Wee Chi Chihuahua's

Now that you have finally brought your new puppy home, what's next?

• You will have to spend a bit of time getting to know your new pup. He/she will have a schedule of eating, going to the bathroom and sleeping. You can help your puppy adjust to your lifestyle so you can all be happy. If you want your pup to sleep in his own kennel/bed at night, it may take a few sleepless nights for him to get the idea. He has never been apart from his litter mates, so this will be a big adjustment for him. It's just like getting a child to sleep through the night, just don't give in. I use a large metal wire kennel or a large exercise pen for bed time. I make half of the pen their bed and the other half I cover with newspaper, so they can go to the bathroom at night.
• Start your house training as soon as you walk through the door. Make sure you are prepared for this task before taking him/her home. Please see my house training page and don't give up. If you stay on top of the training we have already started, you will be done in no time, and be ready to really enjoy your new baby.  Litter box training with paper in the pan works great for these little guys.
• Your puppy will need his vaccines 4 weeks after the first one, and again 4 weeks after that. Discuss Rabes shots with your vet too. Deworming your puppy at the same time is also encouraged. This is also a great time to have him weighed to make sure he is gaining weight.
• If you have adopted a male puppy, you should have your vet check that his testies have both dropped. Occasionally, they can retain one or both.
• If you plan to have your puppy spayed or neutered, discuss this with your vet to decide when the puppy will be old enough. This is usually between 5-8 months of age.  Very tiny puppies may have to wait longer, and some vets will do the surgury even earlier than 5 months.
• Brush your puppies teeth regularily and have your vet check that the baby teeth are not being retained. Some puppies do not loose the baby teeth before the adult teeth start to come in. This is usually between 5-7 months of age. If the teeth are not coming out, your vet may have to pull them out.
• You will have to trim your puppies nails every couple weeks or so. I use regular nail clippers for my chihuahuas. Try to make this a fun and positive experience. If you have ever had to wrestle with a dog to cut their nails, you understand how frustrating this can be. When you trim the nails, you need to make sure not to cut into the quick of the nail. Cut evenly with the pad of the paw. If you do cause some bleeding, you can use a powder from the vet or at most pet stores to stop the bleeding. If this is not available, you can apply pressure for a couple minuits and use crazy glue.
• Socialize your puppy as much as you can. Expose them to everything you do and everyone you know.  Cats, Kids, Noise and other Dogs. But remember SAFETY!  They are very confident little dogs and need your help to stay safe.  They have NO IDEA that they are tiny!!
• Don't allow your puppy to jump or fall from any height, bed or couch for example. Some people want to sleep with the puppy, but I would discourage this until the puppy is grown and able to jump up and get down on their own. Puppy stairs are a great idea and are also found at pet stores, or have your handy hubby build some.
• Keep in mind not to allow them to come in contact with other dogs feces until all of their shots are given.  They will not be 100% immunized until then.
• And most important, Enjoy Your Puppy. They grow and learn very quickly. They will love you, trust you and look to you for everything. My hope is that every puppy that I adopt will have found their forever family. They live a long time and they are a member of your family.
• Remember, if you ever have a question or concern, I am just a phone call or e-mail away. I also love to see new pictures of your puppy as they grow, so don't be shy,,,,keep the pictures coming.

Check out these Great Books about your new Chihuahua: