Chihuahua puppies are naturally curious but can be destructive and get into trouble since they tend to enjoy with their mouths. To keep them safe, you will need to secure any hazardous items in your home.  Lock away toxic items like medicine, cleaning products, and chemicals. Pick up loose items from the floor, especially if they are breakable or fragile. Purchase baby or puppy gates to keep your puppy confined to a certain area in your home. It will be helpful during housetraining to keep your puppy in a room with easy to clean floors, like tile or hardwood. In many states and towns, you will need to register your dog with the municipal government in order to receive identification tags and a dog license.  There may be a small fee associated with registration. Check with your local government to determine whether there is a fee and how much it will be. Attach your puppy’s new identification tags to their collar immediately after you receive them. Regardless of whether you purchased your new Chihuahua from a breeder or adopted them from a shelter, you will need to take them to the veterinarian so they can receive vaccinations. You should also microchip and spay or neuter your puppy.  Your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccinations based on the area that you live in. For example, if you live in an area where are a lot of ticks, your vet may recommend a Lyme disease vaccination yearly. Do not let your puppy go out in public or interact with unfamiliar dogs until they have been fully vaccinated. The microchip contains your contact information and is extremely helpful if your puppy is ever lost or stolen. It will usually be implanted in the scruff of your puppy’s neck or above their shoulder where they cannot reach it during a routine visit.  Chihuahua puppies can be spayed between 8 weeks old and 3 months. Chihuahuas should be neutered between 8 weeks and 6 months. Many veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering your Chihuahua before they reach puberty (typically between 4 to 7 months).  Spaying and neutering can decrease aggression, increase their attention span, and decrease their chances of developing some medical conditions like prostate conditions and womb infections. Chihuahuas often suffer from serious blood sugar problems and need to be fed in small amounts throughout the day to keep their blood sugar from falling or spiking. Young puppies under the age of four months old are the most susceptible to this.  Regular feeding throughout the day can help to prevent hypoglycemia, which is a dip in blood sugar levels. You can stabilize a puppy with dangerously low blood sugars by rubbing honey on their gums. Once they are stabilized, you should take them to your nearest veterinarian or pet hospital. Like other small breeds, Chihuahuas are at risk of accidentally injuring themselves by jumping or falling off of furniture. While many owners let their Chihuahuas on furniture, it is generally a good idea to keep them on the ground.  They have more fragile bones than larger dogs so they are at higher risks of suffering from fractures, internal injuries, and concussions. Chihuahuas are at a high risk of suffering from luxating patellas, which is essentially a displaced kneecap, by jumping or overexerting themselves.  Keep Chihuahua puppies away from small children who can easily hurt them unintentionally.
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One-sentence summary -- Puppy-proof your home. Register your puppy. Visit your veterinarian. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Prevent accidental injuries.


Permanent dye will last the longest and can cover gray hairs and roots. Semi-permanent dye can only darken hair, and will last up to 8 washes. Demi-permanent dye can slightly lift your hair color, and will last up to 25 washes.  If you’re using permanent dye, apply it to your hair when it’s dry. For semi-permanent dye, shampoo your hair and dye it while it’s still slightly damp. When deciding between 2 colors, stick with the color that is closer to your natural color. Making a big change, like bleaching dark hair, is best done with a professional salon colorist. If your hair is longer than shoulder-length, buy at least 2 boxes of dye in case you run out during the process. You should only need 1 box if your hair is shoulder-length or shorter. Your scalp will have built up enough natural oils to protect your skin from irritation. Washing your hair removes those natural oils, so it’s best to wait 2 days before dyeing. If you pick an old shirt or robe that closes in the front, you won’t have to lift anything over your head when it’s time to rinse out your dye. You can also wrap an old towel around your shoulders and fasten the ends together for an extra layer of protection.  You can also lay down newspaper or garbage bags to protect floors and surfaces from dye stains.  Work in a room with natural light if possible, so you can accurately check your new hair color.  The bathroom is generally the best place to work, especially if you have a window that lets in natural light. You can use the mirror to check up on your progress, use the countertops as a workspace, and the sink and shower are readily available in case you need to rinse off. If your dye doesn’t have instructions for a strand test, mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of color and 1.5 teaspoons (7.4 mL) of developing cream. Using disposable gloves, apply the dye to a 1 inch (2.5 cm) section of your hair.  Not all kits have the same mixing ratio (for example, some might require a 1:1 mixture of color and developing cream for the strand test), so check the instructions before you start mixing the dye. If you’ve dyed your hair before, work the dye from root to tip, taking care not to get dye on your scalp. After the instructed time has passed, which is usually 20 to 30 minutes, rinse your test strands with lukewarm water. Dry it with a blow dryer, and then check the color. If you’re happy with it, you’re ready to dye the rest of your hair. If you’re not happy with your test strand’s color, you can try a new color on a different strand of hair.
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One-sentence summary --
Choose between a permanent, semi-permanent, or demi-permanent dye. Go with a dye 2 to 3 shades lighter or darker than your current color. Leave your hair unwashed for 2 days before you dye it. Wear an old button-front shirt or robe to avoid stains. Test dye on a small section of your hair before dyeing the rest. Rinse and dry your test strands to check the color.