That is some VERY good advice. We just got a 6 mo old pit pup given to us
yesterday, she and her brother were dumped at a mans house and they had been
fed antifreeze. Her brother died, and the man nursed her back to health, but
she's stunted i think...The man who gave her to me is retired, and they're not
home much, so he thought she needed a better home.... Anyway, she weighs about
25 pounds, so she's small. And her playmate next door at her old house was a
chi. Well, now i don't have to worry about at least one of my dogs not getting
along with a chi.
I've been showing my husband the messages that i have gotten from you all. I
think me might be reconsidering our decision on a chi now. Which is probably
best. I don't think our family is suitable for a chi, just because they are so
small, and my kids are more used to larger dogs, expecially larger dogs like my
pit bulls who don't care what the kids do to them.
Also, I am not the type of person who can deal with "messes" all over the
house. Messes drive me NUTS! We had a german shep once who wouldn't house
break, so after a month he found a new home..especially after he peed on our
christmas tree. Also, I'm used to dealing with pits, and pit bulls have a
different standard of everything compaired to other dogs. I don't think we're
ready for a chi. Every breed has is pro's and con's. But for ME, RIGHT NOW,
the con's of having a chi outweigh the pro's.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Leslie I am going to offer some very opinionated advice which is
definitely not meant to offend anyone but here it is...
Some Chihuahuas CANNOT be housebroken. Which is to say that they cannot be
allowed to have the run of your home with the expectation that they will not
potty somewhere other than outside. I believe by nature larger dogs are easier
to housebreak. Instinct tells a dog NOT to potty where they sleep, for a
larger dog that requires more room the off limits potty area will likely be the
entire house. But for a tiny Chihuhaua, they only need a small area to sleep,
meaning the rest of the house is fair game.
I have learned through experience that even if a chihuahua KNOWS not to potty
inside, often they will still do it. Behind a chair, on the carpet, someplace
hidden. This is because they KNOW they aren't supposed to do it.
Now the advice part is that you really need to think LONG and HARD about
wether this is something you are prepared to deal with. I feel if it is
EXTREMELY important for you to have a dog that has the run of the house and is
completely housebroken, the Chihuahua is probably not the right breed for you.
I am not saying this is true for all Chihuahuas but I think you need to ask
yourself if you bought one that turned out to be difficult to housebreak, what
would you do? If you cannot answer that you are prepared to pull up carpeting,
give up on your lovely decorative rugs throughout the house, and have a mop
handy at all times, maybe the pits are the best choice for your family.
Given your situation, I also think perhaps you need to look into a Chihuahua
on the larger end of the size spectrum, perhaps a longcoat. In my experience
the larger LC are a little better with children, not to mention you have Pit
Bulls in the house. If you do decide to get one, please be sure the breeder is
willing to take the puppy back if it does not work out.
Amber All
Soigne Chihuahuas
www.soigne.moonfruit.com
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