Winter can be dreary. Chihuahuas, like people, can be affected by the shorter days and cold nights. Mostly we’re affected by how you feel. If you’re blue, we will sense that.
Whether or not Chihuahuas are affected by the winter blues, we are certainly not fond of cold weather.
Chihuahuas are known to love the heat. I for one can never be too warm. I am never far from a comfy blankie.
I also hate the rain. It’s very wet. Who wants to walk in wet grass and sloshy puddles. Boots are out of the question. I don’t like my feet touched. Did you know we use our feet as a sense of smell and to spread our scent? Snow… forget about it. It’s rare to find a Chi that likes playing in the snow.
Here are 10 of my favorite ways to feel better during winter:
- Move to a warm climate. I live in Southern California where it is mostly warm. Although living by the beach can be a bit chilly.
- Have central heat. Keep it warm inside.
- Indoor plumbing for you Chihuahua. Why go outside in the cold and snow when there exists perfectly good piddle pads for easy indoor access.
- Sunlamps and ocean sounds. Just kidding. Sorta.
- A warm, inviting lap. Cover your Chihuahua with a cozy blanket when they’re all settled on you.
- Lots of fun playing with toys and throwing balls. Exercise is always important for you and your Chi. All that movement keeps your Chihuahua warm.
- Play some more. With all that attention we don’t have time to feel blue.
- Food. I love to eat. Most Chihuahuas do. Feed us lots of small treats. You don’t want us to get too fat.
- Clean water. Wash our water dish daily. Who wants to drink out of a slimy bowl of stagnant water. That would make anyone blue.
- Give us lots of love and attention. We’re easy to please.
You may also enjoy this article from PetPlace.com:
SAD – How the Winter Blues Affects Your Dog
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Check out the latest indoor toys from ChuckIt:
Dogs Respond Well to Routines
Chihuahuas, like most dogs, do well with a daily routine. When we know what to expect, we can relax and go with the flow.
But when that routine is disrupted, you can expect possible bad behavior. It’s our way of showing our disapproval of your bad behavior.
I like to get up around 7:30 am. I get to use the outdoor restroom, play, and have breakfast. Occasionally I allow my daddy to try brushing my teeth. Mostly I just like the toothpaste and chew the toothbrush a little.
After a little playtime it’s time for my morning nap in daddy’s home office.
Sometime around 11 it’s time for my long morning walk. Then it’s lunch time. I mostly just get a snack while daddy pigs-out.
I look forward to my afternoon nap, which is interrupted by another long walk around 3 pm. After that, another much deserved nap.
My other daddy comes home about 6. Then yet another walk as a family, meeting and greeting neighbors along the way.
Then comes dinnertime, play time and then relaxing in front of the TV before bedtime.
Routines make me feel comfortable. I know what to expect.
So it’s best to stick to your dog’s routine whenever possible.
Change your Chihuahua’s Routine Occasionally
It couldn’t hurt to mix it up once in a while, like taking your dog on a different route for their walk. Or taking them on an outing to a pet store for a treat.
Or how about a nice little lunch out? I love going to Daphne’s or Chicken Maison and sitting in the outdoor dining area with my daddies. I often get a bit of chicken or salad.
For further information, check out the following article:
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The holidays are a busy time for most people. There’s gifts to be bought, parties to go to or give, decorating to be done.
The list seems endless. My daddies and I are very busy, between work and a new “temporary” foster brother for me to get to know.
A Chihuahua’s work is never done. I wanted to take a few moments to give you some easy gift ideas for your little Chi or for those who love Chihuahuas.
1. Chihuahua-opoly. If you love Monopoly, you’ll love this Chihuahua version. Your Chi might not understand the rules, but if you give the game to a Chihuahua lover they will greatly appreciate it.
2.Chuck-It. This is my most favorite toy. I have five of them all over the house and absolutely love it. I toss it to my daddies and they toss it across the room. Fetch is fun. You should really try it. Sometimes I just don’t want to give up on the game and fall asleep with the ball in my mouth.
3. Kong. Every night I get a treat in my Kong toy. The object is to not only give your dog a treat, but to encourage them to think as well. Figuring out how to get the treat out of the Kong is part of the fun. Sometimes I cheat and bring the Kong to my daddy. I nudge him until he finally takes the treat out and gives it to me. I know that’s cheating but oh well. I’m just a little girl.
