Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok heres the story. Ever since I could remember Ive asked my parents for a dog. They have always said no. My mom always said that a dog is too much responsiblilty. Ive got responsibility practictly pouring out of my ears! Now my mom is basicly thinking about it If I can prove that I can handle the responsiblity and what its gonna cost. Now I want to get all of the info I can on chihuahuas because they are really adorable and shouldnt be too much work. I want to put together a powerpoint presentation to show my mom I am responsible, and I know what it will take to keep a chihuahua. Does anyone know how much food (approximetly) an adult chihuahua and a chihuahua puppy would eat?

well,they don't eat much,puppies need to be fed more often though,at least 1/2 a cup 3 times a day,adults need about a cup,split over twice a day,it's hard to tell,as it really depends on the size they will be,and even with purebreds,this can be anywhere from 3-10 pounds,just feed them as much as they will eat in five minutes,or how much the shelter/breeder/rescue feeds them,some people let puppies feed freely,esp.if thier prone to hypoglycemia(many young chi's are,though most outgrow it)however,this may make it harder to change later
I am the owner of a chi mix,I got her when I was 10,she is everything to me,but I'll still tell you,a chi is actually one of the most demanding dogs you can get,not really for beginners,they can be wonderful dogs,but are not very forgiving,ex.you step on a puppies toes too many times,they may never want to walk with you again,often one bad person or experience can turn them against a gender or race,thier not the little yippy [bleep]s people make them out to be,but misunderstandings and not handling them and thier personalities right can often turn them into acting as such
with my experience,you may want to get another type of small dog,like a poodle(thier not frou frou's,but they are sweet and smart,the grooming isn't that hard unless you want them to look like a showdog)cocker spaniels don't get that big,and are great with families,I've never met a pomeranian that wasn't a big,tolerant fluff of sweetness,despite thier reputation
it would help if I knew your age,and how your house is(apartment,country,ect.)how big your yard is,is it fenced,ect.It may not seem fair when you come home with good grades,act more politely than your peers,and yet your parents seem blind,trust me,too many dogs go to pounds because parents buy them for kids who get bored with them,or don't understand why they get bit when they've only been chasing and jumping in the dogs face 10,000 times....and sometimes,I've heard of parents buying dogs to "guard thier kids"(a friend of my mom's got a german shepard pup to guard her 3 year old son,the kid tortured the dog,who ended up being put down because he killed the rabbit they had living inside of thier house,I doubt your folks are like this,but again,just cause everyone has a dog,says nothing for caring about that dogs interest)....umm,no,sometimes,things work out,sometimes,you have a bored,hungry dog who doesn't understand why no one's ever home to play,often,the parents do take over the care,but not everyone's parents can,time or money wise,afford to,even if everyone seems to have a dog,just remember that at least you and your family care enough for a dog's welfare to pick through every nook,cranny,and situation before seeing what's best to do
I'm 20,still have no car,nor licence,I could easily say (due to a whole point jump in gpa in 1 semester(in college,that jump usually takes at least a year),and the fact that I have 2 jobs)I'm bursting with responsibility,it still doesn't mean a car would be best right now unfortunately

there's other people that could help you,esp.in the what breed do I want,you can also get a small mutt from the shelter or rescue,tell your mom you can aim for an older dog,it'll come pre-trained and housebroken,and though some people worry it won't see them as "mommy" or "daddy",it will see you as a hero,and will be grateful for such

Sounds like you are on a good path. This message is kind of long but I'm telling you all of this because I do think you are looking at this as a responsibility, and I respect that. I had "my" first dog when I was 10, and my second a few years later. We had family pets but these were my dogs, and my sole responsibility. I'll focus on Lavie, my now gone Chi and my second dog.

My grandmother gave me LaVie as a gift (planned out and with mom's permission) so I did not have the cost of purchasing her. I was in Jr High when I got her and she was all my responsibility. If you really want a dog then continue to do the research, talk to some good, ethical breeders and vets to find out the costs of providing the best care for your future friend. Research is a key part prior to making this life long commitment. I had LaVie from a wee puppy that would fit in the palm of my hand until her last days as a geriatric senior, just shy of 16 yrs old.

I can't really remember what LaVie ate in dry food, just that it was no where near the amount of my other dogs, the food cost was pretty negligable. Training classes are also not "cheap" but very important.

However, in my opinion, the most important cost factor is health care.

LaVie never had an "accident" requiring health care and was a very healthy dog her entire life. Regardless there were numerous surgeries over the years, expensive but required for her quality of life. Surgeries not only include anesthetic and the particular procedure but blood work and mediciation. And I HIGHLY recommend you spend the extra for an IV, saline and the better anesthesia that's easier on them and helps their recovery.

One thing that I learned after getting LaVie is that toy breeds are more prone to needing teeth cleanings. That is a huge consideration to think about in selecting which is the right breed for you.

Also, there are some health issues with Chi's that it would be good for you to become familiar with before making the decision on this breed. This is where finding a good, reputable breeder will help. Check out the Chihuahua Club of America page for some good information - Chihuahua Club of America Site Map

Here's a bit of recap of my health items for LaVie over the years (as I remember them off the top of my head):
For example, with LaVie there were the puppy shots and the new dog equipment (crate, leash, collar, appropriate brush, etc...) at first. Then there were the annual checkups with the scheduled vaccines, and dog license. This was followed a few years later when she had a problem with her anal sacs requiring a few vet visits and medication, ultimately she had to have surgery to correct the issue. Then her spay. Then as she reached around 7 years old she had to go in for a teeth cleaning with some teeth extracted. There were more teeth cleaning/extractions over the years. She also had three surgeries because of malignant growths that had to be removed.

Here is a picture of my first two girls, taken in the summer of 1991. While neither Annie nor LaVie are with me any longer they are firmly in my heart and I learned a lot from them.

Best of luck and I do hope it works out for you.

tabitha

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Chihuahuas are relatively small-maintenance when it comes to food. What you need to also take into consideration as expenses associates with any breed (vet visits, shots, grooming, etc.). If you do get a Chi, I would love to see a photo.
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