Best items for a new chihuahua puppy:
Each of these items are fabulous and I would have invented them, if I’d thought of them first. Amazon does send us a small referral fee and 100% of that is donated to our favorite dog charity Lola’s Lucky Day
Iris Xpen
I LOVE the Iris X-pen. The 4 panel is just large enough for a bed, food & water bowls and a pee pad or litterbox. There are larger ones too if you have more than one baby or if you just want a larger indoor kennel area. DO NOT BUY THE AMAZON KNOCK OFF VERSION OF THIS. The corners are just big enough that if your pup climbed the wall, they could get their neck stuck and hand themselves. Super unsafe! Iris’s are made differently and are much safer, plus they make lots of cute colors. You can also purchase additional panels if you decide to enlarge the pen later.
Iris Pee Pad Holder
I don’t hold stock in this company (I promise!) but I adore their products. These are excellent pads and they fit perfectly in the pad holder. The pad holders help because a pup might *think* they are on the pee pad, but only their front feet are. They have to walk all the way in and it eliminates unnecessary accidents.
Pee Pads
I have loved the ASPCA “Frest Scent” pads, see below, for ages. Unfortunately, they’ve become very difficult to find, and I’ve switched. This links the brand I’m currently using and I’ll update the link if I’m forced to change again.
Airline Approved Carrier
I’ve ordered and returned no less than 15 puppy carriers for flying. My favorite has the been the combination backpack and rolling bag and out of those- this is the best one. The only downside I’ve found is you have to remember to tuck the backpack straps up if you plan to roll it, so they don’t get stuck under the wheels. This one is the perfect size and fits under the seat in front of me.
Snuggle Puppy
Snuggle Puppy is a great way to help your new baby settle into their new home. It has a calming heartbeat and a heat pack for snuggling to aid with a puppy that is a little stressed by the transition to a new home. So many of our clients LOVE this and I’ve finally added it to our list.
Nutri-cal
Nutri-cal is so important to have during those first couple of weeks with your new puppy. The stress of adjusting to a new home and family can cause them to be finicky with their food. Nutri-cal may look disgusting but they love the taste and the high calorie content helps prevent hypoglycemia.
Teething Puppies
We are very careful with what teething bones we give our dogs, but these are great. Encouraging chihuahua puppies to chew on bones is a so good for their teeth health!
Bowls
We always use either stainless steel or ceramic bowls…NEVER use plastic bowls! The plus to ceramic is they are heavier, so they are less likely to be knocked over and you can put them in the microwave if you ever need to rewarm some canned food.
Small Plush Toys
I’m always looking for tiny toys that aren’t too big for such tiny puppies, and this set fits the bill! The smallest is less that 4.5in and it’s so cute to watch them drag these around and attack them!
Chihuahua Snuggle Beds
This is the style of bed that chihuahuas truly love. Since burrowing in a bed is their favorite past time, these two are the best beds for chihuahuas. You can buy them on Amazon, who doesn’t love things delivered to your door, but I buy all our dog beds from Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross, Dirt Cheap and Tuesday Morning. I do love to shop for a bargain! The house style beds I can find the easiest, it’s the snuggle style that can be harder to find. I love to buy new and different things for my dogs to try but they always go back to these two.
Treat Time
We recommend waiting on treats until your pup is at least 4mo old. Their tummies are tiny and any change to their diet can throw their digestive tract all off.
Incase you haven’t heard, feeding treats made in China is a giant No-No! Zuke’s is super high quality and these Mini Salmon treats are perfect for your tiny chi! We will use these in the show ring and for house training.
Dog Stairs
These are perfect for making your tiny dog more independent, giving them access to the bed, sofa or even a sunny window so they can sun themselves.
Puppies love these funny sounding little crinkle balls. Nevermind that they are intended for cats, they are the perfect size for a tiny chi puppy.
Kitten Collar with a Bell
We always recommend a kitten collar with a bell. These pups are so tiny that they will slip under chair or sofa and you won’t be able to find them. That little bell makes tracking them down much faster! And how cute are these with the little bows?
Puppy Food
We’ve been trying different foods under the recommendation of our local dog food expert. Please check with me what YOUR puppy is eating.