Congratulations! Your Chihuahua puppy is finally at home! She has received a healthy thumbs-up from your veterinarian and is eager to begin a lifetime of adventure with you.
What happens now? Puppies are not born with the ability to adapt to rapid changes. In fact, your puppy\\\\\\\’s first 24 hours in her new home could be the most stressful day of her life. That\\\\\\\’s where you come in: help her make the necessary modifications so she can settle in fast.
The first day
Many new puppy owners can\\\\\\\’t contain their joy and carry the puppy from house to house to show her off. Or they invite everyone they know to come over and meet the new member to the family.
Visitors
Chihuahua puppies are absolutely adorable. It goes without saying that everyone will want to see your new little Chi, admire her size, cherish her distinct personality and intelligence, ask to touch her, and overall make a great fuss. That is just part of the life Chihuahuas are destined to lead. However, subjecting your puppy to that much attention on her first day is not a good idea.
Dropping by friends\\\\\\\’ houses to meet your puppy may expose her to hazardous viruses and bacteria. Puppies are most susceptible to disease until they complete their puppy immunisation regimen.
If you must take your dog to see someone who has unvaccinated animals—a potential source of disease—do not let him play on the floor or the ground. These surfaces harbour infections and are the most frequently contacted areas by a little, low-to-the-ground puppy.
Inviting people (no dogs) to your house to visit your new puppy creates a safer environment for your pet; nevertheless, there is another issue. Puppies need to rest. With people constantly going in and out of your home to see and welcome the puppy, your pup will not get the rest she requires. If at all possible, spend the first several days with your puppy in a peaceful, relaxed, and safe setting. Allow her to fall! into your daily routines, and then invite guests over when you know your dog will be relaxed and ready to play.
Crates You\\\\\\\’ll want to give your Chi puppy an escape—a safe place where she may go when she\\\\\\\’s tired or has had enough excitement for one day. Keep a crate in the room with an open door, soft bedding, and a favourite toy or chew. This is the crate you will use when you are unable to keep an eye on your puppy or need to give your whole focus to something else.
Isn\\\\\\\’t it cruel to confine a dog in a crate? A crate is the safest place for your baby Chi if you have to leave the house or are unable to keep an eye on her while at home. It is also an excellent tool for house training. Crating becomes harsh only when the space is overcrowded, dirty, or utilised excessively. It is generally suggested that puppies be crated for no more than 10 hours per day, including the hours spent crated at night.
Protecting Your Spaces
You\\\\\\\’ll want your Chi to be allowed to explore her new surroundings; however, unless you want to get off to a horrible start with her housetraining, confine her explorations to one room. To prevent access to other rooms, use baby or puppy gates, or put up a playpen in a room with an easy-to-clean floor, such as those found in most kitchens or breakfast areas. Allow her to discharge herself frequently—at least every two hours, and more if she is playing hard.
Spread out a variety of toys and safe chew things on the floor for your puppy to play with. Sit down on the floor with her and spend time touching, rubbing, and getting to know her. Allow her to rest when she starts to fatigue or when you know she should.
Eating and Sleeping
Be attentive of her feeding times (don\\\\\\\’t skip any!) and constantly watch how much she eats at each meal. Chihuahua puppies are infamous for forgetting to eat and will play until they fall and sleep. Exceptionally small puppies, as well as those who appear to be predisposed to the illness, can develop hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a quick drop in blood sugar levels. (This is the same condition that a diabetic may experience if he receives an excessive amount of insulin.) Symptoms of hypoglycemia include weakness, lethargy, tremors, and seizures. If left untreated, the puppy will fall comatose and may die.
Consult your veterinarian and breeder about how to best prepare for a hypoglycemic episode. Rubbing honey, corn syrup, or jelly on your pup\\\\\\\’s gums will provide a rapid, absorbable dose of sugar; however, your veterinarian may advise you to keep a high-sugar supplement on hand, such as Nutrical or Nutristat.
At first, your Chi may be scared of this new environment, but after awhile, he or she will feel comfortable and become the king (or Queen of the Castle.
Getting Through the Dark Hours.
