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Chihuahua Information

Be sure to check out the information below on Chihuahua Facts..... 

Big News.. Belle came in heat Sept 3rd.. We are hoping we have puppies on the way.. They should be here around November 4th or so.. They need 8 - 10 weeks to grow before they are ready to go home.. It should be around December 30th 2010 or January 1 of 2011..

Be sure to email us to be put on a list.. give name phone number and girl/boy/ long coat, short coat, if there is a color prefrence..

Thanks again for reading our site..

B and B

Our Card is located at the bottom of the page!

ChihuahuaWard@yahoo.com

Our other Website ... http://chihuahuaward.mysite.com/index.html

Some things to consider

Chihuahua facts

I don’t want an ankle biter!                                   Genetic influence is a major cause of dogs with not-nice temperaments in the breed. Tiny dogs have small litters and the high demand makes it easy for people to sell even carelessly bred Chihuahuas. To find a carefully bred Chihuahua, you need a careful breeder. The other major influences on your Chihuahua’s personality will be what the dog experiences in life. That makes how you allow people to treat your dog important. Chihuahuas need to be rather courageous to cope confidently with a world so much bigger than them. It’s our job to keep that confidence a positive force rather than a self-defense attitude because the dog has learned to doubt humans will provide the protection such a little one requires.Fearful dogs are not happy dogs and can be hard to handle. Chihuahuas are unlikely to cause terrible injuries, but disease transmission, infected dog bites and restrictions on your lifestyle certainly happen with aggressive Chihuahuas. Tiny dogs are highly susceptible to developing defensive aggression from fear if mishandled by children. With large dogs we have to worry most about what the dog might do to a person, while with the tiny dogs we must be extremely vigilant about what people do to the dogs. The person doesn’t have to mean harm by an action for harm to result from it. 

Coach Lane's Gem "Brownie Button" and Cheree Howe's "Belle of the Ball"

I heard they are not good with kids.

As a general rule, Chihuahuas are good with kids, but kids are not good with Chihuahuas (sorry if this offends anyone) Chihuahuas are very smart and have an excellent memory, all it takes is being mishandled once and your dog may get "snippy" and "aggressive" towards children. We have 5 grandchildren, 4 to15 yrs old and they are over a lot. So Chihuahuas can and do live in harmony with children, but you will need to be very careful, especially while your pup is still growing. I always recommend a bigger Chihuahua for families with small children, a 5 -8 lb dog  is great for cuddling, they can get on and off the couch by themselves, they can be "played” with by your child. The 2-3 pounders are just so small and delicate; they are like caring for a newborn baby, all of their lives.

 How is there health?                       

Chihuahuas are prone to their share of physical problems that you need to know about in order to take the best care of your dog:1. Luxating patella’s—otherwise known as slipping kneecaps—are a problem in many toy breeds. Sometimes they require surgical correction. 2. The tiny trachea is vulnerable, which is why it’s best not to attach a leash to the Chihuahua’s identification collar and use a harness instead. 3. The Chihuahua’s skull has a unique shape that can create complications. Have your puppy checked by a veterinarian to make sure this is not so extreme as to cause your dog problems.4. Tiny dogs can dehydrate and die quickly from vomiting and/or diarrhea. Do not delay taking a sick Chihuahua to a veterinarian. Be sure you have finances available at all times so that you will never be tempted to postpone medical care. 5. Tiny dogs have a poor ability to keep their bodies adequately warmed. You will need to protect your Chihuahua from the cold, and for the short-coated ones you will need to provide coats or sweaters. In some conditions a long-coated Chihuahua will need clothing, too. 6. Tiny dogs are easily overdosed on medications. Never give your dog any medication without specific instructions from your veterinarian. What is safe for humans is often deadly to dogs, especially tiny ones. 7. Feeding is more critical with tiny dogs. They need to eat frequently enough to avoid blood sugar problems, and they need more consistent diets. Junk food can do serious harm. There is little wiggle room in feeding when the dog is so small. 8. Don’t go for the lowest cost when it comes to spay/neuter or other care of a tiny dog. They need the closer monitoring provided by better clinics. When your dog is ill, you need a relationship with a well-equipped veterinarian who sees the dog for routine things as well. The quick help you need when a tiny dog falls ill is easier for the clinic to provide to regular clients whose records are up to date.  9. Groom your little dog daily. It’s great training for a dog that needs to be handled so much, and of course doesn’t take much time. The long-coated Chihuahua coat is easy to comb, and the short-coated dogs respond well to gentle massage/rubdown with your hands. This helps you detect medical problems early, too.

Occasional bouts of sneezing, snorting, honking and wheezing are not unusual in chihuahuas, and are sometimes called a "reverse sneeze". This is usually caused by an elongated soft palate that is thought to become temporarily misaligned. It is a common trait in toy breeds. Pulling hard on a leash, drinking too fast or getting overly excited can lead to an episode of reverse sneezing. Reverse sneezing SHOULD NOT be confused with a different condition called "collapsed trachea".

Although reverse sneezing may appear to be scary, it only lasts a short time and can be ended by massaging the dog's neck and throat and encouraging the dog to swallow or lick. Another way to slow the reverse sneeze is to clap your hands to distract the dog, or pinch closed the dog's nostrils with your fingers, forcing it to breathe through its mouths and to swallow.

What do they eat? Do you have to feed them all the time? 

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the Chihuahua’s blood sugar level drops to an extremely low level, causing "sugar shock." When levels of glucose in the blood drop rapidly, the dog's body and brain are deprived of essential nutrients. The results of hypoglycemia can be weakness, seizures, coma, and in severe cases, death.

