That's so funny-- I guess she really didn't know the perch wasn't her toy :) Bird perches probably taste great to dogs... dirty bird feet plus wood, score! (dogs can be so gross, haha). And you are so right about shopping-- I went on Saturday to get his crate, bowls, harness, leash, nail clippers, brush, toothbrush, food, treats, etc. and it was SO MUCH FUN!! Today I got pretty distracted from my work by shopping online for dog sweaters. Do you have any favorite places/ websites to buy clothing? I am looking for something masculine for Merit :) He is about 1 yr old and I don't know how much he weighs... and since I am new to chis I can't even really estimate! I am visiting him tomorrow so maybe I can find out :) And here's the million dollar question-- what items of clothing are "essential" for a chihuahua living in a midwestern climate? I actually live in the South but will be spending December in Ohio. Will he need boots? Coat or sweater?? I'm lost-- so many options. Please advise :)
--- In [email protected], Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@...> wrote: > > Gigi isn't normally a chewer, but last week I was cleaning the parrot cage > and laid a large thick perch on the floor. I walked into another room for a > moment and when I came back, Gigi must have decided that the perch was her > new toy, cause she was chewing the corner off of it. She didn't act guilty > either, she was happy as a lark wagging her tail and looking at me. Now that > she knows it is not a toy for her I doubt that she will do it again. > > I can understand your anxiety waiting to bring Merit home. I felt the same > thing when I adopted Princess from the shelter. But I lifted my spirits > one day by going out shopping for her. I have to say, I still remember how > happy I felt and how much I enjoyed that day. I felt like I was shopping for > a new grandchild again! I bought her everything that day, two beds, tons of > toys, dishes, collars and leads, tshirts, snacks. I went to every store that > carried dog stuff. My dollar and discount stores here are great for dog > items and they are made well too. Bought tons of stuff with the name > Princess" on them. Did the same thing for Gigi the day after I got her. > What fun! > > BTW, do you know how old and how much Merit weighs? > > Peggy & The Girls > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: michaela_and_merit > Date: 9/3/2012 12:11:42 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: New adoptive chi parent :) > > > Gigi sounds like a character :) I didn't buy Merit a bed yet because I want > to see if he chews things up and destroys them first. I have a few blankets > for him in his crate. Do chis usually chew things up?? Well, I'm sad because > the shelter's closed today for the holiday so I can't go visit him. > Hopefully this will not mean a delay in processing the adoption!! Shelter > staff told me 3-5 business days so I HOPE I get him by Friday!! I am keeping > my fingers crossed. > > --- In [email protected], Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@> wrote: > > > > LOL Michaela! I am sure that he will love your t-shirt to lay upon. A lot > of > > chi's like to snuggle in those baby acrylic blankets. I found a couple of > > them at the dollar store. > > > > The strange thing with Gigi, as compared to most other chis, is that she > > doesn't like blankets in her bed. She will go through great lengths to > pull > > them out. Since she was a BYB dog and was loaded with newspaper print, I > don > > t think that she ever had blankets and soft beds. In fact when I first got > > her and put newspaper on her wee tray, I found her sleeping on it several > > times. Now she loves her beds and has even claimed the larger beds that > were > > originally bought for Princess. When the winter comes in, I will put the > > blankets out again and maybe this year she will like them. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > > > From: michaela_and_merit > > Date: 9/2/2012 3:05:57 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: New adoptive chi parent :) > > > > > > Thank you so much for your reply, Peggy! I especially appreciate your tip > > about taking him something that smells like me while he is still at the > > shelter. I am going to go visit him tomorrow and take the T shirt I was > > wearing when we first met each other yesterday (I didn't wash it). I am so > > glad to have all the support and tips!! Thank you very much for all your > > advice. > > > > --- In [email protected], Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@> wrote: > > > > > > Hi Michaela! And congratulations on your new baby! So happy that you > > decided > > > to adopt a shelter chi and save his life. > > > > > > Well, for a starter you are absolutely right about them not doing well > in > > a > > > shelter. They are real people dogs and thrive on attention. Since you > have > > > to wait a week, I would suggest visiting him atleast once a day if that > is > > > possible, so he can get use to you before you take him home. That will > > help > > > to relieve some of his anxiety and stress. Bring him a small blanket and > a > > > cuddle toy and some treats. He will remember your scent on them. > > > > > > Also, chis are prone to hypoglycemia from stress, so it would be a good > > > thing to pick up a tube of Nutra-Cal. It is sold in most pet shops. It > > will > > > replenish his electrolytes and balance his sugar level, especially after > > his > > > surgery. Let him lick it off the tube several times a day for the first > > week > > > Use it any time in the future that you know a situation will