Anyone with chihuahua experience..... - Paw Talk

Pure14K · #1 02-23-2004, 04:16 PM

Hey Everyone! As some of you know, I have a female chi pup. She's adorable, so well mannered and an all around WONDERFUL dog. I have a few questions though...

1) Her ears started standing up pretty early and just *stopped* progressing. They are almost all the way up, just the tips flop over still. I know it can take up to 6 months for them to fully stand up, but since they only went up 75% of the way, does that mean something could be 'wrong' with them? Is it possible for their ears to 'break?'

Here are 2 pictures of her to show her ears, the first one shows how her left ear is flopped over (Don't let it fool you, their both that way, I guess she just had her head tipped back in this pic)

This is one I just took today, but her ears are both up because she's looking up at me.... Do they look like anything's wrong with them?

2) If you take your chi's for rides in the car, how do they like it? What do they do? When I take Pixie for a ride, she likes to sit on my lap and if I have the window down, she gets *scared*. Anyone have any suggestions for this? Thanks In Advance

RSbunny · #2 02-23-2004, 05:23 PM

I can't help you on the ear thing Pure but Nacho used to be scared of the car at first and I just took him on car trips all the time, to fun places. This way he associated the car with fun things and wasn't scared of it anymore. After a while he would jump straight in so just start taking Pixie in the car more and don't mother her when she is being scared either cause you'll be rewarding her behaviour.

Jodi · #3 02-23-2004, 07:15 PM

Chi's can be tweaky little things. Tito will lay quietly in my lap and fall asleep in the car. He doesn't want to look out the window either.

Now my little Yorkie loves to look out the window and feel the breeze and of course our shepherd, Bach, did too. And Manto likes it too... But, Tito?? No way.

Chi's can be jittery and scare easily. IMO, if Pixie gets scared when you put the window down, then I wouldn't do it. No reason to push her. As long as she is ok with the car ride and it's only the window down thing that bothers her, then leave the window up. Some dogs just don't like to look out the window. Some dogs get car sick no matter how many times you try to get them used to riding. Ya know what I mean? So, IMO if she doesn't like it, don't do it.

I haven't had a problem with Tito's ears standing up so I'm no help there. His did take a while to stand up though and when he's sleepy they hang like ponytails (cutest thing!!). Do they ever go all the way up? How old is Pixie? Do you play with or touch her ears alot? I know you shouldn't rub 'em backwards (or however you say that, ya know opposite of how they are supossed to be) or play with 'em too much.

Formula86 · #4 02-23-2004, 09:07 PM

i think her ears are normal. i don't think you can "break" em. wouldn't she be in pain? hmmm...in england they aren't allowed to crop the ears (for dog shows) and the go half up and then flop down. i wouldn't be worried!

about the window...like everyone says, chihuahuas can be nervous about certain things. i think carmen (rsbunny) is totally right. don't let the first trip be to the vet. haha! go to the park, petsmart, a friend's house. she'll get used to it.

btw - did you know that i looooooooove pixie!! i want her! hehe.

dappledoxie · #5 02-23-2004, 09:13 PM

Those pics are soooo cute! Not sure of any advice but I had to say how I love those pics!

capnsweets · #6 02-23-2004, 09:39 PM

Awww she is adorable!

mysticangel · #7 02-24-2004, 12:17 AM

I have 2 chihuahuas. Both my male and female ears took a while to stand up. And my females did like Pixies started standing up and then stopped but they finally stood up. She is adorable. I wouldn't worry about them unless you are going to show her. And like I read above in show they can't be cropped.

Mystic Cat · #8 02-24-2004, 11:32 AM

Your pictures are so cute of your sweet little chihuahua!

Tiny's ears was weird at 11 weeks old sometime they both stood up and sometimes only one stood up! She will be a year old June 13th. She also has weird ways to eat her food.

She is very nervous about sounds, like vacuume cleaners, sewing machines, electric mixers. She starts shaken and runs to me if i'm not the one running them.

She gets frightened of loud sounds of any kind.

She loves going places. She loves the window down. Wants the attention of anyone she sees in town.

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your sweetie.

Here is Tiny at 11weeks old in the flowers, and one of Tiny eating her weird way at the 6 months old.

Pure14K · #9 02-24-2004, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGawana


	Do they ever go all the way up? How old is Pixie? Do you play with or touch her ears alot? I know you shouldn't rub 'em backwards (or however you say that, ya know opposite of how they are supossed to be) or play with 'em too much.

Jodi, no they don't ever go all the way up, unfortunately. She will be 5 months old in a few weeks. We don't really touch her ears except to clean them... And I do know that you shouldn't flip them backwards & we never have... I'm not really 'worried' about her ears, I just want to make sure they will stand up eventually. I don't think chi's look like chi's w/o their ears standing all the way up.... JMO

Thanks for all the advice and keep it coming

Jodi · #10 02-24-2004, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pure14K


	I don't think chi's look like chi's w/o their ears standing all the way up.... JMO

I know what ya mean.

5 months is still young, I would say she's got another month or two before they *should* be up.

She's so darn adorable, I just love her expressions!

angelaT · #11 02-24-2004, 02:29 PM

Well Paige will be 4 months old on the 27th of this month and her ears are still going all over the place, but she loves to have her ears played with so I am not worried about her ears to much.
On the car- Paige likes riding in the car but it takes her a little while to get comfortable but after that she is fine. She doesn't like to look out the window most of the time but every now and then she likes to look for a little while and then get down.
I agree with Bunny about making it fun, I am training our Great Dane puppy to ride in the car and we take something to keep her busy like a raw hide chewy or some treats and she does real good, It's just something to let her know that the car is good and fun.

Formula86 · #12 02-24-2004, 10:43 PM

oooooh! great dane puppy pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

capnsweets · #13 02-25-2004, 09:13 AM

Mysticcat, your chi is adorable!

Mystic Cat · #14 02-25-2004, 02:40 PM

capnsweets, thank you for the compliment. I wish you could meet her. She is such a sweetheart of a little baby!

Deja · #15 02-25-2004, 03:31 PM

Yorkies sometimes have the exact same problem with one or both ears flopping or "tuliping" where they should be "up" or prick eared.

If the ears have been UP and you notice one or both starting to flop she may be teething. Sometimes during teething the ears will do this.

I found a couple of pages with information about Chihuahua ears you might want to look through. There are ways to "tape" or train the ears UP. I don't know how you feel about ear training.... but there is info out there on how to do it.

She's just gorgeous, btw

I love her color and her sweet expression.

Chihuahua Ear Info

Chi Puppy Info - Ear Info

I did a Google search on Chihuahua Ear Flop - I didn't find much but if you change the search words I am sure there is lots of info out there. You can look up Yorkie Ear Flop - there is TONS of info and I believe the information applies to both breeds

Hope that helped a little!

She really is such a lovie

I want to smooch her!