Care for Chihuahua puppies and dogs is somewhat different from caring for dogs of other breeds. Since the Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dogs, just the small size causes some challenges. But isn't the small size one of the attractions of the Chihuahua? Most Chihuahua owners love the small size of their dogs for several reasons. The small size has advantages as well as the challenges. And really dealing with a Chihuahua is much like dealing with any other breed. Get a Chihuahua Guide to help with the differences.

The Chihuahua Club of America standard for Chihuahua weight is 6 pounds or less, but many dogs are as heavy as 10 pounds. The breed standard lists no minimum weight. Very small miniature Chihuahuas are referred to as "teacups" or "miniatures", but there is no official recognition of smaller dogs as a separate type. The only official distinction within the breed for different types is hair length: long or short.

Dogs heavier than the breed standard cannot be shown but make perfectly good pets. With the larger dogs, you avoid some of the problems of the really tiny dogs. Larger dogs can stand cold weather better and often are more athletic and able to walk and run more easily. Even a 10 pound dog is still very much in the "toy" breed size.

Chihuahua's may be small, but they still can have an "attitude". The breed standard describes the temperament as possessing "terrier-like qualities" and who could argue with that. If you need a small watch dog, the Chihuahua may just be what you need! But within the breed, dogs vary greatly in temperament. One dog may be very nervous, while another dog is cool and calm. The attitude of the dogs is best dealt with early by proper socialization and by consistent, gentle discipline.

Your Chihuahua's small size means extra danger of injury and even death. A very small dog can be seriously injured by being stepped on or sat on. Be extra careful that a napping dog isn't under that couch cushion before sitting. Even dropping a dog can cause serious injury. Or the dog jumping from the back of a chair or other tall perch can do the same damage, even leading to a broken leg or worse.

Small dogs cannot deal well with cold weather, since they have little fat cushion and the small body mass chills very quickly. So be careful about exposing your pet to cold. That includes walking the dog in very cold weather or leaving your pet outside in very cold weather.

Other dogs and even cats are also possible dangers for toy breeds. One bite from a large dog can end the life of a tiny dog. So your Chihuahua must be closely supervised to protect from other animals.

Feeding a Chihuahua is more complicated because of the small size. Make any diet changes slowly and gradually since quick diet changes can cause digestive system problems and sickness. Also, treats and snacks can quickly cause an overweight dog which leads to all kinds of other problems, especially hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is common with overweight Chihuahuas and is the inability to deal with sugars properly. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to avoid it by keeping your pet on a sound, steady diet and don't feed your dog too much.

Chihuahua training is essential if you wish to have a well-adjusted and happy dog. Training a Chihuahua is much like training a dog of other breeds. But as with any toy breed, you must be gentle with your tiny dog. You must be consistent though. Remember, you should be in charge. Many Chihuahuas end up in rescue organizations, often because irresponsible owners dog not train their dogs and the dogs became too much to handle. Do not let that happen to your dog. Train early and be gentle but consistent.

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