What should I know about Chihuahuas?

[JesusRox]

According to the AKC, the breed standard limits a chihuahua to weigh 6 pounds. Those dogs you were holding were probably 5 or 6 pounds, unless the breed standard allows heavier chi's. This is not a big dog by any means!

You should know that if you use the phrase "teacup" with any reputable breeder, you might get your ears ripped off. Conscientous breeders who love the breed chihuahua are very offended by the term because it is not official, and no living animal should be described to fit inside of a ridiculously small object. Because of all the pressure from unprofessional backyard breeders advertising "Tiny! Teacup Chihuahuas!" and all the people who want to buy a smaller and smaller dog, this is a bad trend for the chihuahua. Because crummy back yard breeders are trying to breed a smaller and smaller chihuhua. It is just not healthy for a chihuahua to weigh 1 or 2 pounds. If you want an animal that small, get a pet rat. I have pet rats and they do weigh between 1 and 2 pounds. I hope that puts it in to perspective!

I have heard that because of the pressure to breed smaller dogs, 2 abuses are happening. First of all, the small chihuahuas tend to have tragic internal defects. Who wants to have a sick dog with thousand dollar vet bills that doesn't live as long as it should. (A healthy chihuahua will outlive a cat! You want your dog to live that long! 18-23 years+)

Second of all, I have heard that some of the really disreputable breeders, in order to get the business, are actually starving pups to make them appear to be tiny! This has been known to happen. Maybe where you live, you don't have the worst breeders like we do in Southern California, but we have areas where people are not affluent and the thinking about animals is very backwards.

Find out what the breed standard is for your area's dog club. Also, ask to see the parents of the pup so you can get an idea for size, appearance and temperment. You might just ask what the average size of the pups will be. It's not all about weight but height too. On the other hand, why fake out the breeder? If you care about weight, ask about that. The breeders care about their dogs and want them placed with people who love them even if they get big.

Hmmm....
From what I understand a Chihuahua that's 3 or 4 pounds is okay just like German Shepherds and Rottweilers who exceed the AKC standard and can be perfectly healthy.

 

[Starting again]

That’s just inhuman! I don’t want one that small, 1 to 2 ponds is far too teeny tiny.

Thanks for all your help People, though, now I’m so discouraged, I don’t know what I want, or where to get them.

I don’t want a rat sized one, I think 3 to 4 ponds sounds about right, but I’m confused now, that’s not too small is it?

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[Dust and Ashes]

That’s just inhuman! I don’t want one that small, 1 to 2 ponds is far too teeny tiny.

Thanks for all your help People, though, now I’m so discouraged, I don’t know what I want, or where to get them.

I don’t want a rat sized one, I think 3 to 4 ponds sounds about right, but I’m confused now, that’s not too small is it?

If you want a Chihuahua, get one. Don't worry about size, they aren't big dogs anyway unless you are in some circumstance where 1-3 pounds would make a big difference.

This might help you decide.

 

[sothankful]

They are one loud and yappy dog, but they are cute.

So it is the good with the bad, unless you like yappy. :o)

God Bless

 

[whatseekye]

Hmmm....
From what I understand a Chihuahua that's 3 or 4 pounds is okay just like German Shepherds and Rottweilers who exceed the AKC standard and can be perfectly healthy.

The AKC sets the maximum weight for chi's at 6 pounds. There is no minimum weight. That means the dog should weigh somewhere between 0 pounds and 6 pounds. (!!!) I have heard breeders of chi's complain that the AKC should set a minimum weight standard, for the purpose of discouraging the relentless drive to breed a smaller and smaller chi. Of course, the AKC could have changed the breed standard for the weight, for all I know. I looked in to this about 3 years ago. I'm sure that 3 to 4 pounds can be very healthy, but I'd rather see a chihuahua a little bigger than that even. I think 5 or 6 pounds is more normal. Just like human beings, there are some "tall" and some "short", some "petite" and some "stockier". That's pretty normal too, don't you think?

