If you live in a home that has a yard but no fenced enclosure, an exercise pen may be exactly what your dog needs. Exercise Pens allow for your dog to roam and play freely with its confines so that it can’t wander off and get hurt or puppy-napped. Generally since your dog is so small, a pen that’s 2 feet by 4 feet is a decent size but obviously the more room you can spare the better.

Chihuahuas love to play outside so if you can get them a pen or put up a fence, they’ll be much happier. It’s also in the best interest of their health since these dogs need to be active and exercise to develop well and live healthy.

They also make some for indoors in case you want to leave for a while but don’t want your Chihuahua to roam freely.

Chihuahua Exercise Pens and Safety

Chihuahuas are temperamental to temperature and weather so if you plan to leave your Chihuahua in a pen for a set amount of time ensure it’s not going to be in complete sunlight or else your dog will be uncomfortably warm. On the same note, if the weather looks like rain’s coming, maybe it’s not the best time to allow your Chihuahua to get soaking wet.  After all, we don’t want a case of puppy hypothermia!  Always make sure that your that your chihuahua has enough shelter if kept in chihuahua exercise pens outside as well as enough water and a bed/blankets in case the weather gets cold.  Chihuahua exercise pens may just be ideal for you and your chihuahua.

If have ever been around chihuahua crates, you may think it looks like a very cold and heartless place to store you chihuahua. This couldn’t be further from the truth as long as used properly. Crates provide a safe place for your dog when you are away and provide a good sleeping area when you are in bed. Chihuahua crates are basically just the small crate that you buy at the pet store. You don’t need a large crate since they are not intended to be permanent quarters.

Chihuahuas have a lot of energy and can be very destructive at times when you are away. One way to curb this destructive tendancy is to place your small pup into a crate. This doesn’t mean, put him in here all day and only let him out to eat at dinner time. Heavens no! Crates are not cages! If you want to keep your dog in a cage, you should not be a dog owner. Dogs, especially Chihuahuas are very sociable and it would be heartless and cruel if they are kept from their owners all day while they are home. Please only use chihuahua crates for short periods of time.

Chihuahua Crates Overnight

As far as night goes, if your chihuahua doesn’t sleep with you in bed, you may consider placing them in a crate. This prevents them from roaming the house unattended for the entire evening. You better believe that your small dog won’t be sleeping the entire night. If he gets up, or doesn’t feel like sleeping, he’ll entertain himself somehow. That may not be something you want.

Chihuahua Crates and Potty Training

Chihuahua Crates are also a great training aid for potty training. You can teach your dog bladder control very effectively using a crate since most dogs will do everything possible not to defecate where they sleep. This means that you can keep them in a crate and then take them immediately outside to give them a chance to use the restroom. By doing this, you can praise them for using the bathroom when and where they are supposed to and they will learn much quicker.

How do you make the crate more personal and comfortable? Well you can do several things. First you can place pillows or a dog bed inside. You may want to throw some blankets or towels so they burrow under them to stay warm. Consider maybe putting in a chew toy so they have something to amuse themselves with. Another thing that may be considered is to wrap the crate with a towel or blanket, (leaving at least one side open for light and air) to prevent drafts from affecting them.

If chihuahua crates are used correctly, your chihuahua will not fear his crate but learn to love it. At some point, he’ll view it as a safe haven. After all, when he’s in the crate, nothing can get to him. What I typically do is leave the crate door open all day so he can go in and out as he pleases. My chihuahua Pancho loves to go in his crate for naps and toys. Treat the chihuahua crates like little safe haven and your dog will be grateful to you for supplying them with a useful fort.

Chihuahua collars are very important for identification and traveling purposes such as going for walks.  Special care should be taken in choosing a proper collar for your Chihuahua. Larger dogs have a much stronger body and therefore are less likely to be injured than a Chihuahua in day to day activities. The same goes with collars. Chihuahuas are relatively fragile dogs and therefore need care in choosing their most basic of necessities.

Choosing Chihuahua Collars

First of all, let’s discuss the dog collar. Chihuahua collars should not be too large. Having a collar that is too large means that there is a chance of it coming off by slipping over the head. Small dogs have injured themselves greatly and in some instances died due to improper collar wearing. For example, if a chihuahua dog coller is too large, there is a chance of it getting snagged on something, whether it be on the corner of furniture or an outside tree. There is also the risk of it getting stuck in the chihuahua’s mouth; thus, putting unusual and dangerous stress on their tiny jaws!

On the flip side, you do not want a collar that is too small either. After all, a collar that is too tight may cut off the circulation to the small canine, causing discomfort. Another concern is that when your Chihuahua is exercising or working up a rapid heart beat, the neck may naturally swell due to expansion of blood vessels. If a collar is too tight, this will cause massive discomfort and place unnecessary stress on the dogs trachea or throat.

A rule of thumb is that you should be able to put at most between one and two fingers comfortably between the collar and the neck. Obviously the rule of thumb is dependent on the size of your chihuahua. If you just have a puppy, two fingers may put it into the category listed above as being too large. If you don’t know what kind of chihuahua collars to get still, check with your vet.  Also, I’ve heard that a lot of chihuahua owners have purchased cat collars since they are all small in size.

Types of Chihuahua Dog Beds

There are several to choose from depending on what you’re looking for. There  are beds that are basically large pillows. There are beds that consist of towels or blankets. There are even fully developed chihuahua dog beds that are made with a small dog in mind. No matter what you decide, ensuring your dog is comfortable is important. After all, if a dog isn’t happy with where she sleeps, she’ll let you know through whining and pawing at your bedroom door.

Things To Consider With Chihuahua Dog Beds

Watch your chihuahua though. When they get energy bursts, they sometimes try to turn their comfortable sleeping quarters into a midnight snack. If your dog is destroying bed after bed, chances are you’re going to need to sleep at least in view of your dog to prevent the behavior from continuing.

Just remember, chihuahuas get cold easily and demand warm accommodations to be happy. Try bundling them up with blankets or towels and you’ll be fine. Also keep them out of drafts such as away from air conditioner vents and open windows. So as you can see, Chihuahua dog beds are very important.