You are a novice Chihuahua owner and you're not quite sure how to groom them? You think the dog groomer is a bit out of your budget, but you still want your Chi to look splendid?
Great news!
You can do it all by yourself. You don't have to spend a ton of money to afford your Chi a spa day. Make it a ritual that only you and your Chi will enjoy. Ready for some bonding time? 'cause today we will tell you all you need to know about grooming a Chihuahua.
Why is it important to groom my Chihuahua?
Every dog needs grooming. Some more than others. When it comes to Chis, they don't need to be groomed so often, but surely some work must be done now and then.
When you put it into logic, Chihuahuas are petite pups, their bellies are but a few inches from the ground. Therefore, they are prone to getting their fur dirty and even collecting fleas in it.
Furthermore, don't forget that spring is just around the corner, allergies are partying heavy, waiting for the right opportunity to bother your Chi's skin.
You want to make sure your Chihuahua is clean and tidy.
How often should I groom my Chihuahua?
Chihuahuas are usually not that crazy about grooming, and luckily for you, you don't have to do it too often.
That being said, the frequency of grooming often depends on several factors including how much time your Chihuahua spends outside, what the weather is like, whether they are prone to skin or flea problems if they have long or short hair and their environment in general.
Grooming your pooch once a month should be just about enough.
Grooming A Chihuahua (How To)
Most people think that bathing their doggos is the same as grooming.
Well, yes it is, but not quite.
While bathing is a part of the grooming process, there are still a few steps left for it to be considered proper grooming.
Grooming includes bath, hair and nails clipping, as well as ear cleaning.
Yes, it a full spa treatment, and today we will tell you how to do it for free.
While your Chi needs grooming approximately once a month, they need to be bathed more often.
Step 1 – Preparations
Before you begin with the spa, decide whether your spa center will be located in your kitchen or bathroom sink. Either way is fine, just make sure it's clean and there are no things your Chi can knock off.
Another recommendation is to use standing rubber on the bottom of the sink so your Chi is stable enough to stand on their own, and avoid soapy slides.
By now we assume you have already gathered 'beauty' products such as dog shampoo, conditioner (optional), nail clipper, bathing cloth, and some towels.
Step 2 – Start with a brush
Before bathing your Chihuahua, make sure their fur is well brushed. You want to remove all the dead skin and loose hair.
If you have a long-haired Chi, make sure to untangle their hair before putting on the shampoo.
You can brush your pooch's fur in just a few steps with a Chihuahua grooming glove.
Step 3 – Clip their nails
Clip your Chi's nails at least once a month. If their nails are left too long they may begin having trouble standing on their own, or even walk properly.
This is maybe the toughest part of the spa moment, as your Chi may become a bit restless and relentless when it comes to clipping their nails.
Yes, you can take her to a professional to do it, but if you're willing to try it yourself, make sure there's someone who will help you hold her.
Trim your Chi's nails painlessly with a high-quality nail grinder.
Another device you may use to clip your Chihuahua's nails is a nail clipper, but be careful not to trim too close to the paw as it can start bleeding.
After doing their nails, don't forget to examine their paws in search of any signs of infections that can be caused by the dirt and the rocks that can accumulate down there.
If you have a long-haired Chihuahua, check if there's hair around their footpads that need removal.
Step 4 – Clean their ears
The good news is, Chihuahuas are not so prone to ear infections as they hold their ears constantly upwards, compared to the floppy-eared doggos.
The bad news is, they can happen and you must stop them.
Before taking a bath, check your princesses' ears for any suspicious marks, weird smell, redness, or greasiness, as these can be signs of an infection.
You can clean your Chihuahua's ears with a few squirts of a cleaning solution on a cotton pad. Wipe inside the ear canal but be careful not to go too deep. Flap the ear and massage it for about 30 seconds. After that, your Chi will shake off the cleaning solution and ear residue.
If you're not comfortable with doing this, you can always take your Chi pup to a professional.
Step 5 – Bath
Now is the time to take a bath!
Fill the sink with a few inches of lukewarm water.
Start with the face. Why? Because it's the toughest part of the process.
To wash your Chi's face, take a washcloth and wet it. Take your shampoo mixture and pour it over the cloth, then start wiping gently. Once you have wiped your doggo's face, rinse the cloth and do it once more time to completely remove the shampoo. Don't let the shampoo go into your pup's ears as it can cause inflammation.
Done with the head? Move to the back of the head.
Put a little bit of shampoo at the back of your princess's head, and start massaging towards the tail. Don't forget the legs and the private parts.
If you're a proud owner of a long-haired Chi, you might want to add a bit of a conditioner into the process.
After you've done with the shampoo kindly rinse them off with warm water. Wrap them in a towel a let them dry.
Et voila! Your Chihuahua just got the real grooming session, and all by their loving parent.
To keep your Chi clean at all times, you can brush them daily and wipe their feet with baby wipes after a walk out.
Wrapping it up
We hope this guide to grooming a Chihuahua helped you learn some useful tips and tricks if you decide to groom them on your own. Remember to take the steps carefully and have someone by your side to help you, at least the first time. Let us know if you have any questions or would like to discuss this further.
If you liked this article, maybe you would like to read Common Chihuahua Health Issues (And Their Symptoms)
