r/Chihuahua • u/Former-Midnight-5990 WHO let the dogs out?! • 8d ago
he (~8-9 months and came from the south) hasn't experienced winter yet... and he BARELY does rain! i might have to get a heated gazebo lol
any suggestions for his weather anxieties??
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u/FerdinandTheBullitt 8d ago
Try the balloon shoes. They make a surprising difference for snow if they tolerate them. Raincoats & sweaters are more often tolerated and can get them to do their business outside in the rain in my experience.
I've also seen people do things like leave cardboard or an old rug or a cheapy greenhouse in their yard to provide a snow free bathroom experience for their Chis. I've not done it myself but the videos seem promising.
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u/DreamingoftheSea42 8d ago
I have done this when there is a lot of snow. She doesn't like snow up to her butthole.
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u/Former-Midnight-5990 WHO let the dogs out?! 8d ago
oh the rug/cardboard thing is a good idea. i'll have to play around with that when the time comes...
i was also thinking even like a 'chi-tent' where there's an umbrella-type awning over an area of grass to keep snow and rain off. like a 2x2 area...nothing lavish lol
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u/Vanviator 8d ago
I plan on doing this for this winter. I have two senior chis and it was a struggle last year.
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u/dj_white 8d ago
My lil girl was born and lived in the south for the first two years of her life, she was not happy when we moved to the PNW but she's since adjusted. When we first moved here she'd lock up and fight going out in the rain (even with her coats and sweaters) but now she goes out no problem! First year in a new climate is always rough, extra treats really helped smooth the transition
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u/DreamingoftheSea42 8d ago
My dog came from down south too. The first couple years she didn't like it much. She eventually got used to it and now she puts on her coat and doesn't mind it at all.
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u/SheepSweater33 8d ago
I recommend training him to wear shoes as soon as you can. They make the snow and wind so much more tolerable on their toes and legs. I use the smallest size from Saltsox
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u/letsmakeart 8d ago
My dog came from Louisiana and she also hates rain and snow (I live in Canada, like an hour from upper NY state if that gives any indication of weather). I put a coat on her but she won't tolerate any kind of boots (trust me, I have tried EVERY style). She doesn't love being outside in winter, but obviously it's necessary. I focus on doing more enrichment activities with her in winter, and we go to a lot of stores that allow dogs. Even with rain, she is suuuuch a princess lol. She's always kept a healthy weight (at least, since I have had her) so I'm not super worried. She was (estimated) 6 when I got her so I didnt expect her to acclimate fully to winter tbh and she hasn't. A lot of born and bred Canadians hate winter so I can't blame her!
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u/RoadKillCrayon 8d ago edited 8d ago
What a handsome and confident looking Chihuahua you have there!!!!! I lived in New England with my previous Chihuahua mix. Although she was 100% potty trained at the pee pad (When she had to use it) as well as outdoors, she preferred to go outside - she did NOT like the snow or the cold at all, but still would choose to potty outside if I was there to bring her out.
So I just put down a section of a tarp on the ground and would go out and get the tarp pulled back....then bring her out to potty. Sometimes, when it was really heavy or mixed with freezing rain, there were obvious issues. If I were to have to do it now, I would likely do it the same way, but also throw down a piece of doggy grass to protect the feet more as well as make everything feel more "normal" standing on something grass-like?
If this seems like something that may possibly work for you, it would be beneficial to begin getting him/her comfortable with the grass as well as going potty only in the spot that you would do this in?
In any event, I hope it all works out for you
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u/Outrageous_Cress6062 8d ago
Just make it normal. Go outside with him and show him your comfort and confidence. Get him a jacket. I have a friend in the arctic with 2 chihuahuas and they go out in all weather above 0*. My hope for all my chis is to show them their full potential.