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I HAVW A EIGHT WEEK OLD MALE CHIHUAHUA PUPPY AND I WANT TO...

Answer by jk
Submitted on 1/31/2004
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first of all this woman sue doe not know what she talking about. Second of all I have a male 4 year old chihuahua, as well as a 10 week old chihuahua. The reason why breeders sell these chihuahuas at 8 weeks is because the first 6 weeks they are completely dependant on their mother for natural nutrition, and after those 6 weeks they need to be sure that the puppy is capable of eating and drinking water on thier own, and can survive wihout their mother. They learn other things in those two weeks such as socialization and curiousity, this is when the puppy starts to venture off on its own. if you were to keep the litter together for "16 weeks" the puppy would suffer emotional as well as seperation anxiety. Not good, if you want to form a strong trust and bond with your new puppy. As far as feeding goes, you should feed in small amounts 3-4 times daily depending on the wieght. This you can talk to your vet further about. And like jonny said, don't treat them any different then you would a normal size dog, except the obvious (rough-housing). Also, as far as the type of dog food, "generic puppy food" has the same ingredients and is perfectly safe for your dog, otherwise it would not be on the market if it didnt meet the nutritional standards.

Answer by Tanya
Submitted on 2/2/2004
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Where ever you bought your puppy from shouldnt be selling puppies. The breeder i bought it from and other breeders should give you all the information you need with out even asking. Here are some things you should know (IF YOU ARE STILL VERY CONFUSED BUY A BOOK) 1. the first thing you should'vedone is go see a vet and maek sure there arent any internal problems 2. Any puppy should be fed every 6 hours or 4-5 a day. Depending on what your vet says is good, soaked the food in water and mush it so its easier to digest. 2. NEVER let your puppy go outside, near other dogs, or near sick people until it has recieved ALL of its vaccinations (bet. 4-6 months depends) 3. You should potty train her at home (buy a book on that) 4. It is fragile any major bump can cause internal injuries that you wont know of until you find it dead. This is all the basic things you shouldve known right away there are A LOT more info u should definitly know.

Answer by Chilover
Submitted on 3/14/2004
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Lilly, When I was looking for a "teacup" chi, I went to my local dog parks, and talked to people who I saw with their chi's. I asked if they knew any breeders in town and got some leads. Also, check the classifieds. Every day there's new listings. Beware of people who want to rip you off, claiming your buying a "teacup" when it's really a standard size. (Not that there's anything wrong with standard.. they r all beautiful) But if thats what you are looking for, you will find ALOT of dishonest people who say your pup will stay small, meanwhile they've got the money, you already fell in love with the pup, and now it's full grown, and 10lbs.! Probobly not a purebred chi to begin with! I think the parents should always be on site, or you should have the option to go see the mom, or dad (say if he was studded out) AKC papered, although not the only registry for purebred dogs, is one way to make sure your getting an authentic chi! Also, if you don't see the parents, how can you make a thorough decision on your purchase. I mean you don't even know what the dogs characteristics will be! You want looks, but also TEMPERMENT. The only way to know that is to see the parents, (not that you wont get one from time to time who is not like either parent!) Anyways, about the issue of going home at 8 weeks, or 16.... I can only tell you that my 10 week old pomeranian already had some pretty bad potty habits by the time I got him, and was AWFUL to train. But my 8 week old chi learned almost from day one. But she was also crated with her mom when unsupervised. Well, I could go on, but i'msure you all would like to get to the next opinion, (thats all this entry is, is my opinion so please nobody be offended) Good Luck, and don't be afraid to ask questions when buying a chi pup, some stay around long after the kids move out. Buying any dog is a serious commitment, and anyone who makes you feel bad for wanting to be fully informed about the dog does not have the dog's best interest at heart, or yours!

Answer by jean
Submitted on 3/24/2004
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I just got my first chi puppy two weeks ago. He was 10 weeks old. I love him, he is so smart, he fetches the ball, rope already, I am litter box training him, so far so good. You just have to be patient, I put him in the litter box after he eats and before and after play. If I can't supervise him he is in a crate. I have newspaper on one side of the crate, because I work all day. He will go on the paper if in the kennel or if paper is on the floor. He is now seeking out the paper and the litter box. If I put him in the bathroom after he eats he will get in the litter box by himself now. I have a miniature pincher and they get along great but I do not leave them unsupervised, my pincher has very sensitive shin and I have been battling dry, red itchy skin for 5 years, a lady at petsmart told me to try Natures Choice or science diet, His hair is like silk and the black is blacker and the red is redder and the skin is totally cleared up, needless to say I now feed them both Natures Choice. Good luck to all seeking a Long Haired Chi, I live in MO and I contacted the Mo Kennel Club for reputable breeders and contacted them all to ask questions and to find the ones whom actually had puppies available, They were all involved in show dogs of some sort and were very nice people. Check with the kennel clubs in your area.

Answer by maple27
Submitted on 4/5/2004
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Vic, Does your Chihuahua have its first set of shots yet? Let me tell you, it doesn't sound like it's the food that could be making your puppy sick. I have a twelve week old chihuahua and the poor little thing came down with parvo, a very deteriorating disease for puppies. My puppy started off throwing up clear liquid and from there she just went downhill. Vomiting, diarrhea then bloody diarrhea. I hope that you were able to take your puppy to a vet right away. You have to remember that once we start getting into the warmer months we start getting into parvo. The only way to help the puppies through it is by getting them treatment right away. And also, once they get to be the age where they need their shots take them to get them right away. I hope your puppy is okay. Luckily my puppy made it through and she is on her way to a full recovery. Good Luck. And everybody, make sure to keep your puppies up to date with their vaccinations!!!!!!

