3 questions-treats, exercise and tricks!

[rachelkbarnes]

HI!! I am a fairly new Chin owner. I would say my chin, Princess Daisy and I are bonding well! She is ~15 weeks old, knows her name/ recognizes my voice, and comes when called! I just have a few questions about life with a chin. Here are my questions!

1) Where can I find the rose hips and twig treats everyone is talking about?? I am very interested in getting these items for my Princess but I have not been able to find them anywhere! (Being in rural Tennessee, it's hard to find specialty items! So, maybe a website?)

2) What is an appropriate method and amount of exercise time? I bought a ball and she LOVES running around in it. But, I read recently that the ball might not be the best form of exercise and Chins under 6 months of age should be out of their cage... I was hoping some of you could help clear this up for me!

3) I feel my chin is a very smart girl, although I may be biased! What are some tricks I can teach her?

Thank you for all of your help and advice! =)

 

[tunes]

1) Treats - Check the classifieds. If someone has wood for sale, they will post it there. Rosehips you can get at any organic or health food store and on line. Lots of people give supplements to their chins as treats. I use the supplements from fuzzieskingdom.com. My chins go bonkers over them.

2) Nope, no balls. They are too hot and do not promote a chin's natural movement. Chinproof a room and let her run there instead. She doesn't have to be kept in a cage all the time, but she shouldn't have a TON of running time just because she's young. Calories she burns while running for extended periods of time can take away from her growing to reach her potential. That doesn't mean she can't get out - sure she can. I personally just wouldn't let her run for hours on hand. 15 weeks old I would not let run for than 15 minutes or so a couple times a week until she gets older and grows more. That's my personal opinion. Definitely though, get rid of the ball ASAP.

3) I don't teach my chins tricks so I can't help you with that. Some people have taught them to return to the cage when they use a clicker and other stuff. I suppose you can teach her what you have time to teach her - if that makes sense.

 

[LYChinchillas]

Hi! That's really exciting, very glad you and your chin are getting along well.

I second tunes on the balls; they are known as 'death balls' in the chin community because they can lead to overheating and stress due to claustrophobia. Playtime can be given in moderation, because typically chins under 6 months of age should be resting up and focusing their calories on growth and development.

As for the safe treats and wood chews, there are tons of chin suppliers online that will ship you apple sticks and other fun safe chews.

And intelligence - yes, chins are intelligent! But they don't quite take to orders or human demands lol. I think the most 'trick' you'll get out of them is a fond greeting and perhaps a touch of obedience - although it does depend on temperament and personality. Some chins can be trained to perform small feats, although it takes time, repetition, and practice - as well as consistency on the part of an owner.

 

[preslor]

I have a chin that's about the same age (a little bit older), I was taking her out for a few minutes every day in the hallway but she soon discovered she could jump over the 2-3 foot barriers i put up. I now take her to a bathroom and shut the door. She doesn't run around as much but loves jumping around. She's figured out the door opens so anytime i stand up near the door she is right there ready to get out. When i try to put her back in the cage she runs the other way up my arm. I weigh her frequently to make sure she is gaining a little weight and growing and not burning too many calories when out exploring.