Hi any one here have them and seems I have fostered two of them from a breeder. I have not a clue with these little ones. Need food advice doubt they like cat or horse chow. Can they be socialized to like people etc.
thanks for suggestions. Have two to rehome would like them people friendly before that happens.
ML
After 15 years of JRT’s and a whippet we downsized to chihuahuas a couple years ago. Like any dog, their manners reflect the expectation the handler sets and like any dog, each chi has it’s own personality. Probably the worst thing to do is treat them like they are a. fragile and b. a child. 
Train them to walk on a leash and not be carried everywhere. Use common sense when allowing them to interact with a much larger dog or any dog that appears aggressive. Sometimes other dogs are curious about the wee little chi but it can look like aggression. We don’t let ours yap or be obnoxious but we don’t correct them for announcing that someone has just driven up the driveway or back to the barn.
Ours are very cat like in their want to be clean and they spend a great deal of time grooming themselves. The portions of food they need is so tiny so measure everything. Once a chi gets overweight it’s hell to get the weight off of them. 
Ours are also just the best darn companion dogs. They sit with us on the couch and just veg out for the evening but nothing makes them happier than the twice daily walks to the barn to do chores. They love to root and dig around, very terrier like in that way!
Good luck with your two fosters!
They love to sleep under a blanket or the like…I was always finding mine curled up under a blanket.
mine is always under a blanket somewhere and she’s very loyal to me, only me. They do get cold.
they can have quite an attitude to the point of being obnoxious. Mine growls and snarls if someone gets too close to me when she’s on my lap. She’s only 5 months old and we’re training it out of her. It’s something that seems a little cute to my husband and teenage son b/c she is not trying to bite but obviously you don’t let the behavior continue.
I feed mine a little canned food and a little small kibble dog food. Careful of what they can get into since they’re so little, a little goes a long way with them.
Mine also runs runs runs with the big dogs when we do chores or go for walks-she keeps up with no problems.
I have a customer at work that runs sled dogs and she has a pet chi that runs alongside the sled sometimes-they are as tough as they think they are, not as they look!
Chihuahua seems quite tiny and not sure what to feed them suggestions?
Ok went out and bought them some Royal Canine for Chihuahua and a pair of xxs dog coats who knows if I can get them on them wish me luck.
ML - Thank you for fostering Chihuahuas! Are these darling babies or darling older dogs?
Everyone has an opinion on the best food … but all my dogs (including the darling Chi BeBop) receive both wet and dry. As a tiny puppy, BeBop started out on the Little Caesar’s puppy wet and Purina puppy chow. They ARE tiny and don’t eat as much as larger dogs … go figure!
Chihuahuas are little Napoleans … they have their opinions and by gosh that is that! They absolutely are people dogs and terrific in the lap or under the covers at night. On a cold night, the Doberman is best at keeping me warm (tho the “mutt” Short Stuff is my best snuggle bunny), but BeBop does his best under the covers to assist.
I have found the Chihuahuas to be “persnickity” in a good way - it is a trait I adore in them, but it may not be for everyone. They are opinionated but are very loyal and just make such wonderful companions.
BeBop considers himself a big dog and definitely keeps up with the big dogs around the farm. I do try to keep him away from the horses, but the donkeys are incredibly tolerant of him. He has no sense of farm vehicles and I must keep a keen eye on him when I’m on the Gator … he’s not allowed out when tractors are involved!
Thanks again for fostering these two and wishing you much success in finding them permanent homes (if that is the plan and if you don’t just fall totally in love with them). Would love to see pictures!
[QUOTE=ML;6685578]
Ok went out and bought them some Royal Canine for Chihuahua and a pair of xxs dog coats who knows if I can get them on them wish me luck.[/QUOTE]
That is what we use in the weight control formula though we don’t often feed dry so as to avoid the carbs. Ours mostly eat a wet/canned food. Treats are small bits of ham or carrot.
Also, harnesses work best on these lil guys rather than collars for comfort and safety- they can’t get out of the harness. The first harnesses I bought were from Petsmart and they were so flimsy. Plus, the thin nylon isn’t comfortable when made snug enough to secure the chi. Eventually I bought these http://www.gwlittle.com/product/puppia-superior-dog-harness/dog_harnesses and they are great. Secure and comfortable.
ML, good for you for fostering! I am fairly new to chihuahuas too, but just got my second one. They are really sweet and special - now I am one of those crazy small dog people lol!
