Chihuahua Information Online

Chihuahua Health Risks

2010-03-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

By Michael J. Warren

Although Chihuahuas are usually healthy, they do have special health considerations, both as puppies and as adults. For puppies, starting at birth through age sixteen weeks, you should be aware of some potential health issues.

Chihuahuas, among other small breeds, often develop "reverse sneezing," which can be caused by excitement, soft palate problems, dust and pollen, cold air, or a collapsed trachea. Your Chihuahua may sound like it is gasping or huffing for air, honking like a goose, or wheezing.

Another Chihuahua health risk is hypoglycemia, as Chihuahuas have a very small fat reserve around the liver. This problem can happen at any age, although small, young Chihuahua puppies have a higher potential for developing hypoglycemia.

Chihuahuas (just like people) need essential fatty acids, which are good fats like Omega 3 and Omega 6 that help build cell membranes in the body. Without them, the body's chemical structure will not function as well. Omega 6 is one fatty acid that cannot be made by your Chihuahua's body. Therefore, you should ensure your Chihuahua is getting Omega 6 in its diet for optimal health.

To determine if your Chihuahua has a deficiency in fatty acids, check its skin to see if it is flaky and if the coat is dull, greasy, or has a course texture. If you notice these things, you can be relatively certain your Chihuahua is not getting enough essential fatty acids.

Other Chihuahua health problems you may notice that may be attributed to a lack of or reduction in essential fatty acids:

- Arthritis or arthritis-like conditions
- Behavioral disturbances
- Disrupted healing process
- Dry nose
- Eczema-like skin eruptions
- Foul odor coming from the coat
- Fragility
- Heart and circulatory problems
- Hindered growth
- Impaired learning abilities or vision
- Kidney or liver degeneration
- Lethargy or lack of energy
- Male sterility
- Miscarriage
- Regular hair loss
- Vulnerability to infection
- Weakness

Don't forget that Chihuahuas have a tendency of becoming obese. To maintain proper Chihuahua care, keep your dog on a healthy food, decrease treats, take your dog for a walk, and provide regular weigh-ins to ensure correct weight is being maintained. Obesity is a major cause of coronary heart disease and if your Chihuahua is allowed to live with excess weight, its health or lifespan could be dramatically reduced!

With its immune system not yet fully developed, problems such as worms, parvovirus, myocarditis, or coccidian can spread through contaminated feces. Without being vaccinated, your puppy has a greater risk of getting sick. Puppies love to sniff around the ground and can easily get into something they should avoid.

Michael J. Warren is the author of an invaluable resource for both new and current Chihuahua owners, "The Ultimate Chihuahua Care Handbook."

Grooming Tips For Your Chihuahua

2010-03-09T12:08:00.001-05:00

Let's face it -- while Chihuahuas are great dogs to have, they will inevitably get dirty and require grooming. If you have a smooth coat Chihuahua, brushing it once a week will help keep it shiny and healthy.

A soft-bristle grooming brush or cloth should be sufficient. However, if you have a longhaired Chihuahua, you should increase the brushing to about two or three times each week (if not more).

Some people prefer to have their longhaired Chihuahua clipped by a professional dog groomer to eliminate the need for so much brushing, which is fine. If you choose to take your Chihuahua to a groomer, however, make sure you start doing it at a very young age to avoid causing undue stress to the dog.

Proper grooming also includes your Chihuahua's eyes. To keep them clean, try dripping a small amount of saline solution onto a cotton ball and then gently wiping the dog's eyes. A warm rag or a Q-tip will also do the trick when grooming. Because a Chihuahua's eyes tear regularly, they can develop a tearstain, which is especially noticeable on blonde colored dogs.

The saline will reduce or eliminate the stain and clean the eyes of the Chihuahua. This type of grooming should be done once or twice a week, depending upon the tearing near the eyes.

If you notice the tearing is associated with a bloodshot eye or white discharge, the problem usually cannot be fixed by grooming techniques and is probably an infection (meaning you will need to take your Chihuahua to a veterinarian for treatment).

Finally, don't forget that good grooming also includes regular nail trimmings and bathing of your Chihuahua. With the proper upkeep and maintenance, though, you will keep your Chihuahua clean, healthy, and infection-free.

Michael J. Warren is the author of an invaluable resource for both new and current Chihuahua owners, "The Ultimate Chihuahua Care Handbook."

Chihuahua Coats: Smooth And Long Haired

2010-02-25T15:41:00.004-05:00

By Michael J. Warren

We all have a basic idea of what your average Chihuahua looks like, but did you know that it is classified by the type of coat it has? The two main types of Chihuahua coats are the smooth coat and long coat/long haired Chihuahua.

In the smooth coat variety, the texture is smooth, glossy, and coarser than the hair of a long coat. Some Chihuahuas have heavier coats than others, and will have an "undercoat." The perfect coat in this category is one that is even over the body (sparser on the ears and head), ruff at the neck, with furry hair on the tail. A Chihuahua with a short coat does shed, albeit minimally.

On the other hand, a long haired Chihuahua's coat texture is soft and can be flat or have soft curls. The ears have a cute fringe and the tail has full hair. The Chihuahua's feet and legs have slight feathering, the hind legs have "pants," and the neck should have a larger ruff.

A thin coat Chihuahua would normally be a disqualification for show. Many breeders state that the long coat Chihuahua has a gentler temperament than that of a short coat Chihuahua (although some people disagree). Long coats shed, but like the short coat, it is minimal.

Generally, a long haired Chihuahua will need to be cleaned more often than the short coat. The front side of the coat on the chest, called the bib, can get dirty and matted.

You also want to keep the rear end of a long coat Chihuahua clean since fecal matter and other particles can become stuck to the hair. For this problem, you can either clip the hair shorter in that area or bath the entire Chihuahua (or just that area) more often.

No matter the coat type of this loveable dog, correct grooming techniques will make its coat shine just like new. Oh, and one last thing -- don't forget to give your Chihuahua's coat a bath every so often!

Michael J. Warren is the author of an invaluable resource for both new and current Chihuahua owners, "The Ultimate Chihuahua Care Handbook."

Chihuahuas and Chocolate: A Dangerous Combination

2010-02-23T07:13:00.003-05:00

By Michael J. Warren

If your Chihuahua has ever ingested chocolate, you know first hand
the risks of what can happen to it. While most of us humans can
eat chocolate without a second thought, smaller dogs (especially
Chihuahuas) aren't quite as lucky.

Chocolate is usually thought of as a good tasting sweet or delicious
candy bar. This is just the opposite when you bring Chihuahuas
into the mix, as chocolate is toxic to them. More specifically,
a naturally occurring compound found in chocolate (called theobromine)
is what makes chocolate so dangerous to dogs.

