I have just read this article which was passed on from a Veterinary Surgeon who expressed concern about a case she had this week. The dog ate a child's teddy bear and was very sick. When she opened the dog up to remove what she thought was an intestinal obstruction she found a huge gelatin type mess inside and the dogs intestines were black and the tissue dead. The dog will die, no surgery can fix him up as there was no living intestine left from stomach to colon.

This was not an obstruction..... so she called the manufacturer of the Teddy Bear on a quest to find out what the gel was and what killed the dog. Turns out the stuffing in children's toys contains ingredients for flame retardants and mite control! It is designed to be come a gel. It is highly toxic. Now you would think a child's toy would be safe because it is for children, but they don't expect a child to eat the stuffing of
the toys... huummmm that seems a bit scary too. But we all know dogs demolish stuffed toys.

So do not give or buy your dog any children's stuffed animals... some people get them at op shops etc. The vet will be posting a warning and story and I will add any other facts as needed and as I learn more. Maybe some children's toys do not have this ingredient, but better to be safe then sorry. So meanwhile, make sure all your dog toys are for dogs. Please pass this on... it is a horrible death she described and one that can be avoided.

Buying a Chihuahua Puppy

Chihuahuas make absolutely wonderful loving and loyal family pets but very young children may play too aggressively with tiny dogs and hurt them without realizing it. Just as long as your children are old enough to understand responsibility in regards to pets, then you'll be happy to know that your Chihuahua will be a great pet for your family.

They are also great pets for those who live alone. If you are currently living alone and want a pet as a companion, you couldn't make a better choice than the Chihuahua. They will bring you a lots of entertainment, companionship, love and joy. It is great that they are small enough to carry which means you can take your much loved baby with you wherever you go. Chihuahua's like to receive lots of attention and if they are given this attention they become one of the best dogs to keep as pets. They fit in everywhere, and the more time you spend with yours, the more he or she will adore you.

As long as you're good to your Chihuahua, you can expect a lot of love and affection. They are sweet, friendly, and very lovable. Still, you need to make sure you get your point across that you are the boss not them and try to ensure you don't spoil your little dog too much. Whilst most people refer to Chihuahua's as "Lap Dogs" which is of course quite true as they absolutely adore to sit on your knee and be fussed, they also are very active little dogs who need lots of time to play and love to be taken for a walk on the lead.  It is very important that you spend some time playing with dog each day.

Finding well bred Chihuahua puppies isn't always an easy task. There are many breeders on the Internet trying to sell Chihuahuas, but not all of them are honest sellers. Make sure you do your research first before buying from any breeders. The safest way to purchase a healthy and well bred puppy is to buy from of reputable breeder who is registered with your country's governing Kennel Club.   In New Zealand this is the New Zealand Kennel Club which I have in my Links page.

Sometimes, the prettiest and best looking puppies are not the healthiest. Appearances can sometimes be deceptive, therefore registered, respected and ethical breeders who take good care of the litters should be the ones you purchase from.

  Here are a few tips to help you select a happy, healthy Chihuahua puppy:

•  Make sure the puppy is at least ten weeks of age. Ethical breeders will never sell one younger than ten weeks old. If they are any younger, then they will have an increased chance of becoming sick.
   
• If possible buy a puppy that is fully vaccinated and comes with it's own Vet book showing that it has been checked by the vet.   If you are in doubt, please ask the breeder who the Vet was that vaccinated the puppies and check with them that all was well.
  
• Ask the breeder for the dates your puppy has been wormed and flea treated if they have not already written them in the back of the book.
  
• Make sure you are familiar with what a happy, healthy Chihuahua puppy looks like so you'll have an idea of what to look for. Knowing how to spot healthy puppies is something you definitely need to learn how to do. Firstly, the coat should be clean and soft, the gums should be pink, and the eyes should be clear. If you're buying from an ethical, responsible breeder, though, then the odds for selecting a healthy puppy are in your favour as no well known and respected breeder will take the chance of selling a puppy with known problems.

Showing your Puppy or older Dog

The wonderful thing about showing dogs is that everyone competes as equals as it is the dogs that are being judged not the humans.    It is fun and great to meet with old friends and new from show to show.   There are a few things that you need to understand before you can show your dogs.

•  Your dog must be registered with your country's governing kennel club - in New Zealand it is the New Zealand Kennel Club.
  
