Help!!

How come you didn't do research before getting a puppy?

How come you don't know how to spell your breed of choice?

Buy some books. Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar is pretty darn good. You need a lot more than we on a forum can tell you.

That is a big request.  Unless you want us to start with "puppies have sharp teeth", how about telling us how much experience you have had with dogs.

Two things I can suggest right now are

• read through this thread
• get the two books below

Dunbar, Ian, Before & After Getting Your Puppy:The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, … Dog, 5/2004
http://tinyurl.com/4d5pz    (Amazon.com)

Wood, Deborah, Little Dogs: Training Your Pint-Sized Companion, 5/2004
http://tinyurl.com/6ffqd   (Amazon.com)

I did do some research.

Mechanical Angel

In a month and a half I will be getting a chiahua puppy.

I hope that this does not mean that you plan to get a 6-week-old Chihuahua.  That is much too young!  The pup should stay with its litter until at least 8-weeks!!  They need those extra weeks for doggie socialization and bite inhibition training.

Guys, let's please try to encourage new forum members!!  The two comments below are not exactly welcoming. 

Sowilu

How come you didn't do research before getting a puppy?

He doesn't have the pup yet, so he has 6 weeks (or more) to research.

Chelsea_b

How come you don't know how to spell your breed of choice?

What does that have to do with being a good dog owner?

They said "feel free to ask any questions". That was my question.

Good luck!

 Mod's Note:

Alright guys, must I remind you that we were all newbies at one point and by insulting this OP you are doing nothing to help the situation. 

 Please post respectfully and helpfully, as the OP asked for HELP let's spare the judgments and give them some assistance to make sure this puppy has a great start with it's new owner.

 _______________________

I'd recommend going to the Chihuahua Club Of America site and gathering as much information about this breed as possible, then find a local obedience or dog training club and join.  You'll want to get your puppy in kindergarten class ASAP.  You'll want to socialize him/her to other dogs and all kinds of situations.

As Kyda said, get a crate, baby gates, collars and leashes baby beds, doy toys, chews and puppy books!  Look into our dog nutrition area and ask about feeding your chi puppy, as each breed has different needs, you'll want to make sure your baby gets a great start.

Good luck.
 

Are you getting a normal sized Chihuahua?  How did you pick your breeder?  What kind of health guarantee are you getting?

You may be able to locate a close breed club here.  If you "Edit Profile" (top right) and put in your approximate location, it would help.

Chihuahua Puppy General Care   -   Chihuahua Club of America

The vaccine info in the article is out-of-date.  The first shots should not be until 8-9 weeks.  The AAHA does not recommend Corona vaccines.  Lepto vaccines are dangerous for toy dogs.  It should be given only to dogs at high risk and never before 12-weeks-old.

Rabies vaccines should not be given within 30 days of any other vaccine.  The AAHA now recommends once every 3 years, but some localities have not yet updated their laws.

What kinds of things are you looking to know?

What kind of research have you done already - so we can better help you with thing.

Have you picked out a vet yet? Have you scheduled training classes- they do fill up quickly.

There is so much to do in preperation for a pup - what specifically are you looking to know?

 You might try being a little more specific with what you want to learn.  I'd post threads in the sections pertaining to what you want to know.  Example: Post one in training for tips on methods people have used on Chi's.  In the puppy Health section you could ask if there were any tips for you.  Nutrition as stated.

I'd also be interested in how and where you are obtaining your pup from.  We see too many new people here that have gotten pups from terrible places like NextDayPets and Back Yard Breeders, when so many are in need of homes in shelters right now.  Hopefully your pup is coming from a better source. 

Sera_J

Alright guys, must I remind you that we were all newbies at one point and by insulting this OP you are doing nothing to help the situation. 

 Please post respectfully and helpfully, as the OP asked for HELP let's spare the judgments and give them some assistance to make sure this puppy has a great start with it's new owner.

i think its pathetic and SAD that you even had to post that..... good heaven's people.... lets not crucify the person yet...

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and i do believe they came here in ORDER to talk to some chihuahua owners.... 

and yes crate training is probably going to be a great idea. i've met several that were supposedly house trained until the owners moved the furniture around in their house..... which is when they found the dog's secrete toilet...  the other thing, if it hasnt been said yet, is socialise this pup to everything and everyone.......... they have a reputation as ankle biters and yappers because people usually fail to do this... i know the breed is naturally clannish and prefers its own breed and its own people but i have known quite a few chis that were angels to strangers because they were socialised as pups.

ETA and i DO agree if you ordered that puppy online, from a shop, or profit breeder then you should probably consider getting your money back while you still can.... 

This post describes my suggested way of housetraining.

Keep track of when your pup pees.  That gives you better data than the "Rule of Thumb".