The Chihuahua
ICHIHUAHUAS
A Look Back
The Chihuahua’s history is shrouded in mystery, but some believe he originated from the
Fennec Fox, a very small animal with big eyes and ears, which could explain the tiny frame,
luminous eyes and large ears on the breed today. Chihuahua’s were used in religious
ceremonies and were pets to the upper class. The breed derives its name from the Mexican
State of Chihuahua, where the earliest specimens of the breed were found.

Right Breed for You?
Chihuahuas are alert dogs with terrier-like qualities. They are good with families if the children
are gentle and patient. Because of their small size, they require little exercise and are good city
dogs, but can be sensitive to cold temperatures. Smooth coated Chihuahuas need very little
grooming due to their short hair. Long coats need occasional brushing but still require minimal
grooming.
Vaccinations-
Caring for your Chihuahua starts from the moment you bring your him or her home. One of the
first things you should do is schedule a visit to the vet to get his or her next vaccination.
Vaccinations are time sensitive and need to be done in a series usually 2-4 weeks apart until 16
weeks of age. Vaccinations are very important to your dogs day to day health. Vaccinations
protect your Chihuahua from deadly diseases.

Flea, Tic, & Parasite prevention-
When it comes to keeping your dog healthy, parasite prevention is key. Dogs can play host to a
whole slew of infectious parasites, and these alien invaders are extremely detrimental to their
health. Unfortunately many common parasites do not make their presence readily known, and
symptoms are so slight, that dog owners have no indication of how bad the infestation is until
their dog becomes extremely ill.  Speak to your veterinarian about a worming and prevention
protocol for your pets.  Some of the newest flea and tick coverage also includes heart worm
protection as well.

Feeding-
A good diet is the most important aspect of Chihuahua care. The food you choose to feed your
Chi will determine how healthy your Chihuahua will be and how long they will live. Chihuahuas
have small stomaches and it best to feed your Chi 2-3 small meals a day rather than one large
meal. You should feed your Chi a protein rich diet with only small quantities of carbohydrates
and as few “fillers” as possible.  High Quality foods can be found in most pet stores and pet
specialty stores.  Check ratings on dog food at
www.dogfoodanalysis.com or
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com to help you choose a good quality food that is available to you.

Training-
Like feeding, training your Chi is a key part of Chihuahua care. Chihuahuas are smart dogs and
are most receptive to training between the ages of 7 weeks and 12 months. Starting your Chi’s
training early on in his life will make the process much easier for you. If you have adopted an
adult Chihuahua, it is still perfectly possible to train them but it will take a little more time and
effort. As soon as you get your Chi  you should establish yourself as the alpha pack leader and
train your dog with a gentle but firm hand. Consistency is most important here as is socialization
with children and other dogs.  If you are inexperienced in dog training or have adopted a dog
that displays behavioral issues a dog trainer or dog training classes could help you and your dogs
relationship. Cesar Milan,  an expert dog trainer who has been named as The Dog Whisperer in
a popular TV series teaches dog training and behavioral correction in dogs.  Below is a link to
Cesar's website for free training tips and tools

www.cesarsway.com .

Exercise-
Chihuahuas love to play and explore and caring for a Chihuahua involves exercising them daily.
Your Chi will typically have short bursts of energy and because of this, you should keep your
walks brief. Some smaller Chihuahuas may not need walking at all if they have a medium size
room or yard to play around in.

Routine Care-
People often ask me how to care for a Chihuahua so they are not at risk from illness.
Vaccinations, a good diet, preventative worming,  flea & Tic prevention, teeth brushing,
grooming, and regular exercise should help you Chihuahua to avoid most common health
complaints.

Hypoglycemia-
Chihuahuas, especially as puppies are particularly at risk of hypoglycemia. Missing regular
feedings in a very small chihuahua puppy can be deadly.  Chihuahua puppies are small and don't
have the reserve to keep them going without a continuous replenishment
of nutrients.  Clinical signs of hypoglycemia include weakness, lethargy, total lost of interest in
food due to weakness,  altered mental state, twitching, tremors, vomiting, seizures and coma. If
left untreated, hypoglycemia will be fatal. If an owner suspects hypoglycemia, they can help to
increase blood sugar by rubbing a small amount of Karo syrup on the pup's gums and tongue.
Care must be taken not to administer too much or to get it in the back of the throat, causing
aspiration or obstruction of the air way. The pup must then be immediately taken to a
veterinarian for further evaluation or treatment. Free feeding in small puppies at an early age
will help prevent an incident. If your puppy is not eating be sure to take your chihuahua/puppy
to a veterinarian to determine the cause or Hypoglycemia can occur.  