Because Chihuahuas are so small, they can be prone to hypoglycemia, especially when they are very young. Hypoglycemia is usually caused by stress, illness, lack of food, or by using up stored energy without it being replenished.

It is important to make sure that young puppies and very tiny Chihuahuas eat regularly throughout the day. Another preventative for hypoglycemia is regular feeding of a high-calorie supplement called Nutrical, available from your veterinarian or your local pet store.

If you suspect that your Chihuahua is hypoglycemic, call your vet AT ONCE as this condition can be quickly fatal.                 

 ~~This is critical information.  every Chihuahua owner should have a supply or nutrical. It costs about 5.00 and could save you hundreds in vet bills. it could even save your chi's life. Another way to be sure your dog does not suffer from hypoglycemia is to ALWAYS leave dry food out for them to eat. I recommend feeding your new puppy 5 meals a day , giving whole milk  or puppy formula twice a day and leaving a constant supply of water and dry food.

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Chihuahuas are a lot like little kids. They are wonderful if raised right and absolute brats if they are mistreated or undisciplined. We have5 grandchildren (They all come to visit often) we have 1 4year old.. The most important thing about raising a Chihuahua is making sure it has good experiences with children. have your kids sit when they handle the puppy. That way there is no fear of falling. Have your kids give the puppy tiny treats several times a day, for no reason. The puppy will look forward to seeing the kids! Discipline is just as important. NEVER EVER hit your puppy, but place them in a "time out” simply scoop him or her up, say a firm "no" and put her down away from you and walk away. She will follow you, looking for your approval, find her doing something good (just being quiet is enough) and praise her. She will get the idea quickly! Also another big problem with small dogs is "yapping" don’t ever pick her up when she is barking (including when she is crated) when she is out of the crate and barking use the "time out". If she is in the crate and barking ignore it until she is quiet, then pick her up and praise her.

Long or short coat?

The official A.K.C. Breed Standard describes the Chihuahua as a small dog that comes in two varieties or coat types. The difference in coat type (the Long Coat or the Smooth Coat) is the only official description used to identify a difference within this breed. So it’s just personal preference.  

I want a "tea cup"


For the purpose of showing and record keeping; the American Kennel Club includes the Chihuahua (along with 16 other breeds) in the Toy Group. Therefore, irrespective of their weight or physical stature, ALL Chihuahuas registered with A.K.C. are considered to be a toy breed of dog.

As with all living things, there will be a size variance between individual dogs within this breed. Within the human family, brothers and sisters will differ in height and in weight, as well as other physical attributes. They are described as humans, male or female, and there is seldom if ever a need to break the description down further. The same holds true in regard to the Chihuahua; they are Chihuahuas-Long Coat/Smooth Coat, Male/Female.

Unfortunately, the additional adjectives used to describe the size difference and physical appearances are many; and have been misused for so long they now seem legitimate. Tea-cup, Pocket Size, Tiny Toy, Miniature or Standard - are just a few of the many tags and labels that have been attached to this breed over the years. The Chihuahua Club of America is concerned that these terms may be used to entice perspective buyers into thinking that puppies described in this way are of greater monetary value. They are not; and the use of these terms is incorrect and misleading.

Occasionally, within a litter, there may be a puppy that is unusually small. That puppy is a small Chihuahua and any other breakdown in description is not correct. To attach any of these additional labels to a particular pup is to misrepresent that animal as something that is rare or exceptional and causes a great deal of confusion among those fanciers who are looking for a Chihuahua.

The Chihuahua Club of America does not endorse or condone the use of any of these terms and would caution the perspective puppy buyer not to be misled by them.

We recognize that many Chihuahua fanciers do want the very small puppy. While they are adorable and can be perfectly healthy, the buyer should be cautioned as to the extra care that may be required with regard.  the tiniest Chihuahuas can be prone to health issues that the larger 4pound and up Chihuahuas do not suffer from. Also remember these problems are costly in terms of vet bills, but also costly to your heart. these tiny pups don’t usually live as long as the larger chi's.it is hard to predict the weight of a Chihuahua  when it is under 6 months old. There are weight charts that breeders use, but this is no guarantee. Please only buy a puppy from me if you will love it when it is 2 lbs, AND  if it gets over 6 lbs. the love you have for your dog should not be based on its weight.

Look at those ears!     

Chihuahua puppy’s ears reach full size at 3 to 4 months old, while the Chihuahua pup's body still has to finish growing. So you end up with 3 and 4 month olds that look to be all ears. In the end, the body and ears balance out. So never shy away from a Chihuahua in the awkward stage of 3 to 4 months just because the ears look too large. This is normal. Just as droppy ears are normal in Chihuahua puppies who are teething. My sister raises Chihuahua's and believes that if you put your thumb in the puppies’ ear and place your index and second finger on the outside of the ear and massage it gently, that the ears will eventually stand up. She believes that the muscle is weak and sometimes needs help. I do know it worked on Belle's ears. I don't believe that it will work every time.

Why do they shake so much?

Most dogs are nervous by nature! Nervousness can make the dog shiver or appear to shake, as if it's cold. However, the Chihuahua, is a very small dog, making it even more nervous than most, plus because of its small size, it does get cold much faster. Just imagine yourself being a small Chihuahua, and everyone and everything around you is so huge. I'd be nervous too! That explains why Chihuahua's love to bury themselves under blankets. They also shake, when they are in pain, or excited