Prices can very greatly from region to region. The price
usually depends on whether you are looking for a dog to breed,
show or to just be a wonderful companion. Naturally a dog meant
for breeding or a show quality puppy will cost more than a nice
pet. If you plan on breeding or showing your Chihuahua in
either conformation or any other AKC recognized event, it is
vital that you purchase a Chihuahua that can be registered with
the AKC. The registration papers (which the breeder provides)
mean that the parents of your Chihuahua are registered with the
AKC and that the puppy is also able to be registered with AKC.
This registration can either be a full or limited registration*.
*A limited registration means that even though your
Chihuahua is registered, none of his/her offspring can be
registered. The dog is also ineligible to compete in
conformation shows. It may compete in other events such as:
obedience, agility, flyball and many others. It also does not
effect his value as a wonderful companion.
Additionally, most reputable breeders will provide you with a
complete health record, a pedigree of your dog, and many will
use a contract to outline the terms of the sale. Do not be
surprised by a contract. READ IT before signing it. Many
breeders make a lifetime commitment to their dogs and are only
trying to look out for the welfare of the dogs they produce. A
contract should state what you can do if you are unable to keep
the dog, if it becomes ill in the first weeks, and numerous
other important items. Do NOT be scared off by a contract.
Registration papers: These certificates and papers ensure that
the dog you are purchasing is a purebred; however, I hasten to
add that just because a dog has papers, does not mean it
qualifies for exhibitions and competitions. (See
AKC Chihuahua Breed Standards.)
Additionally, papers do not necessarily insure that the breeding
Chihuahuas were well cared for or that they are free from
genetic defect.
Registration papers are not necessarily important when
looking for a good pet, but meeting the breeder and seeing the
conditions in which the dog was raised is. You should also
expect to see the parents (or at least the mother) of the
puppy you are thinking of buying so that you can verify that
the parents are sound and of good temperament.
Toy breeds tend to have a rather long life span, compared to
large breeds. Expect a life-span of 11-18 years, if the dog is
healthy as a puppy, comes from healthy parents, and receives
regular veterinary care, a good diet, plenty of exercise and
love.
Not much. This little breed has short bursts of energy each
day which quickly die down. You should provide toys for your
Chihuahua to keep it occupied. Most enjoy stuffed toys with
squeakers inside (make sure that they cannot remove or swallow
the squeaker). You can certainly take your Chi for walks.
(You'll make many an acquaintance due to the diminutive
appearance and outgoing attitude of your Chihuahua!)
When buying a leash for your Chihuahua, remember that its
neck is rather small and delicate compared to other dog's necks.
You cannot (and, indeed, should not) yank your dog around by the
leash if s/he has a neck collar on. I recommend the body-harness
for two reasons: safety and comfort. If fitted right, it will
give your Chi a secure and comfortable walk, and harnesses also
ensure your dog cannot escape -- a real concern if you live in
an urban area.
No. They have the same nutritional needs as most dogs. There
are many good premium quality dog foods on the market.
Chihuahuas prefer several small meals per day, rather than
one big meal. We leave a bowl of dry food out for our dogs at
all times so that they can eat when they are ready. (This does
not work for everyone) If you free-feed you dog, be sure and
watch their weight. It is not healthy to over feed a dog.
Yes, they can be a little high-strung. I define "high-strung"
as follows: barks easily, does not adapt easily to change in
environment, is suspicious of strangers and will growl at them,
and flips in circles and jumps around when excited (like when
you come home after a five-minute absence, for instance).
However, with the person that they have bonded with
(i.e., their master[s]), they do not display most of these
characteristics; in fact, they display radically different
personalities. Chihuahuas are truly the "Jekyll-and-Hyde" of the
dog breeds: your friends will see the worst side of them and
never believe you when you tell them that your Chihuahua is
really a gentle, sweet-natured dog.
There is good news, though. If you socialize your Chihuahua
at an early age, they will be less stressed when new
environments and people are introduced to them in adulthood.
Proper socialization is critical, at the earliest age possible.
Make sure your Chi has had all necessary vaccinations before
going out to meet the world.
Generally, NO. Be careful when walking your Chihuahua to
keep your Chihuahua well away from toddlers and young children,
who are often uninhibited and will approach your dog. A child
falling can be a great danger to a Chihuahua.
Again, this is general good advice; some Chihuahuas are
friendly around children. In this case and others, the owner's
knowledge of his or her Chihuahua and good judgment should
prevail.
Opinion seems to vary on this point. Some say it's an
old-wives' tale, while others swear that, although they're
allergic to other dogs, Chihuahuas did not bother them.
The best way for someone who has allergies to find out if
they can own a Chihuahua is for them to simply spend some time
around one. Some people are allergic to dog hair, while others
are allergic to the dander or saliva. Since Chihuahua's are
known to lick the face of their master a lot, you'd best be sure
you're not allergic to the latter before investing in this
breed. If a Chihuahua happens to "work" for some allergic
individuals, this is great.
The issue of whether or not there is a difference between the
long- and smooth-coated varieties seems to be a topic of debate
within the Chihuahua community. Some claim that there is no
difference, while others believe there is a great difference.
Once the decision to buy a Chihuahua has been made, one must
choose between the long- and smooth-coated varieties. Though
there are exceptions, the following observations regarding
Chihuahuas have generally proven true through my years of
experience. The varieties seem to differ in five respects in
particular: temperament, ability to withstand cold temperatures,
desire to be a lapdog, shedding, and tendency to ear-problems.
