Chihuahua puppies are known for their tiny stature in mainstream media. You might have seen Reese Witherspoon carrying a purse with a puppy inside. Yes, that was a Chihuahua. A Chihuahua is the perfect purse pup. Heralding from Mexico, you might have first seen Chihuahuas on your television screen while drooling over Taco Bell. Yes, the "taco bell dog" is a chihuahua. These pets are the perfect carrying companion, standing at a tall 5-8 inches and coming in at a whopping maximum weight of 6 pounds. Expect to love your Chihuahua puppies for up to 16 years!
But don't confuse Chihuahua puppies with purse accessories. This breed is full of personality and known for its big-dog attitude. With a big-dog attitude and charisma, it's hard to resist this stylish canine. This love for Chihuahua puppies has spanned centuries. According to AKC.org, Chihuahua puppies "appear in ancient stone carvings and mummies of them have been found buried with their masters." This breed has been loved, as a close companion, for many years. It's important to understand that Chihuahuas are meant for intimate companionship when choosing this pet for your family. The nature of a chihuahua is bold and fierce, but they struggle with too much independence. Unfortunately, Chihuahuas suffer from physical and mental health risks due to their tiny stature. Chihuahua puppies are full-time responsibilities, and you must make several considerations before taking this pup home. As a pet owner, you should understand the breed and its risk factors.
Chihuahua Puppies: Perfect Companions
As of 2020, Chihuahuas rank 34th on the most popular dog breeds to have as pets. Right behind other toy breeds like Pomeranians, Shih-Tzus, Yorkshire terriers, and French Bulldogs. Small breeds deserve a lot of attention and care. They are much more dependent on their caretaker than a giant breed.
Chihuahua puppies are very charming and are the token dog for small dog lovers. But are they suitable for your family? As described above, Chihuahua puppies have the physical make-up of a "teacup dog." They have an apple-shaped head with big, adorable eyes. They have a smooth coat, which means they aren't a shedding breed. Chihuahua puppies can have short or long coats. A long coat will require more grooming and attention.
Chihuahua puppies often forget that they are so small because their personalities are so prominent! These puppies exude self-confidence and self-importance. Chihuahua puppies are the perfect solo pet for your home since most don't get along well with other pets. You must consistently monitor them around other animals. Often owners describe a chihuahua's temperament as alert and sassy. This pup is not the best fit for families with small children. However, this breed is affectionate and bonds very well with an older companion. Chihuahua puppies will love and adore you!
If you live in a big city and are looking for companionship, Chihuahua puppies might be suitable for you! According to ASPCA, New York is in high demand for Chihuahua puppies since these puppies manage to live in tight quarters very well. Chihuahua puppies don't need much exercise or physical stimulation, making a tiny apartment the perfect space for this pet. They are happy sitting for hours on your lap or just following you around your home. Chihuahua puppies are brilliant but do not need much mental stimulation. Their high intelligence allows obedience and house training to come easy to this breed.
However, it's imperative to socialize Chihuahua puppies at an early age. This breed tends to become overprotective and vocal quickly, which wouldn't be the best for your neighbors. It's essential to learn about stress management when choosing Chihuahua puppies for your home!
Stress and Your Chihuahua Puppies
Healthline.org describes stress as a trigger for a biological response. Stress will send a surge of hormones and adrenaline coursing through your body whenever you threaten your well-being. What does this look like in humans? For humans, stress can present itself if you come face to face with a physical threat of violence. Take, for instance, the description of a woman finding her baby trapped inside a car. Under a high-stress situation, the woman's body can lift the vehicle and retrieve her child. Stress for you could be losing a job or an unexpected cost, like a car repair or injury. So, as you can imagine, stress is not the best feeling.
How does stress affect humans? Stress can affect your weight, sleep patterns, blood pressure, mental clarity, cause diabetes or osteoporosis, and result in a weakened immune system. Stress has the same effect on Chihuahua puppies! Constant stress can lead to anxiety and anxious behaviors in your pet. If you are coming home to a ransacked apartment, your Chihuahua puppies are likely suffering from stress-induced anxiety.
