Chihuahua Information Center
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Topic of the Month - Each Month, New Chihuahua Information
10-26-2009
Making a Move with Your Chi
There are few of us who live in the same home forever. As life moves along, you may find that you will be moving. How will this affect your Chihuahua?
Dogs, as you know, are protective of their homes and very keen of their surroundings. What will happen when you move to a new home? Will it affect your Chihuahua to be living in a new house, will your dog actually miss their old home?
Most dogs will be affected by a change such as this. Everything will be new: smells, sounds and sights. This can be stressful on a Chihuahua if steps are not taken to make this transition flow smoothly.
A stressed out Chihuahua can bring about many problems such as fur loss induced by stress, behavioral problems and more.
Therefore, our new topic is: Making a Move With Your Chihuahua. Find out how to keep this time in your life exciting and eliminate any stress for both you and your dog.
There are few of us who live in the same home forever. As life moves along, you may find that you will be moving. How will this affect your Chihuahua?
Dogs, as you know, are protective of their homes and very keen of their surroundings. What will happen when you move to a new home? Will it affect your Chihuahua to be living in a new house, will your dog actually miss their old home?
Most dogs will be affected by a change such as this. Everything will be new: smells, sounds and sights. This can be stressful on a Chihuahua if steps are not taken to make this transition flow smoothly.
A stressed out Chihuahua can bring about many problems such as fur loss induced by stress, behavioral problems and more.
Therefore, our new topic is: Making a Move With Your Chihuahua. Find out how to keep this time in your life exciting and eliminate any stress for both you and your dog.
Read about the benefits of home cooking for your Chihuahua and some surprising facts about how manufactured dog food affects a Chi. More
Not Bringing Your Chihuahua?
Sadly, one of the main reasons that dogs are brought to and surrendered to animal shelters is because their owners move. This can be because of the rules of the new home, such as a condominium having a “no pets allowed” rule or it can be because an owner feels that the new home does not offer enough of a yard to keep their pet happy or other reservations about bringing their dog.
We are going to assume that you love your Chihuahua enough, that if you are going to move, it will be to a house that will accommodate your dog.
If you are ever forced to move and absolutely cannot bring along your Chihuahua, we strongly urge you to never think of bringing your pet to a shelter. The majority of shelters are overrun and cannot keep dogs long-term, despite how they look or what they say, many will kill an animal in as little as 3 days if a new home is not found.
The best thing to do, is to find a loving and caring home or to place your Chihuahua with a rescue group who specializes in the breed. If you are going to find a new home for your Chihuahua, be very careful of people who pretend that they are loving, caring people and then sell dogs to medical testing facilities. A dog rescue will never turn down a dog in need and they will make sure that he or she finds a good home.
Bringing Your Chihuahua
Hopefully, you would not move anywhere without bringing your Chihuahua. Do not worry if your yard is smaller or there are not as many dog parks in the area. There are plenty of alternative ways to provide the correct amount of exercise for your dog.
Now, to discuss how to make this move with the least amount of stress as possible.
Dogs that are taken to all types of places with their owners adjust much better when moving to a new home. Therefore, if you have plenty of advance notice that you will be moving, try to take your Chihuahua with you to as many places as possible. Just running to your friend’s home to pick up a movie that they borrowed? Bring your Chihuahua. Walking to the post office to drop off a letter? Bring your Chihuahua.
The more your Chihuahua experiences new people, locations, smells and noises the better they will react to a new permanent location.
Before You Move
Check with the new town or city hall or animal control to find out about any laws in your new neighborhood such as limits of how many pets one may have, bans on certain types of fencing and if there are noise ordinances for dogs that bark out of control.
You will want to have proof that your Chihuahua is up-to-date with all of their vaccinations, including rabies. Keep this documentation in a safe and easily accessible location.
If you will be driving long distance and your Chihuahua is not used to the car, now is the time to gradually get your dog used to a road trip. Start off slow and work your way up to longer and longer drives. You will want your Chihuahua very used to long drives before moving day. Bring toys, water and food. Make a stop every 30 – 60 minutes for a nice 15 minute walk for your dog to eliminate and stretch their legs.
If you will be flying to your new home, be very careful about checking airline rules many months before you purchase tickets and call to re-check for any new rules as the time approaches. Some will consider your Chihuahua to be luggage! Plan well in advance to have a crate that holds your Chihuahua and can be carrying on board with you. If your Chihuahua cannot fly right alongside next to you, it is very strongly suggested to drive no matter what the distance.
