Do your Chihuahuas like Digging holes?

Digging

Is your puppy turning your yard into a minefield? If you answered yes, discovering the reason why your puppy is digging up your lawn will help you deal most appropriately with his behavior.

Why puppies dig:

Fun: Puppies dig because they have a lot of energy, and digging helps them expend some of it. If your puppy is digging to have fun and expend energy, you can discourage his digging by providing other outlets for him. Keep your puppy busy and active by playing games with him, and taking him for walks. Keeping your puppy active and occupied will help use the energy he formerly used for digging.

Nesting: A hole in the ground may provide a comfortable nest for your puppy. On a hot day the cold soil may also provide relief from the heat. Help your puppy keep cool by providing fresh water for him to drink, a shady area for him to retreat to, and maybe even a small plastic wading pool for him to cool off in.

Escape: Is your puppy digging because he has discovered that it provides an escape from the yard? Ensure that your fence is in good shape so as not to make the escape easier. If your neighbors welcome your puppy with treats ask them to stop. The treats may be encouraging your puppy to visit them, perhaps by digging an escape route under your fence! Supervision is the best prevention.

Fright: Is your puppy digging because he is frightened at being alone? Let your puppy know that you are not abandoning him when he is left alone for a short time. Leave your puppy for a few minutes, and then return with a treat for him. Do this again, letting the interval you are out of sight last a little longer. After doing this a few times, your puppy will understand that just because you are out of sight doesn't mean you have abandoned him. Of course, your puppy should never be left unsupervised for long periods.

Puppy’s got a bad habit

Puppy’s got a bad habit

A puppy with a bad habit can be annoying, frustrating or even, in the case of biting, dangerous. The housebreaking errors, constant barking or even aggression can make owning a puppy an ordeal rather than a pleasure. But that can be changed! If your puppy has a bad habit read on for tips on making his bad behavior a distant memory.

Behavioral problems

Some of the behavioral problems observed in puppies are caused by lack of socialization during the puppy’s early months. A puppy that has started interacting with people at about 4 to 6 weeks of age and continues that interaction is more likely to grow into a puppy that seeks and enjoys people.

If you are thinking about getting a puppy, always select the one that comes to you, is interested in you. A pup that has been socialized is one who wants to please people and be with people, and a pup that wants to please is easier to train.

To keep your puppy from becoming a nuisance, you need to recognize when a bad habit is developing and then use proper training methods to direct him into acceptable behavior. Punishment is not an approved training method.

Jumping behavior

An example of a nuisance behavior is the puppy who, out of simple pleasure of seeing his master, jumps up to greet him. It's no fun to be greeted with dirty paws, get scratched or even knocked down. Here is where you, as owner, must be consistent in how you treat your pup. You must be sure you don't encourage him sometimes and discourage him on other occasions, as this will only confuse him and make training that much harder.

To change this jumping behavior, start by pushing him down and away giving the command "off" in a firm manner. In extreme cases, you may have to bring your knee up sharply as your puppy jumps up in order not to hurt him, while giving the "off" command. When you come in and your pup does not jump up on you, praise him lavishly. It just takes time, so be patient.

Barking behavior

Barking is, of course, a natural action for a puppy, and has been a benefit to humankind and probably one of the reasons that humans and dogs took on this relationship many thousands of years ago. Excessive barking is a problem, creating issues for everyone – neighbors, guests and the owner. If your puppy barks excessively you may have unknowingly taught him this bad habit. You can, for example, over-condition a puppy to respond to minor sounds by alerting him to "Listen" or "Watch" to a point where the puppy barks at even the slightest sound, especially when home alone. If you are a part of the problem, change your behavior.

Conditioning your pup to not bark at every sound takes time but it is worth the effort. Start by leaving the house for short periods, but staying within hearing distance. If your pup does not bark during this period, praise him lavishly and maybe even give him a treat to reward his behavior. Gradually extend the period you are gone, rewarding your pup with lavish praise whenever he does not bark during your absence. In extreme cases, you may need the help of an animal behaviorist to get the problem corrected. Your veterinarian can advise you on how best to solve the problem.

How Does Your Garden Grow? April 6, 2006

How Does Your Garden Grow? April 6, 2006
Gardeners who use cocoa mulch unwittingly put dogs at risk.

The mulch is made from the hulls of cocoa beans and contains theobromine, an ingredient also found in chocolate, which can be harmful to dogs. Attracted by the scent, some dogs eat the mulch, consuming quantities large enough to be toxic. To keep your dog safe and your garden green, use bark mulch as an alternative.

Long Coats for Sale

AKC Champion Quality Tiny Chihuahuas Weatherford, Texas
Please e-mail me with any inquires you might have.
marcuccino@aol.com

I've always been a dog lover, especially the little ones. I've been breeding toy dogs for over 18 years. I live in beautiful Weatherford, Texas 15 miles west of Fort Worth.

I raise happy, healthy, quality babies for you to love and become members of your family. All of my adult dogs meet the standard for the breed & are in good health. My facilities are clean and my dogs are well cared for and loved, I never have a problem with showing anyone around, there are no closed doors here.

I do not sell to pet stores or wholesale my puppies. I also do not sell to breeders that I have not checked out and approve of.

I work very hard to raise these little babies that I'm responsible for bringing into this world, I owe them the best possible homes. I want you to be happy with your new friend, but above all, I want the pup to be happy and safe in their new home.

I don't think a breeders part should stop when you leave with your puppy, I'll be there if you have any questions. I will be happy to provide you with references.

Again, thank you for visiting and I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,
Bianca