It is my experience and opinion Chihuahua temperament differs
with coat variety. Smooth coats are usually a bit more bold;
long-coated Chihuahuas, while not shy, are usually a bit more
reserved.
Cold temperatures are difficult for smooth Chihuahuas to
endure. (This is especially true of smooths that lack
undercoat.) A smooth will tolerate a brief trip outside in cold
weather for exercise, but it's wise to put a sweater on it.
Conversely, many long-coated Chihuahuas love to romp in the
snow. Because of their small size, even a three-inch snow
accumulation creates quite an obstacle for our little ones. No
Chihuahua can endure being outdoors in cold weather for extended
periods. Chihuahuas should be kept warm and dry as much as
possible.
Both smooth- and long-coated Chihuahuas are good lapdogs.
Smooths enjoy sitting on a lap and enjoy the warmth of a
person's body. Although long coats also enjoy human contact,
they are more inclined to sit beside or near a person than on a
lap. If they do sit on a lap, they often become so warm that
they pant. As a teenager I often sneaked my first Chihuahua into
my bedroom. This smooth coat was quite content to be under the
covers with me. This is characteristic of smooth coats. Long
coats, on the other hand, are more inclined to lay on top of the
covers when in bed.
The contrast of how the two varieties shed coat is generally
the reverse of what one would imagine. Smooth-coated Chihuahuas
shed year-round. Their hairs stick easily into clothing,
upholstery, carpets and draperies. Long-coated Chihuahuas tend
to shed more seasonally. Their long hairs, once shed, are easier
to remove by brushing or vacuuming than the tiny, sharp hairs of
smooth coats. The hairs of smoothes seem to embed themselves
into the weave of fabrics. I know an English breeder of smooth
Chihuahuas whose living-room furniture is upholstered in leather
for this reason. Leather is easier to keep hair-free than
fabric.
Finally, smooths seem to be much more prone to ear-leather
problems. There is a tendency for the outer edges of smooths'
ears to thicken, become oily in appearance, crack, and
eventually slough off. This leaves the ear devoid of hair along
the edges. Though my veterinarian has never diagnosed the cause
of this condition, several breeders feel that a fungus may be
responsible. I have seldom, if ever, had this problem with a
long-coated Chihuahua. My experience has been that once this
condition starts, it runs its course in spite of intervention.
The condition is not a huge problem; I've had smooths that have
had multiple bouts of it with little ill effect. The biggest
disadvantage of dealing with it comes when one wishes to show an
animal while the condition persists.
Chihuahuas of both varieties make wonderful pets. They are
intelligent and usually quite eager to please their owners.
Prospective pet purchasers have to assess the differences
between the coat varieties before they make a choice, but they
should also remember that there are exceptions to every
generalization.
-- Richard V. Miller, 104 W. Archer Ave., Box 401, LaHarpe,
IL 61450
(Taken from the Chihuahua breed column Dec.1998)
Chihuahuas usually have a preference for their own breed
rather than other dogs. Although they can live quite happily
with other dogs and cats. Chis are very sociable with their own
kind. So several Chihuahuas can be quite happy living in the
same household. This includes two or more males sharing the same
house.
Yes, they can be trained. The purpose of this FAQ is not to
outline or advocate any training method, especially since there
are many resources that deal with this topic extensively.
Chihuahuas can be trained for many purposes. Obedience,
agility, therapy dog, I even saw one competing in a fly-ball
competition. With time and patients there is no end to what you
can train your Chihuahua to do.
Are they smart? Yes indeed, they've got brains inside those
little heads, and they're anxious to use them. Chihuahuas are
some of the brightest around, and more than a few excel in
obedience competition. Better still, they love to be the center
of attention and so are naturals when it comes to learning
tricks.
It is a characteristic of the Chihuahua to prefer to sleep
under a cloth or blanket. They will even get under pillows in
order to feel snug.
If you are raising a pup, be sure to provide them with a soft
towel or blanket in their sleeping area so they can burrow
underneath it.
So don't be surprised if your Chihuahua scrambles under your
blankets at night, even though your house or apartment may not
be particularly cold.
Chihuahuas are quite the sun-worshipers. They prefer to bask
in the sun for hours and have been known to lie in a spot of sun
no larger than the size of a half-dollar.
Watch your Chihuahua in hot weather to be sure that they
don't suffer from heat stroke.
Chihuahuas do shiver when they're cold, but they also shiver
when they are wary, excited, unhappy, or frightened or any other
reason they can think of.
The Chihuahua Club of America does have an official Web site.
You can find the link for it and some of the regional Chihuahua
Clubs on my "Links to Other Sites" page. There are a lot of
Chihuahua sites on the internet, some have good information and
some are very questionable. It is always a good idea to double
check or get a second opinion before relying on information you
find on the internet.
There are some Chihuahua sites that I feel have good
information.
My favorite place is on the Chihuahua Web Ring:
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=chiring;list".
Yes. The name and address of The National Chihuahua Breed
Rescue Chairperson is:
Sharon Hermosillo
1004 Willow Street
San Jose, CA 95125
Phone #: 408-251-6470.
Another good rescue organization is:
Chihuahuas
Great and Small
Chihuahua Rescue & Transportation
They can always use more volunteers.
