Chihuahuas!!!
- Thread starter stevinski
- Start date
Hello - I have heard Chihuahuas (Chis) can be good dogs if you don't treat them like pocket pets. Make sure to not carry them everywhere - they should be using their own paws to move themselves! - and socialize them as much as you can in a safe environment.
As for your questions:
Training
I have heard they can be difficult to train and/or it can take them longer to learn something than say a poodle - but poodles tend to be pretty darn smart! You shouldn't skip on the obedience classes just because they are so small - they are still dogs and can benefit from the classes the same as a shepherd mix would.
Coat Length
I haven't ever owned a Chi but I have owned several dogs with varying coat lengths - this includes lhasa apsos (double coated long length), Shepmixes and australian cattle dog mixes (double coated medium length), and my current pit bull-dachshund cross has a single coat short length.
Of all the coat lengths I've had to deal with over the past 25 years, I have to admit a personal preference towards the short coat of my current dog. He's easy to groom, stays clean mostly on his own, and the twice yearly shedding doesn't seem to take AS long. It's just as messy, and he still has to be bathed and groomed regularily but I am not spending a lot of money at the groomers - i can do the majority of it at home.
As blackdog says it's a matter of your personal preference and what you are willing to deal with.
If you are serious about buying one, try to research your breeder thoroughly - don't just buy the first cute one you see in a pet store. With a pet store dog you may wind up with more behavioral and health problems than should be warranted for the price you pay. Or else see if there is a rescue group in your area that specializes in Chis... Actually they would be a good resource for you to seek out whether you adopt from them or buy from a breeder. They can help educate you on what it's like to own a Chihuahua and answer many of your questions.
But also do your best to read up on your chosen breed. Dont just read a book but read several. The more you know before you start out... the better prepared you will be.
Good Luck!
As for your questions:
Training
I have heard they can be difficult to train and/or it can take them longer to learn something than say a poodle - but poodles tend to be pretty darn smart! You shouldn't skip on the obedience classes just because they are so small - they are still dogs and can benefit from the classes the same as a shepherd mix would.
Coat Length
I haven't ever owned a Chi but I have owned several dogs with varying coat lengths - this includes lhasa apsos (double coated long length), Shepmixes and australian cattle dog mixes (double coated medium length), and my current pit bull-dachshund cross has a single coat short length.
Of all the coat lengths I've had to deal with over the past 25 years, I have to admit a personal preference towards the short coat of my current dog. He's easy to groom, stays clean mostly on his own, and the twice yearly shedding doesn't seem to take AS long. It's just as messy, and he still has to be bathed and groomed regularily but I am not spending a lot of money at the groomers - i can do the majority of it at home.
As blackdog says it's a matter of your personal preference and what you are willing to deal with.
If you are serious about buying one, try to research your breeder thoroughly - don't just buy the first cute one you see in a pet store. With a pet store dog you may wind up with more behavioral and health problems than should be warranted for the price you pay. Or else see if there is a rescue group in your area that specializes in Chis... Actually they would be a good resource for you to seek out whether you adopt from them or buy from a breeder. They can help educate you on what it's like to own a Chihuahua and answer many of your questions.
But also do your best to read up on your chosen breed. Dont just read a book but read several. The more you know before you start out... the better prepared you will be.
Good Luck!
I have two Chihuahuas. And they are wonderful. They're both smooth coated. One is probably a mix, but may not be. I got my little girl Chi at 7 months old and she was not potty trained, was raised in a room with a bunch of puppies who had newpapers all over the floor, so she had what is called, "dirty puppy syndrom," which can make it very difficult to house train. She, however did learn. The thing is, she won't hold it, or can't for very long. She goes to the door and stands there, silently. If I see her, fine. So, she knows to go out. But if I don't see her, she won't hold it and will go on the floor somewhere. She's almost 6 years old. So, bottom line, she knows to go out, but doesn't think it's too bad to go inside. LOL.
This girl, Chulita, also can learn new things. She is a little spoiled, but not to the point of having behavior problems. However, she has a wee bit of a sense of entitlement which starts to show up as stubborness. So, lately I've been using a little more of the NILIF concept on her....making her earn things she likes more. She totally understands things I show her. The trick is to find what motivates your dog and use that to teach them things. They are sensative and easly submissive so no harsh treatment what so ever, firmness, enforcing rules etc, yes, but kindly.
