just got my first chihuahua ever any tips???

The same female posted above. This was our very first meeting and she was greeting all three of us. She actually would not leave us alone, especially Madison.

After seeing how loving and confident the breeders dogs were, that was it for me. Sadly, its not something you see all the time in this breed, because you have too many people who neglect socialization and responsible breeding. They breed for size and color VS temperament.

[puppydog]

Chis are horrible little dogs and you don't want them. Therefore you should send them all to me!

[tjedt]

lol you guys are funny i think i will take my chances with these baby mauling vicious little ear biters lol.
i have a 15 month old and he loves to play with her she lies down and says "night night" and he runs over to lick her to death then stands on her back as if he is saying "ha ha your mine now and there is nothing you can do"
and his favorite place to sleep is in her toy baskets lol he gets lost in her stuffed animals!!

is it common with this breed when they get excited to lick then nip or bite your face???
he does this to me only i don't know why or how to stop him so all i do is put him in his room and ignore him and tell him NO!! firmly any pointers??


ps ...i am waiting for pictures to be approved or am i just doing the uploading wrong lol HELP i hate being new lol

[tjedt]

also the nutrical you were talking about.......my vet already told me to mix some corn syrup in his water everyday so that's what i do and they told me to do it till he is almost grown so there is no chance of him getting hypoglycemia.

[Doberluv]

Originally Posted by Reggin

I dont agree with some things that are in that link.



Truffles breeder has several chihuahuas and they all adore Madison, my one year old. Madison and my 5 month old chihuahua get along amazingly well. Madison can get a little rough and I have to teach her how to be "easy" and Truffles is very good about letting Madison pet and play with him. He loves licking her ears, in fact.

They also state in that link that chihuahuas are 2 to 4 pounds, which is false. Chis can be up to 6 pounds.



Dont agree with this either. Truffles and my last pure bred chi loved everyone in the household. He will cuddle up to any one of us. Not one suspicious bone in his lil body. lol.

One of my breeders females giving kisses to Madison.



Made the mistake of sitting Madison down on the floor and she was SWARMED with chihuahua lovins. hehe.



Chihuahuas are serious ear lickers, and they dont care who the ear belongs to.



If properly bred and socialized I personally believe that chihuahuas enjoy attention and love from anyone who is willing to give it. Yes, they are good alarm dogs though but settle down quickly. Some are more reserved than others, but to say they are not good family pets because they are a one person dog and will be suspicious of other members of the family is just down right false.

I absolutely agree with you. I hate those silly and inaccurate, generalizing descriptions they often use. My Chihuahuas are so well socialized that when I have visitors over (doesn't matter what age)...they'd much rather sit on their laps than mine. They think visitors and "parties" are the best thing ever and they can sit on my lap or bring me toys any time so now...they're going to enthral the guests. LOL. Mine are so not a one person dog and love anyone in the family and think meeting new people is the coolest thing ever. Dogs that grow up and are well socialized with children are likely to be comfortable and happy around them as long as they're treated gently, not stepped on, not frightened by overly exciteable, loud, looming children.

I adore those pictures. He's whispering something in her ear....too cute!

[lizzybeth727]

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree that Chis need to be socialized, more than most other breeds IMO. They do have a bad reputation of being "ankelbiters" and "yappy," and this stems from bad socialization. People often get chis to be kind of a replacement "child," and then spoil them to the point where the dog is not held accountable and then the person wonders why he's so nasty.

My chi was in the shelter when she was 7 months old, no idea where she was before that. But she has always been very friendly towards all people - adults, kids, babies (once a baby poked her in the eye, I know it hurt because she flinched but she went right back to the baby ). I've seen adults who were scared of my dog because they said the worst bite they've ever gotten was from a chi. Once I heard a mother tell her two kids, "Don't pet THAT dog, she's mean," (while, of course, Luna was wagging her tail and getting ready to get some pettings) at which point I practically forced them to pet my dog. So getting a chi from a breeder who doesn't care about temperment, and/or not socializing it properly, and/or letting it be aggressive to other people, is only hurting the breed as a whole, and that's a shame.

Dog socialization is also extremely important. Luna has never liked other dogs. She used to be reactive, but after about two years of working on it several times a week, she is now very rarely reactive towards other dogs.... but let me tell you, it took a LOT of work to get her to this point! And she still doesn't really enjoy other dogs. In the four years I've had her, I think there have been a total of 3 dogs that she has played with. So I'd suggest finding some other puppy owners and forming a playgroup, that will go a long way to help your chi learn how to interract with other dogs.

Still anxious for pics!

