Hey everyone! We're officially one month into life as dog parents, and wow - what a wild ride it's been! Well, meet Ernie - our cream-colored applehead Chihuahua who's completely stolen our hearts (and maybe a few of our socks).

The Long-Awaited Addition to Our Minneapolis Crew

Cindy and I have been sending each other Chihuahua videos on Instagram since like, week two of dating. But back when we were doing long-distance, getting a dog just wasn't in the cards. Fast forward to Memorial Day 2025, and we finally brought home our tiny 10-week-old bundle of energy!

Living in downtown Minneapolis, we knew we wanted a smaller dog that would thrive in apartment life, and Ernie was exactly what we'd been dreaming of. This little guy has already become the third member of our Minneapolis adventure club.

Week 1: The Sleepy Baby Phase

Those first two weeks? Pure exhaustion - for all of us! Ernie was SO tiny and basically slept about 18 hours a day. We're talking pocket-sized puppy.

The nights were... interesting. For about a week, this little man would whine for 20-30 minutes when we went to bed. But once he settled in after the first week, he's been an absolute angel about sleeping through the night. No 3 AM potty breaks or random barking sessions. We definitely lucked out in the sleep department!

Pro tip for new puppy parents: Those first few nights of whining are totally normal. Stick it out, it gets so much better! We definitely recommend the play pen setup with the kennel inside the playpen. This may be difficult for larger dogs, but if you have a small dog, this really helps. We don't lock his kennel, so he can get up and go potty when he needs to.

Weeks 2-4: Our Little Explorer Emerges

Around week two, it was like someone flipped a switch. Suddenly, our sleepy little potato turned into a tiny tornado of energy! This is when we discovered that Ernie is surprisingly amazing at fetch. Who knew Chihuahuas were such purebred athletes?

We started reserving our evenings for serious play sessions and snuggle time. Movie nights in our downtown Minneapolis apartment got about 100 times better with a tiny warm puppy curled up between us. We find ourselves watching the Ernie show more than the movie half the time.

One funny thing we noticed, at first, Ernie was NOT having it with the carpeted rooms. He'd literally stop at the threshold like there was an invisible force field. Now? This little explorer checks out every corner of our apartment like he owns the place.

Setting Up Puppy Paradise in Our Minneapolis Apartment

Living in downtown Minneapolis means making the most of our space, so we got creative with Ernie's setup:

The Playpen Station:

When we need to step out for Minneapolis food adventures (sorry buddy, not all restaurants are dog-friendly yet!), Ernie hangs out in his playpen with his tiny dog bed, kennel, potty pad, and food and water bowls.

Kennel Training:

After week one, we introduced a small kennel just in case we ever need someone to watch him. Better to get him used to it now than stress him out later!

The Living Room Layout:

Since we both work from home, Ernie gets free reign of the living room during the day. It's become his kingdom, complete with toys scattered everywhere.

The Real Talk: Potty Training Adventures

Let's get into the nitty-gritty because nobody talks about the real puppy struggles enough! Ernie came to us partially potty trained, but we still had our share of accidents those first few weeks.

The biggest issue? This little guy decided that under our bed was his personal bathroom. Not cool, Ernie. We had to lock him out of the bedroom, and let me tell you - he was NOT happy about losing bedroom privileges. The dramatic sighs and sad puppy eyes were next level, but he's been getting better about it.

Game-Changer Purchase: The Living Room Futon

Here's something we didn't expect - Ernie was not feeling the hardwood floors at first. Solution? We grabbed a twin-sized futon for the living room, and it's been a total game-changer! We were worried about high surfaces and didn't want him jumping up on tall furniture. Now it's his favorite play spot and makes our Minneapolis movie nights even cozier. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones!

Ernie at 14 Weeks: Our Tiny Minneapolis Resident

As I'm writing this, our little guy is 14 weeks old and has completely settled into downtown Minneapolis life. He's got his favorite spots (that futon), his routine down pat, and has basically trained us to cater to his every whim.

The best part? Watching him discover new things every day. Whether it's a new toy, a different corner of the apartment, or figuring out that yes, carpet is actually pretty great for running around on.

What's Next for Team Ernie

We're already planning Ernie's first adventures around Minneapolis - starting with some dog-friendly patios once he's fully vaccinated. This summer is going to be one to remember with our tiny sidekick with us always!

He's done an amazing job at learning to sit; it only took him about two days and a few treats to master this one. We'll be working on more complex commands and will share our progress with those as well!

Trust us, life with a Chihuahua in downtown Minneapolis is never boring and truly brings us so much joy every day!