How to care for Chihuahua

To keep your Chihuahua healthy, you must provide regular grooming and care to his coat, skin, nails, ears, eyes and teeth.

Small Dogs, Big Hearts: A Guide to Caring for Your Little Dog , Revised Edition

1. Coat and skin

- Brush a shorthaired chihuahua two to three times a week using a rubber slicker or grooming glove to even out the natural oils through his coat. Short hairs should have a smooth coat with a soft, glossy feel.

- Use a natural bristle brush and medium-toothed comb to brush a longhaired chihuahua. Groom by brushing several times a week to remove shedding and matted hair.

- Bathe both short and longhaired varieties every one to two months with a natural tea tree and lavender oil dog shampoo. Be careful not to get shampoo in their eyes or water in their ears.

- Dry your longhaired chihuahua with a blow dryer while brushing. Then comb his long hair with a medium-toothed comb to remove any remaining mats. Air dry your shorthaired dog.

2. How to care for Chihuahua's nails

Clip your dog's nails as needed. Chihuahua's nails should be kept short. Only clip the ends of the nails, making sure to avoid the quick as it causes pain and bleeding.

3. How to care for Chihuahua's ears

Check your chihuahua's ears once a week for excessive moisture or dirt, which causes ear infections. If dirty, groom the ears by cleaning the inside and outside using a Betadine scrub. Avoid going too deep into his ear canal and be sure to dry his ears thoroughly.

4. How to care for Chihuahua's teeth

Dental hygiene is a must to prevent tooth loss.
To keep your Chihuahua's teeth and gums clean and healthy, brush them once or twice a week.

5. How to care for Chihuahua's eyes

Keeping your Chihuahua's eyes clean will improve his appearance and help ward off infection.

- To clean your Chihuahua's eyes, you'll need a moist cloth. Whenever necessary, remove discharge from the corners of his eyes by wiping it away carefully with a moist cloth. If he seems to have constant eye discharge, bring him to the vet. If your Chihuahua's brows or eyelashes are interfering with his eyes, you can trim those hairs carefully.

Training Chihuahua

The Chihuahua can be difficult to train, but with patience, love, and consistency do well. They respond best to positive reinforcement. Start early.

Little Dogs: Training Your Pint-Sized Companion

Exercising Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is an excellent apartment or condominium dweller. The majority of their exercise needs can be met indoors with toys or play sessions. However, they greatly enjoy going with their owners and benefit from daily walks. Using a harness is recommended instead of a leash is best given their delicate neck and bone structure.

The Chihuahua hates the cold and may shiver. It will tolerate and even appreciate a warm sweater on cooler days. They are good little dogs for apartment life.

Read more about how to care for chihuahua advice, tips and information you may need to raise a healthy, happy chihuahua, including:

- Choosing a healthy puppy or adult dog
- Feeding and grooming, Housing and supplies
- Health care and first aid
- Basic training and Chihuahua-Proofing a home
- Caring for your senior Chihuahua