By Marie Torres

They are everywhere – Chihuahua puppies…

Practically everytime you turn on the tv, or open up a
magazine, you see a Chihuahua puppy in a Hollywood starlets
bag. Whether it be Paris Hilton’s sidekick Tinkerbell, or
Reese Witherspoons lovable pooch Bruiser in “Legally
Blonde,” Chihuahuas have hit the big time and everyone wants
one: http://yourpetcentral.com/chihuahua-puppes.htm

Now before you buy a Chihuahua, there are absolutely some
things you need to know about this breed, their health and
socialization.

These 7 factors are the most important.

1. They need to be well socialized. If you don’t have time
to socialize your Chihuahua puppy then you shouldn’t get
one. Chihuahuas need to be socialized properly since they
have a tendency to bond only with their owners and already
have a predisposition to being snippy with strangers.

2. Seems chihuahuas are carried everywhere and that’s part
of their appeal, but make sure you put them down and get
them to walk on their own. When you don’t let them walk on
their own they can become very uncomfortable out of the arms
of their owner and react with aggression in order to deal
with they’re uncomfortability.

3. These dogs are not great with children unless they were
raised with them. Chihuahuas are high strung and have a low
tolerance. They don’t cope well with the antics and
rambunctiousness of little children. They can be snippy and
will bite a child if provoked. This breed is better suited
to busy people without children and for elder people who are
looking for a companion and little maintenance (these dogs
require little exercise, are great apartment dwellers and
can be trained to use the litter box.)

4. Chihuahuas are very loyal and have a tendency to bond
with their owner…only. They are very dependent and like to
be around you and do what you are doing. If you have little
time to spend with your puppy and want a dog who is a little
more independent, than this dog is not for you.

5. Chihuahuas have the longest life span of any breed of
dog. If you are not ready to make an 11-18 year commitment
to them, and your interest in them is just a novelty (they
look so cute in those celebrity magazines being toted around
in a bag,) then don’t get a Chihuahua.

6. If you move around a lot, this may not be the breed for
you. Chihuahuas don’t adapt well to new environments and
will often act out with barking and unsuitable behavior.
They prefer to have a stable environments so if you are
constantly traveling around (business etc…) then consider a
less high strung breed.

7. They can be dog aggressive, so if you have another dog at
home you may want to reconsider getting a Chihuahua and opt
for a more dog friendly breed.

That being said, the Chihuahua is a great dog and right for
the right type of person. Before buying a Chihuahua puppy
think about the various points mentioned above and decide
whether you see parts of your life in the above checklist.

Chihuahuas are intelligent, alert, and loyal companions.
They love to give and receive affection but again this is
dependent on your understanding of the nuances of this breed
and how well they are trained and socialized from puppyhood.
Good luck!

About the author:
Marie Torres has a Chihuahua puppy named “Cherry. After a
bumpy start, they are both happy, healthy and the best of
friends. For more information on Cherry’s successful
training regime visit:
http://www.yourpetcentral.com/chihuahua-puppes.htm


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