Does anyone know any GOOD chihuahua breeders

[MrsAntiSocial]

Please?
Breeders with nice, confident, friendly dogs?

I do have a breeder in mind but haven’t visited yet.

I only know one person with a pet chihuahua and hers is precisely what I dont want; resource guards, anxious, aggressive to men...

I have three chihuahuas from good breeders based in the north west? Where about are you? And they are a good example of the breed, they are yappy or aggressive and they are very patient with my toddler!

Aren't yappy**

Not the north west but I can travel.
The breeder I was considering (but haven’t actually met her dogs yet) is in Lancashire.

Oh, long coat!
I should have mentioned that.
Long coat chihuahua

My breeder is excellent but she only breeds short coat. Keep us posted - Chihuahuas are AMAZING dogs

@MrsAntiSocial So know nothing about the breed but what you could do is look at Crufts judging comments for 2020 and perhaps 2019. You will get an idea as to kennel names and those who are placed and consistent. Then look up those kennels and snoop round websites. Most breeders would far rather someone call them and ask loads of questions. Also there may be a breed club or association and they will have knowledgable people or even a puppy list gatekeeper. Everyone knows everyone else on the show circuit and will have a quiet word about xyz has a lot of litters, for example.

I think the breeders would really appreciate someone who really appreciates the breed and the breed standards rather than someone who is going for cute. One thing I found was they aren't very good at emails - phone is better.

Good luck but do research and shortlist four or five kennels that appeal to you.

So know nothing about the breed but what you could do is look at Crufts judging comments for 2020 and perhaps 2019. You will get an idea as to kennel names and those who are placed and consistent
To be honest, in my experience and opinion, the Kennel club values conformation/looks far more highly than temperament and health.
Show wins alone don’t appeal to me.
Well rounded, stable, confident, secure temperament is what appeals to me and I will prioritise that well over show wins.

Would I prefer a Kennel Club registered, apple head, ‘correct’ longhair chihuahua that conforms closely to standard?
Yes.
But if I have a choice between award winning dogs with below par temperament and/or bad health or dogs that aren’t from champion lines and don’t conform closely enough to be placed highly but have outstanding temperament and are healthy, I’ll go for the second.

I think the breeders would really appreciate someone who really appreciates the breed and the breed standards rather than someone who is going for cute
That really isn’t me.
The breed standards don’t support optimal health for a number of breeds.
Look at the facial wrinkles in shar peis, the sloped backs in GSD and the severely brachycephalic face of the British Bulldog for just a few examples.

I’m not looking for a Chihuahua just to be ‘cute’.
My priority is a confident, stable personality and good health.
Conforming to the breed standard is a nice bonus but it doesn’t come above good temperament and good health as far as I am concerned.

Ok, wasn't suggesting show dogs are all that but it is a potential place to start and if particular breeder's websites focus on temperament then you may have found someone you can talk to. You do seem to be making sweeping judgements ( although I agree with you regarding GSD and Bulldogs) that might not apply to all other breeds. As I say, I know nothing about the breed - other breeds have showing or working strands - show labs are bigger and heavier than working, for example, show St Bernards are very heavily coated compared to the ones bred in Switzerland at the St Bernard centre, but you asked how you might find someone and I gave suggestions that you seem to have taken the wrong way. A breed club or association might be useful. By cute, I am trying to infer people that want them as handbag accessories rather than dogs. Clearly that is not you.

I'm out as life is too short to deal with someone so blinkin aggresive.

Presumably a show dog would need a decent temperament to cope with being handled by the judge and deal with being around lots of dogs & people at busy shows.

I'm out as life is too short to deal with someone so blinkin aggressive

Was I?!
I was just explaining why a heavily titled show dog doesn’t appeal to me.

I don’t like what the kennel club stands for.
They registered clearly puppy farmed pups for years, all three colours of Cavalier for example from two Blenheim parents (genetically impossible), even now there are next to no checks on breeders and where measures have been brought in to remove extreme ness in breeds like the GSD, that has been due to public pressure and fear of bad image.
Same with styringomelia in Cavaliers.
They were perfectly happy registering affected (show winning) dogs, pedigree dogs exposed was aired, there was public outcry, suddenly efforts are made.

It wasn’t intended as a personal attack nor to be ‘aggressive’
Just an explanation of why I wouldn’t pay much attention to show wins.

Presumably a show dog would need a decent temperament to cope with being handled by the judge and deal with being around lots of dogs & people at busy shows
Except they often don’t.
I watch Crufts every year and there are always dogs looking very clearly, deeply uncomfortable.
I visited Crufts once and saw a dog lunge/for another dog very aggressively.
That dog was placed.

