Chi-Spaniel: 2012

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Chi-Spaniel Bath

This is Nyota.

Sometimes she has "problems" and "stuff" gets stuck in her fur.

I use pet wipes, but sometime the job calls for a bath.

This is Nyota in the bath...

Nyota is NOT happy.

Nyota is dripping wet...but don't worry, her fur fluffs like magic...

See!

In all seriousness...I've had to take her for two 'hygiene' shaves in the past year. The last one left her butt pretty bare, but it was a wipe-free two months. Now she's back to being ultra fluffy. She's compliant when I clean/bath her anyway.

I've posted this before, but here are a few tips:

1) Make the water barely warm-- according to my groomer, their skin is exceptionally sensitive. In lieu of a hot bath, I turn the heat on so she doesn't catch a chill.

2) I use organic soap with essential oils. If I use any sort of regular dog shampoo, it kills my allergies.

3) I place a bath towel in the bottom of my bathtub so her feet don't slide around.

4) I prepare ahead of time-- have the towels, shampoo, and water pitcher all ready so I can do it as fast as possible. She's not fond of the water, so I try to stress her out as little as possible.

5) I remove her from the water and wrap her in several towels. I then dry her off and only let her roam around the house once she's dry. Remember-- chi-spaniels are half chihuahua and that breed is sensitive to both cold and hot temperatures.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

8 Month Old ChiSpaniel Puppy

This is my ChiSpaniel puppy at 8 months old. As you can see, her fur is longer and she has a nice muscular tone. Her floppy ears blow in the wind and it drives her crazy! She's active, friendly, and incredibly soft to pet. She's very attached to me, but I don't mind as I mainly work from home, so if I leave, I get a pet sitter for her.

This is easily the best dog I've ever owned, and I was so very certain I'd never, ever, ever own a small-breed dog.

6 Month Old ChiSpaniel Puppy

This is my ChiSpaniel at 6 months old, in March 2012 (thus the dead grass). She loves to run outside! I took her to a safe area though and stayed with her because we have bald eagles and hawks in our area. It was too cold for snakes, but if it wasn't, I'd have been looking for them as well! She's not on a leash because she was on 14 acres of private property without any roads around.

By this time, her fur still isn't very long, but has become exceptionally silky on top and the whisps on her back legs are fuzzy and super soft. She's still only about 12 pounds and easy to carry.

Nyota has some awesome markings...there's a heart on her head and on her chest is a tan tear drop surrounded by a white circle of fur.

At this point, I was still wondering how she'd look when she got older! It pretty much stayed like this, but her fur continued to grow.

3 Month Old ChiSpaniel Puppy

"My Octopus never listens to me."

Unwilling fashion victim: Sporting a Hello Kitty winter jacket.

ChiSpaniels are NOT outdoor pets. I had mine clipped in a saddle-back cut on a 90 degree summer day and she was still shivering. These dogs would rather be social with first, humans, second, little dogs, then third, other dogs. Leaving a dog outside is cruel. If you can't keep your ChiSpaniel indoors, for its health, please find it a more appropriate home.

My ChiSpaniel has definitely inherited her Chihuahua father's intolerance to extreme temperatures. She can't take the cold and she can't take the heat. Please keep this in mind! My ChiSpaniel has a coat for each season and sweaters as well. If you wouldn't expose your baby to the weather, don't expose your ChiSpaniel to it.