To make matters worse, the smaller the dog, the more pronounced
the side effects. Your Chihuahua may experience epileptic seizures,
heart problems (and in some cases) internal bleeding. Unfortunately,
in the worst case scenario, too much chocolate could even kill
your beloved pet.

No matter how cute or persistent your Chihuahua may be, never give
in and feed it some chocolate (whether it be a small or large amount).
Which is more important: pleasing your dog for a few moments with
a tasty tidbit or its overall longevity and well-being?

Also, be extra careful around holidays such as Halloween, Easter,
and Christmas to make sure your Chihuahua doesn't munch on any chocolate
containing treats. With a bit of effort and a watchful eye, you
can keep your Chihuahua safe from this potentially deadly threat.

Michael J. Warren is the author of "The Ultimate Chihuahua Care Handbook,"
an invaluable resource for both new and current Chihuahua owners.

Chihuahua Puppies

2010-02-06T16:23:00.046-05:00

It seems like a lot of people have been acquiring chihuahua puppies lately, because I am getting a lot of emails regarding the cost, care, and concerns around adopting a chihuahua puppy. I decided to make this post a list of things to keep in mind after you take one of these little guys home.

Let us start with the beginning.

A female chihuahua will give birth to a litter of about one or two but sometimes more puppies. Some of the symptoms of a pregnant chihuahua are: slightly enlarged vulva, increased appetite, enlarged nipples.The gestation period for this breed is about nine weeks, or 63-66 days.

Once a chihuahua puppy is born, he/she should be with the mother for at least eight weeks before it is sold. It is not wise to take home a puppy that is younger than this age because it needs the milk from the mother for a while to grow. Avoid any breeders that offer you a chihuahua puppy younger than eight weeks.

The first set of chihuahua puppy shots is normally given between 6-8 weeks and are repeated every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks old. These shots are called DHPP vaccinations, which stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. So it is advised to find a vet as soon as you buy the puppy and setup an appointment to get the shots. These shots are given this way in order to protect the puppy from the time between weaning to until the time that the chihuahua puppies own immune system can become fully functional.

When you take your chihuahua in for shots, also set up an appointment to get it dewormed. This usually is a pill that is given with the shots.
Another shot you will want your chihuahua puppy to get is the rabies vaccination. This shot is given at 4 months of age and then repeated at one year of age. Then after the dog is a year old, the rabies shot will be required every three years or so.

Eventually, you should get your chihuahua puppy spayed or neutered. Having your dog fixed reduces the risk of getting mammary or testicular cancer in the dog.

Please keep checking this page for more chihuahua puppy information.

Chihuahua Paper Training

2010-01-19T13:14:00.000-05:00

Paper training a chihuahua can be a very challenging task. The chihuahua dog breed can present some problems, because a great majority of them do not like to go outside to begin with. Keep in mind that these are small dogs that are used to being inside a comfortable home.

Many owners will turn to chihuahua paper training as an option for potty training their chihuahua. This newspaper approach could be a very bad idea if not done correctly. So if you are going to use papers, use them as a part of the chihuahua potty training process and not as the end resolution.

Chihuahuas are not fond of bad elements such as: snow, rain, wind, and the cold. When you choose the spot outside where your dog will eliminate, make sure it is someplace that is protected from these elements or else your chihuahua will probably not use that area.

As was stated above, paper training a chihuahua is only part of the resolution, not the solution to potty training. The end goal is to have the dog be able to hold it, and go outside all of the time.

For proper chihuahua paper training, lay the news paper, in layers, in an ideal place with tile flooring. This way, if the dog waste seeps through the paper, it will be easier to clean off tile than carpet. Places like bathrooms, or laundry rooms work well. Keep the paper away from your chihuahua's food and water dish because these dogs will not eliminate near their food/water. The paper should obviously be somewhere that is easy for the chihuahua to navigate to.

The best thing to do is feed the dog a consistent amount of food, at the same times of the day. This will allow you to know when the dog might be ready to go to the bathroom. When you feel the time is right, take the chihuahua dog to the paper and make him/her stay there until it eliminates. When it eliminates on the paper, make a big deal, praise the chihuahua and give it treats. When it eliminates elsewhere in the house, not on the paper, make it known that it was bad and not to go there again. Never use physical violence on your chihuahua when potty training.

Some people that have been successful in paper training a chihuahua suggest that they clean or replace the papers regularly, but leave a "used" paper out for a while so the chihuahua knows to use that spot. This seems to work a lot. Some other resources I have seen suggest moving the paper closer and closer to the outside door, so eventually the chihuahua will associate outside with the bathroom. If you have experienced successful chihuahua paper training, please email us and let us know what methods worked.

Fawn Chihuahua

2010-01-10T10:41:00.000-05:00

There seems to be a little confusion out there about what a fawn chihuahua is and what it isn't. I was talking to some people a few days ago and they mistook the term deer head chihuahua for fawn chihuahua (even though there is no such thing as a deer chihuahua). This actually does make sense and I can see the confusion, since a fawn is a name for a newborn deer, the logical conclusion would be that fawn chihuahua is another term or saying for deer head chihuahua.

This simply is not true. The term fawn is used to only describe the chihuahua's coat color. It can be a long haiered or short haired chihuahua, it does not matter. Fawn is darker than the cream color. Fawn is known as sable or tawny in other dog breeds. So a fawn chihuahua is a dark brown colored chihuahua.

Synonymous:
Fawn Chihuahua
Sable Chihuahua

Mexican Chihuahua Names

2010-01-07T19:42:00.000-05:00

As many of you are aware of, the chihuahua dog breed has origins in the great country of Mexico. So most new chihuahua owners logically decide to name their dog something Mexican, be it after a city, popular human name, or a food dish.

This makes a lot of sense, so below are a few popular Mexican chihuahua names for your beloved dog. If you can think of some other mexican chihuahua names, especially for female chihuahuas, send us an email and we will post it on this page.

Male chihuahua names:
Amigo
Taco
Chalupa
Paco
Chico
Hosa
Jose
Buritto
Hombre
Senor
Juan

Female chihuahua names:
Amiga
Chica
Chiquita
Esperanza

Donate Those Old, Unused Chihuahua Clothes

2009-12-21T18:26:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays everyone!

I recently received a touching email from an organization that has a wonderful idea to help shelter dogs. They are collecting old dog sweaters from people and donating them to animal shelters in order to keep the dogs nice and warm in the winter months ahead.