Answer by Iluvchias
Submitted on 5/2/2004
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I agree with Tanya`s answer. I believe a good breeder can safely sell a puppy at 9 weeks of age,if it is not too tiny. Smaller puppies should not be sold until at least 12 weeks of age. I also suggest feeding a premium brand food "Eukanuba small breed puppy" is a good choice. Early crate training & litter box training is also recommended,a good breeder will usually have the puppy started on this. I do not agree that Chihuahuas should be treated just as any dog. They, by instinct, normally do not like big dogs. Larger dogs have been known to kill them. Some people are just lucky that they did not lose one this way,but take it as a warning from a person with experience in seeing this happen many times over. Also as far as t-cups,they are only for very special persons with thorough knowledge of this breed.The average person does not know how to properly care for one. They are not for everyone,especially for someone with young kids...

Answer by Nicole
Submitted on 5/6/2004
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I am going to be adopting a chi soon i hope. from puppyfind.com. i already have another puppy 12wks. its is a mini american eskimo, i am trying to look up the best food for my chi. because my eskimo is SO spoiled and picky, we have had to change his food like five times because he refuses to eat any of it. when we got him he was on science diet but i read what was in it and it didn't sound healthy AT ALL. So we put him on "Innova" which is all natural USDA approved human grade food it was really healthy, but then he stopped eating that, so we tried "Wellness" he wouldn't touch it so we tried "Eukanuba small breed" didn't touch it so we had to mix in "Eukanuba formula" but now he just eats the formula and not the kibble i mix in it! grrrr.... i don't want the same problem from my chi.. any advice?

Answer by iluvchias
Submitted on 5/9/2004
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To Nicole-- Have you tried Nutro mini-bites? My Chihuahuas (all 8 of them & a pom :) like it & they are verrry finicky eaters! They also like Bil-Jac,but it has some artificial preservatives in it,so I would rather they eat the Nutro-it is also more affordable :) considering the size of my little "pack." I have tried almost every kind of dry food including Science diet-which they won`t touch. When they go off their food, I usually mix in some cooked hamburger or chicken & rice or small canned food (mighty dog,reward,or other brands). Occasionally I throw in some available cooked veggies (peas,carrots,string beans,etc). Now this combination my dogs will kill for!! Especially the hamburger or chicken,they love it,but what dog wouldn`t? I have tried many different methods also,like not giving in to them when they go off their food,but they would rather go without,then eat what they don`t like. They will do this until they get sick & throw up ;( So obviously I have very spoiled dogs that have learned how to manipulate me to get their own way,but I love them & wouldn`t things any differently :) :) I hope you find the right combination to feed your dogs...

Answer by honeydropx
Submitted on 6/16/2004
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I Have a 10 week old chi and I'm having the hardest time controlling his diarrhea. Because of the separation anxiety he got diarrhea so bad he developed colitis. The vet said to put him on a rice diet. I did this, he got better, tried putting him back on Accana puppy small breed (recommended by the breeder) and his stools were still quite loose. I tried switching his diet to eukanuba small breed, and it doesn't do much but change the color. Now we're back on the rice diet, but he doesn't like to eat it now that he knows what dry food is all about. So I'm just wondering if anybody thinks because he has to be left alone all day, that this may stress him out. If so does any body have suggestions for keeping him company during the day, or do they eventually get used to it? Or maybe i'mbeing impatient, I've only had him for 3 weeks. I just feel so bad for the little one and his discomfort. (he's very active and playful.) Please help me with some advice.

Answer by Mayra
Submitted on 7/15/2004
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I have a 7 year old female chihuahua which took no time at all to potty train. Now I have a 8 wk. old lil male and a 6 wk. female who are doing great on the pee pad and when I am home all day I make sure to take them out often. At first they would just sit on the grass but now as soon as I put them down they know it's time to do their business. My 7 yr. old chi is great and always has been great with kids and visitors. My boy is going on 2 yrs old, so the part about chis not being good with kids is a lie. Maybe that just has to do with how they are raised. Mine was raised with my nephew so she is just a joy. Ok now a ? for the more experienced chihuahua owners is there any way of telling a chihuahuas true age? I was told my female was 5 weeks when I bought her and now 2 weeks later I called the lady and she said the dog was 6 weeks old. (d.o.b 6-2-2004) This has me worried...... Please respond soon I really can use some advice here.

Answer by taina77_22
Submitted on 7/18/2004
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I'm not sure how to start. I just moved to Oregon from California. My parents still live there. Me and my husband had a Basenji because he is allergic to dogs and lost our Basenji about 2 months ago. My parents know how we are dog people and unbenounce to us they were looking for a dog good for people with allergies because of my husband. They heard alot of good things about the Chihuahua and bought a puppy for us as a surprise. I am going on a trip to California the first week of August. Although my husband is excited about the new addition to our family he is concerned about his allergies. I have been doing a lot of research to find out about Chihuahuas and the only thing I have not found out about is allergies. It seems like a good breed for us. In your expert opinion....have you heard anything regarding people who have allergies doing well with Chihuahuas? That is one of our concerns. We believe once we bring a new family member home.....it being a "forever home." I also wanted to find out more about health issues and since it rains alot in Oregon....we want to make sure the weather will be suitable for that breed. I told my parents our concerns after I thanked them for the gesture of course and they stated they asked the breeder about allergies and the breeder stated that they shed very little and people with allergies do well with the breed. I want to make sure this is a true statement and it was not just them trying to sell the dog. My parents understand that I need to find out these answers first before bringing the little treasure home with me. They said if I cant take him they can keep him. I respect your expert opinion in this matter. Please e-mail me at Greeneyedangel00@aol.com with any advise

