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Chihuahua as a pet in your house

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Its better to bring a puppy from the kennel in the morning of your day-off so you can
devote the whole day to him. During this day the puppy will get adapted to his new home
and will not miss his brothers and sisters at night.
Put him in one room first and do not let him wander around your flat. He will have to face strange smell and new objects; everything looks different compared to his previous home. He can get adapted easier in a limited space. When he gets used to one room you can take him to others. Put his house in a place visible for you. Leave him there and he will come out himself when he calms down. Spread newspaper sheets on the floor in different parts of the room - he should easily find the toilet.
Gradually the puppy will get adjusted to his new home and will know the location of his food and water dishes, the toilet and his house. Chihuahuas are very neat and as a rule there are no problems with toilet.
For a week abstain from receiving guests despite your great desire to boast of your new
wonderful friend. He is so small and has not realized what has happened. Too much information can scare him and rid him of confidence.
The first night in a new home usually passes without adventures. Put his house next to your bed, a sheet of newspaper and a dish with water near by. If your puppy starts weeping at night calm him down by stroking but do not hurry to put him into your bed. The puppy might fall down from it and get injured. Later when he grows up and will be able to jump beds up and down you'll decide where he will sleep but now let him stay in his house. He will sleep better if he is well fed before.
If you never had dogs as pets before we offer you a list of things - his"dowry":
- machine washable padded dog's house, he prefers it to open space;
- hardcover (plastic) bed as sometimes he might change his place of rest for example in heat;
- two or three dishes made of stainless steel or ceramics heavy enough not to be carried away or moved around;
- rubber toys (can be bought in any pet shop);
- bones made of bull skin - a good toy both for puppies and adults;
- collar, leash, flexy for small doggies. In the city with many dangers (cars, other dogs) it is recommended to always use the leash or flexy;
- a metal teeth brush, a brush with widely and closely spaced teeth for long coats and bristle brush for smooth coats;
- nail clipper for small dogs in the shape of manicure scissors;
- puppy shampoo;
- food recommended by the breeder;
- plastic carrier for travel.

T. Zemskova

(This article was published in the magazine "Cat and Dog", № 10, 2001
based on the book "Chihuahua. Book about the breed" written by
T.U. Zemskova, V.A.Beltukova , 2000)

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