Gather all of your dog’s veterinarian medical records. Your vet may need time to get this all for you, so give the vet at least 1 month’s notice. As your dog’s veterinarian if they know of any reputable and experienced vets in the area of your new home. Try to obtain several names so that you may check out each one to find the vet that best suits you and your Chihuahua.
Moving Day
Your dog may become very nervous while strangers (moving help) come into the home. He or she may stress as furniture and other belongings are “taken away”. It is best if you can find a friend or family member to baby-sit your Chihuahua while this is happening.
Be absolutely sure to pack the belongings of your Chihuahua in its own box or crate. Your Chihuahua will find comfort in familiar things. Always knowing where their blanket, dog bed and favorite toys are will be very helpful for both the journey and the destination.
New Home Sweet Home
One of the first things that should be done upon entering the new home is to get your Chihuahua’s belongings back to where your dog will expect them to be. Although your new kitchen may look nothing like your old kitchen, your Chihuahua will know the room is a kitchen. He or she will be aware that it is the room where people sit down together to eat, they will be aware it is the room where they smell all those great aromas when you cook. Your Chihuahua will expect this to be the room that holds what it used to: their dog food dish, their water bowl and whatever else was normally in the room.
Do this throughout the home. For example, if your Chihuahua sleeps in a dog bed that used to be near your bed, be sure to put their dog bed right down next to your bed as soon as you have your bedroom setup.
Allow your Chihuahua time to be lead slowly around the house so that he or she can get used to where things are and how adjust to the new size and layout of your home.
You may have a housetraining setback at first. It is important to show them where they are expected to eliminate.
Most importantly, keep the same schedule. While you will be busy unpacking and settling in, it will greatly help your dog is you can keep their normal daily routine. This includes times to go walking, play time, feeding time, bath time, grooming time and so on.
Be sure to register/license your dog within the appropriate amount of time. If your Chihuahua is microchipped, be sure to contact the company and give them your new contact information.
Try to have your Chihuahua with you when you meet your new neighbors. Make sure that they get a very good look at your dog and are familiar with his or her name. Should your dog ever get lost or run away, you will want people in your neighborhood to immediately identify the dog as yours and not call an animal shelter.
If you were given vet references by your dog’s former vet, make appointments for a “meet and greet”. If you do not have references, call around to at least 3 vets for a “meet and greet”. This will be a simple appointment in which no procedures are done. The purpose is to meet the vets, allow the veterinarians to meet your Chihuahua, ask lots of questions and after meeting and greeting at least 3, then make your decision on who you most feel comfortable with as having for your dog’s new vet.
Lastly, have patience. Everything your Chihuahua senses is going to be new. This takes time to adjust to. You will do your part by following the above guidelines. Then, allow your Chihuahua a couple of weeks to become used to his or her new surroundings. Before you know it, everything will be running smoothly.
NOTE: Don't forget to send in Halloween pictures of your Chi in costume! We will have a special section set up just for this! Send these photos in the same way that all photos are sent..rules are in the "Cutest Chi Photo Gallery"- Photos- Cutest page.
Sadly, one of the main reasons that dogs are brought to and surrendered to animal shelters is because their owners move. This can be because of the rules of the new home, such as a condominium having a “no pets allowed” rule or it can be because an owner feels that the new home does not offer enough of a yard to keep their pet happy or other reservations about bringing their dog.
We are going to assume that you love your Chihuahua enough, that if you are going to move, it will be to a house that will accommodate your dog.
If you are ever forced to move and absolutely cannot bring along your Chihuahua, we strongly urge you to never think of bringing your pet to a shelter. The majority of shelters are overrun and cannot keep dogs long-term, despite how they look or what they say, many will kill an animal in as little as 3 days if a new home is not found.
The best thing to do, is to find a loving and caring home or to place your Chihuahua with a rescue group who specializes in the breed. If you are going to find a new home for your Chihuahua, be very careful of people who pretend that they are loving, caring people and then sell dogs to medical testing facilities. A dog rescue will never turn down a dog in need and they will make sure that he or she finds a good home.
Bringing Your Chihuahua
Hopefully, you would not move anywhere without bringing your Chihuahua. Do not worry if your yard is smaller or there are not as many dog parks in the area. There are plenty of alternative ways to provide the correct amount of exercise for your dog.
Now, to discuss how to make this move with the least amount of stress as possible.