This is a great idea and it is worth checking out. The chihuahua clothes will fit small toy shelter dogs that need them. If you have old and unused dog sweaters, please do not throw them out, donate them to the below organization:

http://bignutshell.com/blogs/dogproject/

Chihuahua Treats

2009-12-05T11:55:00.001-05:00

I have been receiving a lot of email and tweets asking about what good, healthy chihuahua treats are safe for their dogs. I have been asked about various brands and flavors and what my chihuahuas like to eat. My response has been very simple. I do not buy treats for my dogs. This does not mean that I do not reward my chihuahuas for being good, or for going to the bathroom outside, I do reward them. Instead of buying expensive and sometimes unhealthy treats, I use their dry kibble as chihuahua treats.

You heard me right, their dog food is their treats. I will usually give them one piece of kibble as a reward for doing something good, like letting us know that they need to go outside by going to the door, and for performing tricks correctly. The best part is that they love getting treats and they don't care that they are not getting different or name brand dog treats to eat.

We decided to go this rout a few years back. It was just a way of saving as much money as we can. Those dog treats can add up monitarily every month. We can use that money to go to other ways of spoiling our dogs.

So, if you are looking for a cheap chihuahua treat, use their dry dog kibble!

Happy holidays!

Chihuahua Litter Box Training

2009-11-29T10:26:00.000-05:00

First off, Happy Holidays to all!

Potty training chihuahuas has become a hot topic of conversation recently via emails. I am not sure why exactly, perhaps a lot of people recently got chihuahuas right before or during the Thanksgiving holiday. We got our most recent chihuahua a few days before Thanksgiving a few years ago.

I received an email from a gentleman who told me about the success he had litter box training his chihuahua. I had heard of people that have attempted dog litter box training in the past and have had mixed success. Apparently he found a system that worked for his dog. He was so excited about his success that he setup a blog on blogger (and used my template :)) to help people that are interested in dog litter box training. He is still working on the content, so check back with him every once in a while.

To be honest I have little to no knowledge about litter box training a dog. I know it involves a litter box and special pellets for dogs. It is not a good idea to use the pellets that are used for cat litter boxes. Others have used shredded newspapers and pee pads in the dog litter boxes.

Chihuahua Grooming

2009-08-09T09:22:00.005-04:00

The reason for grooming a chihuahua is simple - your dog's physical state influences the way he/she feels, and the way you look at your dog. Extreme cases, where lack of proper care, cleaning and grooming can directly affect the behavior of your Chihuahua, are not rare.

Proper grooming not only infuses a healthy glow to your dog's appearance, but also helps develop his self-esteem; while it makes you a very proud parent, when you show off your Chihuahua to others.

The first step involved in chihuahua grooming is: Brushing!

Brushing has been universally acknowledged by expert dog groomers as the single most important step in grooming.

The benefits of brushing are many. To name a few:

Better blood circulation
Shinier and healthier coat
Better bonding

Even if you know how crucial brushing is for your Dog's health and well-being, we all know that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing anything. And without doubt, you would like to do everything the RIGHT way when it comes to your Chihuahua.

Yes, there's a method to follow while brushing your Chihuahua.

Here are FIVE steps to successfully brushing your Chihuahua that will prove to be extremely useful:

Brush against the growth of the hair first with a slicker brush and then with a medium or wide-toothed comb.
The slicker brush removes all the loose hair and the comb takes care of the tangles.
Brush your Chihuahua along the hair growth and make sure you reach the skin as you brush his way.
Then use a flea comb over the coat to get the fleas and remove any remaining tangles. Part the coat and start from the root and then comb through.
If your Dog's paw pads are hairy, then clip them using electric clippers. Do not clip the hair in between the pads. Clip only the excess hair.

Brush your Dog's hairs to prevent it from matting. Matting can be a very painful experience.

Regular brushing untangles the matted hairs on your Dog's coat. Since this is a risky job to do, the best way out is to prevent them from forming in the first place. And doing this is simple: just brush and comb your Chihuahua regularly. If and when you see any mats or tangles, use a de-tangle solution and a medium-toothed comb.

Don't wait until your Chihuahua is dirty or matted to introduce him/her to grooming. That would make him/her associate the experience with unpleasantness. Moreover, many dogs learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate form of petting, i.e. another source of affection and attention.

Subscribe to this FREE dog grooming mini course and start Grooming your Dog all by yourself right from the comfort of your home Today.

Is Your Chihuahua Potty Trained Enough?

2009-07-25T07:49:00.019-04:00

House Training a Chihuahua puppy or adult Chihuahua is such an essential issue for its owner that even a single exclusive tip turns out to be extremely helpful.

The first step in making your Chihuahua fit for polite company would be to potty train him. Some see this training as a hassle and some as a challenge.
For me, it is part of bringing up a pet.

There are a few things you need to know before you actually start potty training a chihuahua puppy or adult Chihuahua. Please see the bulleted points below:

You need to understand your dog's body language. Watch for signs that will indicate to you when your pet wants to eliminate.
If you own chihuahua puppies, remember that they need to go potty at fairly frequent intervals - as soon as they wake up, after short naps, after play-time, after meals, before and after being crated and finally, before retiring for the night.
Take your Chihuahua for walks at the time that he usually does his potty. Take him out to the yard and then to the same place there every time he needs to answer nature's call.
Praise your Chihuahua after he eliminates at the right place. Some Chihuahua owners even give treats to their dogs. But remember to do this every time he does it right. He will relate the rewards to his having "done it right" and zero in on the spot where you want him to defecate regularly.
With time, you can try signal training. This is so that you know when your Chihuahua wants to go. You can hang a bell at his level near the door and teach him to push it with his nose or pat it with his paw on his way out.
Until your Chihuahua has been fully potty trained keep him under strict vigilance. Do not let him roam around the house freely.
Use a crate. A crate-trained Chihuahua is usually very happy to get his own den. The advantage of crating is that dogs do not soil the place where they sleep. So, he will naturally not eliminate inside the crate.
If you have chihuahua and if you live in a high-rise building or in a place that does not have a proper backyard, you can try litter pan training. What you do is create a space for your pet to eliminate in your house itself.
Use positive reinforcements while housebreaking chihuaua puppies or adult chihuahua dogs. Do not scold or hit him as you will gain nothing by doing that. He will only associate punishment with your return from outside. If you catch him in the act, a stern 'NO' or 'FREEZE' will do. It will startle the Chihuahua enough for him to stop pooping.
Be prepared to return to a soiled home if you are keeping your Chihuahua home alone for more than 4 hours as separation anxiety is quite common among home-alone dogs.
Accidents will happen. It is unusual for a trained adult Chihuahua to work against its house training. But medical problems or health disorders may lead to sudden accidents.
Many dogs mark their territory. These can be a leg of a table or a particular wall. Intact male and female dogs mark their territories by urinating. Use deodorizers to spray on the places where your Chihuahua has marked.
If you are patient and are ready to accept that house training a chihuahua dog takes time, even months sometimes, you will end up having a good house trained Chihuahua.