I agree about the harnesses - collars are not a good choice for most chi’s - they are too strong on thier windpipe. With the harness, make sure it is adjustted snugly so they can’t slip out of it. Had that happen a few times with my first chi and it is scary because chi’s tend to get scared and won’t let you catch them in certain circumstances.
Most chi’s tend to shake from nerves and/or the cold. I keep poloar sleece blankets on a couple of chairs when I am not home so they can snuggle in. Mine wear sweaters or little sweatshirts when it is cold out.
They can be finicky, but tend to be chow hounds about treats and snacks so be careful about that - they get fat easily.
My two love to play and are real farm dogs. I have 3 big dogs and they all get along great. Do watch out for owls and other predators - I NEVER leave my chi’s out in the yard without me due to the birds.
My older chihuahua is great with other dogs, but not good when people come to the house. He barks and will try to circle around and nip their ankles. I usually leach him and he is fine once the person is actually in the house and the other dogs are done greeting them.
I bring mine out on the weekends to Petsmart to keep them socialized. If someone wants to pat them, I tell the person that they are shy and to let the dog come to them. I never force the dogs to be patted - I think that would scare them more. I do sometimes have the person offer a treat (I usually have small treats with me). Mine are fine with people out and about, but will never be the super friendly types that a lab puppy or some other breeds are…
LavenderFarm
“ML - Thank you for fostering Chihuahuas! Are these darling babies or darling older dogs” These are older dogs from a breeder who is retiring is my guess.
I never had dogs so this is sort of a learning thing for me.
The first one was worried they would put her down cause she would not come out of her shell. Well this am she came out of her pet taxi and wagged her tail did her business on a puppy pad and seemed very happy camper. Whew on that one. The other with a bent ear is so shy she is still not eating yet, so think a steak sub is order here for a meal/treat. got the name on the first one as “Sweetie” that seems to work for her and she seems happy, and will do anything for food it seems.
Giving the second one some time to get out of her shell. Neither of them have I touched but let them sniff my hand if they wish. Have sat down in the room with them in case they want to come closer.
Right now my challenge is just get them out of shells and wag tails so can touch them and put on harness ( need to go to Petsmart for one) and dog sweaters.
They came with blankets and trying to keep them clean for them. So far one is not big on coming out of the pet taxi but taking turns who gets out . They dont bark much unless in wrong crate and want to be back in right one it seems.
TSC has been a god send for puppy pads whew on that.
The second chi we got was a one year old female, a breeder surrender to a no kill shelter. She had little to no social interaction with people or other dogs so we knew she would be a project. We took our two dogs to the required “meet and greet”. The dogs got along okay so we adopted the second chi and brought her home.
At the end of two weeks I still could not touch her. She either ran to her safe zone- a large wire crate- or hid under the furniture and shook. She would not take any food from our hand nor make eye contact. We put no pressure on her to interact, we let her observe. Not unlike reward the desired behavior, ignore the “I need my quiet time” behavior and don’t take it personally.
I took her to my vet for an evaluation and he showed me where she had retained baby teeth which were a source of pain and a problem with the knee on one leg. 2 days later we removed the extra teeth and at that point she began to blossom. We did the knee surgery a month later and that opened up physical skills she had not been able to do.
Well it’s been two years and “Happy” and I are joined at the hip. She is the leader of the band in our mixed pack. Slow to warm up to new faces but she doesn’t bite, nip or do anything bad other than bark. We tell her “quiet” and she pipes down. Have you found some safe chewies for them?? Be extremely careful making a product selection- the ones made in China have caused problems in recent years. My small town pet supply stores sell beef chewies made locally. The size that is appropriate for the chi’s are the bull penises, I am not joking. It makes for a bit of a sit-com in the house as the two female chi’s curl up on their beds chewing on a string of bull penis but hey, it makes them happy.
Congratulations on foster the little guys! I have two of them and believe me when I first adopted the first one, I couldn’t believe I actually had to buy him a coat! At the time I had German Shepherds, Rotties and Malinois that I was training for police, PP,Shutzhund and Ring sport so the idea of having a little foo foo dog was all foreign to me.
I have one that is 10lbs and one is 5lbs. I feed them both the same kind of food as I do the other big dogs, just less. I give the smaller 5lb one 1/4 cup of dry food and the bigger one 1/2 cup to the bigger one, twice a day. I add whatever we are having for dinner to the bigger ones dinner because whatever I feed him,he thinks I am trying to poison him. The little one, he’s a Hoover and will eat ANYTHING, even onions. He steals everything and anything, and hoards it in his crate.
