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Chihuahua
Does anyone have a chihuahua? The little smooth haired ones, especially the fawn and white, sure are cute and my wife wants a house dog again. A nearby animal shelter had a young female come up for adoption yesterday, but there were 4 people wanting her so they had a drawing and we didn't win. I've heard conflicting stories about them perhaps being hard to house break and sometimes being bad tempered, although the couple I've seen lately were certainly friendly. What's others' experience with them?
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Bird
I have had several friends who have owned Chihuahuas. Their universal traits are yapping & lack of bladder control. Just about anything get's them excited & that's when they cut loose.
Have you checked out Boston Terriers? They are very intelligent, easily trained, & know (+ let you know) when it's time to go outside.
Marty
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Thanks for the information, Marty. I don't really know what we're going to do. Our last dog was a rat terrier we got from the animal shelter and couldn't have asked for a better dog than he was. However, if we get another dog, we'd prefer one even smaller. One of our daughters has a pair of maltese. They're good little dogs and she'd like to give us one when she has a litter, but I don't want a shaggy dog. A Boston Terrier would probably be a good one to consider.
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Consider a small poodle also.
Egon
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No, no, Egon. We (well, actually our youngest daughter) had a small poodle many years ago; never again. Unless I lose a battle with my wife, there won't be any dogs that have to be taken to the beauty shop for grooming. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
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Very smart of you considering the grooming factor, which you would need to do with the Maltese, too.
Chihuahuas are know for their small bladders, but the ones I take care of all have pretty good potty skills. They are also all on the timid side and the one still hasn't warmed up entirely to her owner's husband I am told. You'll find this with a lot of lap dogs, though. They are primped and pampered and don't get "out" much and socialized. Most of the people I know that have them have them trained to go on puppy pads (or Depends actually, much cheaper). They live a long time, too.
I'd go for it. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
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Thanks, Fred. I think we want a young (or fairly young adult), preferably female, chihuahua, but I'm leary of the ones advertised for sale by the puppy mills, besides the fact that I'd rather not pay $600 to $900 for a pet if I can find one in a shelter that we can save. I'm guessing though that those are the ones adopted the quickest, so the hardest to find.
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BIrd, There is a lot more risk in getting a Chihuahua than in a rat terrier as regards "accidents" on the floor or your lap. One of the problems with them is the same problem there was with Dalmations... fadish popularity which triggers of a puppy boom from unethical back yard breeders and puppy mills.
Millions of dollars worth of TV adds for Taco Bell and a few by GEICO fed a frenzy. If you go for the little c in place of the terrier I hope you get a good one.
I'll drop the other shoe now. "101 Dalmations" reruns, the remake, and sequel sparked a frenzy of GOTTA HAVE A DALMATION mania. According to insurance actuary statistics gleaned from hospital emergency rooms the Dalmation is one of the worst biters out there.
Bird with a "Rat on a rope" (tiny dog on a leash) takes a little getting used to... I could see a shepard or a golden retriever or...
[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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Yeah, Pat, I know what happened with the Dalmations. And I'm not the one who wants a dog; my wife wants one. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] The trouble is that after we get one, I get too attached to it, too. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
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I grew up with a Chihuahua as MY DOG, and when, as a grown man, I had to have him put down, I wept for hours. He was MY DOG, and I loved him.
That said, I would never have one again. Looking back with the objectivity of time, I can say he was a miserable beast. Entertaining in many ways, but a miserable beast. A biter, a constant yapper at guests, and would turn on us in a nanosecond if we offended him.
It's a wonder we didn't get sued!
His hair, while short, got into everything. Very stiff, so it worked its way into fabrics.
As for Boston Terriers, they can be VERY aggressive.
Consider a Pomeranian. For a little dog, they seem to have good temperments - more like a big, laid back, dog.
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The only thing with a Pomeranian, they own the house.
Good alarm dog, but once you are in, they are friendly.
Independent, smart, quick learners, like to bark, obstinate. When they are young, they like to run, an open door for a second and they are gone, this gets a lot better once they are older.
Ours acts more like a cat sometimes, up on back of couch, then lay there and look out the window.
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Mark, that's kind of what I'm afraid of with a chihuahua. And of course I know both my wife and I would get attached to any dog we get and it'd be tough if or when something happened to it.
I just don't want a long haired dog. If I did, we'd get a maltese. But I really thing that IF we get a dog, we'd be better off with a rat terrier, or at least we would if it were anything like the last one we had. Buster loved everyone and everything. He'd play with anyone or any animal that would play with him and didn't want to hurt any of them.
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Bird, My sister inherited an 11 wk old Chihuahua 4 months ago. We think she came from a puppy mill because she had fleas and worms. She is fine now. Litter box trained. Not “yappyâ€Â. Very social with a sweet disposition. Loves people. Gets along great with her “big brotherâ€Â, a much larger 14 yr old mixed breed, and with her “cousin†a Boston Terrier puppy. DH has never been one for small breeds but Lola has won his heart. This first pic is Lola 4 months ago.
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This second pic is Lola at yesterday's Christmas celebration.
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Welcome to one of the friendliest spots to visit with folks. About your pet rat... Cute but I keep expecting to hear it say, "Yo quiero Taco Bell!" Cute ads but too much after a few jillion repeats. Totally unfair but it primed many of us to have an entirely different attitude toward the cute lil things.
[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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Bird:
Just noticed this article.
FREMONT, Calif. - A pack of angry Chihuahuas attacked a police officer who was escorting a teenager home after a traffic stop, authorities said.
Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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Pat: Thank you for the "welcome". Been a quiet member for several years. It took a thread about man's best friend for me to finally speak up. [img]/forums/images/icons/smirk.gif[/img] DH and I really appreciate all the info everyone shares on CBN and TBN. Happy New Year to all.