4. Stuffed Hedgehog. You can’t go wrong with a Stuffed Hedgehog. It’s easy to grab, easy to toss and easy to make squeak. I love it and play with it daily. I have three of them in various stages of wear. My Hedgehogs are part of my daily fetch routine. I go from Chuck-it ball to Hedgehog. It’s the perfect size for your Chihuahua.
5. Bully Chew Sticks. When I’m tired of playing with my daddies I like to relax and chew on my Bully Chew Sticks. I have several hidden around the house. Sometimes I find them under the furniture. I don’t know how they get there. It takes a daddy to retrieve them but then that’s what daddies are for.
Keep your Chihuahua safe on Thanksgiving. If you’re having a herd of guest over, please protect your little Chi.
- Don’t feed your Chi table scraps
- Never give your Chi turkey bones or skin
- Prepare Chi friendly treats to give your little one
- Keep your Chihuahua away from decorations and toxic plants
- Have a safe place for your Chi to hide from the guests and rest
4 Tips for a Dog-Friendly Thanksgiving
What Thanksgiving Scraps Your Dog Should NOT Eat, Even If He Begs
Healthy Thanksgiving Treats for Your Dog: 101 Dog Care Tips
I received the following email from Ana:
“I have a beautiful chihuahua Minnie a girl who is 5 months old she’s great affectionate playful always give you lots of kisses when you get home. There is one thing about her that no one likes. She growls at you at me my husband and the kid. What can I do for that to stop? or is this part of her personality?
Please advise, very concerned.”
Thanks
Ana
Dear Ana,
Thanks for bringing up this important question.
I am a relatively friendly Chihuahua. I love meeting people. But some things do make me growl. Such as when my daddy puts on my harness to go for a walk. I just don’t want to be disturbed. Or when I see a cat or squirrel.
It is in the nature of some dogs to growl.
It’s our way of showing disapproval for whatever it is you’re doing to annoy us. We haven’t learned how to roll our eyes as yet.
It’s possible your Chihuahua might have decided that he or she is the pack leader and should be obeyed. This is probably not a good thing and should be dealt with a little patient re-training in between treats.
Sometimes the growling is an end in itself. But in some dogs it could be followed by biting. All forms of aggression should be promptly dealt with, gently yet firmly and not with aggression. My daddy does not hit nor should anyone hit their dogs, especially a little Chihuahua.
But a firm “NO” should make the Chi know they’ve done something wrong. Then ignore them for a while. If you give too much attention to negative behavior you are actually rewarding the dog. We all love attention, no matter we have to do to get it.
If you’re having a problem with your dog’s aggressive behavior, you may consider seeing an animal behaviorist. It might be worth the expense.
For more information:
What to Do If Your Dog Growls or Snaps
We chase because we can.
And it’s fun. We love to play and chasing is a form of play. Also we like to prey on things that move. It’s our instinct.
I especially like to chase big trucks. FedEx, UPS and garbage trucks are my favorites.
I also love to chase squirrels, cats, birds and other dogs.
But what really gets me going are skateboards and scooters. The sound of the little wheels on the pavement is just too hard to resist. I need to catch that person. I need to win.
In reality, I don’t actually chase these fun things. I’m tethered to my daddy and he won’t let me go. He can be a real drag. He would probably chase them too if he weren’t quite so old.
The dangers of chasing
This could be problematic. Especially if I escape from my daddy, because I probably will run after the skateboarder. Cars also share the street with skateboards. And a squished Chihuahua is not a happy sight.
Please share your happy chasing stories here.
Other related articles:
Dogs Chasing Bicycles, Skateboards and Other Moving Things
The Emotional Center of Gravity: Why Dogs Chase Moving Objects
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Chocolate is toxic to all dogs, depending on the kind of chocolate and amount eaten. But remember how small a Chihuahua is, typically 2-6 pounds. I’m a bit bigger than most Chihuahuas, weighing in at almost 10 pounds. Yikes. But I’m big-boned, not fat. That’s what Daddy says, anyway.
Any amount of Chocolate can have devastating effects on your dog, but even a little bit can be poisonous to your Chi because of our size.
Chocolate Toxicity Calculator
Below is a FREE Chocolate Toxicity Calculator, courtesy of Dr. Marie at AskAVetQuestion.com
You can figure out if you should freak over how much chocolate your little Chi has managed to eat without your knowledge.
