Article Advise

submitted: Jun 18th 2008 | by: LeeDobbins | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 592 | |

People who are lacking in space but would still like a pet that is both loyal and cute often adopt a Chihuahua. Chihuahuas are so appealing because they are so small. However, their cute, small stature is what makes raising a Chihuahua a bit more challenging.

Chihuahuas think that they are among the big breed of dogs. They don't realize that they are so tiny and they behave as though they are big, They are often called a "big dog in a small dog's body". So you have to guard him always because he might engage himself into violent encounters with big dogs.

If the Chi you get is still a puppy, it's important that you feed him or her high quality dog food. Until a Chi puppy is three months old, you should feed him four times daily, keeping the meals smaller. When your Chi reaches three months of age, reduce it to three smaller meals each day until six months. From six months to a year, you only need to feed them two times each day.

When your Chihuahua is already one year old, he only needs to be fed once a day. But he will like it better if you give several small meals in a day rather than serve it in just one big meal. Observe what kind of food he really likes but usually canned foods are hard to digest and might cause diarrhea.

One thing that is much easier than most dogs when it comes to raising a Chihuahua is giving them a bath. Due to their small size, Chihuahua's are typically easy to bathe. You should give your Chi a bath monthly. Over bathing your Chi will cause him to lose the natural oils on his coat, which could cause dandruff.

When giving your Chihuahua his bath, it's very important that you're careful to avoid getting water into his ears. If the ears happen to get wet they can cause a horrible infection. Due to the possibility of infection, you want to make sure you thoroughly monitor your dog's ears and call your Vet immediately if they appear to be red at all or you notice him scratching them.

Dog obedience for your Chihuahua is not only good for potty training and teaching "dog manners" but it is essential for safety. If your dog is trained to obey your voice commands, you will, in essence, be communicating with your dog. Start with potty training, then move on to sit, stay, come, and be quiet.

It is best to trim your Chi's nails every month. Cat claw trimmers can also be used to your Chi which is scissor-shaped and has a round indent for the claw. Start trimming your Chi's nails even at an earlier age so that he will easily be accustomed to it. You'll have more enjoyable grooming session with your pet later on.

You should keep watch to your Chihuahuas especially when they gets older, they usually suffer from knee troubles. Keep a close eye on this and get them to the Vet the moment you notice them having a hard time walking.

Proper Veterinary attention is an essential part of raising a Chihuahua. Be sure to take your pet in for the necessary shots and worming when he is a puppy and follow up with checkups, booster shots, and teeth and ear cleaning as your Vet recommends.

You will surely enjoy the company of Chihuahuas for they are by nature loyal, gentle, bright and also affectionate. And with your loving care, you can insure they live a long and healthy life.

About the Author

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