I think his life before he ended up on the streets may have included being potty trained!! He seems to know he should only go outside. I am super impressed with him so far!!
He was initially scared to put on his vest, because at the shelter they use leashes with attached collars for all the dogs, but now he loves it. I got him a carrier that is about the size of a cat carrier and it has a place for the seatbelt to be threaded through. I took him to the airport with me last night to pick up my housemate and he was pretty good. He sang to himself (cried) for the first 10 minutes of being in the car, then he seemed to go to sleep. I sang (100 bottles of beer on the wall, actually) right back and he seemed to get calmer :) --- In [email protected], Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@...> wrote: > > What fun!! He maybe use to some pampering, he had a life before he ended up > on the streets. Glad you got him the vest harness, I did forget to mention > that, and that chis should never be walked with a leash attached to a collar > Their neck bones are way to fragile for that. Not sure if you mentioned > that you got him a carrier or not. He will need to be in one while you are > driving, or harnessed to a doggie seat booster. If you should ever have to > stop short, a chi will go flying and that can cause serious injury to him. > For me, I feel safer that Gigi is in a hard carrier, and I have the middle > seat buckle attached to the left seat buckle in the back seat of my car and > the belt wraps around her carrier quite well. I also slipped a short 2 foot > leash through that and it holds Princess back from falling to the front in > between the bucket seats. She still has enough room to stand and look out > the windows. A friend of mine gave me an idea how to attach a milk carton > under the bottom of Gigi's hard carrier so that the carrier is raised and > she too can see out the window. I haven't gotten to that yet, but it is on > my to do list, and I hope that it works. I would have Princess in a carrier, > but her's is to > big to fit in the rear seat with Gigi's. > > Here in NY and many other states it is the law to have your dog buckled in, > or in a carrier. You will also need flea/tick meds.They are quite bad all > over this year. > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: michaela_and_merit > Date: 9/5/2012 8:28:39 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: New adoptive chi parent :) > > > 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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