One owner says “I almost lost my entire wardrobe to my Chihuahua puppy. I can’t believe how much he can chew and destroy in the course of an afternoon.” People do not usually associate destruction with the lovable and pint-size Chihuahua; however, charming as this breed is, it is also a natural born "chewer". The bad news: you won't be able to break this natural instinct. The good news:
with plenty of exercise and a little training, you won't have to. As puppies mature, they tend to grow out of this habit. But, even mature dogs can slip back into the pattern of chewing on your favorite pair of sneakers. That is why it is so important to give your dog basic training; by teaching him, you can remind him that chewing is not a favorable solution your Chihuahua will do anything for you; all you have to do is show him what you want. Before training is completed, however, be prepared to lose: shoes, clothing, books, papers and other treasured items. To lessen this, given you Chihuahua plenty of attention and chew toys; he won't have the need to chew if he is being well taken care of. You should also keep in mind that bored Chihuahua’s are also prone to chewing electrical cords, so be careful of what you leave on the floor to protect both you and your puppy.
A very alert watch dog, the Chihuahua loves to bark. They are too small to function as a guard dog, but they will certainly bring strangers to your attention. The rambunctious, loyal Chihuahua does not make friends easily, but although obstinate he can respond well to consistent patient training. They are arrogant and clever but marvelous companions when properly trained.
You will be surprised when you find out just how much energy your Chihuahua has. You will need to take your Chihuahua on decent walks twice a day, but you shouldn’t exercise him for more than 45 minutes a day, as his body isn’t able to endure strenuous workouts. Nevertheless, it will always be pleasing for your Chihuahua to engage in play time, after all you won’t want your Chihuahua to be inactive and become overweight, as this can cause health problems. Remember, if your Chihuahua does not receive the exercise or attention it needs daily, he will resort to other ways of venting his frustrations and energies by revealing his mischievous nature through tearing up your home, shredding your mail or redecorating your rooms with toilet paper.
Without question, one of the first aspects you will come to learn of the Chihuahua breed is the fact that they can be extremely temperamental. Although, endearing and sweet to their owner, they are very suspicious of strangers and are quick to turn quite nasty should they be startled or feel their territory is being disrupted. Never underestimate the intelligence of your Chihuahua. He will take over your household given half the chance, and has no problem claiming what he deems his including you. Therefore, in order to break your Chihuahua from becoming to overbearing, take the time to train and socialize him with others while he is still
young, to get him used to your lifestyle.
An easier and more pleasant journey with your chosen Chihuahua starts with checking out the parent dogs for unbecoming traits like inherit health problems such as eye ailments or heart disease, frequent interbreeding, or undesirable differences in appearance when compared to the Standard. This is an easier task to accomplish when you purchase your Chihuahua from a reputable breeder or from select pet shops that obtain their animals only from known breeders. Exercise prudence if you are getting your Chihuahua puppy from pet stores, which often get their supply from breeders of unknown reputation - such as
puppy mills.
These “puppy mills” as they are called, place little emphasis on the quality and health of the pups they are producing, not to mention the inhumane treatment that the pups and bitches receive while they are there. Reputable breeders would adhere to the accepted standards Chihuahua in terms of uniformity in the breed, good health, temperament, size and color; often insuring your companion with a guarantee. Reputable breeders would be able to show the pedigree and registration papers and/or pictures of the parent dogs that may reside somewhere else. Professional breeders are also there to produce dog show champions or prospects, which means that they are proud of the quality of their puppies. In fact, even if you are not looking to raise a show champion Chihuahua, known breeders can provide you with some “best buy” puppies because not all the puppies in a litter are show prospect/champion materials.
Nevertheless, the full litter would have had benefited from the same proven bloodlines, nutrition and medical care. So you can choose from among the goodlooking brothers or sisters of a potential champion for a bargain. There is nothing wrong with a bargain, but look at all bargains with a critical eye. Find out the reasons why the puppy in question is being sold at a lesser price. After all, from a financial standpoint, it doesn’t matter how much you pay for the dog, as long as it saves you money in medical bills years later (not to mention the emotional struggle of watching a dog suffer).
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