Click here to get an E-Book on house training puppy and adult Chihuahuas.

Now we will move on to how to potty train puppies and adult dogs.

Potty Training A Chihuahua Puppy:

Irrespective of breeds, house training a puppy is considered to be one of the biggest challenges by dog owners. If you think house training your puppy simply involves a steady supply of old newspapers, then think again.

A puppy does not develop full control over his bladder until it is over 4 or 5 months old. Since they are growing and developing rapidly at this time, puppies eat more, burn more calories and need to eliminate more frequently than an adult Chihuahua.

After each nap, meal, drink or play, take your puppy to his designated area (indoors or outdoors, wherever you have decided) and stay there until it eliminates. Then bring him to his crate.
Repeat this situation everyday until he has developed a habit out of it.

Click here for an E-Book on housebreaking a Chihuahua puppy.

Potty Training An Adult Chihuahua:

The best way to house train an adult Chihuahua is to begin all over again.

Observe him very closely. Maybe even maintain a diary of where he goes and when. Whether he is pooping when you are home or only when you are outside; whether you can time yourself to be home when he feels the need to go outside.

You can try dog crates, but be careful to introduce him gradually to them.

Click here for an E-Book on potty training a Chihuahua dog.

Remember, commitment, consistency and intelligent use of positive reinforcement will make you the owner of a perfectly house trained Chihuahua. Don't expect miracles. You will only be disappointed.

Get this E-Book potty training a Chihuahua dog.

Get this unique House training guide and start Housebreaking Your Chihuahua Today.

Chihuahua Types

2009-07-11T08:18:00.001-04:00

Chihuahuas, like humans, can come in all shapes and sizes. If you search the Internet and classified, there seems to be some confusion about chihuahua types. You see ads for types of chihuahuas that simply do not exist. Be low is a list of possible chihuahua types you have seen advertised.

Teacup Chihuahua
Miniature Chihuahua
Applehead Chihuahua
Deerhead Chihuahua
Toy Chihuahua

The AKC (American Kennel Club)states that there is only one chihuahua type, a chihuahua. It is a graceful, alert, swift-moving compact little dog with saucy expression, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament. The dog does not exceed six pounds, and has an apple dome skull. The chihuahua is classified as a toy breed, so a dog labeled as a "toy chihuahua" is kind of redundant, isn't it?

An "applehead chihuahua" is actually a chihuahua that meets the AKC standard for the breed. A "deerhead chihuahua" is a chihuahua that does not have the apple dome skull. Think of it like a human with a long face.

Since there is only one type of chihuahua, there is no such thing as teacup, miniature, and toy chihuahuas. These are just smaller dogs (like smaller humans), sometimes the runts of the litter, that some breeders slap a label on and try to sell. Be careful when buying these dogs with one of these labels, there could be something physically wrong with it.

Chihuahuas can come in two different coat types. These two coat types are long haired chihuahua and short-haired chihuahua. The only difference between the two dogs is the length of the coat, that is all.

I hope this article has helped clear up any confusion about types of chihuahuas. I am certainly not telling you not to buy these dogs, I currently have a dog that would be labeled a teacup deerhead chihuahua, and he is perfectly healthy and happy. Just be careful when looking to buy a dog with one of these or a mix of these labels.

Merle Chihuahua

2009-07-02T07:32:00.000-04:00

The new and popular "type" of chihuahua these days is the merle chihuahua. It seems like almost everyone is looking for one of these dogs. With this new found popularity, there has come some controversy. The main issues with the merle chihuahuas are: are they actually pure bred chihuahuas, and the health problems that are common in merles. If you are interested in buying a merle chihuahua, please read on.

What is does Merle mean?

Merle is a gene that controls the color pattern of a dog's coat, eyes and paw pads, it is NOT a color. There is a solid base color, which is either red/brown or black with lighter blue/gray or reddish patches. This gives the dog an uneven speckled effect.

The merle gene modifies the dark pigment in the eyes. It can sometimes change dark eyes to blue, or part of the eye to be colored blue. This is random, and can result in a dog having both dark eyes, both blue eyes, or one dark eye with one blue eye. The color on the dog's paw pads and nose may be mottled pink and black.

Not all dog breeds carry the merle gene.

What is a Merle Chihuahua?

A merle chihuahua is a chihuahua that has the merle gene, as described above. The controversy is that many experts claim that the merle gene was not found in the chihuahua breed, until a few years ago. Many believe that some chihuahuas were bred with either dachshunds or Pomeranians, which are smaller breeds that carry the merle gene. The result is actually a mix breed being passed off as merle chihuahuas. So please take note that if you buy a merle chihuahua, you might not be getting a pure breed dog.

Health Problems in Merle Chihuahuas

Merle chihuahuas have been linked with specific health problems. These dogs can be more prone to ear and eye defects, like blindness and deafness.

Chihuahua Weight

2009-06-13T07:35:00.000-04:00

The American Kennel Club and countless other breeders agree that chihuahua weight should be between 2-6lbs. This is an ideal weight, a chihuahua's weight can vary depending on my factors, like bloodline, size, genetics, etc. But if a chihuahua is fed right, and gets a decent amount of exercise, he/she should fall within this range. Usually, chihuahuas weighing at or over 9lbs is considered obese.

A chihuahua that is smaller than normal (the dreaded teacup chihuahua term), will weigh closer to 2lbs. On the other side of that, a chihuahua that is larger than normal will weigh closer to 6lbs, or slightly over. These factors, mainly genetics and bloodline cannot be controlled.

Chihuahua weight can be controlled by watching what the dog eats, and making sure he/she gets enough exercise. Chihuahuas should only eat a reasonable portion of dog food. I always recommend Royal Mini Chihuahua 28 dog food. Sure a little taste of human food is fine every once in a while, but dogs should eat dog food.

Always consult your vet about you dog's ideal weight.

Chihuahua Weight Chart

The chihuahua weight chart should only be used as a guide and is intended only for purebred chihuahuas.

How to use the Chart:

The left-hand column of the table gives the age of the chihuahua puppy in weeks.

To determine the puppy's expected weight when fully grown, weigh the puppy in ounces and then compare the line of figures (ounces) against the number of weeks of age. Take the figure nearest to the present weight of the puppy.

The expected adult weight of the chihuahua will be given at the foot of the column in pounds.

NOTE: Weights before the age of eight weeks are liable to vary.

