Caring for your Chihuahua Philadelphia PA

Like a child, a Chihuahua relies on you for food, housing, education, affection, toys, and medical care. But unlike a child, your puppy won’t ever become independent.

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Considering the long-term cost

Can you afford a dog? I’m talking not only about the price of the dog (which will probably be $300 to well over $1,000 for a Chihuahua puppy), but also the price of upkeep.

Some breeds — Chihuahuas for example — don’t eat much, but they still need the following:

Quality food

Puppy shots, an annual checkup complete with vaccinations, and regular worming

Minor surgery to spay or neuter

Medication to prevent heartworm

A crate, grooming equipment, a collar and leash, dog dishes, and a variety of toys and treats

And although Chis tend to be healthy, yours may rack up a big bill if he’s ever in an accident and requires emergency surgery.

You want my take? Darn right you can afford a dog! As hard as you work, you probably can swing that cruise to the Caribbean — if only you had time to take a vacation. Truth is, people seldom make time for a social life. At least you deserve the pleasure of an adoring dog when you finally get home from work at night.

Placing your Chi in your daily schedule

So you’re doing fine financially, but maybe you’re working crazy hours to reach the next rung up the corporate ladder. In that case, your Chihuahua’s excited antics when you come through the door can be just the ticket to turn your mood from office mania to bemused tranquility. Forget fuming over a frustrating meeting.

Your dog needs to be walked and fed, and both of you will look forward to snuggling through a sitcom or two. Just keep in mind that no matter how frazzled you are, and no matter how late it is, your dog still needs your attention and affection. If you and he live alone, especially, you’re his entire world.

Some offices allow employees to bring well-behaved pets to work. My Chihuahua spent many hours in the office when I worked for the American Kennel Club (AKC) in New York City. Sure, that’s a special case, but while we walked to work, we saw plenty of other pooches accompanying people carrying briefcases.

Fitting your Chi into your family’s future

Your spouse’s feelings about having a dog, your kids’ ages, your activity level, and your travel plans are important considerations when deciding whether to make a Chihuahua part of your family. Bringing home a dog when your spouse doesn’t want one is unfair to everyone. So is buying a breed your other half hates. Sure, a reluctant spouse, in some cases, comes to love the dog, but often one partner never quite comes around. Having to defend your dog on a daily basis gets old real fast, and you don’t need that. Furthermore, no dog deserves to be dumped at the pound because everyone got tired of the hassles at home.

Are you hoping to settle down and start a family in the near (or distant) future? Some breeds (Chihuahuas are one of them) are long lived, so with luck, you can plan on your dog being with you for your wedding and the births of your babies. But as sweet as that sounds, it may not be a good thing. Will your spouse also love your dog, or will he or she consider your Chi excess baggage?

Another potential problem is that some breeds (Chihuahuas included) don’t thrive around toddlers. It’s a no-fault, lose-lose situation. Tiny dogs are too delicate for young children, and kids under the ages of 6 or 7 still are geared toward stuffed animals. Imagine how long poor Pepe would last if a toddler tripped over him or swung him by one leg like a stuffed teddy.

Picking up after your Chi

What kind of housekeeper are you? Is your home casual and relaxed — the kind of place where friends gather to munch popcorn and watch videos? Or is your house so immaculate that family members remove their shoes before stepping on the cream-colored carpet?

Puppies aren’t perfect. Chances are you’ll have to clean up some accidents while housetraining your Chihuahua. Not only that, he’ll shed at intervals (or constantly) all his life. Long after he’s reliably housebroken — maybe years after you’ve moved into your dream home — he can get sick and upchuck on the new sofa. When that happens, will you view the mess as a minor annoyance or a major tragedy?

Even though a Chi’s poops are small, they can make a big mess on the bottom of someone’s shoe. Don’t forget to clean up after your dog every time you walk him. In many places, it’s the law!

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For Dummies is a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.

Featured Local Company

robin's dog walking and cat sitting

267 9122100
1035 69th ave
philadelphia, PA