Does anyone have Chihuahuas?

amyscrazy

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I am getting a Chihuahua that I will be learning to show. The breeder currently feeds Royal Canin (sp?). What can I give her that is better quality? I will pick her up next week, she will be 11 wks old.
 

mews2much

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My sister has one and my dad just got a blond one to breed last week.
I also want one but my husband says no.
My sister gives Chiquita Eukanuba which I do not think is any better then Royal Canin.
What is her name?

 
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amyscrazy

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Her name is Amulet Lucia's Fahita
She is a funny little thing and spunky as heck. The breeder was going to keep her to show and for their breeding program but decided to be my mentor and let me have her. I will go to shows with her to learn. I have her pedigrees as well as the parents too. It doesn't mean anything to me yet.

She is the one in the middle looking at the camera
 

mews2much

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Very Cute.
My dad named his Delilah but she is only 9 weeks old.
My husband says I can get another sphynx but no dog when he is a dog person.
I do not get why he is like that.
That is nice you will have help learning to show her.
 
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amyscrazy

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What do you think about Blue Buffalo food? I am just not sure what such a small dog should eat.
 

Willowy

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I think small dogs should eat the best food possible, since you can't possibly say it costs too much (considering how little they eat). Innova EVO is the best dry food I know of. Taste of the Wild is pretty good, too. Wellness CORE is another grain-free, but I've heard that it tends to cause hypoglycemia in small dogs. Regular Wellness is pretty good. Small dogs tend to be picky, and a good canned food can be very helpful. Or you can research how to provide a well-balanced home-prepared (raw or cooked) food.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by Willowy

I think small dogs should eat the best food possible, since you can't possibly say it costs too much (considering how little they eat). Innova EVO is the best dry food I know of. Taste of the Wild is pretty good, too. Wellness CORE is another grain-free, but I've heard that it tends to cause hypoglycemia in small dogs. Regular Wellness is pretty good. Small dogs tend to be picky, and a good canned food can be very helpful. Or you can research how to provide a well-balanced home-prepared (raw or cooked) food.
Core causing low blood sugar is one I would like to see proof as it is incredibly similar to EVO..

Evo just like in cats many dogs cant handle it

Regular wellness is like the cat food good but so grainy

Taste is a good food but I have had limited success with it and dogs

if price is an issue look at Kirkland signature 20lbs is 12$ , ingredients are solid .... IMHO RC is decent but about 50-60% overpriced

I feed my yorkie raw /homemade which aided in her issues .... homemade for a small dog will run you 30-45$ a month , raw about half that which is what a premium dry with premium wet will cost you
 
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amyscrazy

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I am not so concerned about price, she is a bitty thing and won't eat that much. What would be the best food for her size, currently she is about 1.8 lbs at 9 wks. I am also interested in learning more about raw.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by AMYSCRAZY

I am not so concerned about price, she is a bitty thing and won't eat that much. What would be the best food for her size, currently she is about 1.8 lbs at 9 wks. I am also interested in learning more about raw.
discuss it with your vet... I am lucky as I have one who makes house calls and has a masters in companion animal nutrition so all I have to do is pick up a phone and ask ?? s ...

www.barfdirect.com they sell stuff but they have SOLID basic info


realize that small dogs ( under 25lbs ) eat double the amount lb for lb as a dog over 50 lbs
 
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amyscrazy

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Thank you for the link. I really like the looks of it and may give it a try with the cats as well. I am so busy and would like to try the all-in-one patties or the loaf, what do you think of it?
I'm afraid my vet wouldn't even know about the raw diet
This is a small town, a little behind too.
 

sharky

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I live in a town of 23000 ish and two of the vets know and aid with raw and homemade..

If you can get a complete premade like natures variety
 

miagi's_mommy

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I don't have a chihuahua but them being small they need to be on the best quality food out there and make sure you can get it in small bites or just puppy food is pretty small too. She's adorable!
 

nance

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I have 2 chihuahua's and I gotta tell you when I got my first chi ..he cost me $ 3 a month to feed...LOL....I have 2 now and I feed them both grain free ...they eat go natural dry and wellness grain free turkey and chicken....they both eat the same amount of food....the female is a short hair and weights just shy of 4 pounds( was to be 7 pounds ) the male is a long hair and weight 8 pounds( was to be 5 pounds )....Hence why I didn't breed them the male is suppose to be the small one....but thats fine way to many conplications in breeding chi's....If you have never owned a chi b4 let me tell you ..you are in for the ride of your life....IMO they are wonderful pets...so loving and just aborable...you'll see
....
When they were small they were feed 3 times a day....and they are very smart...my long hair was super easy to train ..he is mellow and loves everyone...the female short hair is a different story....she is high strung and was alittle harder to train....I had posted some pics of them on this form somewhere


if your interested here are some pics of them....ok ALOT of pics of them
 
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amyscrazy

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Nance, they are adorable! I am looking forward to picking her up. I really need to get this food situation figured out.
 
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amyscrazy

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Originally Posted by sharky

I live in a town of 23000 ish and two of the vets know and aid with raw and homemade..

If you can get a complete premade like natures variety
What variety (flavor) do you suggest for a puppy? Do I need any supplements or is this considered an all stage food? I'm so confused...
 

nance

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Well u have alittle while to figure out the food ....she prob should just be kept on what she is eating now....they are so so tiny and changing the food can cause troubles....of course you know you need to go super slow when changing...there are alot of high quality foods out there...some are all stages some are for puppies then adults then seniors....I talked to my vet about the all stages..cause I never heard of it b4....the suggestion I got was to wait til they were 3 to 6 months months old b4 totally switching them over to the all stage food...I just mixed it after a bit then by 6 months old they were switched totally.....
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by AMYSCRAZY

What variety (flavor) do you suggest for a puppy? Do I need any supplements or is this considered an all stage food? I'm so confused...
nature s variety make a rotation diet : ie canned , dry , freeze dried raw and frozen raw... I find the rotation diet easy and good for a dog ( all stage diet and if you choose the grain frees youll know enough protein and fat
) ... Natures variety is "complex" and considered complete


I do agree leaving her on current food for about a month then gradual switch
 
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