During the day

A lively Chihuahua puppy will be fed little and often therefore he will need to toilet little and often.
When you bring your puppy home you really need to dedicate at least 2/4 weeks to toilet training.

Do not give him total freedom of your house he cannot cope with large areas at first.
It is not always possible to put a tiny Chihuahua puppy outside if it is raining or windy or bitterly cold so ‘newspaper or puppy wee wee pads are a great help.
Take your puppy to where you want him to toilet every waking hour, after feeds or play or if he restless whilst being handled.

Use both inside and outside toilet areas.
Most if not all breeders will have your puppy used to newspaper for toileting anyway.
Put the newspaper down so it is easily accessible for the puppy and convenient to you.
The door to the garden is a good place and on warm days you can leave the door open and he will then naturally go outside.

When he first wees on the newspaper leave it down for a few hours this will then encourage him to visit it again, if he poo’s in the wrong place, pick the poo up and put it on the newspaper or the area in the garden you want him to use and again leave it there for awhile to encourage him to return.

Keep praising him when he does it in the right place.

Night Time

I suggest using a crate/travel box.
The crate can be placed close to your bed for the first few nights to provide a feeling of security and help during this house-training period.
If the puppy cries put a hand down to him to reassure him if he does not stop crying take him outside to relieve himself.
Praise then put back in crate.
A couple of nights of this routine and the puppy should start sleeping through the night.
In the morning take him out immediately upon waking to the place you want him to toilet.
During the day put the open crate into your family room or kitchen and this can then become his den and in the event of the children from hell visiting or an over boisterous large dog he can safely and happily be shut in his den.

This can be an invaluable piece of equipment it can used during house training and can become a safe den for your puppy as mentioned in ‘house training’ when you have young children visiting or any unsafe situations in your home also a bedroom for your dog when visiting.

The puppy pen should have newspaper one end and a soft blanket and bed the other
With food and water bowls and toys.
It should be placed in an area where he can see and hear his family.

When you collect your puppy make sure the breeder has given you a diet sheet prior to his collection.
If you feel you want to change the diet given to you by the breeder try and leave it for at least a month and then gradually give him what you have chosen.

A puppy at 12 weeks should be fed at least 5 times a day.
At 16 weeks 3 meals and 6 months twice daily.

ALLWAYS leave clean fresh water available.
In my opinion the scientifically made commercial foods are better for dogs but of course everyone has different opinions and preferences on feeding.

I can only give you advice on my own experiences.
I particularly like ‘Royal Canine’ dog food they do a huge range and if you contact them through their website the will help you to find the one that is right for your dog and inform you of local stockists.

www.royalcanine.co.uk

When feeding a biscuit food there is very little need to clean your dogs teeth and house training is easier too because there is less but firmer poo delivered and it is easier to pick up.
This type of food will appear to be more expensive, but it is not …you feed far less than a tin food that is mostly full of water and do not need to keep food in fridge once opened and you can leave it down all day for your dog to eat when he wants.

Whilst your puppy is still small you may feel you want to give him milk.do not give cows milk but instead give goats milk they truly love this and is very kind to their tummies unlike cows milk.
Goat’s yoghurt is also very palatable to Chihuahuas and a good supplement to their diet and a nutritional asset at times of illness, old age, whelping and puppy rearing.

Your Chihuahua should NEVER travel loose in your car.
He should always without exception be transported in a hard-sided travel box; the type used for cats is perfect and very inexpensive.
I have heard many stories of accidents and deaths where Chihuahuas have been hurdled through windows and windscreens on to roads and have broken neck and legs from falling on the floor of the car from sitting on some ones lap.

Overseas travel.

If you decide that you want to take your dog overseas with you, you must go to the vet at least 7 months before wish to return to the UK.
You will need rabies inoculations blood test and microchip.
Go to www.DEFRA.co.uk for more information.
Only a few airports will handle dogs and not all ports will accept travelling dogs, so make sure well in advance of the animal handling procedures.
Again your Chihuahua will at least have to spend some of the journey in a cage so if he is used to his travelling box he will not be distressed.

Tit bits and Treats
There some excellent chewy sticks and bones available at the pet shops, great for teething puppies some can even freshen breath and keep teeth clean.
Tit bits can also be a great training aid. Do not feed tit bits from your table otherwise you will find your dog becoming excitable and bad mannered at your meal times. Cheese, carrots and chicken are great favourites

Before you embark on this very expensive and time consuming hobby make sure it is right for you.
Go to as many Championship shows you can. You can find out about these in the dog press in the newsagents and on the Internet. go to www.ourdogs.co.uk and   www.dogworld.co.uk
The big Championship shows are very exciting and you will see many breeds and meet breeders from all over the country and there are plenty of trade stands where you can spend pots of money.
The Breed clubs also run shows that many dogs attend but only of that breed but here you can often learn the most as breeders and exhibitors are easier to approach and talk to as they are not full of the hustle and bustle of the general all breeds championship shows.
When you visit a show make sure you are there before judging starts approx 9.30am and stay until the end of the judging where the judge awards the Best Of Breed in my opinion this is the very best way to learn.
Talk to as many people as you can and find out who are your local breeders and ask to visit them to see their dogs.
And when you do eventually go with your own dog to the show always remember that what ever the judge or anyone else says. YOU take home the very best dog.