Birth	2½ oz.	2¾ oz.	3 oz.	3½ oz.	4 oz.	4¼ oz.	4½ oz.	5 oz.	5½ oz
1 week	3¾	4	5	5½	6½	7	8	9	9½
2 weeks	5	5½	6½	7	9	10	11	12½	13½
3 weeks	6	7	8	9	11	13	14	16	17½
4 weeks	7	8	9½	11	13	15	17	19½	21
5 weeks	8	9	11	13	15	17	19½	22	24
6 weeks	9	11	12½	15	17½	20	22	24	27
7 weeks	10	12	14½	17	19½	22	24½	27	30
8 weeks	11	13	16	19	21½	24	27	29	33
9 weeks	12	15	17½	20	23	26	29	32	35
10 weeks	13	16	19	22	25	28	31	34	38
11 weeks	14	17	21	24	27	31	34	37	42
12 weeks	15	19	22	26	30	33	37	41	45
13 weeks	16>	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	49
14 weeks	17	22	26	30	34	39	43	47	52
15 weeks	19	23	28	32	37	41	46	51	56
16 weeks	20	25	30	34	39	44	49	54	59
17 weeks	21	26	31	36	41	46	51	57	62
18 weeks	22	28	33	37	43	48	54	60	65
19 weeks	23	29	34	39	44	50	56	62	67
20 weeks	24	30	35	41	46	52	58	64	70
21 weeks	25	31	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
22 weeks	25	32	37	43	49	56	62	68	74
23 weeks	26	33	38	44	50	57	64	70	76
24 weeks	26	33	39	45	51	58	65	71	78
25 weeks	27	34	40	46	52	59	66	72	79
26 weeks	27	34	40	47	53	60	67	73	80
18 months (full grown)	2 lb.	2½ lb.	3 lb.	3½ lb.	4 lb.	4½ lb.	5 lb.	5½ lb.	6 lb.

*This Chihuahua weight chart is © Colonel V. D'Oyly Harmer and is from "The Complete Chihuahua Encyclopedia" by Hilary Harmar.

Foods Chihuahuas Should Avoid

2009-05-28T17:01:00.000-04:00

While you love your chihuahua dog and want him/her to have the best foods, it is vital to know which foods to consume and which must be avoided at all costs.

There are specific foods that are toxic to dogs, including chihuahuas. The below table is a list of foods to avoid feeding your chihuahua. In my opinion, Chihuahuas should just eat chihuahua dog food and avoid human foods at all costs.

* Chart from Foster & Smith Inc.

Items to avoid	Reasons to avoid
Alcoholic beverages	Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
Baby food	Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources	Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
Cat food	Generally too high in protein and fats.
Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine	Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.
Citrus oil extracts	Can cause vomiting.
Fat trimmings	Can cause pancreatitis.
Grapes and raisins	Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.
Hops	Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.
Human vitamin supplements containing iron	Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
Large amounts of liver	Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.
Macadamia nuts	Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
Marijuana	Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Milk and other dairy products	Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.
Moldy or spoiled food, garbage	Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.
Mushrooms	Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder)	Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
Persimmons	Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
Pits from peaches and plums	Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract.
Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems	Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.
Raw eggs	Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw fish	Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.
Salt	If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
String	Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body."
Sugary foods	Can lead to dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
Table scraps (in large amounts)	Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.
Tobacco	Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
Yeast dough	Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Chihuahua Personality

2009-05-17T08:35:00.000-04:00

The chihuahua personality is one of the most unique traits of this toy breed. Like humans, each dog is an individual and can have different personalities (shy, outgoing, etc.), but there are general personality traits for chihuahua dogs. Some of these traits can be seen as a positive, some as a negative.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the chihuahua personality as "terrier-like". But what exactly does "terrier-like" mean? This can be described as intelligent and loyal, along with bold and confident. Chihuahuas have a very alert nature and are suspicious of strangers. This makes it an excellent watchdog. Chihuahuas are very sensitive, and thrive on affection and companionship. They are very clannish, preferring the company of their own breed to other dog breeds.

This "terrier-like" personality makes the Chihuahua not for everyone, because of their clannish tendencies and suspiciousness of other people. But the curiosity, intelligence and extreme loyalty of the breed make them an excellent pet for the elderly, individuals and disabled people.

The Chihuahua was bred to be a companion dog to man. They are extremely affectionate with their owners and do not like to be left alone. They prefer being with humans, or other chihuahuas. They usually become attached to just one or two individuals and want to be spoiled.

Chihuahuas tend to have a 'big dog' personality and have earned the reputation of being yappy and snippy with strangers. Despite their small size, they are quite protective of their owners. They aren’t aware of their small stature, and you can typically see them acting much bolder than other dogs that are much bigger in size.

Since the Chihuahua is extremely loyal to just one or two individuals, they become highly protective or possessive of these people. This can cause a violent reaction, since chihuahuas are usually wary of any new guests introduced to their territory. Chihuahuas have even attacked family and friends of their owners, even if the Chihuahua met these people before. Although not a very good guard dog, this trait makes the Chihuahua an excellent option for a watchdog.

Chihuahuas are definite lapdogs and human contact is a must, as they will need a lot of general attention, and petting. They like nothing more than to be in physical contact with their people at all times. They have been known to sit with their owners for hours, sometimes on a lap or cuddled next to them. Without enough attention, the breed will resort to various attention getting tricks, such as being mischievous. While some find this makes their dog a bit too needy, you will gain a lot of loyalty from your Chihuahua in exchange for attention, love, and care.

So is the chihuahua the breed for you? Hopefully this article on the chihuahua personality traits helped.

Chihuahua Rescue Guide

2009-05-03T10:53:00.003-04:00

If you are looking to adopt a chihuahua, why not get one at your local chihuahua rescue? Chihuahuas are one of the most popular toy dog breeds in the world. The popularity of this dog has increased greatly throughout the years, with the recent release of a popular movie featuring these dogs. But with this boom in popularity, comes a down side. This down side is an increase in abused, unwanted, and neglected chihuahuas.

These dogs need a good home, and this is where the chihuahua rescues come into play. They provide food, shelter, and vet care for these dogs until they can be adopted. Unlike some shelters, these facilities do not kill any of the dogs they take in.

Most chihuahua rescues are non-profit, so adopting a dog there can go a long way. Every dollar these facilities get goes to helping support these chihuahuas.

There are many great places to get chihuahuas, from chihuahua breeders, to shelters, to chihuahua rescues. If you are in the market for one of these loving dogs, please consider all possible options.

Chihuahua Clothes Sizing Information

2009-04-18T08:54:00.010-04:00

Ordering chihuahua clothes online can be fun and tricky. The tricky part is getting your dog's clothing size correct. The last thing you want is to spend all that money and end up with something too small or too large, that you have to send back to the store. Getting the correct chihuahua size is key.

