.com