Personality

​Chihuahua have a gentle disposition and an even temper. Often described as merry, Chihuahua are affectionate, courageous and rarely aggressive. Chihuahua love company and do not typically enjoy being alone. Chihuahua are not good dog guards and are more likely to welcome than ward off an intruder.

Chihuahua are intelligent but also excitable, with a tendency to bark and howl. These are characteristics that make it great at tracking down game but are not always desirable to new owners. As hounds, Chihuahua are characteristically stubborn, determined and single-minded which can result in a difficult training process.

Chihuahua are easily bored and distracted and amongst the lower degrees of canine intelligence. Chihuahua are phenomenal with children and terrific family pets; however, they are prone to separation anxiety.

 Chihuahua are generally considered a healthy breed; however, they are susceptible to a number of common canine health problems. Prospective Chihuahua owners should be aware of the common health issues and know how to care for and prevent the diseases of their pet.

Life Expectancy

The best way to ensure a long, happy and healthy life for your Chihuahua is by providing a safe environment, regular exercise, mental stimulation, and a nutritious diet. With a healthy diet, a loving family, and a safe environment to live and play owners can expect their Chihuahua to live approximately 12 - 15 years on average.Compared to some dog breeds, the Chihuahua is a relatively low maintenance pooch. However, like all dogs, Chihuahua possess a number of breed specific characteristics that can make caring for one a challenging experience for first time dog owners.

Barking and Howling - Chihuahua are game hounds, bred to track game and signal their handlers once they have found the scent. They are also bred to live amongst other Chihuahua who communicate via howling and barking. Therefore, it is very common for Chihuahua to howl and bark at just about anything that comes its way.

Avoid Injury - Smaller dogs, such as the Chihuahua are susceptible to back, hip and joint issues which can cause pain, bladder and bowel control problems, and even partial paralysis. To avoid future spinal issues, it’s best to prevent your Chihuahua from leaping off furniture or stairs.  Baby gates and small ramps are a great way to keep a Chihuahua from needlessly over exerting itself.

Nutrition

All dogs have incredibly powerful noses and an acute sense of smell that they use to find food. However, the Chihuahua nose is the best of the best. For this reason, Chihuahua are not very discerning when it comes to food. To a Chihuahua; if it smells like food, it is food.

Therefore, it is very important that new Chihuahua owners keep a close eye on what their Chihuahua eats and make efforts to ensure their Chihuahua is not literally sniffing out food that it shouldn’t eat. However, your Chihuahua nose can also lead it to a lot fun.

A great way to entertain your Chihuahua brain and ensure its’ sniffing out the right food is by hiding a bowl of dry food in new places to sniff out. You will be amazed at your Chihuahua accuracy.

Chihuahua are also prone to obesity, which has a detrimental effect on the dog's overall health.

A canine diet rich in healthy proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins will ensure your Chihuahua remains healthy and full, and therefore less likely to overeat. Vets recommend a diet consisting of 22% protein, a healthy fat content of 5%-8% and foods rich in healthy, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

However, the best way to avoid obesity is by declining to feed your Chihuahua human food. Puppies rarely shy away from a snack, so it’s best to avoid feeding your Chihuahua from the table. Instead, implement a feeding schedule.

Weaning Age Puppies (4-7 weeks) should be free-fed through the entire weaning process until they reach the appropriate weight to be fed a structured diet. Free-feeding refers to the practice of leaving food out and available for your Chihuahua puppy to eat whenever they get hungry.

Starting at 6 to 8 weeks, gradually transition your Chihuahua to solid food over a period of 3 weeks. From 8 weeks on, it’s essential that Chihuahua puppies learn that food will no longer be provided constantly throughout the day.

Start your Chihuahua on moistened dry puppy food, 3 to 5 times per day for no longer than 10 minutes per feeding. After 10 minutes remove their food even if they haven't finished. Puppies between the ages of 3 months and 1 year should be fed according to a structured diet, consisting of 3-4 meals of high-quality dog food, free of artificial ingredients.

Training

Chihuahua are affectionate, loyal and intelligent; capable of incredible feats of obedience, athleticism and skill. However, they are also hounds, which means they are characteristically stubborn, if not single-minded.

The stubborn nature of the Hound breed group is a result of selective breeding. They are bred to pursue their quarry wherever it may run, and to the death if they must. This determination can lead to a challenging training process.

Not to worry. Training a new  puppy is easy if you remember to be consistent, positive and have a little more determination than they do.

Socialization

Chihuahua are incredibly social pack animals who require regular socialization to ward off a undesired behaviors. In addition to regular walks, it’s important that a Chihuahua socialize so that it can experience positive social interactions with other pets, new family members and strangers.

The key to socializing any dog is ensuring it feels safe in its environment. If a puppy does not feel safe it will be prone to defensive behavior when presented with new situations, people, or pets.

We recommend assembling the family on the floor and letting the puppy come up to them. Treats ensure a positive experience for the puppy, but it's best to introduce any other pets, quietly and slowly.

Obedience Training

The optimal time to obedience train a Chihuahua puppy is between 1 and 2 months. Chihuahua are incredibly affectionate, social and friendly, and puppies respond to calm confidence. So, stay calm and firm in your commands with your Chihuahua, and they will be obeying you in no time.

Use basic reward-based training principles like “sit” and “stay.” Every time your Chihuahua correctly executes a command reward them with a treat to reinforce the behavior. Do not punish your Chihuahua if, and when they fail a command. Simply regain their focus and try again until they are successful.