Each chihuahua clothes designer has their own sizing scale and method, so how do you get the correct size? You have to measure your dog's: back length, chest girth, and neck width. Please see the below chihuahua size mapping.

When measuring your dog for size, it is best to use a soft tape measure. This will ensure the most accurate size, without hurting your dog. It is a good idea to measure your dog before ordering the chihuahua clothes, this will help to avoid ordering the wrong size. Keep the measurements handy, because most chihuahua clothing sites have the sizing information available. Read the sizing charts for EACH article of clothing you want to purchase. Also, get your chihuahua size every time he/she grows or gains/loses weight.

If your Chihuahua's measurements are in-between two sizes, always get the larger size. The reason you get the larger size is to take into account the fact your dog might grow, and also the clothing might shrink in the laundry. Also, you will want to order the larger size if you have a long haired chihuahua.

I hope this article on sizing your dog for chihuahua clothes was helpful, happy shopping!

Blue Chihuahua

2009-04-15T14:30:00.016-04:00

What is a blue chihuahua? A blue chihuahua is like any other dog of the breed, but with a grey coat that has a blue tinge in it. This bluish color comes from careful chihuahua breeding. These dogs are usually very expensive, and can cost at or more that $3000.

In order to produce a blue chihuahua, a lot of selective breeding is involved. For example, if a black and tan chihuahua, and a chocolate chihuahua are bred, the result very likely would be a blue chihuahua. The key is that both of the parents must have the blue recessive gene present. But even then, getting the desired results isn't guaranteed.

Because of the complex breeding of blue chihuahuas, these dogs could have certain defects, like skin problems and alopecia (fur loss). Two blue chihuahuas should never be bred together because the introduction of defects could be doubled.

That's it, a blue chihuahua is actually a grayish-blue colored chihuahua. If you are trying to buy a blue chihuahua, find a reputable breeder that does not only breed for coat color.

Chihuahua Food

2009-04-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

New and existing owners of chihuahuas ask me to recommend a good chihuahua food that meets the nutritional needs and requirements of this wonderful, small breed.

I ALWAYS respond with one brand and one brand only, Royal Canin Mini Breed Chihuahua dog food. As you can tell from the name, this is not just dog food, this is chihuahua food. And more importantly, this is the only food my chihuahuas eat.

Royal Canin Mini Breed Chihuahua dog food is specifically made for the chihuahua. It comes in small bite sized pieces, which is perfect for the chihuahua's small trachea.

This chihuahua food is specifically catered for the adult and mature Chihuahuas over 8 months of age. Its complete and balanced nutrition helps protect cardiac function, provide stool odor relief, and reduce tartar formation on the teeth.

Excellent and pleasing taste, even for the pickiest eater!

Some of the benefits:

Cardiac Function: Helps in keeping the heart functioning correctly. Heart disorders are more frequent in the chihuahua than in other breeds. This sensitivity increases with age--the average life expectancy of a chihuahua is 13 years and it is not uncommon for them to live to 15 years.

Stool Odor Relief: The chihuahua is the ideal indoor dog. It often lives in apartments and may use a litter box. Although it only produces a small amount of feces, it is important to limit the unpleasant smells caused by this type of lifestyle. This special formula will both optimize the quantity and the odor of the stools.

Tarter Control: This dry dog food has a tartar reducing formula that helps preserve buccodental hygiene and has texture designed to produce a brushing effect, reducing dental plaque formation.

Chihuahua Breeding

2009-04-12T14:21:00.007-04:00

The below article is one of the best I have come across regarding the subject of chihuahua breeding, and weather or not you should do it. This was originally published in 1999 by Marli Medinnus.

If you are seriously considering chihuahua breeding, please, PLEASE read this article. Marli has done an amazing job detailing what it takes to be a successful chihuahua breeder.

To Breed or Not to Breed?

The decision of whether or not to breed chihuahuas is a very serious one. It is an especially serious decision with toy breeds because the whelp is so much more difficult and potentially dangerous than with larger breeds. What I am about to write may sound like a lecture but please read all the way through and think about it very carefully. As a breeder of Chihuahuas I am obviously not going to say that it shouldn't be done, but it is important to know the risks, educate yourself, and be very sure that your girl really is breeding quality and likely to whelp easily before you begin.

Wanting to breed chihuahuas is understandable - we love our little babies, naturally we want more just like them. Unfortunately, it is important to remember that there is no way to know for certain that any of the puppies will be anything like the parents. Because of the diversity in the Chihuahua gene pool, the odds are that they will be very different from him/her and each other, unless both parents are long-time line-bred from the same line and/or of very similar type with similar type parents. This is why a knowledge of lines and pedigrees is critical to a serious breeder. It is also important to remember that the welfare of any puppies you breed is your responsibility FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. If you pick out a dog (whether purchased or adopted) you can see what you're getting, but if you breed then there are NO guarantees.

Here is some input from other sources on the decision on whether to breed:

From the Dog Owners Guide on spaying:

"...Females are better pets if they do not experience estrus twice each year. Heat cycles bring hormonal changes that can lead to personality changes. Repeated heat cycles subject the reproductive system to UTERINE AND MAMMARY CANCERS and UTERINE INFECTIONS. Some bitches experience false pregnancies that can be a bother to deal with... "

From the Official Newsletter of the Canine Health Foundation (AKC) Fall 1999, Issue 1:

"Dogs develop more mammary tumors than any species other than mice. The incidence in bitches, 199/100,000 female dogs, is nearly three times that seen in women... "

"The most widely recognized risk factor for developing mammary carcinoma in the dog is the number of estrous cycles (heats) experienced prior to ovariohysterectomy (spaying). Bitches spayed before the first heat have a relative risk of 0.05% for mammary cancer, while those with one heat cycle had 8% and those with 2 or more cycles had 26% relative risk. The sparing effect of ovariohysterectomy is lost after two years or four cycles... "

Translation: Spayed bitches live longer healthier lives. In the over twenty years that I have been breeding Chihuahuas, I have personally observed this to be true. Mammary and uterine cancers will usually spread to the lungs and other internal organs long before you know the bitch is ill. It is an ugly painful death and difficult to prevent - except by early spaying.
From the Chihuahua Club of America breed fact pamphlet on breeding:

"SO YOU WANT TO BREED...

