Yes. We Chihuahuas, like all “dogs”, are very intuitive. We can sense when our human companions are stressed, sad, happy or any other emotion. Mostly because people don’t hide their feelings from us. Dogs are like a therapist you can talk to all the time and they never talk back. At least not in English.
Dogs feel emotions. If you’re yelling at your dog, they know they did something wrong. They may not know what, but they know enough to hide. And if you’re yelling at your spouse or other human companion, your dog knows to stay out of the way.
If you’re happy, your dog will sense that too and want to be a part of it. Dogs are very social creatures. If we see two humans kissing or what-not, we want part of that action.
If you’re playing, we want to play. If you’re watching TV or reading, we want to play. If you’re busy working, well, we want to play. And then take a nice, long nap.
Read more about how your dog can tell how you feel from PetPlace.com. And feel free to share your experiences with your dog and emotions.
Walking Your Dog Could Be Dangerous
Taking your little Chihuahua on a walk around your neighborhood is not without it’s hazards.
I have a lot of work to do when I go for a walk, such as controlling a large human on a string. I also have to catalog various new smells along the way and spread my essence to mark my territory. It’s tough and time consuming. I can’t just walk all willy-nilly.
In addition, I must constantly be aware of squirrels, cats, people walking dogs on leashes, UPS and FedEx trucks, mailmen, garbage trucks and cars. Oy.
Friendly Dogs Not On Leashes Can Still Cause Harm
But one of the biggest hazards of all is, I must beware of dogs without leashes.
Some people feel they have the right to keep their dogs leash free when on or near their own, unfenced property. I have heard over and over how friendly their dog is. But what if your dog isn’t. And if another dog bounces over to your dog, and your dog attacks, then who’s to blame?
We Chihuahuas are very protective of our human companions. We also want to protect ourselves. We don’t always know that a dog is friendly. We just see a threat coming our way and we react.
So please keep your pets on a leash. And if you must tie them up outside, make sure they can’t reach the sidewalk where people may be walking by.
State Leash Laws
Check your local state for it’s leash laws. I go by California’s leash laws.
By the way, it’s best to use a harness on your small dog. You don’t want to risk choking them. And in an emergency you can pick up your dog by the harness without fear of strangling them.
Scrappy “Choke Free” Step-In Harness
Leave a commentIt’s fun taking your Chihuahua out for a drive. Some of us really enjoy this activity. It means we get to go to new and exciting places. Or we may be visiting our extended friends and family.
A fancy new dress. Ready for a drive.
Unfortunately some Chis are afraid of getting in the car. This may be because they only go for a drive when they’re visiting the V-E-T. If this is the case, perhaps you should take your Chihuahua for short trips to places they may enjoy.
I always enjoy going out to eat with my daddies. I get to sit on one of their laps and do some people watching. If a piece of food happens to fall near me, I grab it.
I also get to go to all family gatherings. And vacations. And the pet store where I get treats.
Helpful Driving Tips
- Keep a bowl and bottled water in your car. You never know when your Chi will get thirsty.
- Put your Chihuahua in a strapped in carrier or special dog seat for little dogs.
- Never drive with your Chihuahua in your lap. A sudden stop, accident or airbag explosion could do some serious damage. A Chihuahua flying out the window is not a pretty sight.
- A free-range Chihuahua in your car could be distracting. And they have a hard time sticking their head out the window for fresh air.
- Never, ever leave your Chi alone in a car, especially if it’s either too hot or too cold. Either way, it could be fatal. Or they could be stolen.
For more information, please read Dangers of Driving With Dogs.
Candy is a Chihuahua No No
Chihuahuas, like most dogs, love Halloween. Sort of. Actually we love finding candy treats and will steal them if we can. Therefore it is not a good idea to leave candy lying around. Especially chocolate. We are not picky. We’ll eat any kind of candy. Including the wrappers. Why not. So be careful.