My boy Chi picked up house breaking within about 2 weeks. He's very, very bright and quick to learn anything. When I was sitting down one time, putting on my shoes, he was playing around close to me, getting in my way, (you know how they do) and I just for the heck of it asked him to sit. Then I picked up his paw and said, "shake." I did it like 3 times and from that point on, he totally knows "shake" on command. He is extremely food motivated and will do anything for a treat. His little head cocks to the side when I ask him a string of questions. LOL. Those wheels are really turning. LOL. He understands so well what I mean when I show him something the first or second time.
They are not talked about as being highly intelligent and I really don't know about all Chi's, as a breed in that regard, but mine are perfectly capable of learning new things.
My two Chihuahuas go on 5 mile hikes with my Doberman and me. They are sturdy and tireless. They keep up just fine, getting no more tired out than my Dobe. They scamper up trails, negotiate brush...they're great little hikers. They are not treated like anything other than a dog....since that's what they are. LOL.
Socializing and training, keeping boundaries, teaching with motivation and reward, being firm, but kind....and you can have a lovely little companion dog in a Chihuahua.
I'm not into grooming, so I like the smooth coat. However, I live in a very cold climate in the winter and they're not too well suited for that, so if it's very cold, they wear coats, but they can take a little bit of cold....down to about 15 degrees. When they're on a walk/run, that helps keep them warm too.
Good that you're looking into it first and researching.
This girl, Chulita, also can learn new things. She is a little spoiled, but not to the point of having behavior problems. However, she has a wee bit of a sense of entitlement which starts to show up as stubborness. So, lately I've been using a little more of the NILIF concept on her....making her earn things she likes more. She totally understands things I show her. The trick is to find what motivates your dog and use that to teach them things. They are sensative and easly submissive so no harsh treatment what so ever, firmness, enforcing rules etc, yes, but kindly.
My boy Chi picked up house breaking within about 2 weeks. He's very, very bright and quick to learn anything. When I was sitting down one time, putting on my shoes, he was playing around close to me, getting in my way, (you know how they do) and I just for the heck of it asked him to sit. Then I picked up his paw and said, "shake." I did it like 3 times and from that point on, he totally knows "shake" on command. He is extremely food motivated and will do anything for a treat. His little head cocks to the side when I ask him a string of questions. LOL. Those wheels are really turning. LOL. He understands so well what I mean when I show him something the first or second time.
They are not talked about as being highly intelligent and I really don't know about all Chi's, as a breed in that regard, but mine are perfectly capable of learning new things.
My two Chihuahuas go on 5 mile hikes with my Doberman and me. They are sturdy and tireless. They keep up just fine, getting no more tired out than my Dobe. They scamper up trails, negotiate brush...they're great little hikers. They are not treated like anything other than a dog....since that's what they are. LOL.
Socializing and training, keeping boundaries, teaching with motivation and reward, being firm, but kind....and you can have a lovely little companion dog in a Chihuahua.
I'm not into grooming, so I like the smooth coat. However, I live in a very cold climate in the winter and they're not too well suited for that, so if it's very cold, they wear coats, but they can take a little bit of cold....down to about 15 degrees. When they're on a walk/run, that helps keep them warm too.
Good that you're looking into it first and researching.
mojozen, i am definetly researching thoroughly, i am looking on lots of sites, including this one,
theres no risk of me getting one from a pet sotre because the island i live on doesnt sell puppies in any of the pet stores.
I heard they can become very attached to their owner.
Although i am finding it hard getting of a breeder, i definetly want a pedigree, i will probs have to fly out to america to get one, but i dont mind doing that.
I have heard differences about their weight, some breeders on the internet say their pups will be about 4-5 punds judging by parents and others say 1.5-3 pounds judging by parents, which size is better?
i would prefer smaller but i dont want an unhealthy dog.
i will definetly insist on getting from a breeder, seeing the parents, and having a thorough health check done before i buy the puppy.
also i have heard that with chihuahuas its best to get ehm at about 12 weeks because they are less likely to get injured at this age, what do u think of this?
theres no risk of me getting one from a pet sotre because the island i live on doesnt sell puppies in any of the pet stores.