Hopefully, you\\\\\\\’ve rested and gotten many nights of decent sleep before bringing home your dog. If not, perhaps you\\\\\\\’ve planned ahead and taken a few days off from work. Just as when a newborn infant arrives at home, it may take some time before you can sleep well through the night again.
Have compassion for the little man in the early hours of the first night at home, when your Chi is singing (and barking and sobbing) the blues. Remember, he\\\\\\\’s only known a loving mother and his littermates. Naptime meant a nice, warm puppy pile to snuggle up in, with lots of small heartbeats to listen to and, most likely, lots of little Chi snorts and snoring.
Do not answer your puppy\\\\\\\’s screams by taking her up and saying, \\\\\\\”Oh, you poor baby!\\\\\\\”\\\\\\\” Though it is human nature to soothe those in distress, you simply rewarded her for weeping, which will cause the puppy to cry more. As tough as it may be, ignoring whimpers (unless your puppy is signalling that she has to relieve herself) and rewarding a peaceful puppy will reduce the amount of nights spent puppyhowling.
She is lonely now that you have removed her from this situation. She hasn\\\\\\\’t had time to form a close link with you yet, nor has she learnt to trust that you\\\\\\\’ll always be there for her and will always come back. She\\\\\\\’s undoubtedly nervous and confused in her new home.
Separation Anxiety
There are several ways in which you can help your puppy. Feel more at peace and reduce her anxiety. Consider the following tried-and-true methods: The following strategies will help you separate from Mom:
Place a momma-scented hand towel in the kennel alongside the puppy.
Spray DAP (a synthetic hormone that mimics the soothing hormone released by nursing dogs) in the crate or apply it to a soft toy.
Wrap a ticking clock in a warm towel and place in the crate (to simulate a heartbeat).
To relieve the pup\\\\\\\’s separation anxiety, rub a drop of Rescue Remedy on her gums.
Here are a few techniques to aid with sibling separation (a big source of warmth):
Wrap a hot water bottle in a cloth and place it in the crate.
Place a dog-safe heating pad in the crate or a battery-powered electric warming pad.
Keep the puppy warm with a silky pyjama coat. Provide plenty of nesting materials in the kennel. Keep the crate away from drafts. You can reduce her disorientation and divert her from any source of distress by performing the following:
Keeping the pup\\\\\\\’s crate near your bed allows your Chi to see you.
Pulling out the sleeping bag and sleeping on the floor with one hand inside the Chi\\\\\\\’s kennel.
Put a soft plush toy in the crate with the Chi puppy.
Giving the puppy a busy toy, such as a tasty chew or a hard rubber toy that must be chewed to release tiny bits of rewards.
Whatever you do, do not put the Chi dog in your bed. Even extremely light sleepers can roll over and crush a small Chihuahua puppy. They are simply too tiny to sleep with you at this time. Wait until the Chi is older and housetrained.
Most puppies are unaware that they need to relieve themselves and will not wake you up. They\\\\\\\’re also so small that the end of the bed doesn\\\\\\\’t seem to belong in their \\\\\\\”space,\\\\\\\” so they\\\\\\\’re not concerned about soiling it. You\\\\\\\’ll wake up every morning to either a mess (the best-case scenario) or a dead puppy (the worst-case—but entirely possible—situation).
Handle with care!
You\\\\\\\’ve realised that laying in bed with a little puppy is not a smart idea, but this isn\\\\\\\’t the only time you\\\\\\\’ll need to exercise caution with your new Chihuahua puppy. As the tiniest of the toy breeds, particularly as a puppy, the Chihuahua juvenile is vulnerable to serious injury.
Physical Frailties
Falls are a leading cause of shattered leg bones. A Chihuahua puppy can sustain serious injuries if dropped three or four feet from the floor. This is arm-holding height for many older children and adults.
Children of all ages should only hold the puppy while sitting on the floor and being closely supervised by an adult.
A puppy with a molera, which is a hereditary hole in the dog\\\\\\\’s skull where the bones do not close, does not pose a health danger. Chihuahuas cope admirably with this unusual condition. The presence of a molera requires the puppy\\\\\\\’s owner to be cautious when handling the puppy and to be aware of where the molera is. Pushing on this aperture could result in catastrophic damage to the puppy.
