Monday 12 August 2013

A Birthday Gift

Meet Little Man Charlie My Chihuahua!

I was turning fifty and decided it was time to get myself a pet. I had been watching my daugther with her cats and saw how much she enjoyed that relationship and decided that I needed a pet for myself.So I began my search for a puppy on line. I came across Charlie's picture while searching the web. The picture was so cute I couldn't resist, I had to see him for myself. I went over to visit and check the breeder out with my daughter and a friend. I wanted to be careful not to get a puppy from a puppymill. Everything with the breeder checked out and well Charlie was so cute I had to get him. Yes I caved and paid the money she was asking for him after all these years of saying people who pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars for pets are nuts.

Dog Toys

Because all dogs like to play.Charlie is no exception to the rule. He loves his stuffies.

Kyjen Egg Babies Dog Toy, Original Series, Platypus

Ethical Pet Skinneeez Exotic Series 18-Inch Dog Toy, Chicken

Ourpets DT-10504 Smarter Toys IQ Treat Ball , 5 Inches , Colors may vary

Kyjen Plush Puppies Squeaker Mat Long Body Gator Dog Toy with 16 Squeakers

Nylabone Puppy Teething Pacifier Chew Toy, Extra-Small

KONG Teddy Bear Dog Toy, Medium, Brown

About Charlie the Chihuahua

Charlie is a 14 week old Chihuahua. I did some research on Chihuahuas before I brought him home as any wise dog shopper will do before they decide on a breed. I found that Chihuahuas are among the smallest and oldest breed of dogs. They come from Mexico but it is said that they may have orginated from China. They are also a very smart dog and have gotten away with bad manners because they are so small people dismiss bad manners for being cute. Chihuahua owners have to be on their toes so the little darlings don't learn some bad habbits and get away with murder.

Dog Treats

Yup you guessed it Charlie loves his treats. I trained him to sit. lay down and do a little dance. As soon as he sees that I have a cookie for him he does all three without being asked.

Zuke's Chicken-Flavored Mini Naturals Dog Treats, 16 Ounces

Stewart's Pro-Treat 21 ounce Tub Freeze Dried Dog Treats, Beef Liver by MiracleCorp/Gimborn

Everlasting Treat for Dogs, Chicken, Large, 2-Pack

Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Treats, All Beef, 4-Ounce Ziplock Bags (Pack of 4)

Blue Dog Bakery Natural Low Fat Dog Treats, Peanut Butter & Molasses Flavor Doggie Paws, 10-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)

Pedigree Dentastix Daily Oral Care Snack Food for Adult Dogs, 6.07-Ounce Bags (Pack of 10)

06202 Rawhide Retriever Rolls 20PK

Stewart's Pro-Treat 11.5-Ounce Tub Freeze Dried Dog Treats, Chicken Liver by MiracleCorp/Gimborn

Having a Puppy is just like Having a Baby

I have had Charlie for just a little over two weeks now and have enjoyed every minute with him . Although I must admit having a puppy is much like having a baby in the house. He does a lot of eating, sleeping and playing. It seems as if he always has something in his mouth that I have to fish out with my fingers. But he is the sweetest most loving puppy. He just loves to cuddle and give kisses.

Charlie is one smart Chihuauau.

Charlie is also very smart and learns fast .Like I said I have had him for a little over two weeks and he has learned alot. I'm a big fan of the "Dog Whisper" so have decided to put some of his techinques into pratice. In the short two weeks I've had him he has learned to wait for me to use the stairs as well as go through the door . I'm also teaching him to wait before he eats his food. I'm not wanting him to get aggressive around food.

Dog Training By Cesar Millan:The Dog Whisper

Chihuahuas like any other dogs are very smart and need to know where their boundaries are. I've watched a lot of the Dog Whisper on TV and used some of his practices to train Charlie and found that they really do work. Here's some of Cesar Millan's books for you to check out.