Answer by lou
Submitted on 8/13/2004
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i have a chihuahua she is 19 months old and would like to add to the reply saying chihuahuas are not good with children well thats the same for all dogs and not all children will pull and pick up a puppy like most things in life children learn what is right and wrong by there parents on handerling a pet. yes i agree a chihuahua should not be with a very small child as they dont understand the point of being gentle but i have a 6,8,9 year old children who my chihuahua adores she sleeps with them walks to school with them play with them and follows them around everywhere she is the baby of the house, but like any dog show it love and respect and it will show you the same,we also have an english bull terrier and 2 cats and the chihuahua rules them all so funny to see a 4lb dog chasing a 7 stone dog and believe me the chihuahua always gets its own way the bully hides

Answer by calnkids
Submitted on 9/10/2004
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I just bought a chi puppy 3 days ago from a pet store. They told me she was 8 weeks old and 2 pounds. We brought her home and she was happy and playing. She didn't eat but I thought she had eaten before we picked her up. She didn't eat all day yesterday, or this morning. She's slept almost the whole time during all that. So, I took her to a vet this afternoon. They told me she was 1.8 pounds and 6 weeks old. I was wondering why I feel like her REAL mother, and now I know why, she was too young for me to bring home. They gave me puppy formula and a prescription diet (she had a low blood sugar count). They got her to eat, and she had a few bites earlier, but now she won't go near it. I have to feed her the formula with a syringe. I'm so worried about her, but at the same time I am frustrated that they would sell her to me based on a lie. I could've waited 2 weeks! What is a normal eating habit for a 6 week old and could anyone offer any more advice?

Answer by kimberann
Submitted on 10/29/2004
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We just rescued a 6 week old chi puppy from what appeared to be a puppy mill. He is here with us, warm, happy, sometimes crying but altogether in great spirits. His first Vet visit will be next week. We are currently bottle feeding him so as to appropriate a weaning ourselves that he did not get when removed from his mother. We want to move him to puppy food next week and thought that Science Diet would be a good option. We are also pad training him, but are not taking him outside until he is about 12-16 weeks old. What else can we do with such a fragile, important stage in his life? Any suggestions that we can actively put into play? I am not looking for criticism just out to give this baby the best start to his life and continue it throughout the years...thanks.

Answer by Colorado
Submitted on 11/4/2004
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As far as potty training your puppy, I find if you use a kitty litter box works well in between outside intervals, You can also use sod with the dirt or Kitty litter with pulled grass, when available. They get the smell as it will be close as to the outside smell.Which will help a lot for the outside training. Still, take them outside very regular weather permitting, especially after eating. On feeding puppies, I use science diet on the small dogs, I have it always available for the puppy at all times. but, I do offer a very small amount of a puppy science diet mixed with rice cereal with Esbilac milk ( recommended for puppies first foods ) three times a day, mix to a medium mixture. I raise t-cup poodle puppies, weight being sometimes in ounces instead of pounds. This works well for my little guys and dolls.Use your good judgments where your puppy is concerned, don't rely on the box information completely. Hopefully this will be helpful to you.

Answer by Angela
Submitted on 12/5/2004
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I just got my 7 month old chihuahua about 2 months ago. I have been trying to potty train him. My friend said when I am at work, which consists of about 9 hours a day, I should leave him in the kennel and immediately take him for a walk when I get home. I have been doing so for the past 2 months. He has been doing a great job and figured he was trained so I let him out the kennel to run around the apartment. Coming home was not a pleasent site; there was poop and pee everywhere! I decided to get a fence to keep him in the kitchen and that was not effective either! My chihuahua jumps so high he can touch my belly. I feel that keeping him in the kennel is somewhat abuse and currently I can't afford a large cage. What should I do? Concerned, Angela

Answer by SKeeto
Submitted on 5/2/2005
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Chihuahua's are not like large breed dogs, they are very fragile! Do not be deceived by those who do not know about these little animals limitations. Your Chihuahua needs Pet Tab vitamins, calcium also because they can't consume enough regular dog foods to meet their needs for their small body. More then once I have seen a dog get 'milk fever' because her calcium levels got too low while nursing her young. The eyes get a foggy look and the female becomes comatose, lethargic. This resulted in the dog being taking to the ER room of a Vet to receive an IV full of calcium. A chihuahua is a delicate dog, the brain is attached to the skull by tiny blood vessel's, if the dog simply jumps off a couch or bed wrong it can jar the brain and tear the vessels which bleed over a span of a couple to three days. It's not evident at first, then pressure on the brain will cause one or both eyes to dilate, the blood will then drain into the neck cavity and the dog will die. Many have lost their little chihuahuas due to them jumping off a chair or bed and breaking their neck. I personally have lost my Chihuahua to a German Shepherd! One bite is all it takes, my little dog was simply walking by my side, the German Shepherd ran up to her and bit her, she died in my arms. Don't tell me for one second it's okay to put the little dog with a larger one I've seen it happen. I have heard of larger breeds biting the Chihuahua when they were eating together with a dog it had been raised with and the larger dog suddenly decided it was no longer going to share, it only takes once, you must protect your little dog just as a little child, it is VERY fragile and has special needs. Do not let anything hit it in the head, many have soft spots that will directly injure the brain. The jaws of the Chihuahua are fragile as well. Whoever said otherwise in these articles does not know enough about the dogs and should not own one. Lack of knowledge with refusal to learn is the same as stupidity and will result in the premature death of the sweet little dog.

