Within minutes of opening this book, I found myself checking the date it was published and demanding to know just how old this book is. The rottweiler hasn’t been hugely popular since the mid-90s, but the book was published in 2015. Not a promising start. The book also tends toward admonishment, letting people know how expensive, time consuming, and inappropriate for most people dogs are. On the one hand, I’m sympathetic to the author. As a dog groomer I’ve seen firsthand just how many people severely neglect their dogs. You would be shocked by the number of people who truly, genuinely, should ..read more

Woodrow on the Bench is the tale of an elderly dog named Woodrow, who suffers from Congestive Heart Failure (CHF for short.) At the time we read this, Rocco had recently been diagnosed with CHF, so my heart was particularly wrapped up in this story. Jenna is an award-winning author from her many previous novels, and her powerful storytelling skills are put to good use telling the story of Woodrow. Although I’ve read 4 memoirs now in my reading challenge, I never once asked myself why Jenna thought Woodrow’s story needed to be told. It’s everybody’s story. Anyone who has ever lived with and lov ..read more

This is another memoir about death, the rehoming of an elderly dog, and life thereafter. The story is written by a professional news reporter who asked around if anyone needed to rehome an older bull terrier. She wanted one for her dog, Minnie. In unexpected encounter at a farmer’s market introduces her to Carol, a flamboyant designer who is dying of cancer. She has an 11-year-old bull terrier who, despite his age, she knows will outlive her. The story is about the struggle of pet ownership when you know you’re close to death. I was a dog groomer for many years and am no stranger to elderly pe ..read more

We’ve talked extensively about nail trimming on our blog. Nail trims are the most common type of grooming out there, especially for short hairs. If you plan to groom your dog at home, it’s important to have access to the best nail trimming tools for chihuahuas. Before I started All Things Chihuahua, I was a dog groomer. These are my favorite tools and why I liked them. (Affiliate links are part of this post. If you do decide to purchase one of these products, please consider doing so through one of our links. It costs nothing extra for you, but helps us grow.) Dremel 7700 I almost never actua ..read more

So, you’re madly in love with dogs and want to convince your parents to get you a chihuahua. Perhaps you’ve already asked, and the answer has been a hard no. You’re willing to do anything to get a chihuahua, but there’s no way! Or is there? As a child, I was not only able to convince my parents to give me a pet, I was also able to help my friends get pets as well. It’s definitely possible to convince parents, even “hard no” parents, to change their mind on a pet. Why Parents Say No If your parents wanted a pet, they would already have a pet. The last thing they want to do is spend the next 15 ..read more

Picture courtesy of Alicia X. Bailey of Little Boogie, a dog with CH. Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH) is a condition caused by a portion of the brain called the Cerebellum not developing properly in a puppy. It can either be hereditary, meaning it was passed down through genetics, or caused by an injury to the puppy in the womb. Injuries that can cause Cerebellar Hypoplasia include lack of nutrition during pregnancy, infections of the womb, or toxin exposure while the mother is pregnant. The Cerebellum The cerebellum is located at the back of the dog’s brain and helps the dog coordinate complex mov ..read more

We find most of our books at the local library, but Little Boogie Shoes found us in a different way. We are friends with the owner of this adorable little dog on Instagram, and discovered the book when we explored the Boogie Shoes website. This book is aimed at children ages 7-8, but my daughter who is 5 also enjoyed the book. The book has several pictures of Boogie, and she enjoyed looking at them while I read her the story. The story is about how Boogie Shoes, a puppy with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, came to find his forever home. Cerebellar Hypoplasia is a condition that happens when a puppy’s b ..read more

Forums are getting rarer and rarer as time goes on. Social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have largely taken over with their groups and lists. Although they provide a great way to meet other people, new policy shifts have made keeping in touch with your friends difficult. Forums may not have the popularity they used to have, but there’s something to be said about being able to chat with your friends in peace. They say many social media groups only show your posts to 10% of your following, so you’ll have to pay to be seen by the rest. The Best Chihuahua Forums With that being sai ..read more

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is a disease that is becoming more common in dogs, largely due to the fact that dogs are reaching advanced age more often. In Remember Me? Loving and Caring for a Dog with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, author Eileen Anderson walks us through the disease and the current treatments available. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, also known as CCD, has many symptoms, including but not limited to: Confusing the hinge side of the door for the opening side Spinning or pacing Staring off into space Getting stuck in corners or against walls Forgetting training Not recognizing fa ..read more

When Rugby, a senior dog with a vast repertoire of tricks started forgetting some of his learned behaviors, his owner wasn’t too worried. After all, Rugby was getting on in age, and it’s natural for anyone to have a senior moment or two. But when Rugby couldn’t remember how to go into his own kennel, something he’d done a thousand times before, Rugby’s mom knew something unusual was going on. She took her dog to her trusted veterinarian, who diagnosed him with Canine Cognitive Disorder, sometimes known as canine dementia. What is Canine Cognitive Disorder? Canine Cognitive Disorder (CCD) is an ..read more