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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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:
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:
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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