I heard they can become very attached to their owner.
Although i am finding it hard getting of a breeder, i definetly want a pedigree, i will probs have to fly out to america to get one, but i dont mind doing that.
I have heard differences about their weight, some breeders on the internet say their pups will be about 4-5 punds judging by parents and others say 1.5-3 pounds judging by parents, which size is better?
i would prefer smaller but i dont want an unhealthy dog.
i will definetly insist on getting from a breeder, seeing the parents, and having a thorough health check done before i buy the puppy.
also i have heard that with chihuahuas its best to get ehm at about 12 weeks because they are less likely to get injured at this age, what do u think of this?
Make sure you stick within the breed standard, which is 2 to 6 Lbs. My little girl is about 5 or 6 Lbs. My boy, is probably mixed with something else and he's a whale. He's about 15 or more LBS. Two to six Lbs is fine as long as they're well put together and healthy. Not just any breeder, just because the dogs are registered with a breed club indicates that you're getting a well bred dog. So, do your research on what makes a reputable breeder. Ask questions etc.
Often they'll hold on to these tiny creatures until they're 12 weeks just to be on the safe side. They are prone to hypoglycemia if they don't eat something3 or 4 times a day as pups. This is a life threatening condition, so if you have to cater to pickiness, do so....as in putting something on their food to get them to eat.
And just to re-cap....all toy breeds can be prone to difficulty in house breaking, but that does not mean that they cannot be. It may mean some extra diligence and patience on your part. Crate training is highly recommended. You can do a search on that.
Often they'll hold on to these tiny creatures until they're 12 weeks just to be on the safe side. They are prone to hypoglycemia if they don't eat something3 or 4 times a day as pups. This is a life threatening condition, so if you have to cater to pickiness, do so....as in putting something on their food to get them to eat.
And just to re-cap....all toy breeds can be prone to difficulty in house breaking, but that does not mean that they cannot be. It may mean some extra diligence and patience on your part. Crate training is highly recommended. You can do a search on that.
R
My chihuahua is very attached to me! And he is very affectionate. He loves to follow me around. About size... the smaller the chihuahua the more health problems he could have. I would never buy a chihuahua under 3 pounds. Some chis are so small that their teeth cant even fit into their mouth, so they have a hard time eating. My chi is 4.6 pounds and he is very easy to carry around. About age... I think it is fine to get a pup at 8 weeks, but there is nothing wrong with getting one that is older. Chis are fragile no matter what age they are.
Good advice. Yes, there is no such thing as teacup Chihuahuas. They are not classified by size that way. It's just Chihuahua.
I find that they're not as fragile as some people think they are. They are, yes, in many ways, but they should be fairly sturdy, have good bone in their legs and be a little on the stocky side. Like I said, mine are hiking dogs, mountain dogs. They get more than their fair share of exercise and can leap on and off the couch like it's nothing. They've never hurt themselves so far and Chuli is almost 6 years old. I've heard of Poms and Peeks jumping like that and breaking bones. So, I don't know if that's the way it is with some or if the exercise mine are getting is making them very physically fit. They're pretty muscular, firm all over and full of vigor. My little boy, however has patella luxation. He had surgery in one knee. Most of the time, it doesn't bother him, but sometimes it does. Watch for that genetic fault in the lines. It's no fun.
I find that they're not as fragile as some people think they are. They are, yes, in many ways, but they should be fairly sturdy, have good bone in their legs and be a little on the stocky side. Like I said, mine are hiking dogs, mountain dogs. They get more than their fair share of exercise and can leap on and off the couch like it's nothing. They've never hurt themselves so far and Chuli is almost 6 years old. I've heard of Poms and Peeks jumping like that and breaking bones. So, I don't know if that's the way it is with some or if the exercise mine are getting is making them very physically fit. They're pretty muscular, firm all over and full of vigor. My little boy, however has patella luxation. He had surgery in one knee. Most of the time, it doesn't bother him, but sometimes it does. Watch for that genetic fault in the lines. It's no fun.
mojozen said:
Hello - I have heard Chihuahuas (Chis) can be good dogs if you don't treat them like pocket pets. Make sure to not carry them everywhere - they should be using their own paws to move themselves! - and socialize them as much as you can in a safe environment.
