I would get a sweater and a coat. Mine like the sleeveleess teashirts in the summer since the house is airconditioned. Mine seem to wear sleeveless the best
Mary Overton 816-457-0597 >________________________________ > From: michaela_and_merit <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Monday, September 3, 2012 9:27 PM >Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: New adoptive chi parent :) > > > > > >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 mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com, 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: mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com >> 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 mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com, 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: mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com >> > 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 mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com, 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: mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com >> > > 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 :) >> > > >> > >> > > > > >
