Chihuahua advice needed again please

[Snowy Celandine]

Now I've got my beautiful little Chihuahua I am realising that there are a few 'problems' with small dogs that I've never had to solve before. Firstly, what do people do to make an area of the garden safe for a small dog to play in without coming to any harm? I have got rolls of chicken wire (because I have hens etc) but that doesn't strike me as very safe so what are the alternatives? I can see so many hazards in the back garden that I need to protect her from but once she's had her second jabs it would be nice for her to be able to play by herself off the lead.

Secondly, has anyone found any sort of bag to transport small dogs in that doesn't look as though Paris Hilton designed it? I don't want anything with a designer name or pink or decorated with diamante trim, more dark coloured and plain. I plan to take Mia on the same walks as Tilly (my whippet) but, obviously, it will be like a marathon for such a small dog so I'm pretty sure she will need carrying at some point and definitely when she is still a baby. I've found a few websites but nothing has really appealed to me yet. I'm also thinking ahead and trying to find a small waterproof coat for the autumn but, again, all I am finding is pink designer jumpers which would be pretty hopeless in the wet!

 

[Aru]

Lots of options for carrying a dog that size.look up soft cat carriers much more selection there.

As for hazards and fencing...honestly some dogs will find someway to hurt themselves no matter what you do so supervision is always going to win.But if you were looking into fencing off an area i would use more solid bars like on a normal run rather than chicken wire...they climb chicken wire quite easily if they figure it out and little legs get caught in it quite easily as well.larger more solid fencing materials are somewhat safer.

 

[Goldenstar]

Don't be silly SC you put the pup in your handbag .

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thanks Aru, I've never even heard of a soft cat carrier. I'm normally the sort who leaves their animals to get on with things so I don't have any 'equipment' but this tiny dog has made me think and I'm obviously a bit hard of thinking, ha ha. I'm going to have to investigate fencing materials a bit more closely. I've got a pond near the house so that needs fencing off and I can see little gaps under sheds and all sorts of other dangers like the log pile e.g. what if one falls off? I feel more like a new mother than a dog owner at the moment and it's weird.

Goldenstar, can't do that in case it steals my credit cards and goes on a spending spree in the pet shop, ha ha ha.

 

[lexiedhb]

I know chi owners who would beg to differ, on the carrying front, shes a dog, ok small but I imagine will keep up as long as you allow her to, treat hef the same as your others!

 

[MurphysMinder]

I know chi owners who would beg to differ, on the carrying front, shes a dog, ok small but I imagine will keep up as long as you allow her to, treat hef the same as your others!

^^^ This. Obviously whilst she is a pup you will have to limit her exercise but other than that just treat her as normal. We had chis, they ran happily with our GSDs, rolled in horse muck and generally lived a normal life. A solid fence would probably keep her in best, but otherwise chicken wire is a good option (we use it to contain our Lancashire Heeler as he walks through stock fencing). Don't forget to train her and keep her brain occupied, then she will grow up to be a happy, well balanced little dog.

 

[Morag4]

When my wee guy was a pup I used to shove him in my coat when he got tired and carry on walking the others, now he keeps up fine and even with the best of intentions and security the little ******* will usually get into mischief!

Mayhap something like this would suit whilst a pup.....

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/dog/dog-crates-and-carriers/dog-carriers/cream-fabric-carrier

 

[ribbons]

As others have said, let her walk. Mine goes for miles with the whippets no problem. When she was a pup we only took her on very short walks or carried her a bit, but now she's fine, even has a good go at keeping up when they have a sprint. The whips tend to potter along anyway unless there's a reason to speed up ! You know what whippets are like, don't waste energy for no reason.

As for coats, I had a hell of a problem. I just wanted practical, warm, and well fitting, never mind waterproof initially. All I could find was ridiculously priced nonsense that didn't fit and wasn't comfortable. What on earth does a dog need a hood for, it doesn't even act as a hood, just flops around in the way argghhh.
Anyway, I finally found some very basic little knitted jumpers that were fairly well fitting for about a fiver on amazon for a stop gap, and then set about making my own. Fairly easy actually to my surprise. I still buy the jumpers as I can't knit them any better or cheaper, but I sew little fleece coats and shower proof macs myself. I find we don't need fully water proof, chihuahuas are no keener on downpours than whippets.

 

[ribbons]

Oh, and mine is less "delicate" in personality than the whips. She loves the muck heap, and any disgustingly rotting pressie the cat leaves around, yuk.
Beware fencing, mine can climb wire like a cat. Solid panel fencing is the only guaranteed way to keep her in. However, mine is never out on her own. We have a lot of buzzards here, I don't want her ending up as a tasty snack.
I know of a case where a magpie picked up a tiny pup from the garden. It was only about 6 or 8 weeks old and was in the well fenced garden with mum and rest of litter. The magpie did drop it quickly and unharmed but it would have been a different story with a bird of prey.