Chihuahua Breeding is not the mating together of two AKC registered dogs to produce puppies. That has been the downfall of many breeds. It's a creative art that requires the study of genetics, conformation, and bloodlines and veterinary procedures. The responsibilities for the future generations lies with a breeder. The mating together of outstanding champions will produce many pets, so if dogs that are not outstanding are bred, can you imagine what can happen? Personality, disposition and health are lost, along with the good looks of the chihuahua breed. Chihuahuas are often delivered by Cesarean section and that's expensive! Puppies are small, usually 3 to 4 oz., and require a lot of extra care. SO CONSIDER CAREFULLY!"

Part of the decision process when picking two dogs to breed together is to look at the parents, grandparents and siblings of the dogs in question. Looking at dogs that are closely related to the dogs you plan to breed will tell you a lot about what you can expect to see in the puppies. Serious responsible breeders want to make sure that the lines in question are free of patellar luxation, bite distortion, heart disease and other hereditary diseases or defects. Even if your bitch is the perfect size for breeding (4-6 pounds), has a perfect scissor bite, excellent disposition, perfect “apple” dome, round eyes well set in the skull, perfectly shaped muzzle, perfectly level topline, perfect angulation, perfect proportion, perfect coat, good tuck-up, perfect tail set and carriage, etc. there may STILL be problems in her line she could pass on to her puppies. She may have had ugly, nasty parents and her good nature and good looks are a fluke that would not be passed on to her puppies. This is why a knowledge of genetics and the lines of both dogs in a mating pair is important.

Because it takes only a few dogs to breed but many bitches, usually only top winning Champions are used by good breeders as stud dogs. Many dogs that become Champions are still not considered perfect enough to use for chihuahua breeding. And responsible owners of top-quality studs will not breed to bitches without papers. If your bitch is not registered, only the very worst quality studs owned by unscrupulous, disreputable, or ignorant people will be available to you. Because Chihuahuas are so small, the bitches are sometimes unable to deliver puppies naturally and need cesarean sections. To reduce the risk to the bitch, often only smaller stud dogs (under 4 pounds) from similarly sized parents are used, so that the bitch has the best chance possible of being able to deliver naturally. Breeding Chihuahuas can be very expensive and when the average stud fee to use the #10 or better top winning Chihuahua in the nation is only $250-$400, it makes sense to use only the best.

From my personal experience I would say that there are a few things you should ask yourself before you decide to breed:

Have you studied genetics and the backgrounds of the dogs in question? Do you feel confident that this will be a sound breeding (i.e. that the puppies will be free of any serious genetic defect and will be good quality examples of the breed)?

Is your bitch of appropriate size, and sufficient health and quality that it is advisable to breed her? Does she have good pelvic breadth and a good tuck up so she can carry and deliver the puppies safely?

Is she the right age to be bred? On her first breeding, she should be physically mature but still have some of the flexibility of youth to enable her to whelp and carry more easily. This usually means she should be bred the firs time on her second or third heat, but before the age of three. Breeding a bitch too young or too old can cause more damage to her health than if she were the correct age. No matter what age she is, having pups will almost certainly shorten her life span.

Why do you want to breed chihuahuas? What are you trying to produce? Do you have a chihuahua breeding plan? If all you want is another puppy, buy one. It is cheaper, safer and easier.

If this is your first toy-breed litter, have you read about whelping and do you have a toy-breed breeder near you who can help you and act as your mentor?

Can you afford a cesarean section, x-rays, puppy shots and other possible medical expenses? Where I live, an emergency C-section can cost from $750 to $1,500 dollars.

Are you prepared to deal with the loss of the bitch if the unthinkable happens and the delivery kills her? Every Chihuahua breeder I know has had at least one breeding bitch die from infection contracted during the breeding, trauma during the delivery of the pups, or from complications afterwards.

Are you prepared to "put down" defective puppies rather than letting them suffer and watching them die slowly?

Are you prepared to never leave the bitch alone for more than and hour at a time for the entire week prior to when she is due to whelp until the time she actually delivers? Or if you cannot be with her, can you afford to hire a breeder to board her during this time and act as "midwife".

Are you prepared to help her deliver the pups or get her to a vet immediately if she needs assistance? Do you know how to turn or pull a stuck puppy without injuring the puppy or the bitch?

Do you know how to recognize eclampsia, mastitis, uterine inertia, and other potentially life- threatening complications?

Are you prepared to bottle and/or tube feed chihuahua puppies every 3 hours if it is necessary?

Have you spent the time to pick out a good Champion stud dog with qualities that should compliment your bitches qualities and made arrangements with his owner? He should be of such outstanding quality and breeding potential that it will be worth it to you to risk your bitches life to produce his offspring.

Are you prepared to take responsibility for the puppies for the rest of their lives? To take them back and care for them if they are no longer wanted?

Are you prepared to refund money for any puppy you sell that does manifest a serious congenital disorder?

Do you know how to accomplish the breeding? To artificially inseminate, if necessary?

Have both dogs been checked for transmissible diseases?

Are you sure that both dogs are free of heritable defects or genetic disease such as patellar luxation, bite distortion, heart disease, etc.

Do you have a contract of sale that protects you and the purchaser of the puppy? Many states have "puppy lemon laws" that you should be familiar with before selling a puppy. If you choose to give puppies away instead of selling them, then statistically they will not be as well cared for by their new owners. Also, I guarantee that between stud fees, lost time at work and medical bills it will almost certainly end up being cheaper and will definitely be less stressful to buy a puppy.

A recent litter of mine is a good example of what can happen:
Tami weighs 5 1/4 pounds so a C-section was not likely to be needed but I have had a bitch as large as 6 pounds who needed a C-section and I know of a 7 1/2 pound bitch who always does. Tami whelped 4 days before she was due and in the late afternoon while I was still at work. If I had not been bringing her into the office with me that week she would have been alone when she delivered. Bandit was born breech and had great difficulty breathing at first because he was premature. I really had to work to get his lungs clear and get him started breathing. If I had not known how to help him, he almost certainly would have died then. Tango was fairly normal but large and Tami had a little trouble pushing him out - I had to help and pull him. Without assistance, Tango probably would have been killed during the birthing process and Tami would likely have had pelvic injuries. At first I thought Bandit would need to be tube fed (because of his labored breathing I thought he would be too weak to nurse) but fortunately this was not the case. I have found it necessary to tube feed tiny puppies in the past, however - especially if there are more than three pups in the litter. Tube feeding is always a nerve-wracking business - make a mistake and you kill the puppy. For the first two weeks of his life until he stabilized, I checked on Bandit every three hours to make sure he was not in distress. When the pups were four weeks old Tami's milk dried up and I had to take over feeding them until they were weaned at six weeks.

This was a first litter by a good-sized bitch who was bred to a Champion-quality and proven stud dog who weighed under 3 pounds. If there had been only one puppy, it would probably have been bigger than Tango was and Tami almost certainly would have needed a C-section. Single pup litters are not at all uncommon with Chihuahuas, especially in first litters, and the fewer the number of puppies then the larger the individual pups are. The average litter size for Chihuahuas is only 1-3 pups.

