I got him a tank top, sweater, and coat :) All without sleeves! I also got him a harness that's kind of like a vest, so he can get used to wearing clothes. Apparently he was a stray before he got to the shelter so he will probably not be used to being pampered.
Thanks for the wardrobe advice, Mary! --- In [email protected], Mary Overton <mcoverton5534@...> wrote: > > 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 <michaela.margida@...> > >To: [email protected] > >Sent: Monday, September 3, 2012 9:27 PM > >Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: New adoptive chi parent :) > > > > > > > >Â > > > >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 :) > >> > > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ 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! 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