If you have a Chihuahua you love and nothing but time on your hands, you’ll want to check out Architecture for Dogs by Reiser + Umemoto for Chihuahua.
This is an interesting concept that will help make your little Chi stand out in any crowd. And you can create it all by yourself.
Check out the article and let me know what you think of it. I, personally, will not be enveloped in a cloud. I stand out just fine.
Summer is almost here. Why not take your favorite Chihuahua out to eat.
I love eating out. I get to spend quality time with my daddies and see other people. Best of all, I get to go out and not stay home alone.
Often I get to eat a treat or two. If my daddy is eating a salad I get a crunchy piece of lettuce and some chicken too.
There’s also new people to meet and greet. I usually get to sit on one of my daddy’s lap for a while but I prefer the floor so I can suck up any food items that fall to the ground. Sometimes I catch something at a nearby table.
When dining out with your Chihuahua (or other dog breed), be sure to follow these helpful tips:
- Keep your Chi off the table. Most people would balk at eating off a table that a dog has stood on.
- Keep your Chi quiet. A well behaved Chihuahua is a joy to behold. A yapping, growling one is annoying.
- Bring a toy or safe treat for your Chi to enjoy. Perhaps a chew toy would occupy them for awhile.
- Bring a bowl for water. Most restaurants with outdoor seating do not offer bowl service to dogs.
- Bring a blanket or carrier in case your Chi gets cold or sleepy.
- Be careful of poisonous foods that may fall near your Chi. These include raisins, grapes, seeds, chocolate and such. People do drop food.
- Make sure your Chi will not bite others. Many people love putting their hands on or near a cute little Chihuahua. We don’t always like that.
You can also check out this informative article:
I absolutely hate getting my nails cut. In fact, I do not like having my feet touched at all. They’re mine and I will bite you if you try to touch them.
Here’s a little video I saw on PetPlace.com. It teaches you how to trim your dog’s nails. All I can say is good luck to you.
“In this episode we learn how to trim or cut your dogs nails and why this is important. Dr. Mike will walk you through the basic steps, and discuss some important precautions. This video is NOT meant to replace the advice of your regular vet.”
Children and Chihuahuas can get along!
Image by Stuart Miles
Children are unpredictable and active. I should know, my daddies just got two temporary foster kids. Their ages are 4 and 6. I don’t know how long they’ll be staying.
At first I was hesitant. I knew little about children other than that they tend to come up to me in herds and squeal, sticking their hands in my face.
But these two guys are mostly well-behaved and easy to play with. They keep me company and sometimes throw the ball or toy for me.
I have to watch after them. They need as much supervision as my daddies.
Children Can Be Dangerous to a Chihuahua
You must teach your children how fragile a Chihuahua is. I also recommend you don’t leave them alone together. I have been grabbed and picked up by both the 4 and 6 year old boys. I admit I did growl a few times, just as a warning.
Here are a few important tips to look out for:
- Introduce your children to your Chi. Let the Chi get to know them.
- Don’t touch. Children can easily break your Chi’s legs.
- Don’t hold. Children can drop the Chi or hold them the wrong way.
- Don’t feed. Children don’t understand that certain foods, like grapes, raisins and chocolate, can kill your Chi. After a few mishaps, my daddies are very diligent about feeding the kids these forbidden foods around me.
- Don’t drop. Please don’t. We break.
- Don’t tease. We hate being teased and will let you know it.
I am probably the exception to the Chihuahua rules. Perhaps because I’m a bit “grande”. Still, a 10 pound dog is a delicate creature too.
That said, I love my new family of kids, even if they’re only temporary. I look forward to seeing them and playing with them. I also know when to keep out of the way.
When it comes to Chihuahuas and children, proceed with caution.
You may find the following articles helpful on dealing with children and Chihuahuas.
Is the Chihuahua Right for Me?
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Chihuahuas Have Feelings Too
This is my favorite pose.
We are very emotional beings. We also enjoy being part of a pack. Most dogs and especially Chihuahuas love attention.
We want to be loved, petted, played with and taken care of. Don’t ignore us or you will pay the price!
Here are some of the ways we use to get your attention:
- Whine. This is a good one. It’s very annoying and very successful. We can keep it up as long as you can stand it. Eventually you will give in.
- Scratching your leg. This is especially good when demanding you play catch with us or give us a treat. Also very effective.
- Barking. If we spot an intruder approaching the house, like a mailman or other dog, we may have to use our outside barking voice. For some reason, people don’t seem to enjoy our barking voice. It can range from low to shrieky. A lot of little dogs are known for being yippers.
- Running around the house and causing havoc. We like to combine exercise with fun. Also a great attention getter.
- Jumping on lap. How can you resist a little bundle of love jumping onto your lap. If it’s nap time, cover us in a blankie and we’ll love you forever. Otherwise, pet and pamper us.
You’ll love these great articles:
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Happy Valentine's Day!
Vets Are Scary Places
I hate going to the vet. I can sense when we’re going and I get extremely nervous. Once there I shake like a phone on vibrate.
Recently I had my yearly checkup. I did not need any vaccinations. I’m only 3 and half years old. But my daddy wanted to have me checked out.
The Leg Incident
When I play I play hard and there was a moment when I hurt my back leg. I yelped like a little girl. Both daddies were a bit panicked. After a few minutes I was okay. But my daddy did discover a growth.
Turns out it was a benign cyst. Something just to be watched.
But I did get my nails done and my tushy squeezed. I feel like a new girl.
This is why I suggest regular vet checkups. It always feels better when you know your Chi is healthy and happy.
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Chihuahuas Have Lots to Say
Chis are highly intelligent and inquisitive. And we like lots of attention and know how to get it.
If they’re clever like me, they create a website and write informative and fun blog posts.
It’s true I get some help from my daddy. I have difficulty typing because I don’t have thumbs. Computer keyboards are not Chihuahua friendly.
So I dictate my thoughts in my native language and my daddy translates and types. I have complete editorial control and final say so of the way my website looks. Unless, of course, you don’t like it, then I blame my daddy.
Understanding How a Chihuahua Communicates
- Bark. It’s our main way of talking. Barking is a complex language. There are no “Bark to English” translation books. There are no known written examples of Bark (except for a musical). It just is.
- Whine. Not as loud as barking but just as annoying if done properly. I should teach a course on this. It’s a very effective way to get results.
- Scratching. I like to scratch my daddies’ leg to get attention. This usually works fine for getting my ball or stuffed rodent tossed. It sometimes works for getting an extra treat. I may be small but I like to be seen and noticed.
- Tail Wagging. This instrument has many meanings. It could show happiness (fast), sadness (droopy) and fear (between my legs). A book should be written on this alone.
- Ears. Very expressive, my ears can be up and perky (happy or inquisitive), floppy (relaxed), or down (scared).
- Body. The way I carry my body can show different moods and feelings. I can be erect and confident, crouching and ready to pounce, or crawling and ready to hide.
Be sure to check out these other articles for a more thorough understanding of this incredibly important topic:
Attention Seeking Behavior By Dr. Nicholas Dodman
Understanding and Communicating with Man’s Best Friend By Dog Whisperer Paul Owens
Understanding Dog Body Language and Verbal Clues
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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.
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