My bigger one lives under my down comforter for three seasons and lies out on the deck when it’s 90*. He is the ONLY dog I have that has ever slept in my bed because, well, frankly, he’s pretty pathetic looking and did I mention, he’s always freezing?! My little one lives in front of the Woodstove or in the dirty laundry basket in the warm laundry room or his crate. I feel bad because my house is always freezing. Both wear coats and sweaters in the house.
Good luck with your new guys
My daughter has a chi we refer to as “Princess Chloe”. When daughter first got her, she called me and said, mom, this dog will.not.move. She would put her on the ground, and Chloe would just stare at her. Would not walk on her own. She was the runt of the litter. Don’t know if that made a difference or not. It took a good few weeks for her to feel confident enough to even walk around across a room.
Now 7, Chloe has lived sometimes part-time with me and my two male toy poodles, when daughter was away at school, or in apartments that didn’t allow dogs. She bosses them both around with impunity. When they go to the groomers (she just goes along for a bath), she guards the “boys” from the other dogs. Outruns them on walks all the time. When we visit daughter’s BF’s family, she bosses their Vichzla (sp?) out of her bed and climbs right into it. When my daughter and BF moved cross-country (VA to AZ), her BF and his father took her in the rental truck. She was happy as could be.
She is the most interesting and fun dog I have ever met. She soon threw my daughter under the bus for her BF, who is her lord and master. He calls her C-Low. She spends the majority of her time under a blanket, especially in my house, which I keep pretty cold. I must say she does enjoy AZ, as she is definitely a warm weather dog.
It is great you are doing this, and I hope you check back in in a few weeks - I bet there will be a big change!
[QUOTE=NEEDS A NAP;6689885]
My daughter has a chi we refer to as “Princess Chloe”. When daughter first got her, she called me and said, mom, this dog will.not.move. She would put her on the ground, and Chloe would just stare at her. Would not walk on her own. [/QUOTE]
Why walk when you can train a human to carry you, eh? LOL.
I have one fullbred Chi, one Chi/dashie mix, and one chi/poodle mix. All three are the smartest by far in the pack and the fullblood? She rules the roost and my heart.
I love hearing all these good and happy stories of their chi’s. I have a chi cross, he’s 50%chi, 25% yorkie and 25% bishion.
I cannot seem to get him housebroken. I would like to hear if your chis are housebroken andhow it was accomplished.
thanks
[QUOTE=HannahsMom7;6691771]
I love hearing all these good and happy stories of their chi’s. I have a chi cross, he’s 50%chi, 25% yorkie and 25% bishion.
I cannot seem to get him housebroken. I would like to hear if your chis are housebroken andhow it was accomplished.
thanks[/QUOTE]
Same problem here. I have an adorable 7 yr. old female I bought as a puppy. She is great with people, loves to snuggle on laps and under covers and bosses my cat around who is twice her size. I have pretty much given up on getting her housebroken. I’ve had big dogs my whole life and they were so easy to train - I’ve tried outside, paper, a doggie litter box - nothing has worked.
ridingagain, I have given up too and unless I am watching him or we are in “his” room w/a baby gate, he is crated.
I have an absolutely wonderful little Chi, however, she refuses to be housebroken as well. She will willingly go to the bathroom outside, but will just as willingly go inside if you aren’t watching her constantly. She never gives any sort of warning that she has to go, besides mysteriously disappearing.
But she is a cuddler, my bestest little pal, and is 100% loyal (except she adored my ex-boyfriend who was with me when she was a pup through 5 y/o).
Oh, and the only food she will eat is the Royal Canin Chihuahua Adult.
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[QUOTE=ridingagain;6691903]
I have pretty much given up on getting her housebroken. I’ve had big dogs my whole life and they were so easy to train - I’ve tried outside, paper, a doggie litter box - nothing has worked.[/QUOTE]
I have an 8lb Pap. Does that count? He dwarfs my dad’s 4lb Chi but it’s close enough. I got him at 7yo as an intact, allowed to mark inside, stud. He is housebroken in my home. I treated him like a puppy: put him on a schedule, tethered, crates and gates.
They do not have to be relegated to soiling inside! The puppy pads seem a good solution for many owners who ‘give up.’ Better than going anywhere on anything!
Bedazzle -awwwww
here is my baby, if this works!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39035668@N02/8228663458/
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