Answer by charity
Submitted on 9/11/2005
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first of all whoever said that you cant take a chihuahua away from its mother untill its 16 weeks is wrong I got my chihuahua when she was only 6 weeks old she was born july 8th and i got her august 26th she is now a little over 8 weeks and doing just fine i took her to the vet 2 days after i got her and they said she is a very awake healthy puppy she got her first shot at 6 weeks and is going back september 15th for her 9th week old shots then again when she is 12 weeks. i have her dates and appointments made and in her calender the vet gave me a puppy pack with all the things to do and not to do with your puppy and things they are allergic to like onions,certain plants, and of course chocolate. she was the runt of the litter so she is only 14 ounces but she is very healthy and doing just fine i just have to keep a eye on her 24/7 so she doesnt eat anything off the floor or get stepped on. i feed her royal canine for small breed puppys i just add water and let it get soft and she eats about every 2 hours, she hates to be left alone so i take her everywhere i made her a shirt so she doesnt get cold cuz shes too small for the ones at the store and she loves gerber baby meat sticks but i only give her a half of one mixed in her food every once in a white. she already goes out side to potty or whines and runs around liek she needs to go i take her out about every 20 minuts or so just in case..and she usually goes. she naps alot every 2-3 hours after she runs around n harasses my cat and plays with her toys.. she is very hyper and so cute if you want to know more,ask questions or see pictures you can email me a Pink_diamonds@comcast.net Oh and to the lady in oregon i live in oregon also and it seems like alot of people who have allergies is from the pet dander not the pet if u want a dog get a short haired chihuahua they arnt very big and easy to maintain im sure it wont bother your husbands allergies much

Answer by giee
Submitted on 10/29/2005
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i have a 9 week old chi here. im not quite sure if she is sick or not. she seems to be doing fine.. but she doesnt eat when i feed her. i have to put some food in my hand and then sit her on my lap. she keeps playing with her food too. she'll put some in her mouth and then drop it to the floor and toss it around and such. she urinates small portions at a time and barely drinks any water. she's extremely playful but she'll get so aggressive and start growling. ive taken her into the vet and got her shots and am waiting to get the second set. how do i know if she is having problems going to the bathroom? she is also very clumsy. she'll run into things and fall over randomly. im really confused.

Answer by eskie
Submitted on 1/1/2006
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I'm new to this i don't have an answer but this was the only box i found that i could type it and MAYBE get answers from. Anyway, i bought this American Eskimo puppy from an owner who got it from a breeder,it's about 10-12 weeks old and i was wondering when you are not feeding the puppy should you still leave the water bowl out? because i don't know when he drinks from it so i don't know when to take it out to go pee. and i don't think this puppy was taught housebreaking very well. the owner said he will pee on newspapers and my puppy NEVER DOES and I'm currently attempting to housebreak him but it's been 3 weeks now and it doesn't seem like there is a difference. So my point is, do i leave the water bowl out at all times even when I'mnot feeding it? and what are some good tips about potty training tips?!

Answer by KickitWithKellie
Submitted on 1/5/2006
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This is for saran25: You can raise chihuahuas around children. But, it is better to raise them around older for mature kids. Say, 12 to 13 and up. But, younger then that may not do so well. Younger kids tend to pull, yank, or grab tails, feet, legs, hair, ears. Also, you want to make sure your children know NOT TO PULL THE DOGS EARS!!!!!!! Dogs ears in general are very very sensitive. But chihuahuas ears are very very very sensitive. They are very small and petite dogs. Don't let them pull their ears under any circumstances. And if you are bathing the dog stick little cotton balls in their ears. If you get water in their ears it can cause potential problems. It can cause ear infections and other bad symptoms. But, other then that advice I am sure you will do fine! Just treat the puppy like your own kid! It will all work out perfectly.

Answer by cpineda7
Submitted on 2/10/2006
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I just got a 9 week old chi last week and I just had to take her to the emergency vet last night. I bought her at a pet shop and was guaranteed for 14 days, so they are taking over the medical expenses. Which means I had to sign the dog back over to them and they make all the decisions. If she doesn't survive they guarantee me another dog. which as you could imagine is not what I want after falling in love with mine. The problem was she wasn't eating and her blood sugar dropped and she went into "shock". It was the scariest thing ever. Anyhow, they have an IV in her, and she has good chances of survival. Has anyone heard of parvovirus? The vet keeps telling me that she might have it. Her symptoms were diarhea, vommiting, and weakness. Do you think she will recover quickly?? My boyfriend and I are panicking because we don't the expenses to be so much that the pet shop can't afford her care and decide to uthinize her. Now it's just a waiting process. I was feeding her Science Diet and she HATES it. That's what they were giving her at the pet shop. I don't know what other foods will be good for her if I get her back. Any suggestions, comments?? I would love to hear from you guys. Thanks!!

