Please read this so it is fresh on your mind! If you don't have time to read it, here is the short version. Please read this so it is fresh on your mind! If you don't have time to read it, here is the short version.

KNOW YOUR PUPPY, WHERE HE IS AND WHAT HE IS DOING! CARE FOR YOUR PUPPY AS YOU WOULD AN INFANT.

I am not opposed to children being around Chihuahuas; my grand-daughter has been handling and playing with mine since day one. She takes care of the newborn puppies. Even after all the training I have done with her and she is very good with the puppies, I will not leave her alone with them long and every time I remind her of the rules. She is not allowed to carry them around, she can lift them up to the couch or put them to the floor. She is 6, she knows how to do it, but again she is just a child and gets distracted, one wrong, unthinking move and I could have a seriously injured or dead puppy. A child should not be left unattended with the puppy! At least not until they (your child or children) have been trained in the proper handling and safety of the puppy. Even after training, unattended periods should be kept short and with complete instruction and reminders. We all know kids, they get distracted easily and that one distraction could result in serious injury or the death of your Chihuahua. A good guide would be "How long would you let your child care for an infant unattended." That is what your puppy is, an infant, he doesn't know about heights, doesn't know about feet, doesn't know the big dog next door will eat him, doesn't know your feet can step on him, etc. He doesn't know anything about what dangers lurk, he is DEPENDING on you!

Only let your child hold the puppy while they are sitting down. A Chihuahua is fast and slippery, with out notice they will leap from your arms, in some instances not even taking into notice they are 6 feet from the ground. A child is not capable of reacting fast enough to even try to catch it or guide him down, it is hard enough for an adult. Absent attention or the lack of good holding can cause serious injury or death to your puppy, even to a full grown Chihuahua. Your puppy does not know about heights, like a child he has to learn to stay away from the edge or not to go jumping out into thin air. Just like a child running into a street to get a ball, your puppy will be playing or get scared and forget there is an edge, a wall, foot, car, or serious injury or death hazards. He trusts you to watch out for him. While my Chihuahuas are young, as a precaution, I line the floor at the base of the couch, chair, bed, etc (where ever they are going to be up from the ground/floor more than a foot) with good padding. I use body pillows, standard pillows, even fluffed up blankets will work. I also make sure that there is some way they can easily maneuver themselves up and down from the area. I use tiered stepping stools, then I show them how to go up and down steps, they catch on rather fast. Some of my older Chihuahuas still use the stools because they are still too small to jump up on a couch or jump down.

Your Chihuahua will like to hide and sleep under blankets, coats, anything available. Make sure your child knows to check all lumps before sitting down. It's easy to forget and sit on what appears to be a crumpled throw and behold a puppy is squished, again it could result in a serious injury or death. Adults should take heed to this also. Remember, check before sitting.

While walking around or through the area the puppy is in, be sure to walk slowly and with caution at all times. These little guys are so fast and so happy to have you there and they want your attention, they'll run right into your path. If you step on them, guess what, serious injury or death, or you can seriously hurt yourself by trying to avoid hurting them. I use a slide step, especially when I am carrying something and can't see all of the floor. This technique works well because when your feet and the puppy make contact, the puppy is more scooted up and on your foot. This way too, they soon learn to stay out of the way of your feet without doing too much harm to them. I also do a lot of starting and stopping depending on their movement. I'd rather take my time and have a healthy happy puppy than to carry the guilt of hurting one of them. Remember Patience.

If you are going to allow your puppy out into a fenced area, know that he could possibly get out of a standard chain link fence. Mine would climb right through the holes. I also have a climber, she uses her claws to grab onto the chain linking and climbs right up and over. The six foot drop is what scares me. She thinks she's pretty smart. So, for her safety and my nerves, I put up plywood boarders around the bottom of the fence, now she can't get started. This also solves the problem of the puppies going through the holes. A Chihuahua will also dig to their escape, they may be small but they are all dog.

Be sure to keep all harmful things out of their reach. Again, like an infant, they will put anything into their mouths, chew it, eat it, lick it. Keep them, puppies and adults, away from cat litter boxes; they think the tootsie rolls are their special treats. This can result in tape worms, diseases, illnesses, etc. Plus it just might give you the dry heaves trying to take it away from them, while they are running and trying to get it down before you get them.

Shivering - It is said that this is normal for the Chihuahua, I don't think it is and for mine it is not normal. Whenever one of mine shivers, I start to look for the remedy to fix it. I have found that it can be as minor as that they are cold or scared or more serious, sick. Something is wrong and shivering is their way of trying to tell you. When shivering occurs, my first response is to pick them up and hold them close while talking to them. Look them in the eye, you'll see something is wrong. If that doesn't work then I move on to covering them or putting them under my shirt for security and warmth. The shivering usually stops here. Mine will a lot of times shiver in their carrier kennel when we enter unfamiliar places, by covering up the kennel so they can't see out and others can't see in, the shivering stops. If it doesn't, then something else is wrong and it's time for you to figure out what it is, the seriousness of the problem, and resolve it. Is the water and food dish full, how do his stools look, take his temperature, how are his movements and responses to you, etc. Something is wrong, he doesn't just shiver to be shivering or because he likes to.

Monitor your puppy's stools. Their bowel movements can tell you a lot and inform you of things going on in their bodies. I have become a poopa conisiour, you should too. Look for loose stools, abnormal properties, blood, etc. A lot of times it is just something they ate, but other times it may be an indication of a more serious problem. When you don't know what or why it is and are in doubt take a sample to your Vet and have it checked.

Your puppy's coat will also tell you a lot. If it appears scruffy and not as shiny - WARNING! - something is wrong. Start looking for the cause. Again, it could just be something simple like worms, tapeworms, upset stomach, ear mites, and then again it could be something serious.

Drooping ears is also a good sign that something is wrong - find out what, minor or major, it needs to be attended to.

To make it easy -

KNOW YOUR PUPPY AND ALWAYS KNOW WHERE HE IS AND WHAT HE IS DOING