It is a widespread \\\\\\\”mythconception\\\\\\\” that Chis with moleras are more likely to develop hydrocephalus, a disorder in which fluid accumulates and exerts pressure on the brain.
This is a dangerous, potentially fatal condition that necessitates rapid veterinary attention; nevertheless, the presence of a molera is not a requirement for noran indication of hydrocephalus.
Environmental hazards
Chihuahua puppies do not retain heat well and are readily chilly. For this reason, you should offer your Chi with warm bedding in a draft-free section of your home. Dog coats are important in cold weather, while a lighter garment may be required in a very cool, air-conditioned environment.
Aside from monitoring the thermostat in your home, you should also keep an eye on the other creatures in your household. A family dog that is sociable with other dogs will normally recognise the Chi pup as a puppy; however, this does not guarantee that your older dog would not damage the pup by accident. If there is a significant size difference (for example, your other dog is a lively eighty-pound Labrador), you must make careful introductions. If you are unable to monitor the dogs\\\\\\\’ interactions, keep them crated.
Dogs are not the only potential threat to the Chihuahua. All sorts of pets, including cats, birds, and even a territorial house bunny, can startle and/or injure a Chi puppy. If your other house pet roams freely and has access to the entire house, keep a close eye on your Chihuahua and monitor all interactions. A pouncing cat, swooping macaw, or hard-biting rabbit can cause significant, if not deadly, injuries to a small puppy.
Do not assume that just because your pets—whether dogs or other species—seem to get along well at home, that this equilibrium will continue when you leave the house. It is preferable to err on the side of caution and crate your Chi at first to ensure her safety.
If you are unable to supervise, separate. Fortunately, most pets adjust to the new addition and will recognise the Chi as a member of the family rather than an intrusion.
However, be prepared in case one or more of your pets are unable to coexist peacefully with the Chi. If this is the case, the pets will need regular care and/or separation.
Some high-prey-drive breeds (those who enjoy pursuing balls)
Anything else that moves) may fail to recognise a Chi puppy as a dog. If you notice your adult dog watching intently or slowly stalking your Chi, be cautious! To defuse this explosive scenario, keep the dogs separated and seek professional animal-behavior training guidance right away.
Establishing and adhering to household rules
It is easier to establish house rules when your puppy first arrives home than to do so as time goes on. Do you wish to let your Chi cuddle with you on the couch or in a favourite chair while you watch TV or read? Or would you rather the puppy learn that chairs and couches are off-limits?
To raise your Chihuahua to be a pleasant friend that rapidly learns the norms of family life, consistency is essential.
If you don\\\\\\\’t want your Chi to sit in the recliner with you, it\\\\\\\’s not fair to give the dog access to this chair for months only to declare at six months that it\\\\\\\’s a no-no.
Alternatively, it is unfair to expect your Chihuahua to comprehend why she is permitted to sit in the recliner with you at times but not always. Make a plan and adhere to it; consistent regulations are easier for your Chi to follow.
If you must err, it is easier to be harsh at first and then reduce the rules permanently once the Chihuahua has improved its housetraining skills or is no longer eating everything in sight.
Working in reverse (from liberal to strict) is very frustrating for both the dog and the owner.
If you live alone, you will be solely responsible for enforcing the rules. If you live with one or more humans, your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s chances of breaking the rules grow dramatically.
It is usual for at least one family member to believe that you are either too severe or too lenient with your Chihuahua. This is the individual who will surely complicate your life and the Chi\\\\\\\’s.
For example, suppose you do not want your Chihuahua puppy to sleep in your bed at night. You want her to stay in her crate so you can know where she is and when she needs to relieve herself. Maybe you\\\\\\\’ve Preteen daughter who believes otherwise and sneaks the puppy out to sleep with her at night. Yikes.
Now that the puppy wants to sleep in bed (who wouldn\\\\\\\’t?), she yelps more while she\\\\\\\’s in her box. It seems like the first night all over again. To make matters worse, she believes your daughter\\\\\\\’s closet is an appropriate location to relieve herself.
