FRIENDS FOR LIFE. (Chihuahua)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	Chihuahua
Date:	23/08/05 (4198 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small creatures that make wonderful companions.

Disadvantages: Pets are a tie, be aware when you take on a pet that they need your attention.

An introduction to Chihuahuas.

Chihuahuas originate from Mexico and it is mentioned in various places on the Internet that they were used for ceremonial sacrifice, although their origins as I understand it are from the old hunting days of Mexican peasants. They are indeed a unique breed, and a faithful one as well. They are extremely intelligent and can be taught behaviour patterns easily, although each Chihuahua that I have owned has had its own personality, and I would class their personality as one that imposes itself upon the home in which it lives.

Who are Chihuahuas suitable for ?

This is indeed an important question. So many times on television, I see Chihuahuas portrayed as spoilt animals on velvet cushions being fed by old ladies with chocolates and other such nonsense. In effect, the perfect owners for a Chihuahua are families, because it is important that a Chihuahua has company, and active company at that. Thinking about the life of an average of 14 years, a young family is the ideal environment for a young Chihuahua, and as commented probably a family whose children have reached beyond the toddler stage, because it can grow with the family, and from my experience the “toy” varieties of dogs are not really suitable for people who are sedentary or who do not exercise regularly, since exercise is all part and parcel of having healthy animals, of whatever breed they may be. My children were small although not toddlers and introducing the dogs to them was a gradual process. I was at home most of the time, and could therefore teach my children to respect the animals, who in turn respected them. You see these creatures are tiny and an accidental movement can hurt them. By introducing my children to the animals and teaching them how to approach them in a common sense manner, and also explaining that they are tiny in comparison with even small children, my children responded with gentleness. With the Chihuahua that we obtained from the Rescue Centre, we had to be much more careful. She was already nervous and I taught the children to understand that she had come from a bad home and that we should be extra careful, and until she was comfortable in our home, I was very cautious when the children were at home from school. Little by little, she gained confidence in us, and us in her.

Finding a suitable puppy.

There are kennels that specialize in breeding certain types of dogs, and yet others that breed many different ones, and I would suggest that when chosing a puppy, consideration be given to the kind of kennels in which these puppies were born. Why should it matter ? It matters because from day one, because the behaviour of these tiny creatures is determined by the amount of care they receive, and whilst some kennels are caring, there are others who mistreat animals in favour of profit. Visit the kennel, see if it is clean, see how happy the animals are and under what conditions they are kept. Judge for yourself and speak to the kennel owners to determine whether the puppy has been raised in a happy environment. I had had both new born puppies and rescue Chihuahuas and know that their personalities are complex and that living in an unhealthy environment, even one that is not caused intentionally can affect the behaviour of a Chihuahua. Seeing the mother of the puppy in that environment is also helpful.

Breeding these animals is lucrative, and there will always be expense involved in buying a pedigree animal. There are two kinds of Chihuahua – common and easy to obtain in the U.K., one being long haired and one being short haired. The long haired animal requires regular grooming and can leave dog hairs on furniture and carpets, although I found that in my housework regime, it was easy to adapt to take care of this problem. The short haired Chihuahuas are extremely affectionate and equally as adaptable to family life. What I do not like very much is the standards that measure the suitability of a Chihuahua for showing in Dog shows. “Perfect” specimens from perfect pedigree parents can cost as much as £350, although mine were classed as “imperfect” because on one of them, the ear drooped, and on another it was noticed that she did not stand correctly. I hate these petty judgements on what to me are perfect animals simply because each one is individual, and pedigree means very little to me in this instance. Prices for Chihuahua’s without this breeding range from £80-£150 and it may also be worth trying the local Animal Rescue Centre, as one of mine was obtained from these caring people and she was a perfect specimen, left homeless because her ageing owner had become a danger to her, knocking the dog regularly with her walking frame.

Choices also include whether you want a bitch or a dog. There are huge differences. One of the offputting characteristics of a male is that they mark their territory, and are extremely sensitive to other animals coming within the boundaries of that territory. However, I actually found that this worked in our favour because I always knew when someone was approaching the house, as the dog was the first to tell me. The bitches on the other hand are a little more subdued, although I noticed that they had sentimental characters and disliked change. They would miss me whilst I was in hospital whilst the dog seemed quite content. Neither male nor female liked visits to the vet and it was almost as if they knew that a visit was about to happen. One of the funniest traits in their characters was that none of the Chihuahuas liked bathing. I would bathe the eldest first and the others would hide instantly, although each seemed to love having a groomed coat and strutted around as if proud when they had been shampooed.

Bringing the puppy home.

Basic needs for having an animal like this are not expensive. It is essential to have a dog basket or somewhere the dog can call home, a feeding tray and I found that the double ones for drinking water and food were suitable, a brush for grooming, and also I found it essential to register the dog with the local vets. A good product to have is a spray to stop males from marking their territory. These are inexpensive and very effective, and it is best to use them from the beginning. No puppy should leave the kennels until its first injections are dealt with and certificates should be produced by the sellers of the dogs. If you find yourself adopting a dog from the Rescue Centre, then it should be established with your vet what care that dog needs, i.e. in the way of boosters, given yearly to protect them from common deseases. I also allocated towels for each of my dogs, as they were bathed once a month.

Grooming and Care.

Long haired chihuahuas should be groomed regularly particularly as their hair tends to tuft around extra fluffy places like near the tail and around the neck. Brushed regularly, and shampooed at monthly intervals, their coats are amazing. When bathing them, care should be taken to keep soap from their eyes. Nails need clipping and if you imagine the human hand, then look at the claws, there are four mail claws and one that is a little like the thumb on a human hand called a dew claw. All nails should be clipped at regular intervals being careful not to clip below the quick, which you can usually see through the nail, and the dew claw should be paid attention to as this can grow in a circle if not kept in check and cause the dog discomfort.

Illnesses

Chihuahuas have problems with ingrowing eyelids. Not all Chihuahuas of course, although many suffer from this illness and if you find that your little creature has trouble with their eyes, then this should be checked by a vet. The male of the species has a gland under his bum which fills and if you find your dog seemingly scraping himself along the ground, then this gland needs to be emptied. Vets are accustomed to this and it takes moments, and causes very little pain, although left untreated can cause the dog discomfort. Patella Luxation is another illness of this breed which is where a Chihuahua has problems walking and their knee joints pop out of place, although this is not a common illness, though one for all owners to be aware of.

Pet Plan

I would advise all owners of dogs to take out a Pet Plan with an insurance company to cover those events in a dogs life where extra cash is needed for their care. You never know when accidents may befall them and to me, these creatures are every bit as important as family members and should have treatment without having to think of expense.

Feeding

Chihuahua’s are not fussy animals. They love chicken and white meat, fish and the varieties of dog food made with the small dog in mind. They will actually let you know if they dislike a certain brand and ignore it. Teaching your animal not to beg at the table is important, and Chihuahuas are easily trained with snippets as the “carrot”. They do have a sweet tooth, although I always found that anything of this nature in excess is not good for a dog and tends to make their stools watery. One thing that they all enjoyed was Biscrock bones which are biscuits shaped like bones, and ones that are hard and encourage good sharp teeth.

How do they mix with other household pets ?

I found that when I introduced a new dog into my household, the best way to do this was to treat none of the animals in a special way that causes jealousy. When the other dogs understood that the new arrival was no threat to their harmonious existence, they tended to play together.

OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE BREED

I had one Chihuahua to start off with, then introduced a lady and dealt with pregnancy and birth and the upbringing of newborn Chihuahuas. I was never a breeder. We just decided to have one family of Chihuahuas and were glad that we did. I was ready for the birth and looking forward to it, although guidebooks told me that if there was any sign of abnormal green discharge that I should immediately call a vet. The baby Chihuahuas were born at the vets and he allowed me to hold the two puppies under a heat lamp to try and massage them into breathing properly. One died, one lived. I was warned about them being snappy, although they never were. They were fiercely protective of me, and were obedient and learned easily. These are wonderful animals, and ones that adapt to your way of living quite easily. They need walks, exercise and above all else, love. When they are not looked after properly, they show their sadness, just as children in a similar situation would. I would recommend Chihuahuas to anyone who is prepared to give enough love and attention to them for their entire lifetime, as they do not enjoy changed surroundings and thrive on security. These are one of the nicest breeds that I know, and whenever I have seen badly behaved dogs or yappy animals, their failings were caused by owners own lack of care.

They are wonderful.

Summary: a super pet.