Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Chi Owners! I am thinking of joining the ranks, but first I would like to ask some questions.

1. I plan to get a shelter dog. There are many chis in the shelters around here because people use them as fashion accessories. How many of the dogs on this board come from shelters? What, other than potty time, were the big issues you had to deal with?

2. I am a working person who lives with two cats - one 15 year old and a 4 year old. No children. Small apartment. Dog would have the kitchen during the day (nice sized kitchen with a window to look out - already cat proofed.) Would that be ok for a chi? Would it be better with a wee wee pad?

3. How many have taken a chi camping? I keep seeing them on the trail with the Jeep clubs. Guarding front seats and wrapped up blankets on cool days. Seems the big bad offroad guys have a weak spot for these dogs. One guy had a chi/pit mix. Imagine a mini Boxer...that's what he looked like. Any issues there other than keeping the dog warm?

4. How many have been in AKC events like tracking and agility? I know a shelter dog probably will not have papers but I could apply for an ILP certificate. I've watched AKC events and the dogs seem to love having a job.

5. Chi's and cats. The 15 year old will probably just hiss and look for a place to lie down away from the dog. The 4 year old will wonder if I bought her a toy...or run like a rabbit...don't know. She's never seen a dog except at the vet and through the door of her carrier at that. Nails are trimmed on my cats so anything else I would need to do?

Thank you. I want a small dog, but I also want the right dog. So far, seems the chi is out front on the list.

Crickett

>>Hello Chi Owners! I am thinking of joining the ranks, but first I would like to ask some questions.
>>
>>1. I plan to get a shelter dog. There are many chis in the shelters around here because people use them as fashion accessories. How many of the dogs on this board come from shelters? What, other than potty time, were the big issues you had to deal with?
>>
>>2. I am a working person who lives with two cats - one 15 year old and a 4 year old. No children. Small apartment. Dog would have the kitchen during the day (nice sized kitchen with a window to look out - already cat proofed.) Would that be ok for a chi? Would it be better with a wee wee pad?
>>
>>3. How many have taken a chi camping? I keep seeing them on the trail with the Jeep clubs. Guarding front seats and wrapped up blankets on cool days. Seems the big bad offroad guys have a weak spot for these dogs. One guy had a chi/pit mix. Imagine a mini Boxer...that's what he looked like. Any issues there other than keeping the dog warm?
>>
>>4. How many have been in AKC events like tracking and agility? I know a shelter dog probably will not have papers but I could apply for an ILP certificate. I've watched AKC events and the dogs seem to love having a job.
>>
>>5. Chi's and cats. The 15 year old will probably just hiss and look for a place to lie down away from the dog. The 4 year old will wonder if I bought her a toy...or run like a rabbit...don't know. She's never seen a dog except at the vet and through the door of her carrier at that. Nails are trimmed on my cats so anything else I would need to do?
>>
>>Thank you. I want a small dog, but I also want the right dog. So far, seems the chi is out front on the list.
>>
>>Crickett

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chis are hard to housetrain, and some of the males are not really possible to fully housetrain, so keep that in mind with your plans. Be sure your expectations are fair to the dog you choose. If you need a really well-housetrained dog, you might seriously want to consider a different breed, and in a toy a female does better than a male.

Chis can have aggressive, terrier-like temperaments. For that reason, it's wise to deal with a responsible breeder, or get a rescue dog as an adult who has been in a situation where temperament could be assessed. It takes at least a couple of weeks of being in a low-stress home and not ill before a temperament may show accurately. The long-coat Chis seems to be a little milder, but no guarantees.

I love Chis. But it's just important to know the cautions as well as the cute things. If you want a dog who will potty outside, get the dog outside to potty as often as possible, as young as possible. But follow veterinary instructions, because a sick Chi can go down very fast.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I'm wondering how all the dogs in Los Angeles do it. I have read so many things on housebreaking and it seems you need to hire a full time nanny to go on walks if you are a working person.

I live in a 1920s walk up apartment and they didn't believe in balconies in those days. I also work a full day. How do people do it? I see literally dozens of dogs being walked every evening all up an down the boulevard.

I read your pieces on housebreaking. So the paper in the corner trick or the Purina litter trick doesn't work. As I stated the dog would be confined to the kitchen when no one is home since the flooring is easiest to clean if there is an accident and there are fewer things to chew up and get into.

I used to have Malemutes (long story but it involves a divorce). They were good at crossing their legs until smoeone got home to walk them in the evening. Rare was the accident. Is the Chi metabolism just too quick for that sort of expectation?

>>I'm wondering how all the dogs in Los Angeles do it. I have read so many things on housebreaking and it seems you need to hire a full time nanny to go on walks if you are a working person.
>>
>>I live in a 1920s walk up apartment and they didn't believe in balconies in those days. I also work a full day. How do people do it? I see literally dozens of dogs being walked every evening all up an down the boulevard.
>>
>>I read your pieces on housebreaking. So the paper in the corner trick or the Purina litter trick doesn't work. As I stated the dog would be confined to the kitchen when no one is home since the flooring is easiest to clean if there is an accident and there are fewer things to chew up and get into.
>>
>>I used to have Malemutes (long story but it involves a divorce). They were good at crossing their legs until smoeone got home to walk them in the evening. Rare was the accident. Is the Chi metabolism just too quick for that sort of expectation?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There's an article at the site below my signature called Housetraining Small Dogs that explains the difference between a large dog and a small one on housetraining and a lot of the whys and wherefores. It's very detailed. And yes, the Chi metabolism is a whole different thing than a Malamute's. Accidents are not rare. Complete housetraining seems to be pretty rare, if the behavior questions I get are a cross sample. It's person after person on their last nerve because they can't housetrain their little dog.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47