[tjedt]

ok i don't know if im doing this right but here he is sorry not a good pic as it was taken with my BB

[Fran101]

omg! sooo cute! i have such a soft spot for long coated chis! and look at those earss!! ahh!

[HurdyBirdy]

I don't have any advice.. but Congratulations on you new addition.

[FoxyWench]

some things to remember:

1: socilization socilization socilization with chis this is absolutly the most important thing in the world!

2: Hypoglycemia. i would NOT mix corn/kayo in with the water unless hes super tiny (under 1lb at 10 weeks) as it can cause problems with getting too much sugar, sugar spikes ect. instead make sure he eats frequently (personally i free feed dry kibble from day one and then do 4 tiny wet meals a day untill 12 weeks, then down to 3 untill about 6 months, this could be wet dog food or some bits of chicken ect, just something that will be eaten happily at meal time...feeding a couple times a day like this will ensure blood sugar stays constant. if you dont want to free feed id still suggest 4 small frequent meals...
making sure he eats is very important. the risk of hypoglycemia generally drops by 6-8 months in any dog 3lbs or over...if hes super tiny though (under 3lbs at 6 months) id continue with 3-4 feedings a day untill hes at least 1 yr old.
Dodger is 3lbs full grown and i have to be very aware of his eating habits to be sure he eats enough, luckily hes an all day grazer.

3: Food...
feed a HIGH QUALITY kibble, chis are particularly sensitive to Corn so avoid it at all costs! chis also do NOT do well with artifical red dyes or Beet...(they are highly prone to very bad tear staining and these ingredients make them stain even worse!)
feed a food with a good protein level, chicken based is generally the best accepted by chis.
Chis CAN become habitual picky eaters, as a puppy try and introduce him to lots of different things in SMALL amounts as treats only...many chis will absoltuly refuse to eat their kibble because they know theres much better

4: Chis are Manipulative!
this is a well known chi quality and one all chi owners love, chis know how to wrap you round their tiny little paws, and they do it with the most adorable smile that says "yes...i do own you"
this is fine unless theyve just downs a 3 times their normal alloted amount of treats for the week in one session lol they are very smart and will do all they can to figure out a way AROUND the rules...
(ie vixie knows shes not supposed to beg at the table...so instead will sit there and do tricks...she figures shes actually working for those "treats" and because shes earning them its not beggin...
Dodger knows hes not supposed to jump on the table...but figures as long as hes not ON the table its ok if hes AT the table and he will jump right onto the dining room chairs when were eating...)

5: there smart but stubborn...there the kind of dogs that will learn a trick then "forget" how to do it unless you find just the right motivation...

6: potty training...these dogs are mo more difficult to housebreak than any other breed IF your persistent...but there also tiny and can sneak away and squat so easily that you dont even notice untill its too late

7: do NOT punish a chihuahua...they do not do well with the likes of "alpha training", rolling ect are BAD ideas, not only are these dogs delicate physically those methods take a big toll mentally...think of a chihuahua as a cat in a dogs body...you yell at it...dont be suprised to find poop in your favorite $500 heels or a nice warm wet pee spot on your pillow!
steady consistent postivie methods combined with plenty of excersize and confidence building are the best options.

8: Chihuahuas CAN walk! there is nothing wrong with carrying your dog...theres nothign wrong with putting him in a purse...IF the dog still gets to be a dog.
chihuahuas are strong and energetic little dogs who love to go outside, be active, many love to hike for miles or run all day...
there is no reason to carry a dog around all day no matter how tiny.
that being sad DO NOT EVER walk a chihuahau on a collar and leash, their trecheas are extreemly delicate and even 1 good tug on a collar can cause a collaps, a good harness is your best and safest bet (and theres absolutly no reason why a dog on a harness cant walk as nicely as one on a leash)

then theres some more things particular to long haired chis

9: trim their pants...itll take up to 3 years for him to get his full coat...but once those pants and that tail starts filling in be sure to keep ontop of trimming and sani-trims...poopys buts are not fun for anyone.

10: long haired chis feel the cold just like short haired chis do

other notes:
be prepared to be told chis dont come in long hair...some people are just cluless
be prepared to get all kinds of comments about having a chihuahua, some good, some bad.
between many of us chi owners we can tell lots of stories about people TELLING us our dogs must be mean simply because their chihuahuas ect...
be prepared to be asked if hes a "teacup" or TOLD that hes "huge" compared to their *insert relitive here* "teacup" ect...its frustrating
my responce is usually, "no i dont walk my teacups, they dont have legs" or "i keep my teacups in a cupboard at home!"

good luck with him, hes a cutie!