Essential Accessories To Buy For Your Chihuahua Puppy
There are some bare essential accessories you will need to buy for your Chihuahua puppy to take good care of him, keep him safe and happy and help make your life a lot easier. In short, you will need a collar and a leash, an ID tag, a crate, bedding, food and water bowls, grooming supplies, toys, and possibly gates and a pen. Below i will introduce you to each of these accessories and explain why you need each of them. Each of these items is available for a pet store.
Collar and Leash
Lets start with collars. There are many different collars available for different purposes and they come in a plethora of colors and patterns. The type of collar you should get for your Chihuahua puppy is simply a standard buckle collar. These collars are fastened with a buckle (you can get a quick release plastic buckle for convenience), they are made of leather, nylon or cotton and the collar itself can be either flat or round. These types of collars are adjustable and won't tighten on your Chi puppies neck when they are fastened. You will need size: extra small :-)
Leashes are made from cotton, nylon or leather. Again, they come in many colors and patterns. You will only need a small, thin, lightweight leash for your Chihuahua puppy.
You are required by law to have a leash on your dog whenever you are in public. They give you control over your puppy and are handy during obedience training.
ID Tag
If your Chihuahua puppy ever escapes you will definitely want someone to return him to you. And how can they do that if he doesn't have identification. The ID tag should have your name, address, and telephone number and should be attached to your puppies collar which should be attached to him, at all times.
Crate
A crate makes transporting and housebreaking your Chihuahua much easier! It also gives him a home away from home where he can feel extra secure.
Crates are made from either metal or plastic. It's up to you which type you buy. Metal crates provide more ventilation during hot days, whereas plastic crates provide more of a den like environment for your pup.
Whichever one you choose, be sure that you buy a crate big enough that he can comfortably stand up, turn around, and lay stretch out in. Also, by the crate with his adult size in mind.
Bedding
You will need some sort of bedding to line his crate with so he can sleep in it comfortably. An old blanket and pillow will do the trick. If you purchase bedding from a Pet Store be sure that it is not edible and that it can be washed.
Food and Water Bowls
A good food and water bowl are essential. Make sure the bowls you buy are microwave and dishwasher safe. Be sure they are sturdy so they cannot be flipped over. And make sure they are the right size, if they are extremely deep it may make it difficult for your little Chihuahua puppy to eat and drink.
Grooming Gear
If you have a long haired Chihuahua you will want to buy a brush and a comb, and he will need brushing and combing often not only to keep him looking attractive but to also prevent matting which will need to be cut out if it occurs from lack of brushing. If you have a short haired Chihuahua you will only need a brush. The pet store will be able to recommend some good brushes.
Nail clippers are also essential to keep your Chi's nails at a respectable length. His toe nails will not naturally wear down, they must be cut with nail clippers every so often. Long nails will cause him to slip on hard floors and eventually cause him pain.
A good dog shampoo is another essential for keeping your Chi puppies coat clean and killing fleas. Unfortunately, you cannot use human shampoo on your Chihuahua as it will dry out his skin.
Toys
Toys are an essential item on your shopping list. Your Chihuahua needs to have something to play with all the time - he likes having fun to! Toys keep him busy and stop him from chewing on your furniture, socks and slippers. They also provide entertainment for him. I recommend you get your Chihuahua a small "Kong" toy. This indestructible toy can be filled with treats, such as peanut butter, and keep him occupied for hours while he tries to lick it all out.
Puppy Gates
If you have stairs, add puppy gates to your shopping list. These will prevent him from falling down the stair case - which could kill him. These are available from the pet shop and will expand to fit the size of your stair case.
Exercise Pen
During housebreaking it is not a good idea to give your Chihuahua puppy full reign of the house. And exercise pen is a good way to give him room to play, and be near you, without having to watch him 24/7.
Pet Odor Remover
While you are housebreaking your Chihuahua puppy it is crucial that when he does make a mistake in the home, you remove all evidence of that mistake from the carpet - or else he will keep going back to that same spot. Your Chihuahuas smelling ability is a lot more powerful than yours. So even when you think the smell is gone, your Chi pup can still smell it there. This is why you need a pet odor eliminator, to remove all traces of where he went to the toilet so he won't go there again.