As for your questions:
Training
I have heard they can be difficult to train and/or it can take them longer to learn something than say a poodle - but poodles tend to be pretty darn smart! You shouldn't skip on the obedience classes just because they are so small - they are still dogs and can benefit from the classes the same as a shepherd mix would.
Coat Length
I haven't ever owned a Chi but I have owned several dogs with varying coat lengths - this includes lhasa apsos (double coated long length), Shepmixes and australian cattle dog mixes (double coated medium length), and my current pit bull-dachshund cross has a single coat short length.
Of all the coat lengths I've had to deal with over the past 25 years, I have to admit a personal preference towards the short coat of my current dog. He's easy to groom, stays clean mostly on his own, and the twice yearly shedding doesn't seem to take AS long. It's just as messy, and he still has to be bathed and groomed regularily but I am not spending a lot of money at the groomers - i can do the majority of it at home.
As blackdog says it's a matter of your personal preference and what you are willing to deal with.
If you are serious about buying one, try to research your breeder thoroughly - don't just buy the first cute one you see in a pet store. With a pet store dog you may wind up with more behavioral and health problems than should be warranted for the price you pay. Or else see if there is a rescue group in your area that specializes in Chis... Actually they would be a good resource for you to seek out whether you adopt from them or buy from a breeder. They can help educate you on what it's like to own a Chihuahua and answer many of your questions.
But also do your best to read up on your chosen breed. Dont just read a book but read several. The more you know before you start out... the better prepared you will be.
Good Luck!
As for your questions:
Training
I have heard they can be difficult to train and/or it can take them longer to learn something than say a poodle - but poodles tend to be pretty darn smart! You shouldn't skip on the obedience classes just because they are so small - they are still dogs and can benefit from the classes the same as a shepherd mix would.
Coat Length
I haven't ever owned a Chi but I have owned several dogs with varying coat lengths - this includes lhasa apsos (double coated long length), Shepmixes and australian cattle dog mixes (double coated medium length), and my current pit bull-dachshund cross has a single coat short length.
Of all the coat lengths I've had to deal with over the past 25 years, I have to admit a personal preference towards the short coat of my current dog. He's easy to groom, stays clean mostly on his own, and the twice yearly shedding doesn't seem to take AS long. It's just as messy, and he still has to be bathed and groomed regularily but I am not spending a lot of money at the groomers - i can do the majority of it at home.
As blackdog says it's a matter of your personal preference and what you are willing to deal with.
If you are serious about buying one, try to research your breeder thoroughly - don't just buy the first cute one you see in a pet store. With a pet store dog you may wind up with more behavioral and health problems than should be warranted for the price you pay. Or else see if there is a rescue group in your area that specializes in Chis... Actually they would be a good resource for you to seek out whether you adopt from them or buy from a breeder. They can help educate you on what it's like to own a Chihuahua and answer many of your questions.
But also do your best to read up on your chosen breed. Dont just read a book but read several. The more you know before you start out... the better prepared you will be.
Good Luck!
Roxy was very hard to train, I won't lie. It took 6months to fully housetrain her. Sit, lay down, come, etc was fairly easy. I think housetraining was the most difficult.
All in all, she is a great joy. A big dog in a toy body. When and if you get your Chi, be prepared: sooo much fun in a small package.
Well, I don't think any dog should be handled sternly. Their attitudes are a great deal dependent on how you handle and train them. I have no need whatsoever to handle such sensative dogs sternly. Motivation and reward based training works wonders with these sensative, often submissive little dogs. I don't believe people when they say their dogs are stubborn. They just aren't motivated, that's all. They are finding more of a payoff in doing what they're doing than complying with their owners. It's all about how you interact with your dog and how you go about training them. I think sterness or harshness has no place in training dogs. Maybe you meant firm...being firm in enforcing rules and boundaries, being consistant, showing what you mean and rewarding for compliance.