Too much of a good thing-
People often overfeed after puppy hood putting their Chihuahua at risk. It is important to
monitor your dogs weight after one year to maintain good health and longevity. Lots of owners
do not realize the health  risks associated with their overweight dog.  There are many health
risks associated to obesity in dogs such as heart disease, diabetes, knee problems, and anal gland
issues.  Too much food or too many treats can greatly affect their health.  We
recommend rewarding them with something with fewer calories and better for their teeth such
as chew toys, other dogs toys, or walks.

Grooming-
One of the most enjoyable parts of caring for Chihuahuas is grooming. This a time when you can
really bond with your Chi and strengthen your relationship. Chihuahuas come in two types:
shorted haired and long haired. Short haired Chihuahuas need only a little brushing every once a
week or so. It is best to use a soft bristle brush, grooming glove or wipe her down with a soft
cloth. Long haired Chihuahua need to brushed more often, 2-3 times a week and in some cases
where your Chihuahua has a particularly long coat, it is a good idea to brush her daily. For long
haired Chis, use a soft bristle brush followed by a medium steel comb to keep their hair tangle
free.

Bathing-
Opinions differ on how often to bathe Chihuahuas. While some experts say that bathing your Chi
too often will remove the natural oils from their coat making it appear dull, others argue that
regular shampooing can actually enliven the coat’s sheen. It is up to you to decide for yourself
about this, but I would recommend bathing your Chi at least once a month. Some long haired
Chihuahuas need to be bathed more and it is important to brush their coat before and after
bathing since otherwise, any tangles will be very difficult to remove. Make sure you don’t get
any water in their ears as this can result in ear infections.

Nail Trimming-
Nail clipping is one of the more challenging aspects of Chihuahua care as most Chis don’t like to
have it done. However, if their nails become too long it will be uncomfortable for them so cutting
their nails is a necessary evil. There are two types of nail clippers you can buy: guillotine style
clippers or scissor style. Choose which ever you find easier to handle.
Chihuahua puppies have a vein running through their nails which will bleed if it is cut. The trick
here is to trim the nail beyond the vein; this can be tricky and it may be best to watch a
professional dog groomer do it first before you attempt it. If your Chihuahua’s nails are clear in
color you should be able to see the vein easily. If they are darker you’ll have to shine a light on
the nail. Your Chi will most likely squirm around, try to escape or may even try to bite you while
you are doing all of this and it is a good to ask your dog groomer how best to hold your dog safely
.

Tear Stains-
Chihuahuas have large and luminous eyes so tear stains especially in light colored dogs
are very common.  So cleaning their eyes stains is part of the grooming process. An easy solution
is to clean their eyes is with saline solution and a cotton swab. Depending on the severity of the
staining this may or may not remove all staining. There are many products
on the market you can use made for removing eye staining. There is also a product that
veterinarians,  groomers,  and breeders give great reviews called Angel eyes.  They product
can be found at
 http://www.angelseyesonline.com/ .

Teeth-
Chihuahuas are not famous for having the best teeth. Most likely due to their size and often
shorter muzzle. Teeth brushing and lots of dental chew toys and regular teeth cleanings will
prevent tooth loss, decay, and worst case scenario infection.  Giving puppies plenty of chew toys
will help with the natural process of teething. Some puppies retain teeth and they are later
removed by a vet. Giving puppies chew toys regularly can help them lose their baby teeth so
that the adult teeth can come in.  Here is a all natural product for your pets teeth that you
can begin at 8 months of age to maintain healthy gums, teeth, and give your pet fresh breath
at the same time
http://www.petzlife.com/catalog/oral-care-products.html .

Ears-
Cleaning the Canine Ear Under normal circumstances a dog's ears will not become a problem as
long as they are kept clean.  To ensure the cleanliness of your dog's ears, it is easiest to establish
a routine that whenever you groom your dog you check your dog's ears for waxy buildup, ear
mites,  matting of hair in the external ear, redness or inflammation around the ear, retention of
dirt,  foreign material, or objects, in the ear canal.  Should only a gentle cleaning be needed there
are some things that you should never do.  For the health of your dog, DO NOT use soap and
water.  DO NOT poke or probe the internal ear canal, or the delicate tissues of the ear.  DO  
NOT use Q-tips, or any other cotton tipped swab.  These could push dirt, or foreign objects,
deeper into the ear canal, causing a more serious problem. For a gentle cleaning of your dog's
ears, you can use mineral oil applied to a cotton square and gently wipe the surface of the
external ear.  

Potty Training-
Many people believe it is extremely difficult, or even impossible, to potty train a Chihuahua, or
other small dog. Fortunately, it is not as hard as people think, and there is no reason a healthy
Chihuahua cannot be house trained. Basically, it's the same as house training any dog, with one
difference: Chihuahuas are very small and they have very small bladders, so you have to keep
that in mind at all times when training them. They just cannot "hold it" as long as a bigger dog of
the same age, and this is especially true when they are puppies.
These instructions are geared towards potty training a young Chihuahua puppy. If your
Chihuahua is older, and still not fully potty trained, you should follow the same instructions as if
your dog were only 8 weeks old, in order to finally get your older Chihuahua trained. With an
older puppy or dog, remember that the dog already has bad habits, and it will take some time
and effort to break those habits and replace them with new good habits. Here are
some simple steps you can take.