I know many breeders who have lost bitches or puppies due to complications related to breeding such as anaesthesia poisoining or uncontrolled bleeding during C-section surgery, eclampsia, pyometra, mastitis, uterine inertia, etc. I have acted as mentor to several novice breeders and I can say that the ones who did a lot of study and research first fared better, although they all had their losses, too. By the way, this is not true of just Chihuahuas - breeders of all breeds will occasionally lose bitches and puppies to breeding complications. I know a lab breeder who lost a bitch during a c-section surgery.

For one novice breeder I mentored it was a horror story. I had advised her not to breed because her bitch was small and short-bodied. I thought I had convinced her but she decided to do it anyway. In the seventh week of carrying, the bitch's uterus burst open (it was too small for the pups she was carrying) and emergency surgery was needed to save her. After $1,500 in emergency vet bills, losing both of the puppies and nearly losing the bitch who was the woman's only pet and love of her life, I cannot begin to describe to you how this woman felt about what she had put her beloved “Lucky” through, what she had lost, and what it had almost cost her. In addition, her little 7 year old daughter was traumatized by what had happened to her little doggie.

If your main reason for wanting to breed your is that you have a Chihuahua that you love and would like another like him/her, then what makes the most sense is to find another to buy or adopt. It may take you time and work to find the right dog but it will be worth it. Remember, even if you do somehow end up breeding your Chi, it may be that none of the puppies will be anything like him/her and there are NO guarantees - not even that the bitch will survive.
I won't tell you that you shouldn't breed, but it really is more than just putting two dogs together and "letting her get pregnant". I studied a great deal and assisted on the whelps of other people's Chihuahuas before I ever bred a litter of my own. I had an experienced mentor to help me. I still regularly consult with other breeders and read books and articles to see what I can learn that will give every one of my furkids the best shot at health and happiness possible.
Be sure that you are also prepared to do what is needed and if you think that your little girl is too precious to risk, no matter how small the risk, don't do it. Even if absolutely nothing goes wrong with the breeding and the whelp, you will still be shortening her expected life span. I hate to sound pushy or like a doomsayer, but I have seen what happens when things go wrong with a breeding and the people involved were just not prepared to deal with it. Even for those of us who really know the risks and have had our losses, it hurts every time.

Chihuahua breeding is not for everyone and don't kid yourself that only breeding one litter doesn't make you a breeder. For the sake of your little baby, you had better think of yourself as a breeder and do what needs to be done. It is a serious thing to do. Once you are committed, you can cry afterwards if things went wrong, but you had better be there 100% until it's all over. She will need you to be. That's what we "real breeders" do because little lives depend upon it.

-by Marli Medinnus

Copyright © 1999 by Marli Medinnus. Authorization to reprint, copy, and distribute this article is hereby granted provided such publication is done for no profit and the source is credited.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and learned about how involved chihuahua breeding can be.

Chihuahua Size

2009-04-12T07:40:00.000-04:00

Chihuahua size can vary greatly. Chihuahuas are the smallest of toy breeds, and they can range in different sizes. The American Kennel Club standard states that a Chihuahua should not weigh over 6 lbs.

It is safe to say that a healthy chihuahua should be around 2.5 to 6 pounds, depending on the size of its body. Anything less than two pounds, the dog is probably is frail and sickly. A chihuahua size over 6 pounds can be considered obese.

Please keep in mind that chihuahuas were bred to be companion dogs. Any chihuahua, regardless of size, can be a loving companion, and size should not be your only criteria for choosing this breed of dog.

Chihuahua buyers should be more concerned with health, temperament, and quality of the dogs they are seeking than with attaining a “teacup” or "miniature" size. Teacup chihuahua and miniature chihuahua are not terms recognized or by the Chihuahua Club of America or the American Kennel Club. Chihuahua size is important in determining that a dog is healthy, and that should be the most important factor.

Clothes for Chihuahuas

2009-04-11T09:02:00.005-04:00

Clothes for chihuahuas are extremely hot this year.You really can't help but notice the rise in celebrities with chihuahuas at their side. With a sea of dog clothes, it's hard to know what chihuahua dog clothes are in and what chihuahua clothes are not.

The first time that I really noticed chihuahua clothing was when the movie Legally Blonde came out. Bruiser was always dressed in high end chihuahua dog clothing fashion. Another well dressed dog is Paris Hilton's chihuahua named Tinkerbell.

An important thing to keep in mind when dressing your chihuahua is to allow your dog to be him/herself, a dog. Make sure that the chihuahua clothes are functional, most importantly. If it is cold out, make sure the clothing is nice and warm. If it is wet out, make sure the clothing keeps your chihuahua dry.

So, what are some cute chihuahua clothes you can get this year?

Bandannas (All Year)

You might be seeing a lot of bows on those popular celebrity dogs. Bows are not very comfortable, especially on chihuahuas. Try buying your dogs bandannas, they are very colorful and come in small sizes for toy dogs. They are even themed, so you can have one for a specific holiday, etc.

Collars and Leashes (All Year)

Another way to dress up your chihuahua is with a beautiful dog collar and leash. Collars and leashes can be fancy or classic, depending on what you want to do. Find a style that matches your Chihuahua's personality and go with it.

Chihuahua Dog Sweater (Fall/Winter)

Every chihuahua should have a sweater. First and foremost, they are very functional. They will keep your chihuahua warm, especially the short haired chihuahuas. Sweaters are also very fashionable, and can showcase your dog's personality. Chihuahua dog sweaters are mostly hand made and come in a plethora of variations. A holiday dog sweater is a must have this season. This year let your chihuahua "deck the halls" in a Christmas tree dog sweater or a solid red or green small dog sweater.

Chihuahua Tee Shirts

Tee shirts are probably the most popular piece of chihuahua clothes. These are light weight but functional. they can be worn in all weather. They are very fashionable because they can come in literally all colors and fashions.

Remember, this year is about dog fashion, not about breaking the bank. There's no reason for you to pay over $30 for any of the items mentioned, especially in this rough economy. Even though chihuahua clothing is small and detailed, they're relatively inexpensive to make. Don't be fooled by stores and websites trying to make you pay huge amounts of money for these small pieces of chihuahua clothing. One has to understand dogs don't understand the value of the piece of chihuahua dog clothing you have bought them.

Just be smart, and have fun. Use chihuahua clothes and fashion to highlight your little Chihuahua's personality.

Links:

Chihuahua Dog Clothes by Kool Dawg Tees