Answer by Elizabeth
Submitted on 2/16/2006
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I have just bought a 6 week old chi. She is a very sweet dog. I found the breeder through the newspaper and that is the last time i am going to buy a dog that way. It wasn't a puppy mill, more like a backyard breeder. The breeder just wanted to get money out of it. I'm really glad to have my puppy but on the other hand I'm almost sorry i left my money there. Its better to do a bit more searching and questioning the breeder and paying those few extra dollars. The people who breed strictly for profit don't deserve the money. Many of the people who are asking questions here seem to have been neglected by the puppies breeder who should have told them all they needed to know without being asked. A good breeder cares about where his/her puppies are going and wants them to have the best of care. I had bought a boxer several years back and the breeder sent me off fully loaded with extra food, a puppy feeding chart, and even a booklet with instructions for house training and basic training. Of course she gave me her phone number and wanted to hear from me to be sure the puppy was well started off. The breeder of the chihuahuas was nothing of the sort. Now i am gleaning information as i go. I have a few questions for anyone who cares to answer them. -When do their ears fully stand up? -Are their eyes more prone to injury or infections? they seem to protrude a little in this breed. -I am feeding my puppy a mixture of dry kibble and yogurt and occasionally a little meat. Do you think it is nutritious enough for a chi puppy? This is the most informative forum i have come across yet. I will be checking in regularly. thanks.

Answer by ali
Submitted on 4/22/2006
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This is in response to "lilly". I'm sorry to hear that you're losing hope of finding a good breeder! I'm not sure if you're aware but long and short coat chihuahuas cannot be bred separately. When the little mom has a litter there will usually be a mix of both! I would suggest you look around for all potential breeders before narrowing down the search to type of coat. The first, most important thing is to find one that cares about the puppies and knows their stuff. When I started searching I was convinced I wanted a long coat female and I ended up with an absolutely adorable little short coat male! It took me about a year to find a good breeder that was in my area but as soon as I went to visit her I knew she was the best of the best. She sent me home with a few weeks worth of food, "just in case" medicine, and Connor's favorite toy that smelled like his brothers and sisters. Don't give up, there are some really great breeders out there! I would suggest going to a breeder search engine where you type in your zip code and it pulls up some of the ones in your area and proceed to filter through those till you find the breeder thats right for you! I hope I helped at all.

Answer by Pat the Chi woman
Submitted on 5/28/2006
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To anyone seeking to buy a Chihuahua, do your home work. These are living adorable little dogs. They deserve a little time to find out what they need. Also if you are going to get a puppy you need to be there for it. Would you get a child and leave it home by it's self most of the day?. Use a reliable breeder. A breeder should be interested in how you intend to care for the puppy. At 8 weeks it should have it's first series of shots and de-wormed. You should have proof of that. The breeder should recommend you take it to your vet for your own inspection. If you can't afford to take it to the vet, then or when it's sick, you can't afford to own it either. If I don't get the right answers to my questions they don't get one of my precious babies! There are tons of books on how to raise, feed and train Chihuahua's, you have an obligation to spend the time needed to find out how to do this right. This tiny bundle of joy lives just to please you, now you should find out how to please it. Eight to nine weeks is a good age to bond with a puppy. Find out what the breeder fed it. Don't change it's diet abruptly, unless it's the idiot feeding beans and vienna sausage! Don't buy the cheapest food either, nor does it have to be the most expensive. People food is for people dog food for dogs, remember that. Go on line to some of the companies that specialize in dog care products, ask questions. Just use some common sense. There is still much more that could be said.

Answer by Jen Tab
Submitted on 5/29/2006
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I recently bought to Chi's from a recommended breeder. We have had dogs and horses previously but not Chi's. One is 6 months the other 12 months. The 12 month chi is very nervous, even after two weeks. The 6 month old has settled really well and is happy and playful, he tries to play with the 12 month old who usually just snaps at him. The 12 month old just wants to be cuddled by myself and although he has come round to my 8 year old (very sensible) daughter a little, he really does not like my husband, he barks at him all the time and runs away. my husband leaves him in hope he will not be threatened and will come to him, he offers treats which he usually won't take from him unless the 6 month old is there, or even then he just wont go near him. All my husband has to do is move slightly and he runs away scared. If he looks at him he shakes! I am giving him loads of reassurance but no progress so far! I spoke to the breeder and said it is like hes been abused and she agreed. My husband is annoyed as we paid 800Pounds for him. Do you think he'll come round? He doesn't seem to enjoy walks even? Rarely wags his tail. I feel sorry for him, but don't know whether to send him back to the breeder as he is not fitting in the family. If I lived alone it would be fine. Any thoughts appreciated.

Answer by Gori
Submitted on 7/26/2006
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We had no other choice than to take our Chi at 3 weeks old. Never recommend it. Round the clock feedings, potty and urination estimulation, milk aspiration, head cold (antibiotic Vibramycin, decongestion meds, nebulizer, the whole works!) Crazy. Bruce is now 8 weeks old and 1 pound. Has a great personality, inteligent and feisty. He's potty trained - see's the vet weekly, important that the vet be very patient and believes you can help him survive. Thank God for his insurance. Would we do it ever again? Never! Mom stop feeding the pup and Bruce was the only to survive. Are we happy we have Bruce? We simply adore him. My daughter has proved herself at 18 that she will be an excellent mom. Takes him to work at FIU after seeking permission and granted. And we take turns on weekends. He now sleeps all nite, eats on his own and drinks water. We are still on the Eucanuba puppy in the blender with water 4 times a day. When will he be able to eat the dry food on his own? Has great teeths.