Calculator provided by Ask A Vet Question.
For more Halloween safety tips read Haunting Halloween Hazards For Your Dog from DogChannel.com
Also check out 9 Non-Scary Halloween Safety Tips for Your Chihuahua by me, Lucy the Chi.
Share your Halloween Chihuahua stories in the comments below.
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Today is my birthday. I turned three. I spent the day lounging in bed, except for a few mandatory walks and snacks.
This evening I plan to play and play after my birthday dinner. So far I received a Halloween T-shirt from a friend.
Hopefully my daddies will be giving me a great present. I suspect I will be getting a ring chewy. I love those and saw my daddy buy one a while back.
Now I will take a nap to get ready for my party.
Get your Chihuahua a present.
If you’re looking to get your Chihuahua a present try shopping at PetSmart. Here’s a special you don’t want to miss:
Save up to 50% on hundreds of Toys, Treats & More at the PetSmart Treat Your Pet Sale!
Also check out this past article on throwing your Chihuahua a party:
Is Your Chihuahua Halloween Ready?
As a proud Chihuahua I do not like getting dressed up for Halloween. Unless I’m wearing my pink parka to keep me warm, I prefer to run around naked. Except, of course, for my built in fur coat. I never take it off because that would hurt.
Still, some Chihuahuas may enjoy wearing something special for Halloween.
Here’s my advice on surviving Halloween:
- If your Chi is fighting you on wearing a costume, don’t force them. (They’re probably embarrassed).
- Taking your Chi trick-or-treating is probably not a good idea. Most of us Chis hate crowds and strangers. We’re very cute and everyone wants to touch us. Scary.
- Avoid gaggles of children. Chihuahuas are small and break easily. Imagine a herd of kids screeching at you and waving wands and bags of candy. Yikes.
- Never feed your Chihuahua candy. It’s not good for them and can be toxic, especially chocolate. Half eaten candy on the sidewalk is seen as a treat for you Chi. The trick for you would be taking your Chi to the emergency pet clinic for a stomach pumping. Ugh.
- When at home, provide a nice, quite spot for your Chihuahua to hide in. It can be quite annoying when the doorbell rings or people knock constantly.
- When giving out candy to trick-or-treaters, make sure you don’t drop any. We Chihuahuas are quick on picking up dropped treasures. Once it hits the floor, it’s ours.
- Keep Halloween decorations away from your Chihuahua. We may enjoy eating them as much as candy.
- Make sure you don’t let your Chi escape into the night. Some of us might be scared and confused by all the ruckus.
- Don’t forget to give us a healthy dog treat when the Halloween ordeal is all over.
Check out these other interesting dog friendly Halloween articles:
How to Safely Prepare Your Chihuahua for Halloween
If your Chihuahua does enjoy dressing up for Halloween and being the center of attention, check out these specials from PetSmart:
Save up to 75% on all Halloween costumes, Toys & Treats at the PetSmart Halloween Sale!
Save 20% On All Dog Halloween Costumes at PetSmart!
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Our Mouth is Our Air Conditioner
For some reason we Chihuahuas (and all dogs) seem to cool ourselves through our mouths. Our skin does not sweat. I’m a lady, after all. And I wear a beautiful fur coat every day.
Sweating through our mouths may seem inefficient, but it’s the best we can do.
Sometimes panting makes us look like we’re smiling and happy. Keep thinking that.
It really means we’re hot and probably bothered.
Plenty of Water is Important
You must keep your Chi hydrated. We need to drink plenty of water, especially in warm weather. Encouraging your Chi to drink may not be easy but it’s worth the effort. In hot weather add an ice cube for enticement.
Some dogs like fancy fountain dishes. I just have a cheap aluminum bowl. It’s shiny. Aluminum is better than other types of bowls since it’s not porous and doesn’t breed germs. You should wash your Chi’s water dish once or twice a day. After all, it’s just sitting there on the floor all day and night. Would you drink out of that?
Use Caution When Exercising in the Heat
Exercise is important for all dogs, including little Chihuahuas. But if the weather is very hot, it’s best to walk your Chi in the early morning or late evening to avoid the hot sun. Keep in mind that our little feet are somewhat naked and are touching the hot sidewalk and asphalt. Ugh.
Do your Chihuahuas pant? Any stories?
Other articles on panting:
Another article on why dogs pant.
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