Dressing Your Chihuahua in a Costume Can Be Fun, or Not
Some dogs love getting dressed up for Halloween. I do not. What’s the point. It’s not like I get to go trick-or-treating and keep the candy. If your Chi does not like wearing clothes of any kind, please don’t dress them in a costume. It’s embarrassing.
Friendly Visitors or Annoying Beggars
A constant stream of noisy children coming to the door, begging for treats can be a bit bothersome for a sensitive Chihuahua. Begging for treats is my job. And I prefer to do it uninterrupted. So if your Chi is upset by all the commotion, please provide a comfortable, safe and noise-free place for them to hide.
Check out “Halloween Safety for Dogs” for some great advice from About.com.
Leave a commentFirst a Bath, then Flea Medication
A flea is an ugly creature.
I freaked out when my daddy put Advantage on me. I had just had a pleasant bath. Okay, maybe it wasn’t exactly pleasant. But it was okay.
After I was dried off and played fetch for a while, I was corralled by my daddies. While one held me, the other poured a liquid on my back. I could smell it and I could feel it and I was not pleased.
I tried to escape by running around like a crazy Chihuahua but that did not help. I hid under a table but that seemed silly and useless.
The only thing I could think to do next was to run to my bed and hide under the covers. By the next day I was dry and as good as new. Several days later my little flea companions seemed to disappear. Good riddance, I say.
Controlling Fleas
Advantage is one of several available topical flea treatments. Some of these products are actually pesticides with the same ingredients used to kill ants, roaches and the like. They attack the central nervous system of the insect which kills them. Ugh.
Fleas can be a nuisance, and some dogs are allergic to fleas, which causes many problems. But methods used to kill fleas can also cause problems. Especially on little dogs, who may be extra sensitive. Be sure to consult with your vet before using a flea fighting substance. Some kill just fleas, some also kill ticks and other parasites such as heartworms. Check the ingredients and side effects. Make sure you have the right size for your pet.
Do your research. Check out this EPA Evaluation of Pet Spot-On Products: Analysis and Mitigation Plan. Fascinating reading.
You might also want to look into natural methods of killing fleas.
Keep in mind that fleas can occur year-round, especially in warmer climates with mild winters.
Chasing a squirell up a tree is my favorite dream.
Yes, yes we do. We have wonderful dreams of playing, running, eating.
Like people, dogs enter various stages of sleep, including the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage. This is where we dream. You can tell by the way we twitch and move our little paws.
Studies show that the number and length of dreams vary with the size of the dog. Thus we Chihuahuas have short and frequent dreams lasting less than 60 seconds.
Because we don’t have thumbs it is difficult to record our dreams when we wake up. But humans actually study this stuff. And they conclude that when animals dream they dream about events that occur in their everyday wakeful life.
This could be chasing squirrels, mailmen, barking at other dogs intruding on our space, just normal everyday things. Sometimes I dream I am a princess because that’s what my daddy says I am.
Check out this article “Do dogs and cats really dream?” from USAToday for more information.
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Given the opportunity, some of us Chihuahuas like to wander. It’s not that we don’t like our human companions, it’s that an exciting smell or interesting animal catches our nose and off we go.
If your Chihuahua is a wanderer or if you take your Chi on many long walks and trips, it’s always a good idea to have a collar with a license and ID tag. The next best thing is a microchip. I have one.
The iPhone has a great way of finding lost pets or reporting found pets that are lost. It’s the new PetRescuers by HomeAgain. Give it a try. It’s free. Wouldn’t it be great if you find a lost dog and return it to it’s owner?
Here’s what HomeAgain has to say about the App:
“Be a hero for lost pets! Between 6 to 8 million pets enter animal shelters in the U.S. each year, including many lost family pets. Download the PetRescuers app by HomeAgain, and you can help keep a lookout for lost pets in your area. By receiving notifications about lost HomeAgain pets, you can help get these pets home to their families and keep them out of overburdened animal shelters.
PetRescuers is powered by HomeAgain®—a leader in the pet microchipping and lost pet recovery. All of the lost pets featured here are microchipped and have been reported missing to HomeAgain by their owners.”