Answer by MC4273
Submitted on 7/29/2006
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I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT THERE IS A SITE LIKE THIS FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND GET ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS. AND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WILLING TO TRY AND HELP ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME PET OWNERS OUT THERE ALL THESE ANSWERS MAY BE A LITTLE OVERWHELMING. WHICH ONE IS RIGHT? FOR THOSE OF YOU LOOKING FOR ADVICE, MY ADVICE TO YOU IS GET A BOOK. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ESTABLISH A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A VET EVEN BEFORE YOU GET A PUPPY OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. YOUR VET WILL BECOME A GOOD FRIEND THROUGHOUT YOUR PETS LIFE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, ASK HIM OR HER. THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE BEST ADVICE. AND FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE TRYING TO HELP, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DO YOUR RESEARCH AS WELL SO YOU CAN PROVIDE THE BEST HELP.

Answer by Doris N
Submitted on 8/22/2006
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We had a Chi for 12-1/2 years. She recently passed on, in her sleep, with a smile on her face. We weren't going to get another dog but there was a void so we now have a 5-1/2 week old Chi pup and I was afraid to bring her home this young. She eats fine out of her dish, she plays with the toys we purchased for her, follows me everywhere. When we are gone, I have a shower radio that I place by her pet carrier (over-sized to fit food, water, pillow from dog bed), in which I also place an alarm clock (not set) underneath a dog shaped puppy toy. We haven't had her very long but she seems fine. She had her first puppy shots from the breeder, we feed her Pro-Plan small breed, mixed with water and at the breeder's suggestion, 1/4 capful of pedialyte, warmed in the micro for 10 seconds. She eats, plays, we are litter box training her - she already goes on the puppy pads and is very friendly. She slept through the night last night, got up and played and ate fine this a.m. She sleeps 60% of the time, which is normal. We introduced her to family when we got her but she is home now until all shots are gotten after reading all of this. She goes to the vet for another set of shots in two weeks. Good luck to everyone.

Answer by Michelle
Submitted on 9/9/2006
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I don't have a Chi, but I have had puppies and dogs all my life. It was recommended by my VET to feed my puppies puppy chow soaked in water. I also give them soft chicken or beef flavored canned food, they take well to it all. For my older dogs I give and have given dogs in the past ALPO, Pedigree mixed with Pedigree canned food or dog chow.My Golden Retriever lived for 15 years and he only ate Pedigree and never had any health problems.(Maybe that is wht theres a Golden on the ad lol) I know science diet is great for dogs as well. I also feed my pups 3-4 times a day. The vet said they were perfect weight for their age, you don't want to over feed a dog. And my pups were born and raised out doors, socialized with my older dogs and children. You don't want to sell your puppie before 8 weeks, this time is important for them to socialize, be weened, venture on their own,and play with liter mates. If you have any questions call your local vets office, humane society, or ASPCA, they are all willing to answer any questions you have and are extremely knowledgeable, or research on line. Good luck with you chi.

Answer by JohnNSarah
Submitted on 11/2/2006
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Hi everyone, just discovered this blog in an attempt to find a feeding ratio for our 12 week old puppy. I'm adding our story here although our puppy is a "chug" a hybrid between a chihuahua and a pug. Actually, her mother is a chug, her father is a chihuahua so she is, and our vet said will remain, quite small. After bringing her home for awhile, all was going great. Then one day she was acting lethargic, vomiting, diarrhea and sitting wobbly. Long story short, after a trip to the emergency room, a 3 day stay at the vets and $400 later, she is all better. We think we know what happened and this is what we want to share and see if others might share the same: we think she overate during a feeding and hurt herself internally. We feel like bad first parents but we've learned not to let a puppy, especially a small one like her, eat as much as she wants. She just wouldnt stop! We joked she was as round as she was tall but in hindsight, it was horrible. She nearly died. Her vitals were all good but she stopped eating and drinking and got severely dehydrated. She was too tiny to find a vein so the vet did many subcutaneous injections of fluids to be obsorbed through her skin. What we are adding, in case others didnt know it, is: don't let your little puppy eat till its full. It will just keep eating. This was moist dog food in a pouch with gravy, Iams puppy pouch. PS we still havent found exactly how much to feed her. She's 2 lbs and 12 weeks old.

Answer by Jetsetter
Submitted on 11/9/2006
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All natural dog foods are much better for small dogs. All dogs, actually, but small dogs are getting larger amounts of chemicals and additives for their size. I like Wellness brand, but most pet shops over a good variety. I feed my puppy small amounts of Wellness kibble and I store about two days worth soaked in a little water in a plastic container in the fridge. These keeps the kibble soft and easier to digest. I add a large teaspoon of Wellness canned food and mix it with a bit of warm water. I also feed all my dogs vetzyme enzymes with every meal. These are really helpful with digestion. My Chihuahua is 10 weeks and has never had a loose stool. I also recommend wee wee pads for housebreaking. You can purchase these in any pet shop, and Chihuahuas are very smart and will begin to quickly find the pad when they can't go outside. If you have a puppy that has to be crated all day, I would suggest setting up an ex pen around the crate, and a wee wee pad as far from the crate as it will fit. These gives the puppy a play yard, so to speak as well as a place to work on his housebreaking skills on his own time. A Chihuahua can never make it through a day in a crate, and it is physically and mentally bad for him if he has to try.

Answer by Mary
Submitted on 12/27/2006
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I have a nine week old Chihuahua pup and we're trying to housetrain him. So far, he's 50/50 as to whether he hits the right spot but it's only been a couple of days so I'm hoping he'll learn. Our main problem is crate training. He HATES being in there. We're trying to teach him to sleep there in our bedroom but he cried without stopping for two hours so we had to let him on our bed so we could get some sleep. Is it because he misses his litter mates? I don't mind keeping him on the bed until he gets older but I'm afraid we'll never be able to train him later. Now he dislikes the crate so much, he only wants to use it to potty in. I hate to see him so unhappy in that crate. Can anyone help?

