Proper grooming is essential to a well cared for chihuahua.
Bathing
Bathing your chihuahua should be enjoyable for the both or you as long as follow a few simple precautions.
First, be sure to bathe your chi in a place that is going to be comfortable for you. We prefer the sink, that way we are not bent over the bathroom tub. Make sure that you have a bathroom mat cut to the correct size. This will help your chi feel more secure because their feet will not slip as they are being bathed. Next, insure that the water temperature is comfortable, since chihuahua's get cold easy, keep the water on the warm side, but not hot. Be sure to keep the water out of his eyes, ears, and nose. This is easy to do if you cup your hand around his head from ear to ear as you are washing his neck. When you wash their face, rub it with a warm wash cloth, do not use any soap on their face. DO NOT use people shampoo on your dog. Humans’ chemistry is different from dogs and this can dry their skin out. There is no need to buy special flea shampoo unless your dog is entirely infested with fleas. If they just have one or two from the recent potty trip outside a normal bath will kill the fleas if you leave the shampoo on the dog for about 5 minutes before you rinse them. For more info on fleas and other parasites
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Ears
Chihuahua's big ears usually stay clean on their own, but if they do get dirty, you can purchase an ear cleaning solution from the vet that you can use to wet the ear and then use a cotton ball to wipe them out.
Eyes
Most chi's get teary eyes and this can cause stains around the eye area. You can buy pads at pet stores and Wal-Mart that will remove the stains. You can also make a paste from milk of magnesia, peroxide and cornstarch that you can apply under the eyes. DO NOT GET THIS IN THE EYES!!
Leave this on for 5 minutes and then wipe it off. If the stain is still there, apply another layer, wait 5 minutes and wipe it off. This is the equivalent of applying bleach to your own hair.
Nails
Nails are the trickiest part of grooming a chi. Some do not mind to have them clipped, others scream bloody murder. For smaller chi's, under 5 pounds, you can use human nail clippers, for larger chis, it is better to buy a pair of dog clippers. Hold the dogs paw and press on the pad to expose the whole nail. It is easiest if you have a dog with clear nails. Do not clip into the quick. This is the pink that you can see in the nail. If you cut back this far, your dog will bleed. Have cornstarch handy just in case. Clip the nail back, just to the quick, but NOT into it. See Pic Below, cutting on the right side of the red line. If you have never clipped nails before, it is helpful to have a vet or someone who has trimmed nails before show you the first time.
Teeth
The health of your chi's teeth is very important. To keep your chi's teeth in good shape, it is recommended that you brush them at least once a week. DO NOT USE PEOPLE TOOTHPASTE. You can buy dog tooth paste and a toothbrush in a kit at most supermarket and almost all pet stores. It will be best for your chi if you start training your chi early to accept the brush. Some are better at this than others. Start by stroking your chi along the mouth on the sides of his face until he is used to you doing this. This could take several days to a couple of weeks. Next, let him try some of the toothpaste off your finger. You may have to try several till you find one that he likes. Next, move on to the brushing part. This is the hardest step, because they don't like things in their mouth that they didn't put there! But with a little practice and a lot of patience, you should be able to successfully brush his teeth within a couple of months. A few points to remember. Never force your chi to let you brush. This is only going to make him fear you, and two, when picking a brush, be sure to get one that is chi sized. You may have to buy one that is made for a cat.