Chihuahua Care Instructions

Socialize Chihuahua puppies so they will grow up used to a variety of people and pets, including other dogs and cats that may be in the home. This means exposing puppies to pets and people and rewarding them for good behavior. According to the website Chihuahuasavvy, Chihuahuas that aren't well-socialized are more likely to be aggressive and jealous of other people coming to the home or other pets.

Take extra precautions to protect this dog from injuries--handle it carefully. Their tiny size makes them more susceptible to injury (or even death) from rough handling, or being stepped on. This is one reason why this breed of dog is not recommended in households with young children.
In addition, a Chihuahua's skull may never fully lose the soft spot. Injury to the head could prove fatal.

Feed Chihuahuas a dry dog food meant for small breeds. The kibble is smaller, more suitable for a tiny Chihuahua mouth. You should feed puppies several small meals per day to keep them well-fed while avoiding stomach upset that could occur from overeating at one sitting. After the puppy is one year old, you can reduce the number of feedings per day--the right amount will vary according to individual dogs. As with all dogs, keep clean water available at all times.

Bathe most Chihuahuas no more than once a month to avoid drying the skin--some Chihuahuas might require more frequent bathing if allowed to go outdoors. Use a gentle dog shampoo and wrap the dog immediately in a towel to prevent it from getting too cold.

Bring your Chihuahua in to your veterinarian for regular (annual or more frequently if there is a problem) checkups. The veterinarian should test for common problems, such as low blood sugar.

Exercise your Chihuahua daily. This includes taking it on walks or letting it run around the yard to work off excess energy and to receive sensory stimulation so it does not get bored. Keep the Chihuahua on a leash when walking it--despite the small legs, these dogs can be very fast and run off before you can stop them.

Use pet gates to block off areas of the home while potty training the Chihuahua. You need to limit its areas so that it cannot sneak off to urinate or have a bowel movement in an inappropriate area.

Unlike large dogs, you can teach a Chihuahua to use a cat box, if you'd prefer that over potty pads or paper; but, until the dog is trained, you should keep it in one area of your home when you are not around to supervise. A Chihuahua's bladder is small, so you will need to find an appropriate indoor method (litter box or papers, for example) for when you are away at work or elsewhere.