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Question by J.R
Submitted on 8/3/2003
Related FAQ: N/A
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I HAVW A EIGHT WEEK OLD MALE CHIHUAHUA PUPPY AND I WANT TO HOUSE BREAK HIM, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS? I TAKE HIM OUT AFTER HE EATS AND WHEN I FEEL HE NEEDS TO GO. PLEASE HELP. PLEASE TELL ME HOW MANY TIMES A DAY THAT HE NEEDS TO BE FED? I HAVE BEEN FEEDING HIM THREE TIMES A DAY, BUT THE BOX OF PUPPY FOOD I AM FEEDING HIM SAYS AT EIGHT WEEKS YOU SHOULD FEED ONLY TWO TIMES A DAY. THANK YOU J.R

Answer by Sue
Submitted on 11/16/2003
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First of all why do you have an 8 week old puppy? Responsible breeders do not let their Chihuahua puppies go to to new homes until they are about 16 weeks old. Second of all, Chihuahua's have certain nutritional needs that a generic box of puppy food can not meet.

Answer by jonny anomaly
Submitted on 1/19/2004
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everyone thinks that chihuahuas are fragile because they are small. treat him like you would a normal dog, and it will be able to live a normal life. i had a 2.5 lb chihuahua that grew up surrounded by german shepards and retrievers and did just fine. stop worrying just because it's small.

Answer by deb
Submitted on 1/24/2004
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i have a 6 weeks old chihuahua puppy. And i would like to know what to feed him and when to do shots and worming. and all

Answer by Karico
Submitted on 1/30/2004
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Just take your puppy to an vet as soon as possible. And they will let you know everything you need to know. I do know your chihuahua should go any where outside or have any visits until he has all its shot updated. between 3-4 month he should had its third set of shots. Good luck !!!

Answer by vicd28
Submitted on 2/1/2004
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We have a new puppy we believe is 8 weeks old, however we're not sure. Yesterday, the first day we had her she was fine. Last night she started throwing up clear liquid. We are feeding her Pedigree Puppy food. She ate a small amout yesterday and had water. She did both her businesses...and now we are wondering what is going on with her. Any suggestions? Thanks, Vic

Answer by anne
Submitted on 2/1/2004
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DON'T feed pedigree. I fed it to my puppy chihuahua, and it suddenly had stomaches. I asked and a-lot of people told me it was a cheap product...it is, you can smell it and it smells like smoke. Buy your pup something "good"

Answer by Javi
Submitted on 2/9/2004
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Sue - great answer!!! You criticize the man but offer no remedy or corrective course of action. Is that supposed to help him?? I offer no suggestions to him because I do not own a Chihuahua, but am seriously thinking about owning one. In my search for Chihuahua information, I came across this board. Is that how you would respond to me in a similar situation?? Not good!!!

Answer by lilly
Submitted on 3/10/2004
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i agree , this sue women should shut up ! i'm looking for a chihuahua 2 and am finding it very difficult as i went to this persons house to see one and she had a 7 week old chihuahua , with out a mother or a dad chi, i've kind of lost my confidence in people selling them as i wont know there back grounds, do any of you no any good chihuahua longhaired breeders? lilly

Answer by jkkk
Submitted on 3/17/2004
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Answer by saran25
Submitted on 3/19/2004
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I am getting a Chihuahua in 1 week from today. I am a little nervous cause this is our first dog. I have three small girls and wonder if this puppy is raised around my girls will it do ok? Another thing can you truely house break a Chihuahua? I am home alot during the day so I think this will help.

Answer by Phoebe.
Submitted on 3/20/2004
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Chihuahuas do not go well with children but I'm sure it can work. I've just been told that by my breeder as well as my vet, and at a Chihuahua rescue once. Kids tend to grab and pull at them. They're very nervous animals, they can easily bond with one or two people but children? I don't know.

Answer by Phoebe
Submitted on 3/20/2004
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By the way, to all new puppy owners. If you lock them up, expect a buttload of yelping. It's just a cry for attention though. You can't let them run freely until they learn the rules. There's so many ways they can hurt themselves. My biggest fear was chewing on electrical cords. I was always afraid I would come home to a burnt down apartment. To saran25, housebreaking is very possible. You just need to be patient with them but firm.

Answer by VickyGirl
Submitted on 3/26/2004
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A chihuahua puppie can be released at 8 weeks of age but shouldnt be if they are any younger. For the potty training you have to keep a very good watch over your puppie.When your puppie go's to the bathroom in the wrong place tell him "no"(do not yell or make a big deal)and clean the mess up and take the mess and your puppie to the right place put the mess down in the right place show him thats the right place with a treat or a good boy.Over time your puppie will understand that place as a good thing and know it makes you happy and it makes him a good boy.You should also know this takes time do not rush yell or hit your puppy for any reason a good "No" is all it will take.

Answer by shelly stanovich
Submitted on 4/5/2004
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new account

Answer by saran25
Submitted on 4/26/2004
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I just wanted to update we have had our Chihuahua for 3 weeks now and he is doing really well with the girls. One of them are a little rough but he seems to enjoy them for the most part. He is 10 weeks old now and is getting a little more aggressive. Do you think that males are more so than females?

Answer by sugarill
Submitted on 5/16/2004
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I also have an 8 week old chihuahua puppy and i made the mistake of taking him outside for about 10 minutes the other day. Now he is sneezing and he seems to have caught a cold. He obviously hasn't finished all his vaccinations, so it there anything i can do at home to make him better or do i need to take him to the vet?

