Chihuahua

[CleverQuacks]

Hi all,
I am currently in the early stages of considering getting a dog. I am doing lots of research. I want a small breed dog and having been looking at a chihuahua. I would love to hear people’s real life experiences with chihuahuas. What are the pros and cons? As I say I am only in the very early stages of considering this so all advice would be brilliant!
Thanks

I've got one

She is NOT for the faint hearted

She would never be happy as a handbag dog. She would happily walk for hours at a time, take a quick rest and then go straight out for another walk.

She is however a right cuddle monster and will happily give you lots of cuddle and kisses.

My Chi is ten months old, fantastic with people and dogs alike. She was easy to house train, quick to learn commands and loves long walks. I think lots of Chi's don't get enough exercise and have lots of nervous energy as a result, mine happily walks/runs off lead twice a day, she is also going through the registration process to become a therapy dog and already visits an old people's home and several people with various disabilities.

TBH I am starting to think you're a BYB or puppy farmer Fluffy

Well you couldn't be more wrong. I have never bred a dog in my life and have no wish to.

But you are wrong! Not all breeders who advertise their pups on various advertising sites are puppy farmers.

I hate puppy farming but for you to say the thousands who advertise on pets4homes, alone, are all puppy farmers is, frankly, ridiculous!

Thank you for all the advice guys. I will definitely be really cautious about where I get the dog. I have been on the KC website and contacted a couple of breeders through there who are going to keep my name for when they have a litter. What is “the breed club”? Is it the same thing as KC?

Nearly 8/10 puppies bought in the UK are puppy farmed Fluffy. You are naive and wrong.
OP KC keep a list. That's not to say they are all decent breeders. Contact the chi club or society. Try and get to some shows and meet breeders. Make an informed decision. Expect to be quizzed. Don't be surprised if some breeders turn you down.

Why do you assume that one litter per year must mean multiple bitches?

Because the alternative is almost certainly an overbred single bitch.

Chi's come into season between every 6-12 months and these are outliers - so there are not many that season every six months. That means, to get a yearly litter the dog is being bred every cycle without rest.

Couple this with the higher-than-average risk to Chi bitches because of their size - they have higher instances of caesarian births than is average. Pregnancy is hard on them and asking them to do it for consecutive cycles is even harder.

Finally, bear in mind a Chi should not breed before 2 years old and retire at 6. If bred every other cycle a breeding bitch is likely to 'just' produce 2/3 litters in her lifetime. You can start to see how some people might be tempted to push the health of the bitch to get a litter a year and how that might be a sign something is wrong with the breeder.

Oh, and for fluffy... I don't know anything about Pets4Homes but I do know a reputable breeder with 2 unsold puppies would keep them. In fact, they would be breeding in order TO keep one or two, not to sell them all. A breeder that was going to sell all the pups would be a warning flag for me, when investigating them. Even if left with more than they wanted (unlikely), they get approached for older dogs as well as puppies so will be comfortable they will eventually find a home.

Or maybe, the breeder only breeds a litter occasionally when they want a new one to sell and chooses to advertise online??

i know for a fact that some really good breeders advertise on there, it's sad to see people argue so vehemently that ALL advertisers on there are greedy pigs breeding for money and profit. That is just not true.

Pets4homes advertises many, many breeds nationwide.
Your talking about thousands of advertisers!
Each and every one of them a puppy farmer? Really?
Utterly ludicrous and very naive to assume that a breeder from online will automatically be awful and one from the breed society or Kennel Club will be great.
Bad breeders are everywhere....

Sometimes the very best breeders, those with health as their first priority can't be found within the kennel club or breed society because health doesn't fit with the breed standard.

Straight backed German Shepherds and non flat faced pugs for example.
Bringing it back to Chihuahuas, the deer headed variant births easier and some say is a much healthier dog, but is not recognised because the Kennel Club standard calls for an apple head.

It's a minefield out there but don't automatically discount online sites without even looking and talking to the breeders!

