Category Archives: Chihuahuas
Choosing a Veterinarian for Your Chihuahua
If you thought choosing your Chihuahua was hard, just wait until you try to choose a veterinarian to care for your Chihuahua. This is much like selecting a doctor for yourself or your child – and there is much to consider.
The first thing that you want to look for in a veterinarian is whether or not they have experience with small dogs, and more specifically with Chihuahuas. Not all veterinarians are qualified to care for small dogs – even if they are licensed veterinarians. They simply do not have the necessary experience. This is the first thing that you should look for in a veterinarian.
Next, consider how close the veterinarian is to your home. Your Chihuahua may be very used to traveling in the car, but if he isn’t, having a veterinarian that is located a ways from home could be an issue. Next, consider the office hours of the veterinarian – are those hours convenient for you? Most veterinarians keep bankers hours, but are available after hours and on weekends for emergencies – but this isn’t true of all veterinarians. Make it your business to find out.
Call the office and make an appointment. Note how the…
Chihuahuas and Other Pets
Most people who own Chihuahuas only own Chihuahuas, and there is a very good reason for this. Chihuahuas simply don’t get along with other pets in most cases, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t get along with pets if they are put into the right situation.
First note that at any age, Chihuahuas will usually fare well with their own breed. Two or more Chihuahuas can get along famously, and will be a great source of companionship for each other when their humans are otherwise occupied. New Chihuahuas can be introduced to the household without a problem in most cases, despite the ages of the other Chihuahuas in the home.
With that said, however, you might note that this is where the Chihuahua’s patience with other pets pretty much ends. Most Chihuahuas will not be tolerant of other pets in the home. Fights will often break out, and the Chihuahua will seldom – if ever – back down…no matter how large or threatening the other pet is.
Again, this doesn’t mean that Chihuahuas and other pets cannot reside peacefully in the same home. The trick to making this happen is to bring the Chihuahua into a home where other…
Chihuahuas and Children
Most Chihuahua owners will agree that Chihuahuas and children really don’t mix well. This mostly refers to very small children, but may also refer to older children, depending largely on the Chihuahua in question.
You see, Chihuahuas are much like small children themselves. They are not very tolerant of other pets, unless those other pets are in fact Chihuahuas. They are also not very tolerant of small children – and again depending on the dog, they may become highly jealous of personal human relationships, but this is mostly confined to Chihuahuas who have an extremely strong bond with their owner.
Again, a Chihuahua isn’t recommended for a home that has small children, however if you have children and a Chihuahua, it is important to realize that the child will need to be taught to have respect for the Chihuahua. The Chihuahua isn’t likely to change his personality, and he really won’t have a strong concept of any rules pertaining to his actions or interactions with the child.
Teach the child not to handle the Chihuahua, and also to understand the warnings that the Chihuahua gives. If the Chihuahua bites the child, it will most likely be due to the actions…
Bathing Your Chihuahua
Depending on how dirty or smelly your Chihuahua gets, he will need to be bathed at least once a month, although most owners will give their indoor Chihuahuas a bath once every one to two weeks. As a dog, the animal will be going outdoors often, and can get into all manner of things that you will want to wash away.
Bathing a Chihuahua is fairly easy. First, only use shampoo that is designed for dogs. Human shampoo – including baby shampoo – will dry out his skin. Because the Chihuahua has sensitive eyes, look for a tearless dog shampoo, and even then, try to avoid getting soap or water in the dog’s eyes when you wash him.
Use a sink or dishpan to bath your Chihuahua. These are small dogs, and due to this, it is much easier and safer to bath them in smaller containers. Only a small amount of water is required in the sink or dishpan, and if you have a water sprayer, this is the best way to wet and rinse the dog.
Get the dog wet, and avoid getting water in the ear canal. This can be avoided with the use of cotton balls right inside of…
Adopting an Older Chihuahua
When you decide to get a Chihuahua, you might determine that you want an older Chihuahua. There are many reasons why an older dog may be preferred to a puppy.
The first reason you might prefer an older Chihuahua is that puppies take up a great deal of time. In the case of tiny Chihuahuas, you may even need a baby sitter when you work, while the dog is still a baby. The chances are good that you could find an older Chihuahua that is already housebroken, and this is always a plus.
Another common reason to seek out an older Chihuahua is your age, and the age that Chihuahuas live to be. Chihuahuas can live to be as old as 22 years of age, but the average is closer to 15 years. If you are an older person, you may not want a puppy that is going to outlive you. This may be due to the fact that you are unsure as to whether there would be anyone willing to care for the dog when you are gone.
No matter what your reasoning is, if you have determined that you want to adopt an older Chihuahua, there are many places from which…
Are You Ready for a Pet Chihuahua?
Before you get any type of pet, it is important to determine whether or not you are really ready to own and care for a pet. However, this is especially true when it comes to getting a Chihuahua of your very own.
These are precious tiny dogs, but don’t let the small fool you. These are also incredibly high energy dogs, and while they don’t require a great deal of grooming, they do require a great deal of time and attention.
First think about the time issue. As small puppies, these little dogs will require constant attention. If you work, you may need a babysitter for the puppy until he gets a little bit bigger.
Once the dog is bigger, he will still need a great deal of attention from you, although you can leave him alone while you are at work. Chihuahuas are highly social with the people that they love, and extremely loyal.
As mentioned, Chihuahuas are high energy dogs. This means that they are almost always in motion, and some of these dogs do bark excessively. If you – and your neighbors – cannot handle that, you might want to think about a different breed of dog.
Although Chihuahuas don’t require a…
The History of Chihuahuas
Chihuahuas are fascinating little dogs – with a fascinating history as well. The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog known to man, and some scientists believe that the Chihuahua is also the oldest living breed of dog as well.
The Chihuahua gets its name from Chihuahua, Mexico, located in the northern part of Mexico. It is often stated that this is where the dog was ‘discovered,’ but that isn’t necessarily true, since the Chihuahua has been around at least as far back as the 2nd century.
Science and archeology has proven that Chihuahuas existed thousands of years ago on both the North American continent and the South American continent. Clay sculptures of what appear to be Chihuahuas have been discovered in South America, and are believed to be the work of the Mayan Indians.
It is widely believed that the Toltecs also had dogs that resembled the Chihuahua, although those dogs were just a bit stouter than the Chihuahuas of today. These dogs are known as Techichis. It is further believed that the tiny stature of the Chihuahua today is a cross between the Techichi and miniature Chinese dogs.
Another theory is that the small size comes from Techichi mating with Perro Chihuahueno,…