Not all stress is bad for you or your Chihuahua puppies. Being able to function at a higher level of alertness and physical strength during a traumatic experience is a biological advantage. However, it's essential to manage stress and not let anxiety rule your pet's life. The heightened awareness from stress increases your heart rate and, in turn, raises your cortisol levels. Higher cortisol levels are responsible for these negative health impacts.
What does this mean for Chihuahua puppies that are small enough to fit inside a pocket? Due to their size, this breed is prone to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a medical condition that Chihuahua puppies need to eat frequently to maintain their blood sugar levels. Too much stress on a Chihuahua can harm their blood sugar levels because of the rise in cortisol levels. Either the pup is refusing to eat, or the increased heart rate is affecting their blood pressure. The health risks of stress and anxiety in Chihuahua puppies are life-threatening. It's vital to understand the causes of stress and invest in the proper tools to manage stress in your Chihuahua puppies.
Why Are my Chihuahua Puppies Stressed?
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the stress in Chihuahua puppies is a direct result of fear, separation anxiety, and old age. Fear is a normal response to stimuli, but stress as a response to fear can damage your pet's health. The Merck Veterinary Manual estimates, "...that ~14% of dogs have separation anxiety." Chihuahua puppies fall into this percentage because they are companion dogs and often do not like to be left alone for too long. It's vital to understand what causes fear and separation anxiety in your Chihuahua to work on stress management.
Fear in Chihuahua Puppies
Fear triggers can be other dogs, unknown people, loud noises, and unwanted places (veterinary clinic or groomer). Signs that your Chihuahua puppies are experiencing fear of some kind include lowered ears, tucked tail, panting, and drooling. When the feelings of anxiety expose themselves to Chihuahua puppies at an early age, they cannot physically escape. Most larger dogs can run away from the situation and hide or escape. Due to their size, Chihuahua puppies would not fare well out in the world on their own. The significant side effect of unmanaged fear in Chihuahua puppies is the development of aggressive behaviors. This learned behavior will be tough to break in your adult Chihuahua.
Unfortunately, the Merck Veterinary Manual suggests that over 5 million people suffer from dog bites every year. Dog bites arise when dogs are unable to handle stress and anxiety. It's imperative to teach stress management to Chihuahua puppies. Practice conditioning your pup with Calming Zen Chews. Whenever your Chihuahua puppy is showing signs of fear-induced stress, offer a Calming Zen Chew. This conditions your dog to relate positive feelings to this experience. Calming Zen Chews will help your puppy relax and keep them safe from harming themselves or others. Whenever a puppy, even the size of a teacup, is a threat, the owner will be held responsible for medical bills or might even have to relinquish their pet. As a responsible pet owner, you would never want to lose a member of your family over easily managed anxiety. Invest in your Chihuahua puppy's mental health by offering feelings of comfort and allow them to live a life without fear-induced stress.
Are your Chihuahua puppies terrified of storms or loud noises? It's essential to catch this fear-based anxiety before it becomes severe. The likelihood of your Chihuahua puppy barking during a storm (or any loud noise) is very likely because of the high rate of the vocal parameter. It's essential (to your neighbors) that you manage your puppy's stress during a storm or the Fourth of July. By providing the calming blanket plus+, you can avoid being bothersome to your neighbors. Make sure to watch for this fantastic supportive blanket to drop very soon! This calming blanket is a great asset to have in your home to soothe anxiety triggered by loud stimuli. This blanket reduces stress and stops problem behavior. It will come with a calming insert of essential oils. Only safe essential oils, like valerian oil, vetiver, sweet basil, and clary sage, are used to calm and comfort your pet. Invest in your Chihuahua puppy's mental health with this fabulous blanket.
Separation Anxiety and Your Chihuahua Puppies
When you come home to destroyed shoes or a potty accident in your boot, your Chihuahua puppies might be suffering from separation anxiety. This breed is known as a close companion type of dog. So, it is pervasive for Chihuahua puppies to suffer from anxieties whenever their close companion is away. According to the American Kennel Club, separation anxiety is a severe health condition. Anxiety can present itself in physical form. It's essential to notice anxious behaviors like pacing, whining, trembling, excessive barking, or howling. Anxious pets can also perform destructive acts, potty accidents, panting, and even dangerous attempts to escape when you are not within the home. Suppose your Chihuahua puppies are 100% house trained and are still experiencing these symptoms of anxiety. In that case, they are likely suffering severe stress from separation. Because Chihuahua puppies are so small, they have a hard time regulating body temperature. This breed is known to tremble due to this very reason. The stress of separation anxiety on your Chihuahua puppies could be life-threatening.
