Chihuahua Information Center
Your Subtitle text
Chihuahua Clothes
Overview
if you have a Chihuahua, you have most likely thought about Chihuahua clothes at one time or another. It is very important to understand that clothes for Chihuahua dogs is a lot more than "dressing up your dog'. it can often mean keeping your tiny Chi safe...safe the the outside elements.
Aside from outside elements, tiny Chihuahua puppies often need extra help keeping warm, and putting clothing on them is just what they need.
Let's look at this in more detail....
Aside from outside elements, tiny Chihuahua puppies often need extra help keeping warm, and putting clothing on them is just what they need.
Let's look at this in more detail....
What to Put on Your Chi and When to Put it OnBooties
These are needed most often during 2 different times:
- Outside during icy, snowy conditions
- Outside when the weather is very hot...
When it is very hot outside, pavement quickly heats up. If you are only going to bring your Chihuahua onto grass, booties will not be needed. However, if you are going to be taking your Chi for a walk, pay attention to the temperature of the street and sidewalk. If it is too hot for you to want to walk barefoot on it, then it will be too hot for your little Chi to walk "bare-paw" on it.
Sweaters and ShirtsThere are 2 different times when this type of Chihuahua clothing is needed:
- When a Chi is very young and first away from the dam (if it is below a certain temperature)
- At any age, when it is below a certain temperature - most often when you take your Chihuahua outside
A newborn is a puppy between the ages of 1 day old and 7 weeks old. During this time, keeping the pup warm is very important.
From the day of birth until 3-4 weeks (4 weeks is recommended), the puppy should not leave the dam. It is important that he or she receive the heat that she offers.
Any time that the puppy is taken away, their body heat will rapidly drop.
Therefore, if this needs to be done, wrap the pup in a baby "swaddle" blanket. After 4 weeks, the young one is going to want to venture out. This is recommended for any Chi puppy, but most importantly for the so-called "teacup". One should know that there is no such breed as the "teacup Chihuahua....a "teacup" is simply a smaller than average dog, and if the puppy has been purposefully bred this way, they most often have many health issues. You can read more about this here....However do keep in mind that teacup Chihuahua clothes are very critical for these smaller than average, very tiny pups.
So, during this time of the newborn weeks, it is recommended to put soft and comfortable sweater type clothing on the puppy. As the pup reaches the 9 week and 10 week mark, a sweater does not need to be put on when inside of the home, unless the temperature is below 68 degree Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) .
Any Age
Whether you are taking your Chihuahua outside for their bathroom needs, going for their daily exercise walk or bringing them to run errands with you, it is important to protect them from the cold with doggie clothing if the temperature is below 68 Fahrenheit (20 Celsius). Core body temperature can quickly drop for this tiny dog breed and it is highly recommended to offer them a 2nd layer of warmth protection during these times.
Many owners write in, to say that they are having problems bringing their Chihuahua outside for bathroom needs when it is cold outside. They write about how their dog wants to run right back inside of the house. This is common....when booties and sweaters are not put on the dog. If an owner and the dog are bundled up warm...and a path and the designated area are shoveled clear, then this should take care of any issues.
Dressing Up for Fun
Because the Chihuahua breed is such a small dog and even long coat Chi's have relatively short fur, it is common for owners to occasionally dress up their dog in dog clothes, not an outfit that is needed, but one that is put on for fun, for a special occasion, for a Halloween costume, etc.This is just fine, if your Chi is in agreement. Booties and sweaters are comfortable, when they are of quality and of good material (i.e. cotton for the sweaters).
However, be aware of how your Chi is acting if you put other dog cloths on them. Are they trying to nip at the clothes? Are they scratching? Do they seem uncomfortable? If so, it is recommended to take the outfit off. Your Chi may not just be uncomfortable, but nipping and/or scratching at the clothes can led to sores....and those can lead to infections.
Looking for much more Chihuahua information? Do you have Chi questions and would love direct advice from the PetChiDog Experts for ALL questions for FREE for LIFE? Forget about those silly little Chihuahua books that already tell you what you know ! It is time for something different!
