Care For Chihuahuas

If you’ve ever seen a crate, 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 crates for short periods of time.

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 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 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 your Chihuahua dog crate like little safe haven and they will be grateful to you for supplying them with a useful fort.