Dogs that are taken to all types of places with their owners adjust much better when moving to a new home. Therefore, if you have plenty of advance notice that you will be moving, try to take your Chihuahua with you to as many places as possible. Just running to your friend’s home to pick up a movie that they borrowed? Bring your Chihuahua. Walking to the post office to drop off a letter? Bring your Chihuahua.
The more your Chihuahua experiences new people, locations, smells and noises the better they will react to a new permanent location.
Before You Move
Check with the new town or city hall or animal control to find out about any laws in your new neighborhood such as limits of how many pets one may have, bans on certain types of fencing and if there are noise ordinances for dogs that bark out of control.
You will want to have proof that your Chihuahua is up-to-date with all of their vaccinations, including rabies. Keep this documentation in a safe and easily accessible location.
If you will be driving long distance and your Chihuahua is not used to the car, now is the time to gradually get your dog used to a road trip. Start off slow and work your way up to longer and longer drives. You will want your Chihuahua very used to long drives before moving day. Bring toys, water and food. Make a stop every 30 – 60 minutes for a nice 15 minute walk for your dog to eliminate and stretch their legs.
If you will be flying to your new home, be very careful about checking airline rules many months before you purchase tickets and call to re-check for any new rules as the time approaches. Some will consider your Chihuahua to be luggage! Plan well in advance to have a crate that holds your Chihuahua and can be carrying on board with you. If your Chihuahua cannot fly right alongside next to you, it is very strongly suggested to drive no matter what the distance.
Gather all of your dog’s veterinarian medical records. Your vet may need time to get this all for you, so give the vet at least 1 month’s notice. As your dog’s veterinarian if they know of any reputable and experienced vets in the area of your new home. Try to obtain several names so that you may check out each one to find the vet that best suits you and your Chihuahua.
Moving Day
Your dog may become very nervous while strangers (moving help) come into the home. He or she may stress as furniture and other belongings are “taken away”. It is best if you can find a friend or family member to baby-sit your Chihuahua while this is happening.
Be absolutely sure to pack the belongings of your Chihuahua in its own box or crate. Your Chihuahua will find comfort in familiar things. Always knowing where their blanket, dog bed and favorite toys are will be very helpful for both the journey and the destination.
New Home Sweet Home
One of the first things that should be done upon entering the new home is to get your Chihuahua’s belongings back to where your dog will expect them to be. Although your new kitchen may look nothing like your old kitchen, your Chihuahua will know the room is a kitchen. He or she will be aware that it is the room where people sit down together to eat, they will be aware it is the room where they smell all those great aromas when you cook. Your Chihuahua will expect this to be the room that holds what it used to: their dog food dish, their water bowl and whatever else was normally in the room.
Do this throughout the home. For example, if your Chihuahua sleeps in a dog bed that used to be near your bed, be sure to put their dog bed right down next to your bed as soon as you have your bedroom setup.
Allow your Chihuahua time to be lead slowly around the house so that he or she can get used to where things are and how adjust to the new size and layout of your home.
You may have a housetraining setback at first. It is important to show them where they are expected to eliminate.
Most importantly, keep the same schedule. While you will be busy unpacking and settling in, it will greatly help your dog is you can keep their normal daily routine. This includes times to go walking, play time, feeding time, bath time, grooming time and so on.
Be sure to register/license your dog within the appropriate amount of time. If your Chihuahua is microchipped, be sure to contact the company and give them your new contact information.
Try to have your Chihuahua with you when you meet your new neighbors. Make sure that they get a very good look at your dog and are familiar with his or her name. Should your dog ever get lost or run away, you will want people in your neighborhood to immediately identify the dog as yours and not call an animal shelter.
If you were given vet references by your dog’s former vet, make appointments for a “meet and greet”. If you do not have references, call around to at least 3 vets for a “meet and greet”. This will be a simple appointment in which no procedures are done. The purpose is to meet the vets, allow the veterinarians to meet your Chihuahua, ask lots of questions and after meeting and greeting at least 3, then make your decision on who you most feel comfortable with as having for your dog’s new vet.
Lastly, have patience. Everything your Chihuahua senses is going to be new. This takes time to adjust to. You will do your part by following the above guidelines. Then, allow your Chihuahua a couple of weeks to become used to his or her new surroundings. Before you know it, everything will be running smoothly.
NOTE: Don't forget to send in Halloween pictures of your Chi in costume! We will have a special section set up just for this! Send these photos in the same way that all photos are sent..rules are in the "Cutest Chi Photo Gallery"- Photos- Cutest page.
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