Chihuahua Coats: Smooth And Long Haired

By Michael J. Warren

We all have a basic idea of what your average Chihuahua looks like, but did you know that it is classified by the type of coat it has? The two main types of Chihuahua coats are the smooth coat and long coat/long haired Chihuahua.

In the smooth coat variety, the texture is smooth, glossy, and coarser than the hair of a long coat. Some Chihuahuas have heavier coats than others, and will have an "undercoat." The perfect coat in this category is one that is even over the body (sparser on the ears and head), ruff at the neck, with furry hair on the tail. A Chihuahua with a short coat does shed, albeit minimally.

On the other hand, a long haired Chihuahua's coat texture is soft and can be flat or have soft curls. The ears have a cute fringe and the tail has full hair. The Chihuahua's feet and legs have slight feathering, the hind legs have "pants," and the neck should have a larger ruff.

A thin coat Chihuahua would normally be a disqualification for show. Many breeders state that the long coat Chihuahua has a gentler temperament than that of a short coat Chihuahua (although some people disagree). Long coats shed, but like the short coat, it is minimal.

Generally, a long haired Chihuahua will need to be cleaned more often than the short coat. The front side of the coat on the chest, called the bib, can get dirty and matted.

You also want to keep the rear end of a long coat Chihuahua clean since fecal matter and other particles can become stuck to the hair. For this problem, you can either clip the hair shorter in that area or bath the entire Chihuahua (or just that area) more often.

No matter the coat type of this loveable dog, correct grooming techniques will make its coat shine just like new. Oh, and one last thing -- don't forget to give your Chihuahua's coat a bath every so often!

Michael J. Warren is the author of an invaluable resource for both new and current Chihuahua owners, "The Ultimate Chihuahua Care Handbook."

Chihuahuas and Chocolate: A Dangerous Combination

By Michael J. Warren

If your Chihuahua has ever ingested chocolate, you know first hand
the risks of what can happen to it. While most of us humans can
eat chocolate without a second thought, smaller dogs (especially
Chihuahuas) aren't quite as lucky.

Chocolate is usually thought of as a good tasting sweet or delicious
candy bar. This is just the opposite when you bring Chihuahuas
into the mix, as chocolate is toxic to them. More specifically,
a naturally occurring compound found in chocolate (called theobromine)
is what makes chocolate so dangerous to dogs.

To make matters worse, the smaller the dog, the more pronounced
the side effects. Your Chihuahua may experience epileptic seizures,
heart problems (and in some cases) internal bleeding. Unfortunately,
in the worst case scenario, too much chocolate could even kill
your beloved pet.

No matter how cute or persistent your Chihuahua may be, never give
in and feed it some chocolate (whether it be a small or large amount).
Which is more important: pleasing your dog for a few moments with
a tasty tidbit or its overall longevity and well-being?

Also, be extra careful around holidays such as Halloween, Easter,
and Christmas to make sure your Chihuahua doesn't munch on any chocolate
containing treats. With a bit of effort and a watchful eye, you
can keep your Chihuahua safe from this potentially deadly threat.

Michael J. Warren is the author of "The Ultimate Chihuahua Care Handbook,"  an invaluable resource for both new and current Chihuahua owners.

Chihuahua Puppies

It seems like a lot of people have been acquiring chihuahua puppies lately, because I am getting a lot of emails regarding the cost, care, and concerns around adopting a chihuahua puppy. I decided to make this post a list of things to keep in mind after you take one of these little guys home.

Let us start with the beginning.

A female chihuahua will give birth to a litter of about one or two but sometimes more puppies. Some of the symptoms of a pregnant chihuahua are: slightly enlarged vulva, increased appetite, enlarged nipples.The gestation period for this breed is about nine weeks, or 63-66 days.

Once a chihuahua puppy is born, he/she should be with the mother for at least eight weeks before it is sold. It is not wise to take home a puppy that is younger than this age because it needs the milk from the mother for a while to grow. Avoid any breeders that offer you a chihuahua puppy younger than eight weeks.

The first set of chihuahua puppy shots is normally given between 6-8 weeks and are repeated every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks old. These shots are called DHPP vaccinations, which stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. So it is advised to find a vet as soon as you buy the puppy and setup an appointment to get the shots. These shots are given this way in order to protect the puppy from the time between weaning to until the time that the chihuahua puppies own immune system can become fully functional.

When you take your chihuahua in for shots, also set up an appointment to get it dewormed. This usually is a pill that is given with the shots.
Another shot you will want your chihuahua puppy to get is the rabies vaccination. This shot is given at 4 months of age and then repeated at one year of age. Then after the dog is a year old, the rabies shot will be required every three years or so.

Eventually, you should get your chihuahua puppy spayed or neutered. Having your dog fixed reduces the risk of getting mammary or testicular cancer in the dog.

Please keep checking this page for more chihuahua puppy information.