There's always time for a nap.
People Sometimes Have to Work
Unfortunately it’s almost impossible to spend 24 hours a day with your dog. People tend to have to work during the day in order to support their dog’s many needs. People also do errands and go out for entertainment purposes without their canine companions. Shocking, I know.
In truth, we dogs occasionally like having a little time to ourselves. It gives us a chance to catch up on naps and play with our toys without constantly having to entertain our human caretakers.
Do You Suffer from Separation Anxiety?
I know my daddy has separation anxiety when he has to leave me alone. We’re both lucky in that he works at home and so he almost never leaves. Help.
Actually I do like having him there. But I save my energy for when my other daddy comes home from work. Then I have three or four hours of fetch to contend with.
Even Chihuahuas Need Some Alone Time
Most dogs get to nap all day long. I have to go on three long walks every day. I show my displeasure by dragging my little feet. I secretly smile when I see my daddy’s frustration with me. Occasionally he’ll pick me up for part of the walk.
But hey, I don’t put a harness on him and pull him from a comfy bed to go out and walk. They made indoor piddle pads for a reason.
Alleviate Boredom for Your Lonely Chihuahua
If you do have to leave your little dog at home alone, make sure they have plenty of toys and chewies to play with so they are not bored. Keep the TV remote accessible (kidding). Don’t forget water. A few snacks would be nice too.
If your dog is anxious and destructive or barks continually, you may want to invest in a dog walker to help with the boredom. You could take your Chihuahua to day care, but I for one would hate that. I prefer my home environment.
For additional helpful information read Reducing Separation Anxiety in Your Chihuahua from Dummies.com
I worked hard to earn this nap.
Chihuahuas are, like most dogs, fond of taking many naps throughout the day. We learn early on that naps are fun and an enjoyable way to spend a day.
We sleep up to 18 hours a day so we’re pretty good at it.
In between naps, of course, we must work hard. I usually spend my days guarding, entertaining, exercising, supervising and protecting my daddies. Without me they would be lost.
I decided to list some of my favorite places to sleep and/or nap. They’re actually the same thing except naps are shorter. I am always on the alert though. My work is never done.
- In my office daybed. It’s pink and has a pretty daisy on it. A blankie is always on top.
- In my living room bed. Bigger than my pink bed with a nice blankie tent. A great place to hide.
- Anyplace there is sunlight. We Chihuahuas love to sunbathe and look for that special spot.
- On a pillow.
- On the sofa.
- On the carpet.
- On one of my daddy’s lap.
- In my daddies’ bed.
- In my own bed next to daddy. It’s the same as my office daybed. I think they move it back and forth.
- Anyplace under a blankie.
Check out more information about a Chihuahua’s temperament at YourPurebredPuppy.com.
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I'm ready to play, after my nap.
I enjoy sleeping. It’s fun, relaxing and gives me energy to play with my Daddies all evening long. I have many places to sleep so I can pick and choose the best options. There’s my regular, sturdy bed next to the living room floor heater that’s ideal in winter. It has two blankies over the top of the bed so I can easily run under the covers if ever I need a quick nap and wish to hide.
I also have a portable bed that is next to my daddy in his office where he works during the day. It has a little pillow and a comfy blankie. This is the same bed that magically appears beside my daddies bed at night. I prefer to sleep in my own bed at night because I don’t want to be disturbed by my daddies. Also, their bed is so high I might hurt myself if I decide to jump off and use the restroom (piddle pads).
Generally a Chihuahua sleeps 12 – 14 hours a day. Some sleep up to 18 hours a day. There’s light sleep and there’s REM (Rapid Eye Movement) deep sleep. We wake often to make sure our environment is kept safe and secure.
I would sleep longer during the day but my daddy wakes me for several long walks. I don’t believe in exercise but my daddy does. What can you do.
Here’s more information on the Behavior and Temperament of Chihuahuas from PetChiDog.
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