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Lola looks like exactly what my wife would like to have.
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Hey, Bird. My parents have been owned by one for about 15 years now. She has always been a "one-family" dog, meaning fine with us but if you are a stranger- don't come near! This dog is now blind, but can still find the food bowl. She weighs about 15 pounds, and we call her the watermelon on legs. With that much water in her, you'd think she was one to let go a lot. Nope. Good bladder on that one. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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Yep, Bret, I've known some of those "one family" dogs and there are some advantages to that, but I'd prefer one that's friendly with everyone.
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Well, my wife finally got herself a 12 week old watchdog today.
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Cute little feller. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Egon
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Yeah, cute but can he say Yo quiero Taco Bell? [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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Nope, Pat, she has barely learned that she has a voice; doesn't use it much at all, but is definitely a soprano.
Fred mentioned Chihuahuas being a bit timid at first; not this little scamp. She's just looking for anyone or anything that'll play with her.
And DUMBDOG mentioned a Pomeranian that acts like a cat. Yep, some other folks have mentioned this Chihuahua acting like a cat. She wants to climb as high as she can, up on your shoulder, or on the back of chairs, and then when she gets tired . . . well, you can see for yourself.
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Bird, That shot says it all. The "MIB" (Man In Blue) with his faithful companion. You know what they say about dogs looking like their masters or vice versa. I notice you both have the same haircut. Is a little blue suit in the offing for the lil cutie?
[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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She sure looks like some watch dog. Looks like she is watching the inside of her eyelids.
Cute little thing.
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Think I could fall asleep in that chair too! [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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Looks plenty comfey for sure! [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
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Very cute pic. Are you sure she's not part feline? [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I'm glad she is a very outgoing pup.
What I meant by saying that they can be timid, is that some owners don't get the little guys out and about and being pet by strangers as often as bigger dogs, so they have a tendency to become timid yappers or fear snappers just by lack of socialization. Little dogs tend to lead a more pampered and sheltered life, which is obviously what a lot of them were developed for...
Keep us updated with pics [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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Yeah, I understand Fred. I know a lot of very small dogs don't get a chance to socialize with either other dogs or people other than their owners. But this one goes with us to the nursing home at least 3 or 4 days a week where both staff and residents want to play with her. And she goes frequently with us to our daughter's home where she plays not only with our daughter and grandson, but their pair of Maltese. And our next door neighbors, young couple with a one year old daughter, have already volunteered (without us asking) to look after her if we ever need to go anywhere without her. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] So I think from the very start she'll be accustomed to other people and animals.
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She looks very sweet, Bird. Congratulations!
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The little scamp is a real corker, always underfoot so we have to watch carefully to not step on her. When we got her she weighed one pound 10 ounces and the second day we had her she discovered she could fit through the chain link fence. But in 3 weeks, she's gained one pound, and I think (hope?) she's too big to fit through the chain link now.
Housebreaking has gone very well. She very quickly learned that if she goes to the back door and looks back, someone will open it. When the sun's shining she wants to be outside anyway. But since the temperature hasn't gotten above the freeze mark the last two days, she takes care of business and comes running back in a hurry.
She's either sound asleep, as in that picture, or going full speed ahead, ready to play with anyone and everyone; human or animal.
Of course I go to the nursing home to see my mother every morning and now if I don't take her, everyone wants to know where she is 'cause they all want to play with her. The old ladies that are bed want her in bed with them and she just has a ball exploring.
This morning we got ready to go about 7 a.m. and couldn't find her. I thought she had followed my wife into the bathroom and my wife thought she was in the living room with me. We spent 15 minutes searching the house for her, under beds, chairs, and sofa and in every room. Twice we heard her whine but not long enough to trace the sound. My wife was rapidly going into panic mode. And then I remembered I had earlier gotten a coat out of the little closet by the front door and hung it on a chair by the door out to the garage. I hadn't seen her slip into that closet and she was calmly sitting just inside the door wondering when I was going to open it again. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
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[img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
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I see this thread is a year old. And I recently learned some new words. Our little Chihuahua occasionally runs around on 3 legs, holding the right rear foot off the ground. The vet says she has a "luxating patella". Now I'd never heard of such, but found on the Internet that apparently it's pretty common, and expensive, of course. I called three veterinary clinics for price estimates, and while they did vary considerably, I also learned that the same orthopedic vet does the job at all 3 clinics. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] He doesn't have his own place, and only does orthopedic surgeries by appointment at the different places.
So tomorrow morning, Dee goes for the surgery on the right hind leg, and I feel sorry for her. While it may be awhile, the vets tell me that when a dog needs that surgery on one hind leg, they usually need it on the other hind leg, also, in the near future. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
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Surely hope she does well. It's always an anxious time when a member of the family needs medical attention.
Egon
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Our prayers that all goes well.
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Also hope it goes well!
My dog needed knee surgury on her right knee, and a year later almost to the day she messed up the left knee. Got a small discount on the second surgury. Why don't you see if you can negotiate a deal?
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Gary, I didn't think to ask about a discount if or when she needs the surgery on the other hind leg. The primary vet (not the specialist who will do the actual surgery) is a little blonde girl who looks like she should be in high school instead of out working for a living (another sign of old age, I guess) and her own Chihuahua has had the surgery on both hind legs.
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Think of it as getting the multiple car discount from Allstate! [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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Gary, I'm just glad I don't have to do business with Allstate or Geico. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] Dee was one puny puppy yesterday evening and even this morning, but she's doing better all the time. I caught her with her eyes nearly closed in the attached picture.