The Dog Whisperer: Beginning and Intermediate Dog Training

Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer

Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: The Complete Third Season

How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond

The Very Best of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan

Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: Season 5

Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: Season 4, Vol. 1

Harness That Energy

As you have noticed your dog has lots of energy and likes going for walks. Charlie sure does. Because Charlie is a small breed dog I like to use a harness instead of a collar as not to injure his throat.

Puppia Soft Dog Harness, Red, Small

Puppia Soft Dog Harness Spring Pink Small

Puppia Dog Harness Dotty Black Small

Doggles Dog Harness Dress, Pink, XX Smalll

Doggles Dog Harness Jean Jacket, Blue, Small

Doggles Biker Vest Dog Harness, Black, Small

Chihuahuas need to be Socialized

He came from a home that had children as well as cats and other dogs so he is pretty well socialized which I plan to keep up. I have a nine year old grand daughter and want her to be able to come over and visit the puppy and play. So far so good. She came over the other day and played. They played well together although she found Charlie's teeth to be sharp. I'm not surprised as puppy teeth are sharp to begin with. Not to mention Chihuahua are said to have razor sharp teeth.

Dog Leashes

Flexi Classic 3 Retractable Tape Leash, Large, 110lbs, Black 16ft.

The Paws Republic Dual Retractable Freedom Leash, 10' Length

The Buddy System Hands Free Leash Regular Dog System Black Regular

Flexi Comfort 16-Feet Large Leash, 110-Pound, Granite Grey/Black

Rogz Reflective 3/4-Inch Fanbelt 6-Foot Dog Lead, Large, Black

Flexi Large Retractable 26-Foot Classic Long 3 Tape Leash, Black

Charlie the Chihuahua at the Park

It was a nice sunny warm day the other day so I decided to take Charlie for a walk along the river. He's only been on the leash around the yard so I wasn't expecting him to do to well. I also was expecting to have to carry him because he is so small. I didn't expect him to be able to walk so far. But to my surprise he walked all the way there and and all the way back. We must have walked pretty close to 3 kms. We even stopped to visit with some other dogs and their owners. Charlie was nervous at first and hid behind me when we stopped to visit one dog. But after he saw that I petted a dog he was fine. We stopped to visit quite a few dogs along the way including one pitt bull that he was fine with. I was happy to see this because my my daughter has two pitt bulls who are big sweeties and I would like Charlie to be ok with. Everybody that we stopped to talk with said how cute he was. I was so proud of the little tike.

Chihuahua's Growth

When I got Chalie he wieghed 3.75 pounds. I've read that Chihuahuas can grow to weigh as much as 5 to 6 pounds. although they were calling him Tank at the vet when he went in for his first shots. They said that he was big for his age. I think he has grown some since I gotten him. I don't have a scale but he seems to be a bit heavier.

Where Charlie the Chihuahua Likes to Sleep

One thing that I do let Charlie do that maybe I shouldn't. I let him sleep with me at night. He likes to cuddle. He sometimes sleeps by my pillow with his nose nuzzled against my neck or he sleeps cuddled up in my arms. He does move around some but those are his favorite spots. He's funny if I roll over and have my back to him he will stand up with his front paws on my back as if to say,"Hey you forgot me." so I pick him up and bring him on over and he finds his spot and is quite happily goes back to sleep. Although he does sleep with me at night I don't allow him to sleep on me all day as he would prefer to do. He got quite used to coming to sit on my lap when he was tired and wanted a nap. I got him a bed that I have next to my chair so even though I cuddle with him during the day I like him to have his naps in his bed. He's funny, he can be sound asleep but if I get up and move around he wakes up to find out where I am. Chihuahuas are known to be possessive of their owners so I don't want him to think I'm his territory. I also think it is important for him to be a liltte bit independant.