•  The dog you intend to show must have a registered pedigree, i.e. it's parents must both be registered pedigree dogs - In New Zealand that means that your dog's parents must both be New Zealand Kennel Club registered dogs.   You cannot show your dog without proof of these pedigrees, which all New Zealand Kennel Club registered Breeders can and should organize for you unless they state that the dog is being sold as a pet only.
  
• Your puppy must be 3 months old before it can be shown as a Baby Puppy.
  
• The puppy's owner must also be a member of the New Zealand Kennel Club.   To join, all you need to do is go to my links page and go to the NZKC site and you will find the details on their website.   If you are unsure please feel free to contact me for advice.
  
• You also must belong to a dog club, whether it is an All Breeds Club or a Specialist Club - in our case for Chihuahua's, it would be Auckland Chihuahua Club Inc.   For information on joining this club please contact me.
  
• Your dog must be up to date with all health checks and vaccinations.
   

Once you have done all of the above you are then ready to make a start.  It is always a good idea to make contact with someone who shows dogs for a few helpful hints, such as what to wear, how to present your dog, show leads, tabling etc.   Take advantage of any ribbon parades or fun days that your club may have, as this is where you learn from experienced handlers who are generally very happy to help you get started in showing.

The New Zealand Kennel Club produces the NZ. Dog World magazine which comes out monthly and in this you will find all the information you need on upcoming shows around New Zealand and will give you the dates when entries must be received by.

You will also as a member of the NZKC have access to the official entry forms for the shows and these need to be filled in correctly.   You can order them online once you are a member, or you can send a cheque and have them sent to you.   If you are unsure how to fill them in, please ask someone who knows, as you could disqualified if you haven't filled all the details in correctly.

Finally when show day comes, arrive at the show location relaxed and ready to have a great day meeting new friends.   A dog show is not a scarey place, it is what you make of it - present yourself and your dog in best condition possible and be ready to enjoy.

Hope this helps you to understand a little more about showing your dog and that you will want to join us to enjoy our hobby of showing our dogs.

Often asked questions: 

 MY CHIHUAHUA SNORTS OR SEEMS TO CHOKE FOR NO REASON?

This is a characteristic of the breed and usually occurs when they are exited or playing and sometimes for no reason at all. Please don't panic or worry - there is no need to do anything, as they will stop themselves. The noise is actually reverse sneezing causing the throat to go into spasms. If this happens to one of my dogs I generally just pinch their nostrils very gently together for an instant and then let it go.   Generally this stops the reverse sneezing.  Sometimes, but only in very rare cases this can be caused by a soft or dropped trachea. If you are worried I suggest you have it checked by your Vet in case your dog has a sore throat or is overweight.   Your Vet is the only one who can tell you if any medical condition is evident.

 WHY HAS MY LONGCOAT CHIHUAHUA GOT SO LITTLE COAT?

The Chihuahua has five stages of coat and does not get its full coat until it is about three years old. If it is an unspeyed female it may lose some coat when she comes into season (heat) or when she has puppies.   We don't advise that you put coats/jackets on your Chihuahua puppies while they are still young as this hinders their coat growth.

Sometimes incorrect feeding has an effect on the skins condition and coat growth. If none of these apply to your chihuahua we suggest you check with your vet in case your dog has a vitamin or mineral deficiency or in rare cases an allergy. 

 WHY IS MY CHIHUAHUA SO MUCH BIGGER/SMALLER THAN OTHERS? 

Chihuahuas range in size from small to larger.   The health of the puppy is more important that the size.  There are only two types of Chihuahua's, either smoothcoat or longcoat and are like people and come in all sizes even in the same family.

Please refer to the page on this website for information about the Teacup Chihuahua Myth.

  WHAT IS MY CHIHUAHUA’S LIFE EXPECTANCY? 

If it is of normal size and kept in good condition the average life span for a chihuahua is about 12 to 14 years. Many live more than twelve years but of course it generally depends on the individual dog and to some extent the breeding bloodlines that it has come from.

 ARE CHIHUAHUA’S GOOD WITH CHILDREN? 

Absolutely, but we would encourage families with young children to purchase a puppy that is on the larger rather than smaller size range.   The small puppies have fine bones and ligaments and we therefore don't usually advise them for children under 8-10 years or for very rough and tumble games with a group of children, particularly if the children are playing with bikes and balls.  

Don't give your dogs children's toys

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