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CHIHUAHUA CARE TIPS

Special Note by J&E: If you do not know what to do in an emergency situation,please take your puppy to a VET! Diarrhea in tiny puppies is nothing to play with. Kaopectate or Pepto Bismal(for diarrhea),Pedialyte(for fluid replenishment),Nutrical (or generic Nutri-Stat) a small syringe(without needle!) or dropper are NECESSARY items to have on hand BEFORE you get a new puppy. Thank You... ____________________________ To learn more about these lovable toy dogs before you decide to own one, read on through our website. Discover Chihuahua history, facts about the breed and get FREE care tips (Reprinted Article) AKC has certain standards for Chihuahuas. HOW MUCH WILL THEY WEIGH FULLY GROWN?: Most Chihuahuas weigh two to six pounds fully-grown. The AKC recognizes pure bred Chihuahuas as Toy Dogs and considers them the smallest breed. They have no designation for Tea Cups. Breeders refer to extra-small toy puppies as Tea Cups to identify them as smaller dogs for those seeking extra-small pups. Chihuahuas are the smallest and longest-lived dog breed (read more about them in the sections below). About Chihuahuas Chihuahua's are extremely desirable dogs. Here's some reasons why: - Smallest Dog Breed - Longest Lived Dog - Few Health Issues - Loyal, Loving Dog - Great Watch Dog - Easy To Care For History, Characteristics and Ownership The first widespread mention of Chihuahuas occurred during the mid to late 1800's in weekly or monthly tabloids that specialized in tales of the American West. Highly fictionalized accounts of the small dogs spread by these publications claimed they were actually a mix of rodent and canine or had been magically created by Medicine Men. In reality, Chihuahuas were first noticed along the Arizona-Mexico border by settlers, ranchers and those passing through. This lead to the animals becoming originally-known as Arizona Dogs. Once it began obvious that these cute little dogs were actually coming out of the Chihuahua region of Mexico where they had been discovered in the early 1800's, the regional name stuck. Unique to the Western Hemisphere, historic evidence dates these dogs back to the Aztec and Toltec Civilizations of South America where most historians believe they were highly revered and may have been used in worship services. Others believe that Chihuahuas may have originated elsewhere and been transplanted to Mexico. The Chihuahua is classified as a 'toy dog' by the American Kennel Club. Considered the smallest breed of dog, some refer to the tiniest as 'tea cup' Chihuahuas. AKC Chihuahuas weigh 2-6 pounds and grow to be about 6-9 inches long, 6-8 inches tall and live from 12-17 years (15 is the norm) making them the longest lived breed. Coats are either short and smooth, or long and fluffy. Long pointed ears are a mark of the breed. Females usually go into heat twice a year, give birth in 65 days and have 1-5 puppies. If you plan to breed very small Chihuahuas, we suggest that you consult a veterinarian first. These dogs are warm weather animals that should not be over-bathed (once a month is enough). Ears should be kept free of water to avoid infections. Chihuahuas have a natural shiver which can mean they are happy, scared, cold or anxious. Often thought of as apartment dogs perfect for big cities, Chihuahuas still need exercise. They should be walked on a regular basis and must be protected from temperatures lower then 45 degrees. Food intake should be monitored and treats discouraged to avoid weight problems. As puppies, these dogs have a soft spot on the top of their heads that may not close for up to a year. If injured there they can die. Chihuahuas are very accepting of children, but also loyal and protective of their owner. They tend to latch on to one person and may bark at children that move quickly towards that person. Children can accidentally kill them and people with kids under 12 should make sure that younger kids never have access to these toy dogs without an adult present. Overall, Chi's make great family pets and are better suited to that job then most breeds. Self-protective due to their small size, Chihuahuas are not generally good with strangers and may try to bite in response to petting by persons unknown to them. This behavior can be corrected with some simple training. These dogs are very intelligent and quickly learn to distinguish family from outsiders. They love to play and easily learn all sorts of tricks. Chihuahuas crave lots of attention and interaction