Valuable Tips to Help you Take Care of your Chihuahua

The first decision you should make is to crate or not to crate your chihuahua.There are different thoughts on crating-though you should always remember you should not be getting a puppy to have it locked away all day and night.

A crate is designed to "watch" your chihuahua puppy for you when you cannot be there. A crate is also a big help when it comes to housetraining your new chihuahua puppy. Puppy's will not eliminate in the area that they sleep (for the most part), unless of course, an extended time period has gone by.

If the puppy seems a bit nervous or lonely its first few nights, you can fill a water bottle with warm water and place it in the crate with the puppy. The puppy will likely think of the bottle as another puppy and snuggle asleep right next to it.

Before leaving the breeder or rescue where you obtained your puppy, be sure to inquire of the brand (yes this matters!) of food that your dog was being fed. You will want to keep them on a consistent brand, and if you would like to change the brand slowly start mixing in the new brand of food with the old brand to ensure a smooth transition. If you change your chihuahua's food suddenly it is possible that they will get diarrhea for a short period while their bodies adjust to the new food. If it is gradually introduced the likelihood of this happening in much less.

There is also an extensive list of "people foods" which can be hazardous to dogs including chocolate, coffee, raisins, alcohol, onions, garlic, and grapes to name a few.

Plenty of toys to chew on is also a HUGE must have. Yes, they may nibble on your couch, or coffee table, but if you give them enough toys to entertain themselves there will be less of a chance of them chewing on your possessions.

With chihuahuas you want to be careful on what types of things you give them to chew on. For example, Greenies makes a miniture version of its chewing bones which is a perfect size for a chihuahua. Rawhide bones on the other hand, no matter how small, can still be dangerous to these little guys when they start to unravel. If you would like to give your chihuahua raw hide try the large chips, and through them away once the piece gets too small.

Small sqeaky toys are also a great sense of entertainment for your puppy. They can play for hours and hours with these! A more simple toy is a rope with a knot tied on it, or even a sock. This is an easy quick toy if you are in need of a quick fix.