Can a Chihuahua fit in a briefcase? Can I drug it w/out being mean?

Giant Baby · Aug 2, 2008

If a character was to stick a chihuahua in a briefcase, would that be plausible? They look pretty small on television, but I haven't had the pleasure...

I've looked up dimensions (2-12 lbs [with 2-6 being industry standard], 6-9 inches tall), but I remain unsure about the visual. I'm concerned about things like body width and, well, the head!

If not, any thoughts on dogs that could be placed as such?

Also, what might make said chihuahua go to sleep? These folks aren't into animal cruelty, so I'll keep the dog conscious if need be, but if there's something that would knock it out for an hour or two in a non-abusive sort of way, it'd be more interesting. The dog can be cranky, but not in danger as a result.

:Shrug:

Nothing prescribed by a vet, but anything handy around the house (including crazy aunt Ida's meds or burbon or any natural substance a highschool kid from Central Maine might know about) would be great.

I don't want to hurt the dog, or leave any reasonable expectation (beyond the natural buffer that is teenaged boy-dom--he's not a mean kid, despite a little aberrant dog stuffing) that the dog might be harmed. Stoopid ideas are perfectly acceptable and would be fitting with the character.

truelyana · Aug 2, 2008

Yes, it can fit in a briefcase. Ever thought of adding a different kind of bag?

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Aug 2, 2008

Uh... I'd worry it'd suffocate, drugged or not. And awake, I'd imagine it'd make a lot of noise. Crazy Aunt Ida's meds would probably kill it. Bourbon would likely make it puke. Putting the dog in a briefcase would be abusive - unless s/he was in danger somehow and needing to be smuggled out of the danger.

StoryG27 · Aug 2, 2008

Where's haggis? let's find out.

Linda Adams · Aug 2, 2008

What about a gym bag or a backpack? That would be more dog-shaped and might accomodate a slightly bigger dog. We used to have a Chihuahua mix, and he was a lot bigger than the pure breds.

Wkipedia has the weight listed, which ranges from 2 lbs to 12: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chihuahua_(dog)

My mix was 20 lbs.

milhistbuff1 · Aug 2, 2008

How about making it a laptop carry case. A small Chihuahua should fit in one of those multi zippered Solo bags.

smoothseas · Aug 2, 2008

why would you wanna be puttin' a chihuahua anyways?

Tornadoboy · Aug 2, 2008

Well, if you stomp on it a little first, you might be able to slip it between the pages of a paperback?

chevbrock · Aug 2, 2008

If it was going in the cargo hold of anything (plane, train) poor doggie would be mush by the time the trip was over.

Soccer Mom · Aug 2, 2008

It really depends on the briefcase. If you have a soft-sided one, the doggie might be just fine. My parent's black cat likes to jump in one of my briefcases. It's a really over-sized one and made of denim with leather handles and trim. If he wasn't so heavy, I probably would have walked off with him by accident.

C.bronco · Aug 2, 2008

I squished Haggis into a briefcase once. I promised him I would not reveal what debauchery ensued.

Fenika · Aug 2, 2008

Benadryl. Not enough to knock em out (Ever), but just to calm them. The dose for a chi... small dog is a bit tricky. Start with a BABY benadryl and FRACTION it. If you want to get specific (and a responsible character Should) then google it.
I *believe* a 50lb dog would take up to one pill per day, as needed (say, during a thunderstorm). More could be given, but then you should be discussing it with a vet...

C.bronco · Aug 2, 2008

That's not what I used!

LOL

Try a margarita.

Chumplet · Aug 2, 2008

Many years ago, my vet suggested half a Gravol for my 30 pound border collie mix. She was prone to carsickness. It kinda made her dopey and she fell asleep on my lap and my legs fell asleep. She was NOT a lap dog.

A soft sided briefcase, maybe one of those leather ones with an opening at the top like they used in the 60's?

Fenika · Aug 2, 2008

I should specify that the don't-knock-em-out referred to 1) when stowing them in a sketchy carrier and 2) making them comatose. They might ease off to sleep in a drowsy daze, which is fine... unless it's not...
Right, I'm going to bed now

Haggis · Aug 2, 2008

Fenika · Aug 2, 2008

Haggis said:

I don't think you'll have any trouble if the head is this small!

Haggis · Aug 2, 2008

Bahamutchild said:
I don't think you'll have any trouble if the head is this small!

Vincent · Aug 2, 2008

My brother took a 5 hour train trip with a Chihuahua hidden inside his jacket. It made yipping noises sometimes, and people gave him odd looks, but no one said anything.

bonobo_jones · Aug 3, 2008

Benadryl is safe for dogs and will make a dog very drowsy, although I'm not sure what the dose would be for a Chihuahua. One of my dogs is 75lbs, a single Benadryl makes her quite drowsy and looped enough not to care about fireworks.
I know several Chis and certainly a Chihuahua can be stuffed in a wide-enough briefcase. Although I can't imagine any dog accepting this quietly unless drugged. Does it have to be a briefcase or can it be another type of bag with an open top?

Linda Adams · Aug 3, 2008

bonobo_jones said:
Benadryl is safe for dogs and will make a dog very drowsy, although I'm not sure what the dose would be for a Chihuahua. One of my dogs is 75lbs, a single Benadryl makes her quite drowsy and looped enough not to care about fireworks.

Yikes! That brings back memories, and not pleasant. We had to give our Minpin Benedryl. She only weighed eight pounds or so, and it was extremely hard getting the dosage right for her size. I think we only tried a few doses before deciding it was okay to live with the existing problem (leaking at night vs. leaking every single time she barked).

Fenika · Aug 3, 2008

Haggis said:

/derail

Carry on.

Haggis · Aug 3, 2008

Bahamutchild said:
/derail

Carry on.

*stuffs horse into a briefcase*

BlueLucario · Aug 3, 2008

A chihuahua in a briefcase? You could suffocate the poor thing. Put em in a backpack, and leave the zipper open, so they could not only breathe, but stay cool.

Ravenlocks · Aug 3, 2008

I had a friend who had a Yorkie and used to carry it around in a large-ish soft-sided briefcase/purse/bag type thing. I assume she left the top fastenings partially undone so it could breathe. As far as I know the Yorkie never objected to this treatment or called attention to itself, and she never drugged it to keep it calm. She even used to smuggle it into movie theaters this way.

As I recall, the Yorkie wasn't as yippie as Chihuahuas are, though, so maybe it was less likely to start barking and get found out.

Can a Chihuahua fit in a briefcase? Can I drug it w/out being mean?

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