It is hard, isn't it sometimes on the Internet to communicate. LOL. I too, often choose the wrong words that don't quite have the meaning I wanted them to. Well good....I just thought I better get that clarified so that someone who might not be as used to dogs as you wouldn't think they had to freak out their little teensy weensy dogs and be like a drill seargent in the army. LOL.
i have 2 long haired, my grandfather bred them for 35+ years and im now comming into the breeding world.
some things to rember with any chi...teacup as was already said...walk straight away form anyone selling teacup, micro or "rare" chis...also try and steer clear of anyone selling taco bell like chis (the head shape is NOT correct for the breed and all with the "deer head" should be spayed/neutered.
the chihuahua standard calls for a dog of 2-6 lbs, id suggest to nayone new to the breed to look for puppies from a mother of around 5-6 lbs and a father of anythign from 3-4 lbs, this will give you an "average" size chi...5lbs is usually a great weight for a chi small wihtout being too small, any breeder breeing their females to a malre larger than them, again walk away (this breed is prone to alot of pregnancy problems and the male should ALWAYS be smaller than the female) and any breeder breeding females under 4lbs should again just be walked away from.
chihuahua puppies are very fraigile, they should NOT be allowed to jump off beds or sofas as they can hurt their legs or their heads/necks. (i have a ramp against the couch and one at the side of my bed so my chis can safley get on and off things. they are prone to hernias...(usually avoidable in good breedings) luxating patella (knee problems again usually avoidable in good breeding) and hypoglycemia (any puppy upuntill about 6 months should be fed litle and often (or free fed) and nutrical or similar product should be kept on hand at all times just in case...hypoglycemic shock can kill them. however a well bred adult chihuahua tends to be fairly healthy and sturdy little dog.
keep an eye on puppy teeth as chis tend to retain them, these retained puppy teeth can easily be removed at the time of spay/neuter for low cost.
personality wise, these are tenacious little dogs prone to terrier like attitudes, they can be EXTREEMLY stubborn and tend to be a little difficult to housebreak. they are quick to learn "tricks" however tend to prefer to use them when they want rather than when asked...my female quickly learnt sit up (beg) however now instead of doing it when asked she sits by the dinner table and does it when we dont pay attention she barks to gain it. they are WONDERFULL at finding ways around the rules.
they are GREAT watch dogs...any strange noise (or familiar noise that usually involves doorbells/knocking at the door) they will alert you to it with a fairly loud deep bark for their little size. though they are often refered to as yappy dogs, they have a big bark for the size of their boddies. however they do need some training when it comes to the stopping part of telling you theres someone at the door!
these are clannish dogs, if you have nother dog breed in the house expect them to be a litle standoffish for a while...however they generlaly get along great with other chis. they also tend to bond especially with 1 person and can be VERY protective of that person. they do require lots of early socialization to avoid the potential of having an agressive dog. they may be small but they have a big bite.
excersize wise they can get plenty just running round the house, they do like a walk or a romp in the yard, but in bad weather no worries they can get plenty of excersize tearing up and down the hallway. chis are prone to "zoomies" usually around bedtime where they will literally bolt round the house for a few minutes...
they do HATE the cold and actually apreciate a sweater in incliment weather (mine have a basket with sweaters in and they will bring me a sweater if there cold for me to put on (and i dont ask them or give them any other kind of incentive) mine wont even leave the house when the weathers bad (which happend alot here in ct) on the good side though they are fairly easily litterbox trained (i use a puppy pad in a large litterbox) this is alos handy for mine as they come down to the sailboat with us and theres alot less oportunities for potty break on the boat.)
htey do need a firm hand however yelling and screaming wont get you anywhere, a good training method for chis is ignoring them, they want your attention every moment (unless there doing something bad) so if you catch them in a bad act a firm no followed by complete ignoring them (no eye contact or talking ot them for a few minutes) usually teaches them the lesson.
as always a spayed/neutered dog is a better dog, an unaltered chi is very prone to dog agression, someone forgot to thell them they were so small...these are BIG dogs in little bodies and an unneutered male will happily chase down and try an attack a rotty on his territory.
