by Dr. Sue Nielsen
A new adventure is about to commence. In under two weeks, I will pick up my long-haired chihuahua puppy, Javier, AKA “Havi.” He will be my second chihuahua but my third dog. Previously, adopting a dog had been a spontaneous decision. However, this time, I am consciously preparing to be a dog owner. While reading about socialization and puppy training, I reflected on my last two canine relationships.
Sadie, my first dog, was a rescue off the fields of Iowa, an apparently abandoned 2-year-old golden retriever. She didn’t have a collar or a chip, and after an extensive search for her owners was unsuccessful, we adopted her. She was sweet, loyal, an excellent pheasant retriever for my then-husband. She loved lying on the snowbanks and cuddling on the couch. We only saw her get excited when we came home after work. She ran as fast as she could all around the house, usually twice, as we yelled, “Go, Sadie, Go!” We never trained or socialized her. She didn’t seem interested in a game of fetch or learning basic commands or tricks, or so we thought. We didn’t even attempt to help her overcome her shyness. Our lack of trying was a disservice to her. We got lucky she was a “good dog.”
Rico was not a pre-planned adoption either. A patient brought in two chihuahua puppies smuggled inside her purse. “Do you want a puppy?” she asked. I scoffed at first, but then beguiled by Rico’s warm brown eyes, white-tipped toes, and diminutive size – only a pound and a half. Done! I fell in love with him at first sight. I did minimal research on chihuahuas with my vet. When I picked up Rico at the “breeder,” I was horrified. She had been breeding several chihuahuas in her dirty mobile home, and I couldn’t wait to leave. I didn’t ask questions about his parents’ health or Rico’s temperament. I just gave her the money and took him home. In a twist of fate, I got lucky…again.
Unintentionally, I socialized him with people early on as I brought him to my clinic with me. He was very comfortable with anyone he met, albeit a bit hand shy. He did have minor “issues” – he hated any grooming, whether his nails or teeth. As a result, nail clipping was a nightmare, and his dental health suffered tremendously. He had to endure dental extractions and cleanings under anesthesia. I realize now that if I had taken the time to desensitize him as a puppy to receive care for his mouth and nails, we could have avoided those battles.
This time was going to be different. I did an exhaustive search for an ethical breeder. It wasn’t easy. How did I know to trust them? They asked as many questions about me as I asked of them. I had to fill out an application and describe my lifestyle, home, and prior experience with chihuahuas. My questions were more numerous this time. They gladly answered them all. She also dissuaded me from three other puppies before deciding on Havi. She was honestly trying to best match the puppy with the person.
I have been researching and reading for weeks ahead of Havi’s arrival. I can clearly see what I have done well with the past dogs, and how I can do better this time around. Join me on this journey of conscious dog-parenting! I will share all the tips and insight I’ve gained.