Some training experts believe that it can take up to twenty correct repeats of a behaviour to undo one wrong behaviour.
So that one time in bed—or when your spouse lets your Chi to cuddle on the couch with him—may take some time to fix.
Before getting into any fights with family members, hold a family meeting to decide how the puppy will be raised, what is and is not allowed, and what the ultimate regulations will be. Then stick to the rules.
Everything counts.
Every incident, big or small, that your puppy experiences leaves a lasting imprint on her. Every interaction she has with other animals, dogs, and humans, as well as every response you make to her behaviours, all contribute to her development into the adult dog she will become.
It has long been recognised that a puppy\\\\\\\’s potential is heavily influenced by genetics, and that a dog is only as great as the sum of his parts.
However, it is up to you and how you raise your puppy in her environment to determine whether she achieves her full potential given the genetics she has. According to some estimates, your influence may account for up to 40% of your puppy\\\\\\\’s eventual adult temperament.
Raising a dog requires striking a delicate balance. You want your puppy to interact with as many people, places, and settings as possible, but you also want to ensure that all of these interactions are positive.
This requires you, as a puppy owner, to plan ahead. You must be a few steps ahead of the situation and aware of your puppy\\\\\\\’s outward signs of discomfort or oncoming worry.
For example, if she is likely to be terrified by a school bus as it roars by in the morning, don\\\\\\\’t force her to wait at the corner with you (and a slew of other children) until the bus comes to a standstill. Instead, let her sit on her leash at a suitable distance from the bus.
Praise her for silently observing the bus. If she shows signs of discomfort, walk away.
The distance at which she can notice \\\\\\\”frightening\\\\\\\” items is her own. \\\\\\\”Safety zone.\\\\\\\” Every dog has one—timid dogs will wish to investigate unknowns from a longer distance away; bolder dogs will feel more at ease checking something out from a closer distance.
From your puppy\\\\\\\’s safety zone, progressively move closer each day, praising her good behaviour with verbal and physical praise and a small treat. If you\\\\\\\’ve gotten too close for comfort one day, return to her previous comfort zone and reinforce her good behaviour.
Shouldn\\\\\\\’t I have her sit still if she\\\\\\\’s terrified of something?
Forcing a puppy or dog to be near something that scares her will not help her overcome her fear. Instead, it will exacerbate them and may erode her trust in you (because you are clearly endangering her).
Yelling at a timid dog is also a big no-no, as is verbally or physically soothing her—this tells her that her concerns are valid.
Socialisation begins.
Your puppy\\\\\\\’s mother and littermates had an important role in teaching her what is appropriate and unacceptable behaviour with other canines. Mom was quick to correct, while littermates yelped and refused to play if a puppy\\\\\\\’s bites were too strong or her play became obnoxious and over the top.
Playing with other puppies (and mom) teaches a puppy bite inhibition, or how to play-bite without causing harm. That is an important lesson for all breeds of dogs because a hard bite hurts and can break the skin, regardless of size.
It is also critical for your puppy to be exposed to a variety of kind, friendly individuals when she is still very small. At approximately twelve weeks of age, the first essential moment for making socialisation impressions with a puppy has passed.
If your breeder retains her puppies until they reach this age, she will be responsible for introducing them to a variety of friendly visitors.
Puppy separation from their mothers and littermates at an early age might cause problems. These puppies appear to have not learnt their biting inhibition teachings, and many experienced trainers believe that this early separation causes additional problems later in training.
Many Chi puppies are sold at twelve weeks of age. If you bought a puppy under ten weeks old, you may need to undertake some catch-up work on the pup\\\\\\\’s socialisation and bite inhibition.
If he is a good breeder, he will have accomplished this. Friends, possible customers, and older children from the neighbourhood will be asked to meet the puppies, and they will be handled and touched extensively by the breeder.