with their owners. They like to be held, love to be petted and will wrap themselves up around your neck area to show affection. Too small to be useful as guard dogs, these animals do make excellent watch dogs. They consider a household their personal domain and will alert owners to any unusual sounds or attempted entries. People who have fallen prey to destructive breeds that love to chew on everything in site, will really appreciate Chihuahuas. Their small snouts make this a none issue. Chihuahuas are easy to paper and leash train, but will urinate on you if handled roughly or suddenly frightened. Creating a personal space for your Chi (a doggie bed or the like) is best. Chihuahuas that feel insecure, ignored or in peril may take to tunneling into bed bottoms or dig and climb up into furniture frames. Consult your veterinarian about grooming, booster shots, and vaccinations. These are very easy to care for animals. Caring For Chihuahua Pups Technically speaking, Chihuahuas remain puppies for about two years. It's during that time that you need to teach your puppy everything you want it to know. Start with good feeding habits. Puppies and adults should have access to a feeding bowl half filled with dry food at all times during the day. They tend to feed twice a day and many are slow, picky eaters. Whatever is left at the end of the day, throw out and clean the bowl. Scrub the bowl out with a scrubber and very hot water, but avoid using dish soap. Chi's don't like the odor and that may make them turn away from the food. We suggest that you do not get your Chi into the habit of nighttime eating. This can lead to obesity. Always have plenty of fresh water available. Pups may be slow to warm up to a new owner. This might make them miss some meals and they cannot afford to do that. Buy small packs of HIGH PROTEIN, LOW FAT DRY FOOD made by a few different companies until you find one the pup likes. Please avoid wet foods, gourmet mixtures (Chef Peppy's Doggie Chicken Ala Metro or Dr Rich's Science Nuclear Extra Natural Food), doggie snacks and table scraps as they are bad for Chihuahua's teeth and can cause diarrhea. Small, bow-tie or stick style rawhide chew items are good for their teeth. A pup's taste is manipulated by new smells in a new environment, so have some patience. If the pup seems to be having trouble chewing, add a little water to the food. Most pups take about 24-36 hours to adjust to a new environment, so please be patient. Some may react to the change by having a bit of diarrhea. Mixing some slightly wet, well-cooked rice into the food will help with this. Please avoid giving your puppy nutritional supplements unless told to do so by a Vet. Chihuahuas are small dogs that can be vitamin-poisoned by some of these mixtures. If you want to paper train your animal, this isn't hard at all! Just keep you puppy on paper as much as possible for the first two weeks they live with you. Then, start to move their food and water just off the paper. Every time you see the pup begin to have a bowel movement, just place them on the paper. Try to keep their food and the paper in one steady place. Moving them will confuse the animal and defeat your training efforts. Having a small doggie bed is also a good idea. Make sure it's near, but not on the paper. These animals are very territorial and you can use this fact to help train them. By 9-10 weeks, it's time to visit the Vet. Your puppy will need additional shots (bring the shot record you received when you purchased the pup with you and note the suggested additional shot dates). At that time they should be either wormed or given a fecal test for worms or other parasites (the worming is less hassle and expense then the test and will not harm your pup). It's important to establish a good connection between your Vet and yourself. The better they know your animal, the better they'll be able to suggest treatments and care over the years. Try and stay with the same Vet or treatment facility and keep good records. Many cities, towns and counties now require you to license and care for your dog by law. Failure to keep up with shots, properly house and care for your animal or provide for it's health and safety can be punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. Note: We suggest that you avoid obtaining Vet or other services from pet shops or pet super stores that allow owners to bring their pets in. This practice is one of the leading ways that Parvo is spread among dogs. Parvo can make dogs very sick and even kill them. It's a virus