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.

Chihuahuas are no different. We think, therefore we are.

Did you know Chihuahuas (and most dogs) have the mental capacity of a 2-3 year old child? Freaky, huh. That’s why it is very important to keep your Chihuahua thinking. Just like humans, if Chihuahuas are allowed to vegetate all day, every day, their minds will turn to mush. At the very least, their senior years may not be too pretty.

6 Tips on Stimulating Your Chihuahua’s Mind

1. Exercise – Lots of Walkies with your human companion. It’s a bonding experience and healthy too. There’s a lot of sniffing to do.
2. Crossword Puzzles – Or else toys like Kong* that challenge your Chi. I enjoy my Kong, but only when there’s a treat to eat. I still have a hard time writing without thumbs, so crosswords are out for now.
3. Meeting and Greeting – A large social network of friends is helpful to keep your Chi entertained. This can be part of the walking routine. Or just take your Chi on play dates.
4. Working for a Treat – Make your Chi work for their treat. Don’t just give him/her one. (I wouldn’t mind getting more treats). This could be as simple as asking your Chihuahua to sit first.
5. Don’t leave your Chi home alone every day – Chihuahuas are portable. Take them wherever you go, even to work. Who doesn’t love a Chihuahua?!
6. Get your Chihuahua a pet. Another dog makes a great companion for your Chi.

Give Your Chi a Mini Kong

Show you really care. I love my Kong and play with it daily. Especially when daddy puts a treat inside.

*The Small Classic Kong Toy is

• Perfect for typical chewers.
• Small: Up to 20 lbs.
• Perfect for stuffing with Kong treats.
• All natural, puncture resistant rubber.
• Super bouncy and chewer friendly.
• Cleans teeth, conditions gums.
• Recommended by Veterinarians, Trainers & Dog Professionals.
• Made in USA.

Features

• Cleans teeth and gums
• Hollow center can be filled with food and treats
• Keep your dogs busy and out of trouble for long periods of time
• The world’s best dog toys!™

Another source of information about stimulating your Chi’s mind:

Mental Stimulation for Your Dog

I have more toys than I can play with. I want more.

All Chihuahuas love toys. I especially love stuffed animals that squeak. I have quite a collection.

Toys vs. Daddies

Toys make my life interesting and give me something to do. But toys are not a substitute for my daddies. In fact, being able to play games with my daddies make my toys even more fun. That’s because all dogs are social animals and love attention.

My stuffed mouse and porcupine are my current favorites. I also have a bunny, hippo and other various animals, but don’t find them as fascinating.

Toy Repair Hospital

Sometimes I manage to make a hole in my stuffed toy and pull out the stuffing. That is even more fun. But it is a solitary game. Once my daddy finds me doing this, that toy quickly vanishes. There is a toy hospital drawer in the kitchen and a sewing kit. After a while the toy reappears but the hole is gone. The challenge is for me to find or create more holes.

I also have a Kong toy. It has an odd shape and is made of hard rubber. There’s a hole in one end. It’s a pretty boring toy, except when my daddy puts a treat inside. It’s actually wedged in the hole. I eat the treat as much as I can.

The object is for me to learn how to get the entire treat out. Sometimes it’s too much work. I’ve taught my daddy how to get the treat out for me. It’s a simple trick. I take the Kong to daddy, lay it at his feet, and scratch at his leg. Eventually he gives in and gets the treat out for me. He never eats it himself. I guess he’s being nice to me. It’s fun to teach daddy a new trick.

Chuck-It, and daddy will throw it back

Another favorite toy is my Chuck-It ball. It’s a colorful, mini tennis ball. The perfect size for us little Chihuahuas. They seem to be multiplying. First I had one, then two. Now I have four. Five if you count the one I chewed up a bit. I don’t know where it is now, but I’m sure it will show up sooner or later.

The trick is to carry the ball to one daddy and toss it. He either throws it so I can retrieve it, or he kicks it with his foot. Either way, I get it and bring it back. I take turns going from one daddy to the other. Sometimes the ball gets stuck under furniture or something. I find that by staring at it for a time usually brings a daddy over to retrieve it. Daddies are fun to control. I get them to do all sorts of things for me.

Every so often I get a new toy. At first it’s fun, but I usually go back to my favorites. I’m a creature of habit. They say you should recycle your dog’s toys. By that I mean, take some away for a while and bring back old toys I haven’t seen in a while. It’s supposed to make them seem like new again. How stupid do you think I am. I can tell when a toy is new or not. New toys usually come in a plastic bag and have to have a tag to be removed. And there’s no slobbery smells on them yet.

Safe toys are best

Make sure your toys are sturdy. You don’t want your Chihuahua to eat a squeaker. I recently got one out of a toy and created a new toy for myself. Until my daddy stole it. I never did see that squeaker again.

For more information, read “Dog Toys: How to Figure Out What Your Dog Likes Best”

Looking for a new toy for your little Chihuahua? PetSmart is having another big sale. Check it out.

Watch as Lucy enjoys her new stuffed toy! Enjoy.

Checking out hydrants relieves my stress.

Lots of things can stress your Chihuahua.

We take our cue from our human companions as well as the environment. We Chihuahuas are very intuitive and we know when something is up with our parents. Also stressful situations like thunderstorms, fireworks, sirens, strangers at the door, strange company, noisy children, people putting their hands in front of our faces, being left alone, arguing parents, any change in our routines. Ay, the list goes on.

Because Chihuahuas tend to be nervous types, a little bit of stress can cause unwanted behavior. Don’t ask.

There’s a great article called “Our Stress, Depression, Joy…Can Dogs Tell” by Dr. Nicholas Dodman. Dogs really know when something is wrong and whether they should hide or attack. I have lots of hiding places and know just where to go where I can’t be caught.

Depending on our personality, we can either act out in an aggressive or annoying way or just take to our beds and nap. Nice soothing classical music helps us relax. Just make sure it’s not the 1812 Overture.

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Music My Pet is one of several CDs made especially to help your dog relax. It makes a perfect gift for that hyper dog, and their human caretakers.

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I’ve been given the Kong toy. This is a challenge. I am expected to work for my treat by getting it out of this “Super Durable” toy. The packaging says it “entertains and satisfies average chewers”. I consider myself above average in most things but enjoy this toy anyway.

You can put any variety of snacks inside the Kong. So far I’ve tried the Liver Recipe Snacks for small dogs. It’s made in the USA, is low fat and tastes yummy. Like potato chips, it can be addictive. But I only get one a day so I can keep my girlish figure. A carrot might be a nice insert too.

These treats even come with instructions. Just squeeze the Kong, insert the large end of the snack inside and have at it. Of course I’d prefer to eat the snacks without all the bother, but I’m told dogs like to work for their treats. That was never my idea but I guess I’ll have to go along with it.

You can buy the Kong and treats at most pet stores or order from Amazon.com. And if you do, I get more change for my toy fund.

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Of course this means I’m working 24 hours a day. I think I should get more treats for all this security. And if you buy the doormat my daddy gets a little bitty commission from Amazon to help pay for my treats. So it’s a win win.

Anyway, I’ve been given giant rawhide bones, nylabones and RedBarn Naturals, among other things. While I do enjoy my rawhide and nylabone, I prefer the RedBarn Naturals. In particular, I like the “Small Bully Ring” but there are many varieties.

According to the RedBarn people, these treats boast the following: