Keeping Chihuahuas

Question
Hello Becky, I want to get one or two chihuahuas in around december or january, I was wondering what its like taking care of dogs that are so small? my current dogs are 70-15-18 pounds, my sister has a tiny 3 pound male chihuahua but she isnt much help in asking questions too she only has had small dogs and doenst know what its like watching bigger dogs lol. I have lined up a breeder and have a back up breeder of equal quaility avalible as well, I plan to have my puppy(s) home by December for sure anyways from the first breeder, she's got several litters planned in august/october this year. Her ales are tiny and female normal sized so I expect a mid sized baby or two from her or smaller, Anyways my main questions are:


Do chihuahuas need alot of space? I am living in a basement now but I do have a large yard that the dogs are welcomed too.

I want to indoor potty train the chi's on newspaper or pee pads or a litter box or something of that sort can I do this without disrupting my other dogs 'going' outdoors?


I know how tiny and fragile a baby chi is my sisters was so tiny when she got him I wa afraid to hold him in my lap for the trip home... so breakable lol. My question in this subject is what do i do with the chi's with my other dogs around when there playing or something? can I put them in a puppy pen until everyone is setteled? I wouldnt want them getting squished in the dominace arguments.

Are the puppy(s) going to be ok in a puppy pen while i'm working? I do this pen/crate thing with my other dogs when I leave during the day because they would all distroy the house but I've never delt with puppies so small before so I wanted to make sure it would be ok.

Vaccines and wormings are the same with the tiny toys right?

I have my three dogs sleep in the bed at night... because they wouldnt sleep on teh floor if I asked them lol, I want to have the little ones sleep in a pen or crate beside my bed to pervent them falling out at night... will they cry?

And lastly do you persoanlly reccomend one or two? It would be slightly weird to the dog to be in a house of 'gaint' dogs wouldn't it?

THank you for any help in advance I look forward to your reply.

Answer
Hi Tara,

I think Chihuahuas are wonderful little dogs. They are very loyal and protective of their owners.  Among all of my dogs, they are the ones who will sit on my lap and be my constant companions.  
To answer some of your questions... no, these little dogs do not need a lot of room. They will do fine with a small yard. You need to be really careful with them around your larger dogs though. Your large dogs could hurt them unintentionally, so please be careful.  I think getting two is nice because they will always have each other for company when you are not home.  A puppy pen would be ideal,just don't use a child's playpen as I have heard of Chi's trying to climb out, only to fall to their death.  Crate training is an excellent way to not only potty train, but a safe place for them to be when you are not home or as you suggested to sleep in at night.  If you will put them in the crate from the very beginning, they will learn to go there with no trouble.  Just be sure when you get your Chi's that they eat.  Small breed dogs will die if they don't eat.  Their blood sugar drops and they will go down on you FAST, so please be sure they eat every four hours or so.  Make sure they are vaccinated and dewormed by a Vet.  There are several good books out there on this breed.  Go top Amazon.com or the public library and check it out.  You have plenty of time to read up and be fully educated by the time you get your little babies.  Good luck!  You will love these little dogs.

God Bless,
Becky