Monday
Jul192010

Japanese Chin Puppies are here!

We had a litter of 3 girls and 1 boy born on 7/9/2010. These Japanese Chin Puppies are 10 days old today.This is a litter of very nicely marked and healthy puppies. Three of these puppies will be available to new homes after they are 10 weeks old.

Friday
Jan182008

Bathing Your Japanese Chin - The Essential Tools and Shampoos

Japanese chins do not need to be bathed as often as they are groomed, they do however, need to be bathed once month. Bathing your dog does not always have to be a full blown spa affair, your main concern should be just getting it done. By bathing your pet regularly you will also make future grooming easier.

chin-bathing.jpg

The Tools

Before giving your Japanese chin a bath, you need to give him a good grooming. That means brushed, combed and no tangles. Before starting the bath, get everything you're going to use together and put it close the the tub or sink you're using. If not, you're going to go looking for your brush with a wet puppy bouncing around the house.

What you'll need for the bath is shampoo and conditioner, sponge, scrub brush, bath mat, heavy towel, hair dryer, and a cup or spray bottle for rinsing. With a Japanese chin you need to be very careful with the head and make sure that water does not get into the eyes and nose. You also need to be very careful to thoroughly rinse out the hair so no shampoo remains.

Your choice of shampoo should be based on what type of hair your dog has and any skin problems they have. There are whiteners available that work very well to whiten the white hair. Most of these shampoos do not affect the black or red part of the hair. Only use shampoos that are white, blue or clear, other colored shampoos may tint your Japanese chin's coat. After a few months you will be able to tell which shampoo is best for your dog.
During flea season you may want to use a shampoo that has anti-flea ingredients in them.  

Whether or not you use conditioner is really up to your preference. The hair will be softer and easier to comb out if you do use it.

Friday
Jan042008

A Comfortable Bed For Your New Chin Puppy

Young Japanese ChinA new home will not be nearly as frightening for a puppy if there is a comfortable and warm sleeping area for him. It needs to be clean and low key area of the house where he can go for some peace and quiet.

One of the most popular dog beds is a decorative wicker bed. These beds creak when a dog moves around on it, which can sometimes have a calming effect on Japanese chin puppies. However, these beds catch dirt and crumbs very easily. They can also be hazardous to teething and rambunctious puppies because they break easily and pieces may be swallowed by a puppy.

Some beds are made of hard plastic and if your pet has a need to chew something, this might be a good choice for them. Refrain from impulsively buying a designer or luxurious bed simply because they look good. You want something that is easy to clean and move. Because they will get dirty and you just might need to move it every so often.

Bean bag beds with removable covers are easy to clean and maintain. Although not as inexpensive as most round fleece beds and other pads they are easier to clean.

All beds should be put inside a collapsible crate or a wire cage, especially for the first year. Japanese chins and any other pet should not be allowed to run freely inside a house. A cage will also give a puppy it's own space, and creates a sense of security.  

At first your new puppy will want to get out of his cage and stay in the same room as you. Take him for occasional walks throughout the house, and return him to his cage for ten to fifteen minutes. At first he will whine when you leave him alone in his cage, but try to ignore them, and he'll stop after his whining gets him nowhere.

When it's time to go to bed, place your puppy in his cage and leave him there. If he whines too much, a water bottle filled with warm water and wrapped in a towel or large rag will occasionally stop them. Even wrapping it with one of your clothes may calm him and make him not feel so alone.




Thursday
Dec272007

Grooming Your Older Japanese Chin

Sable Japanese chin dogA regular grooming program started when your pet is young should be continued as they age. Although care should be taken that your older Japanese chin does not develop dry, scaly skin from grooming, you should regularly brush his coat as normal. The skin of an older dog does not very easily produce the natural skin oils that prevent their coat from becoming dry and scaly. However a matted or tangled coat is just as irritating and harmful. If the dirt and debris in a dog's coat is not regularly removed, bacteria from the dirt often enters the skin through cuts caused by scratching and chewing. Bacterial skin infections are not that uncommon in older Japanese chins.

As a general rule Japanese chins should be combed and brushed every day. If your dog has a skin disease or is a show dog, a grooming program should be adopted to address their specific needs. I like to use a metal comb and a wire-bristle brush. First you should comb the hair to untangle it and separate the hairs, then use the brush to remove the dead skin and dirt from the skin of your dog.
Tuesday
May012007

Carsick Pets

Often motion sickness causes dogs to vomit or shake when they take car rides. However anxiety and fear can also have the same effects. When a dog only rides in a vehicle to go to the vet, he associates the car ride with an unpleasant experience.

If your pet's car sickness is a result of fear or other emotional based problem, taking him on car rides and training him to enjoy them is often the best way to overcome the problem. Dogs that rarely ride in cars other than going to the vet are being trained that a car ride results in a fearful and unpleasant experience. You can train your pet to enjoy car rides by taking him on a ride around the block once or twice a day, give him a treat after the ride and by taking him with you to places other than the vet when suitable.

Occasionally a dog will have an actual fear of vehicles. If this is your dog, start by taking him in and around the vehicle when it's not running. Give him a treat and pet him and just have fun. All you want to do is have your pet enjoy himself and associate your vehicle with a fun and positive experience. After a bit, repeat the process above but start the car before you do so. If it helps give him a treat before you start the vehicle.

After your pet is comfortable in and around your vehicle when it's running, take him for a short drive in your driveway. Give him treats, pet him and just make it enjoyable. Gradually increase the distance you drive with your pet until he's comfortable driving any distance.