If a breeder is choosing to breed only to sell all the pups then they are a business and only interested in the money. Whether that's a back yard breeder or puppy mill it is not a good breeder.

I had a chihuahua. She was a great little dog.

She was easy to take everywhere because of her size. Very loyal. Fun little dog. You always get loads of attention when out with one. And they don't need much exercise.

The downsides. Toilet training was very difficult and for a little dog she moulted terribly!

Or maybe, the breeder only breeds a litter occasionally when they want a new one to sell and chooses to advertise online??

And I repeat again... I don't know anything about Pets4Homes but a breeder who was ONLY breeding to sell would be a serious flag for me and I would look elsewhere.

Maybe I'd be wrong and they were one of the very few puppy-producing businesses that were ethical, but I would rather be wrong a thousand times than hand a single bloody pound over to someone who was not breeding responsibly.

I have one , I adore her but don't think they are a great breed for children just because they are small.

Mine is very dominant and I am fairly anxious walking her at times as she is so tiny and won't back down to others. She is also so tiny often play fighting is not allowed unless with another tiny. I don't agree that people with small dogs need to asses the risk based on dogs size, if your dog isn't friendly don't let it off! She is also food possessive , and toy possessive and guards me whilst out which is embarassing.

We tend to stick to rural walks so we can walk in peace without being pounced on by bouncy dogs, she loves it but has had injuries from playing when it goes beyond chasing.

The pros are she is so loyal and sensitive and very intelligent , she is keen to please and sulks massively when she is told no, she has a massive character and will often carry round a stick (tree) about 4 times her size, she isn't precious and loves to bask in mud baths.

There is a reason why all reputable Dog Welfare Charities tell you never to buy a dog advertised online. Reputable breeders simply do not advertise. They will have planned to keep at least one, ensured they have a wait list and know they may have to hold onto some puppies for longer, if they have a larger litter. If they don't do those things they are not a reputable breeder.

My youngest dog is from a litter of 10. The bitches two previous litters had been 5 pups. She planned to keep one bitch. She had vetted people wanting 6 of them before the pups were born so thought she would have more homes lined up than pups. Litter of 10 was born - so 7 already had homes (1 bitch for her, 6 pups to homes she had lined up). 2 more sold by word of mouth via breed club before 8weeks old. I called breed club when pups were 8weeks (I was actually thinking of getting one in 6months time), she was such a well regarded breeder, who was very involved with breed club and welfare, that called her (had a 30min conversation for us both to establish we were happy to meet in person) and I went to see pups at 8.5weeks old (Most were being picked up at 9 weeks so I got to see most of the litter). We talked for two hours before she agreed to sell me the puppy and encouraged me to go away and think about. She reassured that if I wanted him, she was happy to keep pup for as long as I needed to be ready for him. She said she always prepares herself for needing to hold onto a few of any litter (In addition to the one she was breeding to keep for life) up to 1year old, when she'll normally have been able to find a suitable home for them. She also offers full refund on pup, if it doesn't work out for any reason, in the first 30days, she said this was because she didn't ever want her pups to be sold online by people trying to recoup costs. She also obviously wants them back at any point in their life if you don't want / can't keep them for any reason and really emphasised that (this was all in contract too obviously).

So no a truly reputable breeder, breeding for quality pups and to keep one back, won't ever need to advertise. That's what makes them good breeders - planned, prepared and willing to keep pups for as long as needed to get right home. Not sell as a commodity online where it's also rare to find prospective owners that have really researched, thought about and thoroughly planned for pup.

op the national Chi breed club is here

www.the-british-chihuahua-club.org.uk

You would have to call and talk to them. I would say it was the safest way of finding a well bred, healthy, good temperament, Chi, who has not just been bred to make money. Obviously still be careful and you can report a breeder who is a member of their breed club, to the club, if you visit and don't think they are living up to the club's ethics and welfare standards (available on the website).

