When preparing to bring a new puppy in to your home, think of the puppy as a new baby! After all, he/she IS as prone to potentially dangerous situations as a human baby. You wouldn't permit a human baby to crawl around your floor without checking to see if their are harmful objects that he/she could chew and swallow, possibly choking to death! It is always a good idea to go over everything with a 'fine tooth comb' before sitting your new baby down on the floor at playtime!
You wouldn't leave a human baby down on the floor without supervision - the same applies to a tiny Chihuahua puppy. The difference is that your Chi puppy can move around a LOT faster than your human baby could! Everything in his/her site is a potential toy and therefore a potentia hazzard.
Please go through each room and cover all electrical outlets that are not in use, even rooms that you are NOT planning on puppy entering. A tiny Chi can slip passed you in the blink of an eye without you even noticing! One tiny wet paw in an electrical outlet could lead to deadly consequences!
If you are using scented candles in a room, make sure that they are up HIGH on a mantle and out of harms' way. An inquisitive Chi can be an accidentally burned Chi!
Keep all electrical cords safely out of his/her reach. You can pull them up tightly and secure them behind an object such as a lamp or heavy ornament.
Keep telephone wires hidden and out of his/her reach, otherwise you may end up thinking that your phone service is out-of-order. It WILL be out-of-order but not for the reason you think. Your puppy can easily tug on the connector wire and disconnect the plug from the wall.
Keep all pesticides and other dangerous chemicals out of reach, and securely contained in a cabinet preferrably in an outside building. If you do not have access to an outdoor building, then keep them in your utility room, on a high shelf.
Do not permit your puppy to chew on the edge of your rugs. This is a natural attraction for your puppy because these sometimes frilly edges are often mistaken for the same frilly edges on his/her playtoys which are designed for his/her chewing and teething pleasure, and playing tug-of-war, so when your puppy heads towards a throw rug, say 'Off' in a firm voice - DO NOT SHOUT AT YOUR PUPPY! There is no need to shout. Shouting will only scare your baby!
When your puppy does something that you do not want him to do, just say the word, 'Off', in a firm voice and distract him with a toy. After you have distracted him/her with the toy, stroke puppy on the back and say,'Good (fill in the name of the puppy).' Puppies DO NOT SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE, so don't expect them to understand a long drawn-out sentence - he/she doesn't understand all those words you are saying, but puppy has already been taught the word 'Off' and 'Good (fill in the name)!'
Your puppy has already begun to use a 'Puppy Pad'. In fact, puppy has been learning to use a puppy pad since he/she was two weeks of age. Puppies always go potty as soon as they wake up from a nap, whether it is a short nap or a longer one throughout the night. Twenty minutes after eating, they usually go 'big potty' as the food stimulates the bowel action. Always keep pads
throughout your house when puppy first goes to your home. After all, he is not sure of his/her surroundings yet. In time he will know every corner of your home. Always praise puppy after he/she goes potty! Say,'Clever (name) went potty on the pad!' Your new puppy will feel SO proud that he/she pleased you! NEVER give a treat for going potty! It encourages obesity!
PUPPY PROOFING YOUR HOME