1. Set up a potty schedule.
A typical 8 week old puppy has to go potty approximately every 2 hours, plus whenever puppy
eats, drinks, wakes up, or finishes playing. Yep, that does kinda turn out to be all the time! An 8
week old Chihuahua puppy needs to go potty approximately every 45 minutes to an hour --
plus after eating, drinking, playing, sleeping. So you can see that a strict schedule and vigilance is
absolutely key to house training your Chihuahua. Some of the tinier Chihuahuas may need to go
potty even more frequently at first. With proper training, a healthy puppy will gradually gain
more control and be able to wait longer with no ill effects.

2. Stick to your potty schedule.
Take your Chihuahua puppy out, or to his potty area if you are training him to potty indoors, at
each of the designated times you set in step 1. If your puppy doesn't go potty at this point, you
should put her in her crate for about 10 minutes and then try again. Repeat as needed

3. Supervise your Chihuahua puppy carefully.
She should be confined to her crate whenever she cannot be supervised completely, but not for
a longer time than she can wait. Every accident is a bad habit in the making. Every accident is
also your fault, not your Chihuahua's. Dogs are creatures of habit. They thrive on habit and
ritual and they love knowing what is going to happen next. Stick to your schedule, supervise
your puppy, and soon you will have potty trained your Chihuahua.

4. Increase the time between potty breaks very slowly.
Your Chihuahua puppy needs time to learn his new habits, as well as time for his muscles to
develop so that he can control himself better. Eventually, you'll have a little more freedom --
and a clean house -- if you are diligent with the training now.

Tips & Warnings
Use your puppy's crate as you would a playpen for a toddler: to keep him from mischief when
you cannot closely supervise.

Never punish your Chihuahua puppy for an accident. Doing so will only lengthen the entire
process of house training and teach your Chihuahua to fear you.

If you cannot make it home on schedule every day, as an alternative, you can set up an enclosed
area, on a washable floor, such as a part of the kitchen or laundry room, where you can place a
bed, toys, and pee wee pads, along with water and food for the length of time you are away at
work or shopping.

Alternative Potty training methods-
Chihuahuas are small dogs.  Indoor potty training or indoor/Outdoor combination training has
become a popular choice for people without yards, have extreme weather, who live in
apartments, who are housebound, and have unpredictable work schedules.  Some people choose
a combination of inside and outside training while others choose inside or outside only.

Potty Pad training Steps
1. As soon as you bring your chihuahua puppy or new dog home, place her in a confined area. A
puppy pen or a gated area is perfect. You don't want to allow your new chi to run free (and out
of sight) before understanding where she is to relieve herself. Make sure this space is visible to
you, and preferably in a tiled or easily cleaned area. You don't want your dog to feel punished or
left alone in this area, and you also don't want to be cleaning up "accidents" on carpet.

2. At one corner of the confined area, place a good quality pee pad. These pads smell like pee to
the puppy (not to humans though!!), which makes her want to go there.  The pad should be as
far away from their sleeping and eating area as possible within the space as your puppy will
instinctively want to keep the sleeping and eating area clean.

3. Know when your chihuahua is about to go - and direct her towards the pad at these times.
This may sound like it's easier said than done, but if you are able to spend time watching and
playing with your puppy throughout the day - at least for the first week or so - and you're
consistent with eating and playing times, you'll quickly learn the times (and signs) when she
needs to go. Chihuahuas are small, and will have to pee frequently (puppies - about every 2
hours, adults - every 4). As soon as she gets up from sleeping, right after (or even during) a play
session, and about 20 minutes after a long drink of water (like during meals), your chi will have
to pee. Place her on the pad at these times and tell her to "go potty". When she goes, praise her
quietly until she's done (you don't want to startle or scare her - and possibly stop the flow of
events - with a loud celebration). Then when she's done, give her lots of love, pats, play time, etc.

4. If you catch your chihuahua in a squat off her pad, interrupt her quickly (not negatively - just
a simple "ah-ah" will do), lift her up and move her to her pad. When she pees there, praise as
above. Clean up any mess off the pad quickly and quietly - being sure to use a urine smell
removing cleaner.

5. As your chi seems to be getting the hang of peeing on the pads in her confined area, you can
expand her space. You may want to put multiple pads around the areas you want to let her
explore, so that if she needs to go now, she can easily find a spot. This will also allow you to move
her quickly if you catch her going off her pad.

6. If you want to eventually have a chihuahua that pees outside, you can use the same methods
as above and gradually move the pad closer and closer to the door, with the end result being her
"telling" you she has to go by sitting by the door!