that requires immediate hospitalization and can be fatal to pups. As a preventative measure against parvo and parasites, Puppies that haven't received all their vaccinations should be kept away from public areas (and older dogs) in a clean, feces free environment. Remember, Chihuahuas are very small. Try to keep them as far away from human feet as possible (they love to lick and play with feet, but feet can accidentally crush them). Never let your Chihuahua roam without a leash or unescorted outside of your house or fenced yard. And check those fences! Chihuahuas can easily get stuck under most wooden type fences. Make sure your dog is never outside in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit without being dressed in temperature protective clothing. Chihuahuas need exercise and love to play. Make sure you spend time with your animal. They love soft play toys and you'll be surprised how easily they learn to fetch their favorite toy and return it to you. Like too much food, too much exercise isn't good. You can't take a Chihuahua jogging with you! If you're planning more then just a short walk around a short block, leave your pet at home. Chihuahuas get exhausted fast. Super-tiny tea cups and toys should be transported in a Chihuahua Carry Bag with a harness (otherwise they might jump out of the bag and be harmed). Chi's are generally healthy dogs with few health issues. If they get a bit too much exercise, they might start panting and seem unable to stand. This usually means that they need more calcium. You can solve that problem with a quick trip to the vet or by dropper feeding your dog some crushed up calcium tablets (like TUMS) mixed with water if a vet is unavailable or you can keep some canine calcium supplements around for just such a situation. They should settle back down within 15-30 minutes. This is rare, but it does happen. Chi's that are nursing pups will often experience this two weeks after the pups are born, so be prepared and don't get upset. Consult your vet before trying any home remedies. Chihuahuas will shake because they are happy, afraid, cold or anxious. This is normal and lets the dog express itself. This doesn't mean the animal is ill. Expect shaking to be a part of your Chihuahuas experience...

WEIRD THINGS THAT CAN KILL YOUR PET! (Reprinted Article) CHOCOLATE (in any form, so giving a pet 'chocolate-flavored' treats is not a good idea, since they will associate the flavor with the treat idea.) STRINGS (yarn, ribbon, shoestrings, rag rugs, dental floss, tinsel, pantyhose, i.e. anything looooong). They can become entangled in the intestine, and turn it INSIDE OUT. IBUPROPHEN (will shut the kidneys down) So, as a general rule: NO ASPIRIN SUBSTITUTES!! PENNIES. Yes pennies. They are copper coated, zinc based. Zinc in a pet's intestine becomes a poison. The screws on most carriers are also zinc, so be aware of that, and always check to see that they have not loosened in the car! ONIONS! Raw or cooked. Please note this includes foods with onions in it as well. Produces irreversible anemia in dogs. ANTIFREEZE I'm told it tastes sweet. Deadly poison. RAISINS or GRAPES. These can cause Kidney Failure! PET HEALTH ALERT: HOLD THE GUACAMOLE, POR FAVOR! Thinking of giving Polly a little something extra with her cracker? While there are a few foods that both humans and pets can enjoy, there are others that, while perfectly palatable for people, can be dangerous to our animal companions. The fruit of the avocado, for example, poses a threat to a number of species. "Avocados contain a toxic component called persin," explains Jill A. Richardson, DVM, of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), "which has been shown to produce cardiac tissue damage, respiratory distress and mammary gland damage in a variety of animals--including horses, goats, sheep, dogs, cattle, rabbits, fish and birds." Some pets will be attracted to the lava rocks in a BBQ pit! Remember they have had fat & meat juices dripping on them! Ingestion can be fatal! It goes without saying that a swimming pool is just as dangerous for dogs as it is for children. Just in case: PET POISON CONTROL 1-888-426-4435 Check your houseplants out on the ASPCA website Weird, but not fatal, just makes a very sick doggie: Raw bread dough! It continues to ferment in the pet's tummy after ingestion, and a by product of this fermentation process is ALCOHOL! On a very small or very old dog this could indeed prove very dangerous, as alcohol toxicosis is the result of this act of dietary indescretion.