I was hoping really for people who had really stable, confident chihuahuas and could tell me the breeder or knew of breeders who had them that they could recommend.

I have poured over many breeder websites but unfortunately I can’t tell from that what the personality of their dogs is.

Chihuahuas have a reputation for being severely fearful and very aggressive as a result and I’m keen to avoid that.

Are there any Facebook groups for Chi owners? Maybe a breed club one that you could join and then find out about more informal chat ones?

We’re on a list for a toy breed. Never had a small dog before and haven’t had a purebreed for decades, so I was very nervous about trying to find the right breeder and did a lot of research.

I went on the breed club website, found out about a few breeders and contacted them. One in particular seemed to resonate with us. Similar values and approach to dog care and training, lovely people... long waiting lists and no advertising. I am now on their list and in the meantime was invited to join a FB group they set up and help moderate for the breed. Through that and a couple of other groups, I am learning the difference between different breeders and what sort of pups they produce. The breeder we are with is in contact with so many people who have had their pups, many of who have more than one and I can see how happy and well adjusted they all are. Another breeder produces stunning show dogs, who also seem to have fab temperaments. They seem like lovely people too, but I don’t get the same vibe from them as the breeder we have chosen (or should I say who chose us? ) and their dogs are in far more demand from those interested in showing, whereas more of our breeder’s pups go to pet homes.

Is it worth speaking to you vet? When I got a cav, I used a breeder recommended by my vet. She specifically breeds them older, after any heart defects may have emerged and my wee chap lived to 14.

• Presumably a show dog would need a decent temperament to cope with being handled by the judge and deal with being around lots of dogs & people at busy shows Except they often don’t. I watch Crufts every year and there are always dogs looking very clearly, deeply uncomfortable. I visited Crufts once and saw a dog lunge/for another dog very aggressively. That dog was placed*

To be fair, watching Crufts on TV & visiting once doesn’t give you much experience of show dogs though does it?

You can’t just enter your dog for Crufts by filling in the entry form & paying the fees, you have to qualify, which means you’ve been to lots of other big shows to gain the necessary wins.

Most show dogs have very steady temperaments, they very soon get thrown out of the ring by the stewards if there is any aggression.
Crufts is dry much a pressure cooker with a lot of foreign dogs since quarantine rules were got rid of.

I’m interested to know why you think that a pup that doesn’t meet the breed standard would be healthier and of better temperament than one that has been bred by a specialist in the breed to make sure that it does.

To be fair, watching Crufts on TV & visiting once doesn’t give you much experience of show dogs though does it?
It doesn’t that is true.

You can’t just enter your dog for Crufts by filling in the entry form & paying the fees, you have to qualify, which means you’ve been to lots of other big shows to gain the necessary wins
I do know this.
The issue I have is that traits that are not in the best interests of the dog are often rewarded; sloping backs, shorter and shorter noses etc

Most show dogs have very steady temperaments, they very soon get thrown out of the ring by the stewards if there is any aggression
That was most definitely not my experience.
I saw the dog lunge and snap very aggressively at the other dog.
Both me and my mum were absolutely open mouthed when it won out of all the other dogs and was placed, presumably to compete at a higher level.

I’m interested to know why you think that a pup that doesn’t meet the breed standard would be healthier and of better temperament than one that has been bred by a specialist in the breed to make sure that it does
I didn’t actually say that.

What I said was that I wanted a Kennel Club registered, apple head, longhair chihuahua that conformed to the breed standards that was from healthy lines with a stable, confident temperament.

I said that if I had to choose between a pup of show winning lines but with poor temperament and/or health issues in the line or a pup out of non breed standard conforming lines with no health issues and good temperaments I would go for the second because I prioritise temperament and health over looks/conformation.

Why would you want to? Horrible dogs in general.

Chihuahuas have a reputation for being severely fearful and very aggressive as a result

So why on earth would you want one?!

Because I assume that some must not be like that else no would have one!
I imagine a lot of it is probably babying, spoiling, letting poor behaviour slide etc but I don’t think it’ll all be down to that, some of it must be genetic too.
I want one from good lines, that has a nice, even temperament to start.

I’ve known 2 that where absolutely brilliant characters never barked for no reason and impeccably trained I’m afraid I’m no longer in contact with the owners so can’t help with the breeders. I know many toy dog owners and in every case I’ve seen it has always been the owners that have ruined the dogs. I’ve had 3 toy breeds myself and they where a mixed bunch temperament wise. Hope you find what your looking for and for what it’s worth I understand what your saying 100%

I'm looking for a short coat and would love the name of your breeder!