How to Learn About Buying a Chihuahua

Maya the Chihuahua

Chihuahuas (also called Chis) are adorable and tiny. They are also neurotic and headstrong. No one should consider buying one of these precocious little dogs without doing research first. Owning a Chihuahua is major commitment because this dog is extremely loyal to the person who raises him.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. A Deer-head Chi

   Consider the shape of the Chihuahua’s head. There are apple-heads and deer-heads. An apple-head Chi is the dog with the rounded dome shaped head (the typical Taco Bell Chihuahua look). The deer-head Chi has a flatter shaped head. Both are normal.

2. 2 months old (fits in the palm of your hand!)

   Check out the size and color of the Chihuahua’s parents. Chis typically range from 2 to 10 pounds. The average Chi (the Taco Bell dog) weighs about four pounds. For show, a Chi must be under six pounds. Chis come in many colors. Fawn is the color of the Taco Bell dog. They also come in blond and black with tan markings. You can also buy a short-haired (called a smoothcoat) Chihuahua or a long-haired (called a longcoat) Chihuahua.

3. Chihuahuas are high-risk dogs. They tend to have health problems. Chi’s typically have low blood sugar and you need to leave food for them to nibble on all day. This is not your ‘feed once a day’ type of dog. Failure to do this could lead to the death of your little Chihuahua.

4. Commit to living with this dog for life. Chihuahuas are extremely loyal dogs. They bond with their owner and that person becomes the center of the universe for the Chi. If you don’t have the time to spend with your Chi, then consider getting another type of dog. It is very sad to see this loyal little dog left alone in a cage while its owner works a full-time job. A Chihuahua is a dog for a person who spends a lot of time at home.

5. Keep a Chi away from children. If you have a house full of children, then buying a Chihuahua is not for you. Chis are naturally sensitive to loud noises and don’t care for the exuberance of children. Likewise, Chihuahuas are notorious for barking at every little thing. This can be annoying at times, but they make wonderful watchdogs. They will notify you when anything is out of order long before you will have heard a sound.

6. 

   Prepare comfortable bedding for your new Chihuahua. Chis are burrowers; they love to burrow under any form of cover they can find. This can be quite comical to watch, as they use their nose and paws to arrange a blanket just perfectly over top of them. Many Chi owners allow their dogs to sleep under the covers with them (this is the Chi’s favorite spot in the world, under the covers at its owners feet).

Tips & Warnings

• Teach your Chi how to smile. Many do this naturally and if you praise them and say the word ‘smile’ when they do it, then they will learn to smile on command.

• Use Chihuahua size sweaters for your dog when the weather turns cold. Because of their low blood sugar, they are warm-blooded dogs and hate the cold.

• Potty training your Chi will take considerable time and you may never achieve the goal of totally housebreaking it. Of all the breeds of dogs, Chihuahua’s are well-known for being hard to housetrain.

• Don’t leave a child alone with your Chihuahua.

Resources

• Chihuahuas: What's good about 'em, What's bad about 'em.
• Learn more about Chihuahuas.
• Training Chihuahuas