Hi
I was wondering what other chihuahua/tiny dog owners do with their pups in the winter. Joey has jumpers to keep him warm but we've only just found a harness that fits him so I'd like to start taking him for little trips/walks. I know some people will think its shocking that Joey is 5 months and Im only just getting around to walking him but when nothing fits your puppy there's nothing to do but wait until he's a bit bigger. It's not like he's never been outside, I bought a dog bag, lol very fashionable but he really likes it.
I think my main question is, how cold is too cold to take your puppy for a walk in winter? Scotland can get pretty cold. I realise that some people will ask about toilet training, I use a puppy pad, yes most think it's evil but we don't have an enclosed garden and with no collar/harness to fit him we didn't know what else to do.
Thanks.

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Hi, just a thought - if he was reeeallly that teeny tiny when he was first old enough to start going out on walks, did you not consider a ferret/rat harness? They're smaller than any puppy harness, or there's even websites that cater specially for chihuahuas and tiny breeds. You're going to have your work cut out for you socialising on the ground now - chi's are notorious for being really nervy. He might've been fine in the bag but that was a safe spot.

My Oscar feels the cold really badly as he's got sort of a fluffy, non-protective type of fur and he lives in a heated house with the rest of us. He has a dog tshirt that goes under his waterproof on less bitter days, but when it's really harsh, the fleece inner gets stuck under his waterproof by velcro. Harness goes over that and hey presto, ready for frost/snow walks.

There's always snow booties and stuff like that as well, but it might just be better to rub vaseline on their paws to prevent their pads cracking and stop snow sticking. As long as he's got a coat on and keeps moving, he should be warm enough.

I sort of feel compelled to make you a little tiny fleece for him lol, I've got this sheet of lovely brown furry fleece that is soooo nice and warm and I've been dying to make something out of it!

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RIP - Marsh, Hugo, Mako, Rufus, Seamus, Lavender, BigBoy, Tetley and Fitch <3

You can get teeny, tiny coats on ebay.
It was freezing when we got Danny so I put Pip's little coat on him.

(Please note, Pip is tiiiiiiny, he just looks big-ish next to puppies)

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Argent: I did have a look at ferret harness but they didn't fit right
I'm really tempted to gets him booties. I also tried online for coats but when I measured him he just wasn't big enough. Now he's a little bigger he has a nice tshirt. I'll probably put pictures on my profile so people can see how tiny he is.

Gemmaa: aww your dog is so cute and so tiny.

I'm going to get him all kitted out and take him for a little walk. I do feel bad he hasn't been for a walk yet but now I know others take their tiny pups out cold weather I don't feel so put off.

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How big is he??

Mine have jumpers for when it's v cold but it's rare they wear them
Keeping them walking keeps them warm although in the snow I do put coats on.

Also harness wise a xs puppia tends to fit 3lb plus. Or a rogz puppy one in xs will fit a 12 week pup plus. Alternatively a soft collar until
You find a decent harness. My girls wear harness' from America or soft collars they know not to pull.

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Joey is wearing a rogz xs harness. I've just ordered him little socks so that should help. Hopefully it's a bit warmer tomorrow so we can go for a short walk even if I have to carry him for most of it I'm sure he'll like seeing the big world.

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He should be fine to walk in temps of below zero TBH. Just wrap him up well in a warm coat (maybe even layers!) and take him for a stroll! Then you can either limit walks to 20-30 mins or wear a big coat and stuff him inside when he gets too chilly (thats what I had to do for my littlest during that really cold winter a couple of years back).
I can sympathise with finding a harness though. Heidi is a really awkward shape (wide ribcage but thin chest/neck) and its a nightmare trying to find a harness that fits. We did use a kitten one til I realiesed that it was rubbing holes underneath her armpits, luckily her puppia jacket fits.....with her winter coat underneath!!(come summertime I'll be hunting around yet again for something that fits comfortably).

Its a shame you didnt socialise him earlier as he will probably find the big wide world quite scary now. But TBH alot of Chi's arent that keen on going out in the cold anyway, esp the short coated ones!

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SUMMER...JUST SAY NO!

I love my furkids.
dogs-Adam, Hannah, Heidi.
cats-Banjo, Bess, Eric, Tootsie, Blossom, Gracie.
Syrian Hamster-Inigo Montoya.
Rats-Ezri, Audrid, Emony.
Corn Snake- Kiora.
Kenyan Sand Boa- Kushti.

RIP- Winter, Autumn, Leela, Spring, Gandalf, Summer,Jet, Pip, Moo, Lilac, Wild Thing, Patrick, Frisbee, Echo.

Would a kitten collar not have done?

the poor little mite may be very afraid if its his first time on the ground in the big wide world

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I really did want to socialise him when he was younger but we got him at the end of November so all the puppy classes were finishing. Plus it's hard to go to classes if you can't put a harness on your puppy.
If only I could find other chihuahua owners in the Edinburgh/Midlothian area so he could play with other small dogs. The past week and a half I've been to pets@home 3 times just so I can walk him around with his harness on
I'm glad someone understands my dilemma of size.
I've added pictures of Joey on my profile so people can see him.

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Oh god Joey is adorable

My puppy is an Alaskan Malamute so I don't have to worry about the cold...only the heat! I would say go to the beginner/junior dog classes to socialise him, and watch out for the socks as if they get wet it might be worse. I know you get boots for the dogs sledging, but I don't know about dogs as small as yours. Hopefully someone on here with small dogs can help you