 

[horseperson]

I have a small Jack Russell from day one she's been out with the big dogs, greyhound, lurcher, oes x and has never looked back. Just because their small doesn't mean you have to treat them any different she is the boss, loves rolling in mud and the smeller the better.

I hate seeing small dogs being carried in bags and dressed up in dresses, their not toys/dolls their dogs!! Sorry for my rant!! And not aimed at anyone

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thank you so much for the really useful advice everyone Maybe I needn't worry so much about her being able to keep up on walks when she's a bit older then? It would be brilliant if she could just come along and enjoy herself like I want her to.

No worries on the training front either. I couldn't cope with an untrained dog, no matter how small! She's coming on well with her toilet training and she sits on command and comes to me when I call her name. She seems very quick to pick things up but, I suspect, she will be equally quick to turn a deaf ear (even though they are as big as satellite dishes!!) when she chooses. We're off to puppy classes as soon as she's had her second jabs and I can't wait.

If I could find some little jackets and jumpers that are comfy, with no hood as ribbons says, and no diamante I will be happy, so if anyone does see any, please let me know. I am not sure how to go about knitting my own (?) because I can only work from a pattern. She's fine at the moment because its warm but I think that she will get cold quite easily because of her size.

 

[chestnut cob]

SC, could you not get something from Equafleece? http://www.equafleece.co.uk/store/dog_coats.html

They do make a chihuahua size, and also a puppy size if that turns out to be too big. Also maybe you could ask for custom made? I've used EF in the past and they're great quality.

 

[_GG_]

^^^ This. Obviously whilst she is a pup you will have to limit her exercise but other than that just treat her as normal. We had chis, they ran happily with our GSDs, rolled in horse muck and generally lived a normal life. A solid fence would probably keep her in best, but otherwise chicken wire is a good option (we use it to contain our Lancashire Heeler as he walks through stock fencing). Don't forget to train her and keep her brain occupied, then she will grow up to be a happy, well balanced little dog.

This^^

She's a Chihuahua, she'll be fine. They were bred to hunt small game, they are not going to just break from playing.

Our Jack Russell is the most well behaved, polite and lovely little chap you could meet, because he has been reared and treated just like our three big dogs. My MIL's two, a Jack Russell and a Chi cross are bl00dy awful little dogs...because they have been babied and treated like little dogs that need special care. They don't, they are still dogs. When me and Dan have them, they are fine after a few reminders of manners, but back with his folks and they are awful again instantly.

Your little Chi will be exactly what you lead her to be. So, let her find her way in the world, be there to help and guide, but try not to worry too much about her.

Also, this thread is useless without pics

 

[xgemmax]

When we took our puppy out with the older dog and she got tired, my mum used a small rucksack put on frontways and she used to sit in there (obviously opened up!)

 

[Snowy Celandine]

chestnutcob, they are perfect! Going to order a couple of those, one for Mia and one for Tilly

-GG- I will post more pics soon. I did post one already on another thread called 'My girls' (I think). I am quite definitely not having a badly behaved dog I promise you. None of my others have been and I can't see any reason why anyone would treat a small dog like a baby since it is still quite obviously a dog. I know people do treat them like babies but it makes them unpleasant little companions and I want a sweet, friendly little person that I can take everywhere with me. She's shaping up nicely so far, yay

 

[Sarah_K]

<SNIP>

If I could find some little jackets and jumpers that are comfy, with no hood as ribbons says, and no diamante I will be happy, so if anyone does see any, please let me know. I am not sure how to go about knitting my own (?) because I can only work from a pattern. She's fine at the moment because its warm but I think that she will get cold quite easily because of her size.

BIB- are you a member of Ravelry.com? My other hobby is crochet and knitting. Just had a quick look on there and there are loads of free dog sweater patterns, some for very small dogs.

There are also quite a few with hoods, but I don't think they'd be too hard to do without. You could also make a dog "teddy bear" hat- if you want to embarrass her!

 

[dollyanna]

You can make temporary jumpers for her out of old jumpers and sweaters - just cut the sleeve off and to length, cut 2 arm hole in, and hem the edges if needed - if you use fleece you won't even need to hem it. In a dire emergency you can also use a woolly sock, just chop off the end and make the arm hole and squeeze it over her head!!

I have friends with chis and they are just part of the pack - no matter what size dogs need to be dogs, I wouldn't worry about falling off logs etc, they need to have the opportunities to try things out including climbing etc, same as any other animal! No reason why she can't keep up with the pack though.

You can get dog slings like baby slings, just google "dog sling" and loads come up, eg http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product....m_medium=cpc&gclid=CMy33oKNpb8CFYbMtAodKiwAyA