help, my puppy wont eat!

i dont 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.

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 8 children, 2-13 yrs old. 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 recomed a bigger chihuahua for families with small children, a 6 -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 there 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 patellas—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 who 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.

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  its 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 dont 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 puppies 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 Chihuhua puppies who are teething.

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 it's 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