Chihuahua care: everyday tips for your little dog

A Chihuahua may be tiny, but still needs the chance to enjoy life as a dog. Walking, sniffing, learning and spending time with people are just as important as a warm resting place. Their small size calls for particular care with the surroundings: an enthusiastic large dog or being picked up awkwardly can have a big impact.

The Raad van Beheer describes the Chihuahua as lively, curious and eager to learn. Use that breed information as a starting point, then look at your own dog. An older Chihuahua who enjoys a quiet sniff needs a different routine from a young dog learning about the world outside.

Did you know? One breed, two different coats

The Raad van Beheer describes both short-haired and long-haired Chihuahuas. The long-haired variety has features including a plumed tail and longer hair on the legs. The breed name alone therefore does not tell a sitter which brushing routine is needed.

A practical meet-and-greet idea: look around the sitter’s home together at your small dog’s eye level. Check where they can rest without getting underfoot, then demonstrate one familiar care task. This lets you discuss both their size and their individual habits.

Let them walk on their own four paws

Plan several suitable walks, with opportunities to sniff and move at their own pace. Carrying your dog all the time takes away that activity. Write down a familiar route for the sitter and explain when your dog prefers a quiet stroll. A short training exercise along the way can also be a shared activity.

A Chihuahua may struggle to stay warm in cold, wet weather. Discuss whether your dog wears a suitable coat and leave it ready. Show the sitter how to put it on without pulling their legs. Dry your dog after a wet walk and provide a comfortable resting place.

Keep introductions manageable

Choose introductions with dogs who behave calmly around a small dog. Do not let the sitter assume that a lively playgroup will automatically suit them. Explain the signals your Chihuahua gives when they want distance and how you make space.

A clear plan also helps at home. Where can the dog rest undisturbed? How will you stop visitors picking them up unexpectedly? Do not leave children and the dog together unsupervised, and explain that the bed is a place to rest. Practise lifting calmly if it is needed for care, and show the sitter your approach.

Match grooming to the coat

A long-haired Chihuahua needs more combing than a short-haired one. With long hair, check especially around the ears, armpits and tail for tangles. Provide the usual brush and demonstrate a short, calm grooming session.

Dental care deserves attention in this small breed. Keep the existing toothbrushing routine and tell the sitter what your dog accepts. If your dog suddenly becomes uncomfortable being touched or something seems painful, ask the sitter to report it rather than force the care task.

Measure small portions carefully

Choose complete dog food for the appropriate life stage and adjust the quantity to your dog’s body condition. The feeding guide on the packaging is a starting point, not a fixed amount for every Chihuahua. Ask your vet if you are unsure.

A container of measured food and a separate daily allowance of treats make the handover clear. Write down mealtimes too. Avoid different people giving snacks as they see fit during the stay: these quickly add up alongside a small daily food portion.

Make the meet and greet practical

Walk the first route together and practise putting on the harness or collar. Discuss how your dog copes with being alone; a breed name does not tell you what they can manage with an unfamiliar sitter. Write down the arrangements briefly.

Three questions for the sitter

• How will you help my Chihuahua meet larger dogs calmly?
• Can you show me how you would lift them if necessary?
• What daily grooming suits their short or long coat?

Use the pet sitter checklist for the other arrangements. Browse dog sitters and discuss which experience matters for your Chihuahua.

Sources

• Raad van Beheer: short-haired Chihuahua — small size, eagerness to learn and the short-haired variety.
• Raad van Beheer: long-haired Chihuahua — long-haired variety with a plumed tail and longer hair on the legs.
• LICG: Chihuahua — exercise, cold and wet weather, short and long coats, dental care and safe introductions.
• LICG: feeding your dog — general guidance — complete food, life stage and individual nutritional needs.
• LICG: holidays when your pet stays at home — preparing care, introductions and care arrangements.