The best way to overcome separation anxiety in your Chihuahua puppies is to make your pet happy to be at home without you. The easiest way to help your pet love being without you is to create a comfortable and calm environment. The Calming Bed is perfect for assisting in training your Chihuahua puppy to love being at home without you. This bed is made from sustainably sourced materials and is offered in multiple sizes to fit your dog's needs. The calming bed offers Chihuahua puppies a safe space in their home to feel secure whenever you are not here. With various colors to choose from and an easily removable cover for washing, this bed is perfect for reducing or eliminating stress caused by separation anxiety. It's crucial to invest in your puppy's mental health before it affects their physical health.
Causes of Separation Anxiety in Your Chihuahua Puppies
A study on humans showed that separation anxiety often develops in early childhood, with the median age being seven years old. Like any form of anxiety, more exposure to stress elevates the severity. For instance, you suffer from separation anxiety at age four but never receive treatment or learn how to manage that stress. You are much more likely to suffer from a severe case of stress caused by separation anxiety as you grow. Separation anxiety presents itself the same in a Chihuahua puppy. Socializing in Chihuahua puppies must happen at a very young age.
The Merck Veterinary Manual examines the development period (neonatal period) crucial to proper socialization in pets. This period begins around two to three weeks after birth. Pet owners should handle Chihuahua puppies early but make sure to keep the puppies with their mother until they are eight weeks of age. Chihuahua puppies will fare much better when exposed to other dogs and stimuli during this developmental period. Proper socialization reduces stress and anxiety related to new people or pets.
A study proves that environmental factors affect anxiety and stress in animals. This study explains that "both of the largest environmental factors associating with fearfulness were related to early life." And that "the amount of socialization has long been known to affect fearfulness in dogs." The verdict is out; Chihuahua puppies must be given maternal care and handled by their breeders in the early stages of development to reduce stress and anxious tendencies later in life.
More studies prove that socialization must start with the dog breeder. Therefore, it is harder to control your pup’s socialization. Consequently, it's not always possible for a dog owner to succeed at socializing Chihuahua puppies in those early stages. But all is not lost! There is hope for Chihuahua puppies that were not given the proper socialization during the neonatal or sensitive period (two to eight weeks). You can make a positive impact on your puppy through exposure to sights, sounds, and smells. Puppies are still brand new to the world and need exposure to regular stimuli. Make it impactful by using a calming spray of safe essential oils to condition positive feelings towards new stimuli. The all-natural calming spray is perfect for introducing family members or other pets to your Chihuahua puppies. It is proven to reduce destructive behavior and give your dog peace of mind.
Aging Chihuahua Puppies and Anxiety.
You might be noticing mental changes in your senior dog. Even if your Chihuahua puppies have never shown signs of anxiety before, it is typical for a mature dog to suffer from increased stress. If you are thinking about taking in an older dog exhibiting symptoms of stress and anxiety, there are ways to find peace! They saying that you can't teach old dogs new tricks may be accurate, but you can make your senior Chihuahua comfortable and calm. The calming fountain plus+ is a great option to keep your senior dog comforted and hydrated at all hours of the day. This fountain provides fresh, cool water to your dog 24/7. An automatic cold-water dispenser is an investment opportunity to calm your aging best friend.
Chihuahua Puppies are Lifelong Friends
Congratulations on taking the time to learn and understand a Chihuahua puppy's mental health. Their close companionship leads to a life full of love. They make fantastic pets. Their anecdotes of sass and charm are the reason why Chihuahuas are a popular, modern breed. If you are not planning on constant companionship or, at least, devoting a lot of time to your pet, Chihuahua puppies might not be suitable for you. Suppose you think that a Chihuahua puppy is perfect for you. In that case, it's imperative to familiarize yourself with Calming Dog products. Choose to make the investment that will support your Chihuahua's mental, physical, and emotional health.