coat lenght is personal preference, short coated chis shed more than long coated chihuahuas, a long coated chihuahuas hair takes about 3 years to reach its full length, im partial to long haired chis, short haired are cute however long haired chis have a softer look about them, and always look puppyish...however some people prefer the sleak look of the short haired chi.
grooming of both types is usually minimal, short haird chis do well with a zoom groom to remove dead hairs from the coat, long coated tend to require a comb. there are chis with whats refered to as "medium" coat, these dogs tend to be longer than a short haired, sorter than a long haired and dense (usually with an undercoat) or theres a "double haired long" (a long coat with an undercoat) either of these 2 require a little more in the ways of grooming, a regular long coated chi requires no more brushing than a short coated chi as they dont tend to mat like most long haired breeds. however long coated tend to require sanitary clipping every so often around their private parts and under their tails)
bathing shoudl be kept to around once a month with a mild shampoo.
go wiht the coat lenght you prefer as either way doesnt make much of a difference in upkeep.
these dogs do bond firmly though so make sure you do ALOT of reaserch and know this is the dog for you! these are a long lived breed expect to be with it for 15+ years, and they bond very strongly with you so any kind of seperation is very painfull. these are not a breed that does well in a rehoming situation or being left alone for long work days. this breed is prone to seperation anxiety.
the only down side i realy have with the breed is...chis are like potatoe chips...you cant have just one...there very addictive, and if going to be left alone for longer periods it might be a good idea once your first is housetrained (around 6month-1yr) to get a second to keep it company. suprisingly these are pack dogs and like the company of their own breed.
hope this information helps, there are some good chihuhaua specific boards out there also which if youd like to know about PM me (i dont like advertising on other peoples boards) and id be more than happy to answer any other questions you might ahve about this breed, ive been involved with chis my entire life and grew up with a pack of usually 15-20 chihuahuas (not including current litters) and currently have 2 of my own.
oh and while its very tempting to carry these little dogs everywhere...belive it or not there dogs and need to be treated as such, they actually LIKE to use their own legs once in a while...let them walk first, belive me theyll let you knwo when they want up... dodger just sits and refuses to move once his legs are tired...vixie however actually paws at my ankle till i pick her up...
ive included pics of my 2
DODGER 8 month old 3lbs long haired blue fawn male.
VIXIE, 1 1/2 yr old 5lb 4oz long haired red and cream female
some things to rember with any chi...teacup as was already said...walk straight away form anyone selling teacup, micro or "rare" chis...also try and steer clear of anyone selling taco bell like chis (the head shape is NOT correct for the breed and all with the "deer head" should be spayed/neutered.
the chihuahua standard calls for a dog of 2-6 lbs, id suggest to nayone new to the breed to look for puppies from a mother of around 5-6 lbs and a father of anythign from 3-4 lbs, this will give you an "average" size chi...5lbs is usually a great weight for a chi small wihtout being too small, any breeder breeing their females to a malre larger than them, again walk away (this breed is prone to alot of pregnancy problems and the male should ALWAYS be smaller than the female) and any breeder breeding females under 4lbs should again just be walked away from.
chihuahua puppies are very fraigile, they should NOT be allowed to jump off beds or sofas as they can hurt their legs or their heads/necks. (i have a ramp against the couch and one at the side of my bed so my chis can safley get on and off things. they are prone to hernias...(usually avoidable in good breedings) luxating patella (knee problems again usually avoidable in good breeding) and hypoglycemia (any puppy upuntill about 6 months should be fed litle and often (or free fed) and nutrical or similar product should be kept on hand at all times just in case...hypoglycemic shock can kill them. however a well bred adult chihuahua tends to be fairly healthy and sturdy little dog.
keep an eye on puppy teeth as chis tend to retain them, these retained puppy teeth can easily be removed at the time of spay/neuter for low cost.
personality wise, these are tenacious little dogs prone to terrier like attitudes, they can be EXTREEMLY stubborn and tend to be a little difficult to housebreak. they are quick to learn "tricks" however tend to prefer to use them when they want rather than when asked...my female quickly learnt sit up (beg) however now instead of doing it when asked she sits by the dinner table and does it when we dont pay attention she barks to gain it. they are WONDERFULL at finding ways around the rules.