Answer by bjj68
Submitted on 5/17/2004
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I have a 2 month old male long haired Chihuahua.I am having the worst time trying to pad train him. We have had him since he was 8 weeks old.Should he be trained already,am I doing something wrong? I would like to have him litter trained at some pint. HELP!!

Answer by Maggie
Submitted on 6/17/2004
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Hope both you and your puppy are doing well. It's been too long to give any advice. Did you name it "Po-co"?

Answer by Danette
Submitted on 7/12/2004
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I wish Sue's answer hadn't been so harsh. We got our chihuahua when he was only 4 weeks old. I know that is way too young but we are taking care of our puppy much better than the breeder. She was feeding him beans, rice and vienna sausages. We feed him good puppy food. We took him to the vet the first week. He is now 10 weeks old. Housetrained at 8 weeks. Very healthy and loves everyone. It was a friend of a friend who had the puppies and I'm so glad that we have him and can take good care of him. He is a joy. One item that really came in handy was a babies playpen for sleeping at night and when we have to leave. Works great.

Answer by ABArellano
Submitted on 7/13/2004
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I am getting a 12 wk Chi and I have been doing tons of research for the last few days on traning and caring for a chi. I have heard that they are fast learners and that it only takes a few days to potty train them. But reading on here you all say it takes awhile. Which is true? Are they really intelligent and pick up on what you say?

Answer by Angie3948
Submitted on 7/16/2004
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I will be getting my chi next week. He will be 6weeks old. I didn't know if he would be ready but he seems to be getting the hang of eating and drinking fine so I think he will be okay. Also I don't want to wait until he has bonded with the other puppies or learns bad habits. I want to get him home where I can take the best care of him, feed him the best food and give him lots of love. I have been going to visit him and I can't believe how they grow and learn. They are very smart dogs. I bought the Chihuahua for Dummies book and it is GREAT!!! Tells you everything you should know about them. You can get it very cheep at Overstock.com under $10.00 vs. $15.99 and up everywhere else.

Answer by tim-tam mintie sprinkles
Submitted on 8/21/2004
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I realy want to get a chi and mum and dad said i could but the thing is ive been looking around for ages and contacting breeders but none have chis available i live in victoria help!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer by dreamscape0012
Submitted on 8/26/2004
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i have a 7 week old male chi. i have been putting him in a litter box several times a day. but he wont go. until we have play time. he does it right in front of me. at nite when he is in his crate he goes to the bathroom on his pillow. can someone please help me.

Answer by Brenda
Submitted on 8/26/2004
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Three of our dogs, two of which were chihuahuas and one a boxer mix came down with Parvo at different times. I chopped 1/4 tablet of penicillin and gave it to them with water. Within hours the symtoms went away and never came back. I have had these dogs 3 years now.

Answer by Kari
Submitted on 9/4/2004
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We've had our chi for 1 week now. She is 8 weeks. She was great when we brought her home, playing and eating. I took her to our vet for a exam and her first vaccination. That night she became so lathargic and wouldn't eat or drink. I've had her back to the vet 3 more times and he tells me that chi's have a tendency to be hypoglycemic. I finally have her eating (boiled chicken)but not much and drinking. Any suggestions on anything else I could be doing for her or food that she might like? Also, I'm scared to death to take her in for her next vaccination.

Answer by kim
Submitted on 10/25/2004
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I have one year old chihuahua and can not get it to stop going to the washroom in the house

Answer by jj
Submitted on 10/25/2004
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i have a 6 week old chihuahau and im not sure exactly hwo much to feed it so i have left food out and she just eats until she is fulll... but i read the other day that they can get fat by this... please help me...

Answer by lost, help.
Submitted on 11/9/2004
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new account, need help with 4 week old chi. her mother was run down by a car.

Answer by Maya
Submitted on 11/24/2004
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There is no such thing as a teacup chi. When breeders advertise their chi's as "teacup" it is usually to entice buyers. They breed two runts to create a small chi which normally lives a short life and has various problems that normal size chi's don't. Please don't buy from anyone advertising a "teacup" chi. If you visit the AKA homepage there is an article about this.

Answer by Meg
Submitted on 11/30/2004
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I want to get a chihuahua but I already have two cats a dog and Hamster I don't want to feel guilty . I have want ed a chihuahua for Two years now and I found one that I am considering getting Should I????? please help!!!!!!!! From, Meg

Answer by jaker
Submitted on 12/2/2004
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We just got a female chi on halloween and she was 8 wks old. she was fully house trained in less than 2 wks, it does take alot of work and patience, but so worth it! we also have a 17 month old boy and they are so good together, again hard work and patience at first to make sure they are careful together. i have a gate across our laundry room door and i raised it so she can go back there to food, bed, etc and our son can't get back there when she wants to be left alone. hope this helps anyone wanting a chi that has small children, it can work!

Answer by Emy
Submitted on 12/21/2004
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My family had 3 dogs already and they were all housetraned. Its so easy every time they pee in the house we just put them outside and tell them they were being bad and whenever they look like they have to pee put them outside.

Answer by MaggieV
Submitted on 12/22/2004
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I have a 10 week old chihuahua. I got her when she was 6 weeks old.l She is so hard to train. I have read all books and i have tried everything on how to potty train them but it's not working. Alot of people say you can spank her but she is too small and i know you can damage something easily. Please help.

Answer by bronxbaby
Submitted on 12/27/2004
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i have a rat terrier and shes really shy i want her to not be nervous of people, can anybody help!