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Original poster

Getting a chihuahua on Monday night!

50 replies

newjerseyp · 27/04/2022 23:38

Posting here for traffic as not many responses in the doghouse :

Our chihuahua pup is coming home on Monday. We are so excited. It's just me and my 9 year old and two 2 year old cats in the house.

I've never owned a dog so feeling a little anxious. However, have done loads of research and decided this was the best fit for our family.

Just looking for some tips to help her settle in. I'm planning on crate training her and will have the crate in my bedroom overnight. Going to set my alarm for 12am, 2am, 4am, 6am to take her out for the toilet. Also got a set schedule and will start training straight away.

Will have blanket with her mums scent on her and have a little microwave beatable teddy for her at night.

Any more tips to help her settle in? Also any experience on how to introduce her and the cats?

Cats are very lovely and very chill but you never know!

OP posts:
Kastri · 28/04/2022 01:31

Your puppy is beautiful.I have a chi and a cat.Had the cat first,they were fine when they met,curious but not scared or aggressive.
If you line the crate with newspaper and put her bed or cushion/blanket in a corner,she will step out and wee on the paper quite naturally.Good luck and enjoy.

N00tN00t · 28/04/2022 02:01

Aww ❤ we have a chihuahua. He's very, very clingy! He was 5 when we got him, though. I read that chihuahuas are quite well known for wanting to be close to their owners a lot.

A crate would never have worked for us because he literally is like a velcro dog! May be different if using one from the start.

I'd advise Socialising early, too. It's been a hard 2 and a half years working on this as he was really reactive from poor Socialising and possibly mistreatment. He's an amazing dog now, though and we're also getting a puppy next month to join him.

I said I'd never get a small yappy ankle biter, now I can't imagine having any other type of dog! Chihuahuas are so loving and loyal.

SaggyBlinders · 28/04/2022 07:31

GeorgiaGirl52 · 28/04/2022 01:04

Agree with bazooka. Let puppy learn to sleep through the night. It will be much better for you. You wouldn't wake a baby up all night to change a diaper. Same with the puppy. Just accept that you will need to change bedding in the crate after overnight. Line it with a puppypad under a towel for ease of cleaning. Gradually the puppy's bladder control will develop and you will have dry nights.

Show quote history

Again, disagree. If you are going to crate a puppy overnight, then you need to be checking on her and letting her out for a toilet break at least once in the middle of the night. If she makes a mess in the crate, then she will probably become very distressed, leaving her all night would be cruel. You'd also potentially come down to a puppy that is covered in poo.

SaggyBlinders · 28/04/2022 07:33

And yes, puppies do need lots of sleep, but like newborn babies, they don't often sleep completely through the night. They also sleep on and off for the majority of the day at first. Let her sleep when she falls asleep, but don't leave her overnight in the crate without checking on her.

keratoms · 28/04/2022 07:46

SaggyBlinders · 28/04/2022 07:33

And yes, puppies do need lots of sleep, but like newborn babies, they don't often sleep completely through the night. They also sleep on and off for the majority of the day at first. Let her sleep when she falls asleep, but don't leave her overnight in the crate without checking on her.

Yes, almost everything I've read online has suggested waking her up during night for the toilet but just keeping interaction to a minimum. So I'm going to 100 percent do that.

ShirleyPhallus · 28/04/2022 07:56

I disagree about the comments so far on night wakings / the crate.

You don’t want to use puppy pads or newspaper to encourage her to use the toilet in her crate or nearby, all that’s doing is teaching her it’s ok to go to the toilet indoors. Pop her in the crate and leave it on your bedside table then let her wake you up to say she needs the loo. Minimal interaction as you say, lift her out, outside, toilet, back in to the crate.

She might surprise you - our dog slept pretty overnight with just one loo break pretty much from the start (although bigger breed and bigger bladder!)

Stuff like knotted material dipped in water and frozen is fine if you’re there to supervise.

Don’t use a crate which is too big then fill it with toys etc. A relatively bare crate with just bedding and water is absolutely fine.

MintyGreenDream · 28/04/2022 08:06

I have 2 Chihuahuas one adult and one pup.They they are harder than average to toilet train and boys will mark in the house imo if not neutered.They are funny gorgeous dogs but can be yappy.Enjoy!

