Help! Chihuahua Info

Question
I am getting a chi pup in a week.  I would like to know how to safely pick my puppy and how can I tell if it's male/female?  I need to know it all...esp the most important details like how to keep it healthy and what to feed it and so forth.  Please tell me all you can, not only is this my first chihuahua puppy but it's the first puppy I'm getting as an adult. I've had two chi's as a child.  One lived for 12 yrs and the other for 10 yrs, so I don't really remember how to take care of them. I would just be responsible for playing with them. THANX, I'd really appreciate your help.

Answer
Hello Jessica,
Chihuahuas are such sweet little dogs. I just love them!
In choosing your new puppy, make sure that he or she is healthy. There should be no runny eyes, or nose,and the puppy should be quite active and playful.  Do not buy a puppy that has crusty eyes or nose, a puppy that is dirty  or has lots of fleas.  If the breeders do not take care of little puppies, then you do NOT want to buy from them.  

Watch the puppy play and watch the legs. You want to be sure the pup has not defects and can run and play without limping or favoring its paw.

Small breed puppies MUST eat.  Buy a good puppy food, there are many to choose from. Your pup won't eat much , so buy a good diet such as Iams or Science Diet.  Buy the puppy brand.  Moisten a little of the dry food with just a little bit of water in order to make it mushy. Add a little cottage cheese and a small amount of chicken baby food.  This will give the pup a good start and should make it want to eat well.  It is very important that your puppy eats!  Small breed dogs will go down on you if they don't eat.  Their blood sugar drops and they could die.  For this reason, do not leave the pup alone for more than four or five hours.  If you have to go to work, then either go home on your lunch break or make sure someone keeps your puppy while you're gone or checks in for you.  I cannot stress enough how important this is.  Small breed dogs , after taken away from mom and siblings, will get stressed out very easily.  I'm not trying to scare you, I just want you to be aware of this!

The male will have a penis, the female will not.  Whatever sex you choose, be sure to have him or her fixed as a neutered dog makes a much better pet.  

You can buy some nice cat beds at Walmart at a good price. These are perfect for Chihuahuas.  Put a little blanket in there with him/her so it can snuggle up.  Get some toys too.  You will have a BLAST playing with your new pup!

God Bless,
Becky