they are GREAT watch dogs...any strange noise (or familiar noise that usually involves doorbells/knocking at the door) they will alert you to it with a fairly loud deep bark for their little size. though they are often refered to as yappy dogs, they have a big bark for the size of their boddies. however they do need some training when it comes to the stopping part of telling you theres someone at the door!
these are clannish dogs, if you have nother dog breed in the house expect them to be a litle standoffish for a while...however they generlaly get along great with other chis. they also tend to bond especially with 1 person and can be VERY protective of that person. they do require lots of early socialization to avoid the potential of having an agressive dog. they may be small but they have a big bite.
excersize wise they can get plenty just running round the house, they do like a walk or a romp in the yard, but in bad weather no worries they can get plenty of excersize tearing up and down the hallway. chis are prone to "zoomies" usually around bedtime where they will literally bolt round the house for a few minutes...
they do HATE the cold and actually apreciate a sweater in incliment weather (mine have a basket with sweaters in and they will bring me a sweater if there cold for me to put on (and i dont ask them or give them any other kind of incentive) mine wont even leave the house when the weathers bad (which happend alot here in ct) on the good side though they are fairly easily litterbox trained (i use a puppy pad in a large litterbox) this is alos handy for mine as they come down to the sailboat with us and theres alot less oportunities for potty break on the boat.)
htey do need a firm hand however yelling and screaming wont get you anywhere, a good training method for chis is ignoring them, they want your attention every moment (unless there doing something bad) so if you catch them in a bad act a firm no followed by complete ignoring them (no eye contact or talking ot them for a few minutes) usually teaches them the lesson.
as always a spayed/neutered dog is a better dog, an unaltered chi is very prone to dog agression, someone forgot to thell them they were so small...these are BIG dogs in little bodies and an unneutered male will happily chase down and try an attack a rotty on his territory.
coat lenght is personal preference, short coated chis shed more than long coated chihuahuas, a long coated chihuahuas hair takes about 3 years to reach its full length, im partial to long haired chis, short haired are cute however long haired chis have a softer look about them, and always look puppyish...however some people prefer the sleak look of the short haired chi.
grooming of both types is usually minimal, short haird chis do well with a zoom groom to remove dead hairs from the coat, long coated tend to require a comb. there are chis with whats refered to as "medium" coat, these dogs tend to be longer than a short haired, sorter than a long haired and dense (usually with an undercoat) or theres a "double haired long" (a long coat with an undercoat) either of these 2 require a little more in the ways of grooming, a regular long coated chi requires no more brushing than a short coated chi as they dont tend to mat like most long haired breeds. however long coated tend to require sanitary clipping every so often around their private parts and under their tails)
bathing shoudl be kept to around once a month with a mild shampoo.
go wiht the coat lenght you prefer as either way doesnt make much of a difference in upkeep.
these dogs do bond firmly though so make sure you do ALOT of reaserch and know this is the dog for you! these are a long lived breed expect to be with it for 15+ years, and they bond very strongly with you so any kind of seperation is very painfull. these are not a breed that does well in a rehoming situation or being left alone for long work days. this breed is prone to seperation anxiety.
the only down side i realy have with the breed is...chis are like potatoe chips...you cant have just one...there very addictive, and if going to be left alone for longer periods it might be a good idea once your first is housetrained (around 6month-1yr) to get a second to keep it company. suprisingly these are pack dogs and like the company of their own breed.
hope this information helps, there are some good chihuhaua specific boards out there also which if youd like to know about PM me (i dont like advertising on other peoples boards) and id be more than happy to answer any other questions you might ahve about this breed, ive been involved with chis my entire life and grew up with a pack of usually 15-20 chihuahuas (not including current litters) and currently have 2 of my own.
oh and while its very tempting to carry these little dogs everywhere...belive it or not there dogs and need to be treated as such, they actually LIKE to use their own legs once in a while...let them walk first, belive me theyll let you knwo when they want up... dodger just sits and refuses to move once his legs are tired...vixie however actually paws at my ankle till i pick her up...
ive included pics of my 2
DODGER 8 month old 3lbs long haired blue fawn male.
VIXIE, 1 1/2 yr old 5lb 4oz long haired red and cream female