Chihuahuas

In This Chapter Turning your Chi’s crate into a home Housetraining without havoc Teaching a few essential words Eliminating barking, nipping, and other little problems Do you know why Toy dogs have a bad reputation for being yappy, hard to housetrain, and possessive? Because so many owners let little pets get away with rudeness. I’m…

In This Chapter Bonding with your Chihuahua Reading your dog’s body language Socializing your Chi at home Opening the door to an outdoor social life Teaching basic lead manners Working with an older Chi You can raise a puppy only once, so if you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity, make the most of it….

In This Chapter Exercising and bonding with your Chi Teaching your petite player new games Seniorcizing with your mature dog Although Chihuahuas are small enough critters to get a good workout in a one-room apartment, many become obese because their owners don’t encourage them to be active. Poor owners (and Chis). They don’t know how…

In This Chapter Reviewing Chihuahua coat care Checking your Chi’s ears Brushing up on teeth, toenail, and eye care Executing bathtime with a Chi You want some really good news? Less than five minutes of daily grooming keeps your Chihuahua squeaky clean! But the benefits of grooming go way beyond time considerations. Brushing, for instance,…

In This Chapter Arranging the nuts and bolts of nutrition Giving food when you first get your Chihuahua Choosing between all those bags, boxes, and cans of dog food Feeding at different ages and stages of life Steering clear of the nutritional no-nos Just look at the pet-food aisle at any major supermarket. It’Technical Stuff…

In This Chapter Scheduling an appropriate arrival Protecting your puppy (and your belongings) Going shopping for Pepe Sailing through the first 48 hours Resisting the freedom fantasy It’s almost dog day! You can feel the excitement in the air. I bet you can hardly wait to bring your puppy home, but first, you need to…

In This Chapter Shopping for a Chihuahua breeder Checking out pet shops and classified ads Selecting a mature dog Exploring the meaning of pedigree Whew! You’ve made the really big decisions (if you haven’t, head back to Chapters 1–3). You’re sure you want a dog, and you think a Chihuahua is the breed for you….

In This Chapter Examining Chihuahua traits and trademarks Exploring a Chihuahua’s relationship with other people and dogs Comparing dogs with different coat lengths Focusing on male and female personalities Dealing with problem personalities What makes the world’s smallest dog one of our nation’s most popular pets? The Chihuahua’s perky personality, of course. Yes, this unique…