Chihuahuas are easy maintenance in the grooming department whether they boast a short of long coat. However, they do need and enjoy being brushed on a regular basis because they love the one-to-one attention they are given when they are being groomed. It also helps keep their coat and skin in good condition. Like other breeds, the Chihuahua tends to shed more during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent grooming might be needed to keep on top of things.
Being such small dogs, the Chihuahua does not need masses of exercise, thirty minutes a day would be perfect. However, they do need to be given a lot of mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well-rounded characters. It's also important to keep a close eye on a dog's weight because Chihuahuas are prone to putting on too much if fed an incorrect diet and not given the right amount of exercise.
If you get a Chihuahua puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule for your new pet and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same type of puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upset and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change their diet again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature Chihuahua twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories which is important or they might start to gain too much weight, a problem all too often seen by vets in the breed.