If you get a puppy from a breeder that hasn\\\\\\\’t socialised her puppies, you\\\\\\\’ll have some There\\\\\\\’s some catching up to do. But don\\\\\\\’t give up if the circumstance isn\\\\\\\’t perfect. Remember that everything you do with your puppy leaves an impact, and you may go a long way towards getting your puppy back on track socially.
Socialising with Dogs
The experts all agree on the \\\\\\\”how\\\\\\\” of socialising your puppy with other dogs; they just don\\\\\\\’t all agree on the \\\\\\\”when.\\\\\\\” Some professional trainers believe that the risk of raising a scared or dog/dog aggressive puppy (by failing to continue the pup\\\\\\\’s socialisation with other dogs) is greater than the risk of contracting a deadly disease.
If you reside in an area with a high risk of lethal puppy diseases like canine parvovirus or canine hepatitis, your veterinarian will advise you not to take your puppy to meet-and-greets where dogs and their owners congregate, such as a dog park.
You have no way of knowing which dogs have been vaccinated and which have not, and you cannot be completely certain that the park grounds are disease-free. In fact, you can almost guarantee that your Chi will be exposed to a lethal virus or bacterial infection in these regions.
You do want to open your home (a safe place) to people who have nice, non-aggressive, vaccinated dogs. Avoid other puppies until they have completed their entire immunisation schedule.
Socialisation among people
Continuing your pup\\\\\\\’s socialisation after she leaves the breeder\\\\\\\’s home is crucial to her future connections with house guests, kind strangers on the street, and people of all ages, races, sizes, and shapes.
If a Chihuahua is not socialised with people and given enough of opportunities to learn that an extended hand from a friendly person means something positive is about to happen (such as receiving a small treat), he or she may become frightened, protective, or even aggressive.
Many folks with good intentions might be far too assertive while greeting a toy-breed dog. You must become your puppy\\\\\\\’s advocate. Allow your puppy to make the first move towards the person\\\\\\\’s outstretched, treat-laden hand.
With a puppy, you\\\\\\\’ll notice how easy it is to find folks to give your pooch goodies. Who wouldn\\\\\\\’t want to \\\\\\\”ooh\\\\\\\” and \\\\\\\”aah\\\\\\\” over a cute little Chi?
However, you must be very careful not to exceed your puppy\\\\\\\’s comfort level. One youngster may not want a person to get any closer than five or ten feet, yet another Chi puppy may feel fine prancing up to a stranger and receiving a little pat.
Determine your dog\\\\\\\’s initial safety zone with strangers and attempt to improve it or keep him happy and sociable. Don\\\\\\\’t assume that just because you already have an extroverted Chi, she will remain friendly. Socialisation is a constant process that should last throughout a Chi\\\\\\\’s life.
Why Small Dogs Need Training, Too.
Chi\\\\\\\’straining is another continuing activity that should never be interrupted. A widespread misunderstanding is that toy breeds don\\\\\\\’t require obedience training.
This is related to the idea that toy breeds aren\\\\\\\’t truly dogs; they\\\\\\\’re four-legged children who already know how to behave properly. Others believe that toy breeds are so simple to control physically that training is unnecessary.
Daily training exercises—even for a few minutes each day—are an excellent way to establish a healthy dog-leader relationship with your Chi. Without frequent direction, any dog of any breed will assume the role of leader in the family. You don\\\\\\\’t want to follow dog rules, so have fun with training while maintaining leadership status in your household.
These notions could hardly be further from the reality. In some ways, toy breeds can be more difficult to teach than their larger counterparts.
Chihuahuas are small (making it difficult to reach them while standing), lightning fast (don\\\\\\\’t expect to catch one of these kids unless they want to be caught), extremely intelligent (Chis make some of the best service dogs ever), and have an endless supply of energy.
In addition, they have a terrier-like mentality (a bit independent and fierce).
If you want your Chihuahua to be an excellent home pet and companion, she will need obedience training. This does not have to take the shape of traditional obedience training, but you may find it enjoyable to train and gain titles with your Chihuahua.
At the very least, you should teach your Chihuahua basic commands like sit, down, stay, and come so that she is under control both inside and outside the house. You will be glad you invested the time and effort. There is nothing quite like a well-trained dog.