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This page is designed to pass along useful tips
and information I have gathered over the years as a Chihuahua owner
and lover of the Chihuahua Breed. The Chihuahua is the smallest of
all the breeds in the toy group and carries with it special needs
and considerations unique to it's size, temperament and extremely
high degree of intelligence. We hope this page will help you have a
smooth transition if you are a new Chihuahua owner. If you've been a
Chihuahua owner and lover of the breed for a long time, you might
still find some of our information to be useful. As with all tips on
this website, we urge you to use common sense if you use our hints,
and watch your pet/pets carefully when any new or different
situation is introduced to ensure their safety and well-being.
Recently I sent out an email to
everyone on our mailing list describing how we use a heating pad for Gypsy
almost continuously during the winter months. I included in this mail-out
three photos of Gypsy snuggling underneath her piles of baby blankets on
her own pillow which also has a heating pad turned on low for added
warmth. The response to this one email tip was overwhelming and
garnered more positive feedback than any single email announcement we have
ever sent out! I was surprised that so many people were not aware of the
Chihuahua's specific need for extra warmth. So, our Chihuahua breed
tip is about the heating pad.
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Chihuahuas are a warm-blooded breed with a
natural body temperature higher than other canines. They will chill
easily and really like to stay very warm at all times. The breed has
a natural instinct to "burrow" or "nest" under blankets, throws,
comforters, or anything which will keep them warm. Gypsy displayed
this trait even when she was a young puppy and we have always kept a
generous supply of soft fleece baby blankets for her to "nest" in.
She is an expert at getting under a baby blanket very swiftly,
taking a few quick turns and plopping herself down so the blankets
are all tucked underneath her in a tight knot. She looks like she is
wrapped tightly in a package! |
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About two years ago our winter became so cold and
frigid Gypsy seemed unable to stay warm no matter how many blankets
we provided so I decided to get out a heating pad and turn it on
low. I placed the heating pad on a standard sized bed pillow, placed
a soft baby blanket over the pad as extra protection against it
being too hot next to her skin and turned it on low. Gypsy
loved this arrangement so much she uses a heating pad nearly year
round now! I was concerned at first about the safety of this and
specifically asked my veterinarian if it was OK for my baby to sleep
on a heating pad nearly twenty-three hours a day. (which is the
amount of time she seems to sleep) Heaven knows Chihuahuas love to
nap! |
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My veterinarian assured me this was perfectly
safe so long as the heating pad was kept on low at all times.
Well, the rest is history! I have a happy, warm Chihuahua who loves
being on her heating pad almost as much as she likes to eat. The
photos on this page clearly show how much she loves to be hot, hot,
hot. Sometimes I lift up her blanket and it feels like a steam bath
under there!
If you have a Chihuahua I recommend trying the
heating pad. It is helpful not only for keeping your babies warm,
but they seem so content and well-rested when they are kept
especially warm. |
If you use this tip, please
observe your pet when it is first introduced to
the heating pad. As with any breed, some dogs
are "chewers." If your pet is a heavy chewer, I
do not recommend using a heating pad because of
the possibility of the pet chewing on the
electrical cord. Gypsy has never been much for
chewing on anything, but mostly she is content to just be
sleeping on the pad
that she never thinks about the cord or anything else.
I hope you find this tip
useful. Send me an email if you use it. We'd love to hear from you!
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