If you have ever thought of bringing one of these little balls of fury into your home, this information will help you make a wise decision if this is the right puppy for you. I currently have 3 of these little ones in my home, and have had 3 others in the past, and I hope through my experiences, I can give you a lot of encouragement, information and tools to help you form a strong bond with your new little family member.
Always, but always, the first step in getting any puppy is to do research on puppy breeds to be sure the puppy you get fits your lifestyle and family. There are many breeds not to even consider if you have small children, the Chihuahua being one of them. When I was single on my own I had a mom and baby Chihuahua and they were the love of my life. When I got married and started a family, my older female did not much like a child pulling and tugging at her as young children often do. It broke my heart but I had to find a home for the two gals together and found a wonderful lady who cooked for them and cared for them probably as well or better than most people care for their children. I did get a shepherd mix that was so great with the kids but my love for this little breed never left. I waited until my kids were all of school age when I came home with a little surprise, a little boy named "Nibbles" who became a very spoiled and very loved little guy. So be sure when choosing a Chihuahua you do a lot of research on their breed. You will both be rewarded in the end.
Once you have made the decision to get a Chihuahua puppy, that is when the planning begins. I looked at so many pictures and breeders on line and every puppy was so cute, hard to resist. Of course, cost and distance was a factor for me. I know it is done all the time but I was not willing to buy a puppy across the country and stick it on a plane, alone, cold, and terrified, for me to pick up at the air port. I looked for either a local breeder or one that I could make arrangements with to pick up my puppy. Our oldest, CeCe is now 9 years old and we got her through a friend. When I saw her I could not resist as she is a charcoal gray, a rare color for this breed. When I got Teena, she was a tiny brindle, 3 months old and the only pup left of that litter. She was so sweet and shy at the time and I fell in love with her. Picking her up was only an hour from home. At the time we also had a Golden Retriever (who loved everyone) and a while after she passed away I again had the urge to get another pup. I had always wanted a "tea cup" Chihuahua. Back to the internet!! Found a breeder I liked but she was 9 hours away. But when I saw "tiny" Georgie on line, I was again hooked. But it does take a lot of thought before taking that plunge.
I have always felt that it all depends on how you treat and nurture your new pet will reflect on how they relate to you and everyone at home. A lot of breeds get a bad rap, even the Chihuahua, but how they are raised can make a big difference. A great example is our first of the 3 that we have, CeCe. Our sister-in-law has her half sister from the same breeder. CeCe is raised in a home with mostly woman around and our son who adores her. Our children are grown and these are like kids to us, cuddled and babied all the time. Her half sister is raised in a home with one lady, a husband and 2 grown boys who certainly don’t baby her, and tease her a lot like most boys do. She is the typical Chihuahua who nips, barks and definitely would bite. CeCe does not bite, of course, sometimes she barks more than we felt she should, but she loves everyone. Anyone who meets our dogs exclaim that they have never seen Chihuahua like these before. So the old rap that they get as mean little ankle biters is all in how they are raised.
• When you bring your puppy home, along with much cuddling and nurturing, be sure to set up their sleeping area. The two older dogs we have sleep in plastic travel type crates which are left open for them to go in when they wish to. Many people think this to be mean but, trust me, they love it and feel this to be their own area of security, with their own bed, blankets and favorite toy to sleep with. When we are not at home, I feel this to be safer as they cannot get into something harmful while we are at work/away from home.
• The newest "baby" has a pen with his bed, food dish, toys and a potty box (since he came from a breeder where he was litter trained). He does however, go outside with his sisters as well.
• As with any dog, they need to be taken out often, relating it with some form of commands such as "go outside" "got potty", whatever you wish your dog to learn in order to relate to the command of going out to potty. We have built a "pen" right outside our patio door for this purpose, which I cover well to protect them from the elements, especially during our cold snowy winters.
• I just want to add again that if you want a loving pet, along with training, they need a lot of love and affection. Tease and play rough, they will be more apt to be mean and aggressive.
• Don’t let these little guys fool you, they are very intelligent and can be trained just like any other breed.
• Enjoy your new best friend and I would be so happy to answers any questions you may have. If you are looking for someone to snuggle and love unconditionally, this is the breed for you.
