Welcome to the group! Wow, 1.2 pounds isn't much there to reprimand, LOL! Personally, I do not recommend a child that young to be handling a chi that tiny at all. I would be concerned about a baby hurting a chi that tiny. It doesn't take much for a baby to fall on a chi that size or accidently hit it with a flinging arm while playing and the results would be devastating to all. Also consider that a chi that small usually still has a soft skull spot It would be best if you held Scooter and she was allowed to just pet him, but not engage with her playing and hugging. Babies that young can hug to tight and hurt a tiny chi. Plus you are then leaving the door open for a frightened chi to bite from fear and or pain.
A 5 month old puppy, regardless of the breed, is still teething and wants to chew on things. Rawhide is okay as long as it is a big size so that he cannot swallow pieces of it. Pigs ears aren't for chi's they are thin enough that a chi can eat them and it will cause digestion problems. When he does go to nip, give a sharp NO and you can hold his muzzle lightly and say No Bite, then put him down and ignore him for a couple of minutes. If he was with his mother and he was to nip her, she would nip the back of his neck and then turn her head away, showing him that she is going to ignore him when he bites. By the same token, some people have had success by just giving a light poke on the back of the neck and saying 'no bite' and then ignore him for a few minutes. Another method is to use a squirt bottle As soon as he nips, give him a squirt of water and say 'No Bite' and walk away. Interesting that you state he is only doing this because he wants to be fed. Some where along the line, it sounds like confused signals between you both at feeding time. So, don't feed him when he does that and don't pick him up when it is time to be fed. If he is in a gated area or a crate, call him out and have him follow you to his dish or better yet feed him inside of his crate. Treat him like you would if he was a 50 pound dog and you will avoid many issues as he develops. Don't mean to sound too critical, but there is no such thing as a miniature chi, or for that matter a teacup chi. The standard for chis is up to 6 pounds. The tiny one's such as yours, are really the runt of a litter, and not considered to be of good breeding stock as the majority of them usually have a lifetime of health issues. Which, I certainly hope isn't going to be a happen with Scooter. P.S. Don't give the Booster and Rabies together, wait at least a month after the last series of his regular shots before you give the rabies. There can be serious side effects when both shots are given at the same time, especially on a chi that small and regardless as to whether your Vet says not to worry about. Anyone that has gone though it will tell you, it is worth the wait, and way to risky. -------Original Message------- From: uncasheville_mom Date: 3/6/2012 12:22:13 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Chihuahuas] Hi I'd like to introduce myself. Hi, I'm Lisa & I live in Hickory, NC. I got my first Yorkshire Terrier in 1996 for my birthday & after that I was eager to learn all I could about yorkies. Now skip forward to 2011 & I got my first miniature chihuahua & I'm in puppy dog heaven all over again! My chi's name is Scooter, he's a male & was born 9/23/11. I adopted a West Highland Terrier in April 2011 & she's spayed, housebroken, & knows basic commands. Missy is the first dog we've ever had that fetches & my boys love that about her! My youngest son is 20 & a college student so my dogs don't have much interaction with small children except when my granddaughter age 2 1/2 visits & so far he's been well mannered with her. I strongly discourage him from biting & immediately give him a play toy after reprimanding him "no biting". Then when he seems alert & I pick him up sometimes he nips me to let me know he wants to be fed & again comes the reprimand "no biting" in a firm voice. Is this something he s going to outgrow?? I don't know anything about the chihuahua breed other than what I've read online, so I'm learning as I go. Scooter is 5 months old now & weighed 1.2 pounds at his check up in Dec. & is due to go back for his last booster & rabies this month. I provide Scooter with a lot of rawhide chews, pigs ears, rubber puppy toys, rope & ball toys as well as loose balls. He's very playful & plays well with the girls. I promised my son that if Scooter ever bit my granddaughter & I pray that it never happens that I'd place him in a suitable home or return him to his owner. I hope that with the proper correction & staying on cue for feeding times that this will be a problem he'll outgrow soon! Thanks for having me in the group, Lisa Hickory, NC
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