Litter Box Training Steps
1. Place a small litter box in a quiet area with a non-absorbent floor. Chihuahuas are social dogs
and can become distracted if the litter box is located in a busy area. This distraction can lead to
problems with training. Place the box in a rarely used bathroom, laundry room or basement.

2. Spread newspapers or puppy pads around the box. Doing so will catch any litter that is on the
Chihuahua’s feet and also will provide for easy clean up if the dog goes outside of the box.

3. Take the Chihuahua to the box at the same times every day. Dogs usually have to eliminate
before they go to sleep, and after they eat and wake up. Take it to the box whenever it shows
signs it needs to go, such as sniffing the floor or walking in a circle. Putting the Chihuahua on a
schedule will help it to learn how long it has to hold its bladder and bowels before it can release
them in the appropriate spot.

4. Reward your Chihuahua with treats and praise. Chihuahuas thrive on attention and petting.
After your Chihuahua has eliminated in the box, pet and talk to it enthusiastically as its reward.
You also can give it a treat it especially likes. Providing this type of reward encourages your
Chihuahua to keep up the good work.

5. Clean up any accidents with enzymatic cleaner that is designed to eliminate dog waste odors.
If your Chihuahua can smell where it relieved itself previously, it will likely return to that same
area. Enzymatic cleaners, however, completely eliminate the smell, which can prevent the dog
from returning to go potty again.

                      
                               
            Our Best Wishes to you and your Chihuahua!
Chihuahua Care & Training
General Appearance
A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like
qualities of temperament.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Weight - A well balanced little dog not to exceed 6 pounds. Proportion - The body is off-square;
hence, slightly longer when measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, than height at
the withers. Somewhat shorter bodies are preferred in males. Disqualification - Any dog over 6
pounds in weight.

Head
A well rounded "apple dome" skull, with or without molera. Expression - Saucy. Eyes - Full, but
not protruding, balanced, set well apart-luminous dark or luminous ruby. (Light eyes in blond or
white-colored dogs permissible.) Ears - Large, erect type ears, held more upright when alert,
but flaring to the sides at a 45 degree angle when in repose, giving breadth between the ears.
Muzzle - Moderately short, slightly pointed. Cheeks and jaws lean. Nose - Self-colored in blond
types, or black. In moles, blues, and chocolates, they are self-colored. In blond types, pink nose
permissible. Bite - Level or scissors. Overshot or undershot bite, or any distortion of the bite or
jaw, should be penalized as a serious fault. Disqualifications - Broken down or cropped ears.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Slightly arched, gracefully sloping into lean shoulders. Topline - Level. Body - Ribs
rounded and well sprung (but not too much "barrel-shaped"). Tail - Moderately long, carried
sickle either up or out, or in a loop over the back, with tip just touching the back. (Never tucked
between legs.) Disqualifications - Cropped tail, bobtail.

Forequarters
Shoulders - Lean, sloping into a slightly broadening support above straight forelegs that set well
under, giving a free play at the elbows. Shoulders should be well up, giving balance and
soundness, sloping into a level back. (Never down or low.) This gives a chestiness, and strength
of forequarters, yet not of the "Bulldog" chest. Feet - A small, dainty foot with toes well split up
but not spread, pads cushioned. (Neither the hare nor the cat foot.) Pasterns - Fine.

Hindquarters
Muscular, with hocks well apart, neither out nor in, well let down, firm and sturdy. The feet are
as in front.

Coat
In the Smooth Coats, the coat should be of soft texture, close and glossy. (Heavier coats with
undercoats permissible.) Coat placed well over body with ruff on neck preferred, and more
scanty on head and ears. Hair on tail preferred furry. In Long Coats, the coat should be of a soft
texture, either flat or slightly curly, with undercoat preferred. Ears - Fringed. (Heavily fringed
ears may be tipped slightly if due to the fringes and not to weak ear leather, never down.) Tail -
Full and long (as a plume). Feathering on feet and legs, pants on hind legs and large ruff on the
neck desired and preferred. Disqualification - In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles
bareness.

Color
Any color-Solid, marked or splashed.

Gait
The Chihuahua should move swiftly with a firm, sturdy action, with good reach in front equal to
the drive from the rear. From the rear, the hocks remain parallel to each other, and the foot fall
of the rear legs follows directly behind that of the forelegs. The legs, both front and rear, will
tend to converge slightly toward a central line of gravity as speed increases. The side view
shows good, strong drive in the rear and plenty of reach in the front, with head carried high. The
topline should remain firm and the backline level as the dog moves.

Temperament
Alert, with terrier-like qualities.

Disqualifications
Any dog over 6 pounds in weight.
Broken down or cropped ears.
Cropped tail, bobtail.
In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles bareness.
The AKC Chihuahua
Standard