Dog Beds

K&H Bolster Couch Pet Bed, Large 28-Inch by 40-Inch, Mocha/Tan

K&H Lectro-Soft Heated Outdoor Bed, Small

Brindle 4" Solid Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed, Medium 34" x 22"

AlphaPooch Cuddler Rectangular Bolster Dog Bed, Red and Tan Plaid Fabric with Fleece, Medium

K&H Orthopedic Superior Pet Bed, Large 40-Inch by 50-Inch, Mocha Paw Bone Print

Extra Large 40"X35"X4" Orthopedic 100% Memory Foam Pad Pet Bed for Large Dog with long lasting denim cover + Waterproof case

Charlie and the Cats

Charlie also likes to play. We have two cats who are not quite sure about him but are getting used to the idea of having a dog in and house and have attempted to play with him a few times. Poor Charlie learned to be careful around the cats very quickly. The first day here he saw one of the cats under the chair and got all excited. He started barking and jumping around the cat. As you can imagine the big cat gave him a good swat.It's really quite comical to see a cat afraid of a dog as small as Charlie. Our biggest cat weighs at least 10 pounds more than Charlie. But I guess cats are cat and dogs are dogs no matter how big or small they are.

Dog Jackets To Keep Them Warm

Since Charlie is a small breed dog he gets cold during the fall and winter months so I put a jacket on him to keep him warm. Here are a few for you to chose from.

Fashion Pet Bone Patch Medium Cable Dog Sweater, Pink

Suede Shearling Coat MD Camel

Petego Dogrich Italian Winter Dog Coat, Orange, 8 Inches

Casual Canine Cotton Camo Dog Hoodie, X-Small, Green

Pet Life Metallic Fashion Parka with Removable Hood in Metallic Grey Small

Pet Life Metallic Ski Parka in Winter White Medium

Fashion Pet Quilted Large Dog Parka, Red

East Side Collection Polyester Hooded Sherpa Dog Coat, Small, 12-Inch, Chocolate

Preparing for a Puppy

Even though puppies are fun to have and watch you still need to prepare for a puppy much like you do with a baby. You have to puppy prove your house by making sure there aren't things laying around that he can chew, things such as electrical cords. I did a shopping trip to buy some supplies to help me look after a new puppy. It is like bringing home a new baby.Along with Charlie's bed I also got a collection of toys that he loves to play with. I just sit here and laugh at him. He acts like such a tough guy when he plays. I got him a pen that I put in corner of the kitchen with his little crate in. He goes in there when I go out or have a shower. I don't want him to have run of the house and go to the bathroom where ever. I also bought a supply of pee pads. He came trained to toliet on the pee pads. As he was a winter baby and it was to cold for the puppies to go out to do thier business. I hoping not to have to use these for long. Charlie is in the process of being house trained. He will go when we take him out but doen't ask to go out. So we have to be deligent and take him out when he wakes up and after he eats and several times in between. He does good at night. He generally has to go when i do so I run to the kitchen put him in his pen then I go do my thing and then go back and get him. Then we go back to bed. Oh yes and don't forget the new wardrobe. Because Chihuahuas are so small they do need some extra covering to keep warm outside especially in these cold winter months. He does shiver when he gets cold. I went to the pet store and got the cutest little vest for him. It's cute but it also keeps him warm. I also got him a harness instead of a leash. Chihuahuas have very small tracheas which are easy to damage so its important to protect it by uslng a harness instead of a leash. I should have gotten him a helmet too because Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot on their heads which don't close up until they are several months old just like a human baby.

Dog Fashions

We all like dressing up our babies that includes you four legged babies. Here are some fashions for you to pick from.

Fashion Pet Pink and Green STRIPED PJ'S, Small

Fashion Angels Design A Heavenly Pet Wardrobe-small box

Cool Dog Dog Clothing by Kakadu Pet, X-Small, 10", Red

East Side Collection Polyester/Cotton Yappily Ever After Dog Groom Tuxedo, Small, 12-Inch

Casual Canine Cotton 16-Inch Tie Dye Peace Sign Dog Tee, Medium

Pets First NCAA University of Alabama Crimson Tide Cheerleader Dog Outfit, Medium

He'll be around for awhile

I'm really happy that I got Charlie and am expecting to enjoy this happy relationship for a long time since the life expectancy of a Chihuahua is about 15 years.