subject: How To Groom A Chihuahua [print this page] One of the responsibilities of owning a Chihuahua, or any dog for that matter, is satisfying their grooming needs. Giving your Chihuahua the proper grooming they require will help them live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
Coat Brushing
Brushing your Chihuahuas coat will help remove dirt, tangles, and dandruff. There's no set time as to when you need to brush their coat, just do it as you see fit. Although, if you own a long coat Chihuahua, they're likely to require more frequent brushing then a smooth coat.
To brush your Chihuahua, get a soft-bristle brush from your local pet store and gently run it through their hair. Another benefit to coat brushing is that it will remove loose hair that would otherwise fall out in your house.
Bathing
One of the most important parts of grooming is giving your Chihuahua a proper bath. Bathing will remove dirt, germs, and anything else funky on your Chihuahua. Before you do so, you're going to need non-toxic, tear-free, puppy shampoo. You can't use regular shampoo that you use for your hair because it's too harsh on their skin and can easily dry it out.
The steps to bathing Chihuahua are pretty straight-forward. Run luke warm water in the tub and leave the stopper out so that it flows continuously. Take your Chihuahua and place them in the tub and pour the water over their body using a cup, bowl, or something similar. After they've been soaked, rub the shampoo into their coat while you cover their eyes. Now, depending on the instructions of the shampoo you're using, let it stand for a few minutes and rinse it out. After the bath is over, dry your Chi off and let them do the crazy after-bath dance.
How often you should bath your Chihuahua really depends on how dirty they get, but a good rule of thumb is to give your Chihuahua a bath at least once every two to three weeks.
Unfortunately some Chihuahuas may not be too fond of bath time. To make this experience less traumatizing to your canine companion, there's a few things you can do. For starters, give your Chihuahua a treat both before and after the bath. Something else you can do is to simply be gentle when giving them a bath. Oftentimes owners will try and rush it, causing their Chi to panic with anxiety.
Trimming of The Nails
Keeping your Chihuahuas nails trimmed is an essential part of the grooming process. If you dont take the time to trim their nails, they can grow out to the point where they wrap around and essentially grow into themselves.
You'll need special dog nail trimmers that can be found at most major pet stores. It's important to use these on your Chihuahuas nails to prevent them from splitting. One thing you have to be careful of is clipping too far. If you clip into the quick where the veins are, it will be painful and cause bleeding. If you're unsure of how far to clip, take your Chi to a professional groomer and let them show you how to do it.