MintyGreenDream · 28/04/2022 08:06

ime not imo

70kid · 28/04/2022 08:08

I have a new puppy a french bulldog
He’s been amazing
first 2 nights he slept in our room in a washing basket 😂
then once the crate arrived he was straight in there and he sleeps right the way through from around 10pm till 7 am . I think it’s because his breeder had the puppies in a cage so he was used to it
we got a puppy sling so we can take him out every day easily
it gets lots of laughs from people especially with my 6ft 4 other half with a puppy in a sling 😂
i am so surprised at how easy he has settled in

MintyGreenDream · 28/04/2022 08:10

My boy and girl

Getting a chihuahua on Monday night!
Getting a chihuahua on Monday night!
EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 28/04/2022 08:22

We woke up I think 3 times over night in the begining to take the puppy out when crate training

Don't put it on the bed and leave it open , she may fall off. My friends Che fell off the sofa as a pup and broke her leg

Make sure the 9 year old knows the crate is pups safe space and not to bother her when she's in it. Mine often goes to his bed still 6 years later if he wants to be alone and the kids know not to bother him there

My cat was most offended and stayed well away from the dog when we got him, didn't take long before thet were sleeping together though. She was more offended when we bought another cat ! Wouldn't entertain him for about a year

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 28/04/2022 08:24

Oh yes, and make sure she has water in with her

StScholastica · 28/04/2022 08:24

Awww, she is very sweet OP, looks a lot like my little childhood pet with her white star on her forehead. My chihuahua lived to be 17 so she could be with you for some time.
IME the breed reputation for being fiesta is very well deserved. We also had a German shepherd but the chihuahua ruled with a paw of steel.

StScholastica · 28/04/2022 08:26

Fiesty*

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 28/04/2022 08:45

Please don't dismiss all of my post as crap @worraliberty. As with all toys, of course you need to throw away once they become worn or dangerous, just like you would with a toddler.

NewandNotImproved · 28/04/2022 10:12

Er, no, I obviously meant they butt your mouth with their mouths/snoots.

ivfbabymomma1 · 28/04/2022 10:23

Aww I have 2 chihuahuas (my 3rd passed away in august 😞) and they are just wonderful dogs!

keratoms · 28/04/2022 10:28

NewandNotImproved · 28/04/2022 10:12

Er, no, I obviously meant they butt your mouth with their mouths/snoots.

Oh my god, so sorry. I was up late last night, totally misconstrued your post Blush

keratoms · 28/04/2022 10:29

NewandNotImproved · 28/04/2022 10:12

Er, no, I obviously meant they butt your mouth with their mouths/snoots.

I actually googled 'butt your mouth' and it came up with what I replied. My brain stopped working Blush

keratoms · 28/04/2022 10:30

Sorry name change also

keratoms · 28/04/2022 18:18

Can I ask is it worthwhile getting two crates and two beds. One for my living room and one for my bedroom or is one enough and just carry it up and down? Also should I get small or medium cage? Is it better for them to have extra room or to be snug?

ShirleyPhallus · 28/04/2022 19:57

keratoms · 28/04/2022 18:18

Can I ask is it worthwhile getting two crates and two beds. One for my living room and one for my bedroom or is one enough and just carry it up and down? Also should I get small or medium cage? Is it better for them to have extra room or to be snug?

We used a cat carrier for the first few weeks while the pup was tiny! Very portable

Jojobalone · 09/04/2023 10:12

Op…. A year later, how have you found your chihuahua? I’m considering…

Gumps · 09/04/2023 10:54

We used a fold up material crate when our dog was young. Easy to move around. It is supposed to be small so to discourage them from toileting in there. We then used a pen during the day for anytime she was unsupervised.
I agree with not setting an alarm. She will wake you up and let you know when she needs to go by either barking, whining or shuffling around. Alarms are training her bladder to go on stimulus. Our dog very quickly went through the night but the days took longer.
I run a boarding cattery and have my own cats. The most important thing is to not let the dog chase the cat from day one. Distract with toys, food or use a lead if necessary. Also we have always fed the cats first to maintain a hierarchy. We have just introduced a new kitten and the dog and cats all sleep curled up together during the day. So cute!
It's really hard work for a while but gets better very quickly. Enjoy!

Gumps · 09/04/2023 10:55

Oh no just seen this is a ghost thread!

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