Q&A for How to Care for Your Chihuahua

48 days is a little under 7 weeks, which is a bit young for leaving the mother. The very youngest recommended age is 8 weeks, with some experts advising later than this, at 10-12 weeks.

Have everyone play act that it really hurts when she nibbles on fingers. Yelp and squeal to mimic the noise other puppies would make if she was too rough with them. Secondly, never have her play with your hands or fingers. Always use a toy. If she becomes overexcited and lunges for fingers, then get her to calm down. End the game by walking away, or use a treat to lure her to sit and take time out.

Has the dog stopped growing? If she has, then she's probably over 6 months of age. If she has a full set of adult teeth, she's over 6-9 months old. How clean are those teeth? If they are sparkly white and clean, then she's probably under 2 years old (depending on her diet). Staining on the teeth, tartar deposits, gum disease, and wobbly teeth become increasing likely with age. This means a full set of stained teeth places her around 2-7 years old, while wobbly or missing teeth, or heavy tartar deposits, make her older than 7.

Yes. While fleas might be less of a problem when your dog is living mainly indoors, worms and other parasites can still cause problems. All dogs are born with encysted roundworms, which hatch out over the dog's lifetime, so regular worming is important. In addition, it's still possible to pick up heartworm infection if an infected mosquito gets inside.

Your chihuahua may like the taste of your skin or be showing affection.

She may have swallowed some shampoo. Take your pup to a veterinary office to be make sure nothing else is wrong, and in the future, use only dog shampoo or baby shampoo.

Chihuahuas have very watery eyes naturally but it depends on what you mean by discharge. If some kind of goo or ooze came out, ask the vet because that is not normal.

Get a puppy pad or a stack of newspapers, and put it in a corner of your apartment. When it's time for her to go, put her on the puppy pad. She will go on the puppy pad. You will need to do this a few times. Eventually, she will learn that this is her bathroom, and go there.

Usually it doesn't matter; any kind will work. However, chihuahua's do tend to have sensitive skin, so it's best to ask your veterinarian.

Most chihuahuas go into heat around 18 months. However, I recommend neutering yours if you don't want puppies. Neutering helps your dog's temperament and reduces the risk of cancer too.

Mine does the same thing; the vet said it is most likely because he feels threatend by men.

Tail wagging is a sign of excitement, and not of comfort or contentment. Your dog is probably just in a relaxed, happy state.

There are many reasons for this. She may be scared to be alone if she isn't in the room with you. If you can't let her sleep near you, give her a stuffed animal to cuddle, or put a ticking clock under her bed to emulate a heartbeat. Also, she could have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and can't get out, so make sure to let her out right before you go to bed. If you do these things and the problem still persists, check in with a vet or dog trainer.

If it's a shorthaired chihuahua, then you don't need to at all, but if it's longhaired then every month is typical.

Add about a teaspoon of pure pumpkin puree to their food and mix well. If your dog isn't eating well, pour a little warm water over it which seems to assist with swallowing the otherwise dry kibble.

Your dog will be jumping, scratching the doors or anywhere, and she will whimper and try to get your attention.

Starting as a puppy, your chihuahua will need boosters. It is suggested to deworm every one or two years after that, but talk to your vet first as it isn't always needed. If your dog gets lost, or eats a lot of things outside, you may want to do it more often.

Purchase a premium dog-formulated shampoo. Products made for humans are too harsh for a chihuahua's delicate skin.

Preferably not, as chihuahuas tend to feel lonely when nobody is around. If you do leave it alone during the day in a regular basis, your chihuahua will start feeling sorry for itself and will likely become unfriendly towards you or may ignore you. It may also take things out on your furniture and soft furnishing, such as peeing on or ripping things.

Take her to the vet. It sounds like she is ill.

I have self-feed dogs and it is fine; it all depends on how your dog does regulating its food intake. Monitor your dog carefully. A purebred chihuahua should weigh no more than 6 lbs. Make sure to check with your vet frequently about your dog's weight.

This is completely natural. One ear just has more cartilage in it than the other.

Yes. Their growth will slow between 12 weeks and 6 months.

You can put a bowl of water in front of your dog. If your dog is newborn and is not used to drinking water, dip your hand in the water and let the dog lick your hand first.

The earlier the better! Starting early on your Chihuahuas training is a great option, especially because Chihuahuas can be sometimes stubborn. The earlier you start training, the longer your Chihuahua will remember it. Only train for about 20 minutes each day. And it’s always best to start with sit.

Yes, because of his age, it is common for old dogs to lose their permanent teeth, just like humans. Be gentle with his jaw and gums, they might be sore.

If she stays overweight despite getting enough exercise and having a balanced diet, you should consult with her vet to see if there are any underlying issues.