Well, you have just returned home from the breeders with your Chihuahua pup. You sit right down and start looking round for the owner’s manual…What! No owner’s manual?
Unfortunately your cute little puppydog does not have an owner’s documentation so you’ve got to dig in and find out how to give your Chihuahua the care and training it needs.
Therefore till you get to cruising speed with the training routine, this paper will help you on your way to proper Chihuahua care.
Chihuahuas, are a great breed for tiny houses, apartments or city dwellers, after all they’re tiny dogs and are typically house pets. You don’t ever need to let them outdoors on their own. They don’t know they are tiny and will challenge the biggest dog on the block because they’re also terribly protective.
Now, let’s chat about their care and feeding.
You need to ask your vet about the nutritive desires of your puppy but after weaning (up to six weeks), puppies should be fed four small meals a day till a quarter old; from 3 months to half a year they ought to be fed three meals a day and from half a year to a year they should be fed twice each day. After 12 months, once a day is fine. Chihuahuas like one or two little meals in opposition to one big meal a day with repeated adult dog food. Sometimes, canned food is difficult for this breed to digest, resulting in dysentery.
Bathing your puppy should be done about once a month. Washing too often may remove the natural oils from the coat and result in dandruff. Shampooing sometimes can essentially enhance the glaze of the coat.
You should take care not to get water into their ears, as an infection can develop.
Speaking technically Chihuahuas remain puppies for about two years. This is the training period and you must try and train your puppy in it’s feeding habits and potty habits. To paper train your little puppy, just keep the young dog on paper as much as is possible for the 1st two weeks they live with you. Then move their food and water just off the paper. Each time you see the pup start to have a bowel movement, just place them on the paper. He will be able to shortly find out what is predicted of him.
Puppies and adults should have accessibility to fresh fresh water always in the daytime. The bowl should be scrubbed with extremely hot water but avoid using dish soap as the odour may lead them to back away.
Trimming the puppies ‘ nails should be a once per month event. You may use cat claw trimmers and it’s best to start this nail-trimming routine early-on so that your dog becomes accustomed to the clipping of the nails and to the utilising of the trimmer.
Ask your veterinarian on the continual cleaning of your Chi’s ears and teeth, booster shots and vaccination shots.
It is best to go to the vet after eight or nine weeks. Your puppy will probably need further shots. You should bring the puppy’s shot record that you received when you bought the puppy.
At this visit, they should either be wormed or given a fecal test for worms or other parasites. The worming is less bother and expense than the test and won’t harm your puppy.
The vet may suggest that you brush your pets teeth. The small and toy breeds have more dental issues than the standard and larger breeds. Glaringly the anatomy of the smaller breeds have left the teeth more crowded in the jaw and, with tiny space between the teeth, enables more dangerous bacteria to stay in the mouth, therefore the requirement for brushing.
Also, owners must be aware of the undeniable fact Chihuahuas are susceptible to feeble knees. This problem may occur as they grow older. If your Chihuahua has trouble walking, take them to the vet.
Attempt to stay with the same vet or treatment facility and keep good records. It is vital for your pet’s health.
You need to remember that this is just an introductory part of your “owner’s manual” to start you off on the right path to giving quality care to your little dog. You need to learn more from books and other Chihuahua owners.
As significantly, your Chihuahua wants much tender loving care with human contact, touching, petting and general attention.
Chihuahuas are by nature mild, loyal and sweet-tempered and they are going to give a lot of love and warm feelings to you in return for your care. You will never be alone with a Chihuahua in your household.
Jennifer Laurie is an expert on Chihuahua Dog Care. On her site she has many articles that apply to caring for and training a chihuahua