The Chihuahua is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and that is not surprising at all. Not only are these dogs the tiniest of all breeds, they are the oldest as well. According to the American Kennel Club these dogs have been around from the time of the Aztecs. You will find these dogs to be very attractive growing no taller than nine inches and weighing a mere three to six pounds. They have a sweet small face with a sharp muzzle and large fox-type pointed ears. Their eyes are large and quietly intelligent. The Chihuahua coat comes in two varieties - one is short and straight and another is long and fluffy.

Grooming your Chihuahua is not a big deal mainly because it is so small. Besides, these dogs are basically indoor animals so there is very little chance for them to get messy. The short hair is easy to manage with a simple brushing every alternate day or so, while the long hair needs a bath once every two to three months.

Clipping the nails could be the trickiest part of grooming your Chihuahua. They are very frisky and normally hate to sit still which is absolutely required when the nails are clipped. This is a moderately challenging task, which will require your utmost patience and a certain degree of skill in order to do a good job.

Since most people have a lot difficulty with this kind of grooming here are some sure-fire tips that will help you clip your Chihuahua nails without any trouble at all. You will need a few things first - a large towel, grooming clippers for dogs, another person who can assist you, and your pet - preferably in a good mood.

How do you shampoo your Chihuahua to remove both the smell and the possible infection from its fur? Fight your nausea if it smells very bad, by tying a scented hanky around your nose and mouth. Now, take your Chihuahua and give it a good bath with dog soap or shampoo. Do not give in to the temptation to wash it with your own human shampoo or soap. Human soaps and shampoos are made with the human hair and skin in mind. Similarly, the dog soaps are manufactured keeping in view their requirements of cleanliness and retention of fur oils. Hence, using human shampoo or soap could be extremely harmful for your pet.

The most common method of
Before you proceed with the bath you need to gather a few things that you will need during the bath - balls of cotton, medium sized comb, a large towel and a quiet, gentle hair drier. Before you wet the dog, comb the fur and remove all the matted hair. Then, take the cotton balls and put them into the ears of the dog.

This will stop water entering and prevent ear infections. Use only dog soap and dog shampoo for bathing your pet. Lastly, dry the dog with the towel and gently blow-dry the fur. Follow these tips to grooming your Chihuahua and you will have a wonderful, happy and clean pet in the house.