And I repeat again... I don't know anything about Pets4Homes but a breeder who was ONLY breeding to sell would be a serious flag for me and I would look elsewhere.

🤣🤣🤣 Fucking Hell! I'm sure Elsie down the road didn't set out to keep all the puppies when she thought it a great idea for her bitch to have a litter before she was spayed.

Fucking Hell! I'm sure Elsie down the road didn't set out to keep all the puppies when she thought it a great idea for her bitch to have a litter before she was spayed.

I don't know Elsie.

I am not sure I want to.

I am also not sure of your point.

The point is that Fluffy thinks it's fine for random people who know sod all about dog breeding to breed from their unhealth tested pets and make money.
It isn't.
You can't argue with stupid.

Wolfie. I'm not sure if you are out to make your dog somewhat superior to other people's dogs? The fact you bought it via a KC recognised breeder means tap all. Anyone can register their dogs with the KC club of great Britain.

Anyone who thinks everyone who advertises puppies for sale via dog breeding pages are puppy farmers can't be right in the head!

I'll leave you to your delusions that your dog is superior. It's Not! It's a dog - the same as any other dog.

My ex bought a KC registered springer spaniel. Lovely puppy. But by the time it was an adult it bore no resemblance to the standard KC registered spec. Much too short for one. It's siblings were also much too short. KC registered nevertheless. They could all have gone on to produce KC registered puppies too.

KC registered means nothing!

I would ask what your definition of a puppy farm is but I won't bother as you obviously haven't a clue!

Erm are you hard of reading? I've already pointed out that KC reg means very little.
It's not about a dog being "superior". It's about choosing from a breeder who breeds for the right reasons. (Normally because they want a pup to carry on the bloodlines.) It's about choosing a puppy from a good environment and carefully selected and health tested parents. Eye? Hip? Heart screening?
Elsie down the road and puppy farmers? They do none of that. They just want your money. They care very little about health or temperament. And I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

I have to say, I have no regard or respect for the Kennel Club, the things they have done to breeds in the name of the breed 'standard' is as bad, of not worse, than puppy farming. Pedigree breeds are often a mess these days, far better to get a cross breed.

Not really. With a cross breed you can end up with the worst of both breeds. And the breeders rarely do the necessary health tests.
Better to get a total mongrel or find a decent pedigree dog. (Health and temperament rather than Crufts winner!)

I have two - brother and sister. Rabbit, our girl, is very chilled, very cuddly, not very clever, hates being walked, friendly and her natural habitat is a duvet. Boobie, her brother is much more active and more highly strung - he’s very affectionate to people he knows, brings us gifts etc but if you’re outside his “circle of trust” he will yap at you. They get on really well with our other dogs - who are medium sized, and really love playing with the cat. They all affectionately wrestle 😆

Guess what Wolfie. I bought both my collies from an advert. Their breeder is featured on the KC register of breeders. Now tell us that all good breeders don't advertise. Better still go take your superior attitude and stick it up your arse!

Kennel Club Assured Breeders - assured of what? Kennel Club Assurance does not mean a decent pedigree dog - quite the opposite, in many cases.

It's a shame OPs post about chihuahuas has once again turned into an arguement about "reputable" breeders.

Fluffy, for what it's worth I agree but you're very unlikely to win your argument on this board. I bought both my dogs from breeders that bred to produce their next pet and both advertised online. I am 100% happy with the breeders I chose. They had their dogs, and the subsequent pups welfare at heart and importantantly to me, competition didn't come in to it. The web pages are purely places to advertise, how selective you then are about who you buy from is entirely up to you. It still baffles me that so many people think that breeders breeding to KC Standards in order to win prizes are any more ethical. Breeds health have been destroyed by these so called "reputable" breeders but as wolfie so politely said, you can't argue with stupid.

KC reg means nothing. Just because a breeder is on the list? It means they breed and register pedigree dogs.
Decent breeders who care about their puppies don't advertise onine.
I despair.