be > stressful > > > for him. > > > > > > Try to find a good all natural dog food with the first two ingredients > > > chicken. A good ratio would be protein 26-28%, and fat not higher then > 14% > > > since chis gain weight easily. Treats will be trial and error, since > every > > > dogs taste is different. Whatever you decide make sure the package > > > says that all the ingredients are from the USA and made in the USA. If > it > > > says distributed by a US company, then the odds are it was made and > > imported > > > from China. Many dogs have become very sick and many deaths have > occurred > > > because of treats that have been imported and the FDA still hasn't made > it > > > mandatory for them to be removed from stores shelves, because although > > they > > > know they are making the dogs sick, their test can't prove what is in > them > > > that is so fatal to dogs, and by law cannot have them taken off the > market > > > until they have scientific proof. > > > > > > Once you get him home and he has recovered from his neuter and it is > time > > to > > > have him checked out by a private vet, my advise is to have a full blood > > > panel done. That will ensure that all his vital organs are functioning > > > properly, and prevent any issues that may show up in the future. > > > I had that done on my Gigi who I found as a free chi, and I knew that > she > > > needed medical attention for teeth and spaying, but only the blood test > > > showed that she has liver issues that was causing her to have seizures. > I > > > have since changed her diet several times and she has been seizure free > > and > > > her liver is stabilized for some time now. If I didn't have the blood > test > > > done, I would never have known what was causing the seizures and she > would > > > have kept getting worse, because I would not have known that she needed > to > > > be on a very low protein and fat diet to stabilize her liver function. > > > > > > You may also want to pick up a couple of t-shirts for him. Chis like to > be > > > warm, and if your house has a/c and he shakes, or wants to hide curled > up > > in > > > a ball, it may not be nerves but he is chilled. > > > > > > As far as housebreaking goes, it should start from day one. Most shelter > > > dogs loose their memory on that until they are directed where to go. So > my > > > advise is to pretend that he is a puppy, and start training from scratch > > > If > > > you live in a warm climate and want to housebreak him outside, then > start > > > that way. If you live with cold winters and lots of rain, then you may > > want > > > to train him on wee pads, or newspaper first. When you walk a dog it > will > > > naturally pee outside to mark territory any way. If you work, then I > > > strongly advise gating an area that is large enough to have a bed and > > > food/water and toys at one end, leaving enough space in the middle for > him > > > to walk around in and at the other end put the pads or paper on a large > > tray > > > He should stay in that area whenever you cannot monitor him, until he is > > > fully housebroken. It is a lot better then keeping him in a crate for > the > > > entire day. Crates are okay for a couple of hours, but I personally feel > > > that a dog should not be kept in them for 8-10 hrs while the owner is at > > > work all day. > > > > > > Well lots of luck and enjoy your new baby! Looking forward to seeing his > > > pics next week! > > > > > > > > > > > > PS: Princess was adopted from a shelter when she was under 2yrs old, she > > is > > > a mini American Eskimo, and Gigi is a tri-colored Long Hair chi. > > > she was adopted at about 6 yrs old, they are both about 8 yrs old now. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > > > > > From: michaela_and_merit > > > Date: 9/1/2012 6:28:58 PM > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: [Chihuahuas] New adoptive chi parent :) > > > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > > > I joined this group because I want to be sure I provide the best care > > > possible for my new best friend. His name is Merit, and I placed a > deposit > > > on him at the local APS shelter this morning. He needs the standard > > medical > > > procedures (neutering, immunizations, flea and tick prevention) and then > > he > > > will be ready to come home to me later this week! > > > > > > I am so excited about him! I always had dogs growing up, but Merit will > be > > > my first dog since living on my own. I am 24 years old, a graduate > student > > > > > and live in a townhouse in a quiet suburban area. I have done a ton of > > > research on chis and feel pretty prepared in terms of general knowledge, > > > such as nail clipping, tooth cleaning, vet visits, etc. but I would > really > > > value some advice from chihuahua experts like you all! > > > > > > Is there anything you wish someone had told you that would have made > > > training your chihuahua much easier? Is there a particular treat or > > activity > > > that would be fun for Merit to try? Please share any tips and tricks you > > can > > > think of that might be helpful for a new chihuahua owner. > > > > > > Thank you! > > > Michaela > > > > > > P.S. Merit is chocolate with a short coat (I will share a picture once > he > > is > > > home!). He's one year old and is fairly timid-- life in the shelter has > > been > > > really hard for him to deal with because it is so loud and scary with > all > > > those dogs barking and howling. So I'd especially value advice on how to > > > make him feel comfortable in his new home :) > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