 

[MsSpongebob]

Late coming in on this discussion. I have a chihuahua, almost 7 years old.

They can be difficult and loud! Rosie does bark quite a lot bu it doesn't even phase me now. She has never bit anyone...the only person shes ever tried to bite is the vet(and thats what they have muzzles for!). She is an extremely smart dog and loves to cuddle. Very much a lap dog.

They are needy and take a lot of time. I don't think a chihuahua would take kindly to being left alone all day while their human is at work. Its reccomended if they are going to be left a lot to get two.

I wouldn't trade my sassy little chihuahua for anything. Rosie is a little larger, around 7 pounds. I would uncomfortable with a tiny one but Rosie is tough!

Rosie isn't pure-bred but is very obviously all chihuahua!

If you don't want purebred I reccomend checking rescues and shelters. Even look around for a chihuahua rescue

 

[MsSpongebob]

Just to add. Rosie stays inside. She loves to go "bye-bye" in the car and sometimes goes for short walks when the whether is nice.

She is paper trained as far as bathroom needs and trained within a few days of getting her.

Its reccomended that chihuahuas are kept with their mother and not adopted until 12 weeks. Which is the age we adopted Rosie

 

[Diane_Windsor]

1. Learn about the breed.

American Kennel Club-Chihuahua-AKC's profile of the breed

Chihuahua Club of America-the National Parent Club for the breed

Disclaimer: you will of course get very biased opinions from reptuable Chihuahua breeders. People usually think that their particular breed is the best!

Dogs (The Little Guides) by Paul McGreevy

Encyclopedia of the Dog by Bruce Fogle

2. See if the Chihuahua is suitable for your lifestyle.

Paws to Consider : Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson

*As I recall Mr. Kilcommons, a well-respected dog trainer, states in Paws that people who are inexperienced with dogs should not get a Chihuahua.

Right Dog For You by Daniel F. Tortora

Choosing a Dog for Dummies by Chris Walkowicz

3. If you decide to buy a pure-bred puppy then pick up Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide by Michele Welton

Hope that helps,
DW

 

[cntrygrlluvsJesus05]

Thanks for This info . MY Father in law gotten Male Chiluhaua for Christmas that just passed. He is having nothing but problems with this Puppy. He got him at age 8 weeks old and I need more info and advice. He has kept him in a cage and wondering why he won't potty train. He wants the dog to run around but, He won't go Number two at all. Thanks for the encouragement.

Hi jd,

This is the best advice. A local chihuahua rescue group can also inform you about all the pro's and con's of the breed since they have so many dogs from people who wanted to get rid of them.

I have a Chihuahua, and I have talked with many chihuahua enthusiasts over the internet. I have heard some complaints about the breed, even from people who love them and have them as pets. They tend be difficult to potty train. They can be very stubborn about peeing on the rug once they get a spot started. My husband's chihuahua took two years to break her of the habit of peeing on the rug! Most people would have dumped the dog by then but my wonderful husband just learned to lay carpet and linoleum in the worst spot near the front door (that's where she would get nervous, I guess).

Chihuahua's can be very protective of their owners. That's why they snarl and snap when they are sitting on their owner's lap and another person walks up to say hello. You have to constantly warn people to not touch your dog when on the lap. My dog is more friendly if she's on the ground and not on my lap, but even then you have to approach her cautiously.
She barks if the phone rings. That is pretty annoying after awhile! She barks if anyone makes a knocking noise too. hahaha. She thinks it's the door.
My dog also insists on being on my lap or crammed next to me on the sofa. The reason is that she gets cold really easily. So you absolutely can not leave a chihuahua outside at all, not even for a little while (unless it's a sunny, warm day, and you have a very safe yard. Chihuahua's tend to get snatched since they look so cute and small, so I wouldn't leave mine outside alone at all.)

Most chihuahaus do not tolerate being left alone for very long. They do much better with older, retired people. If you do leave your chihuahua alone for long periods of time (like the normal 8 hours you would be working), the dog is likely to develop behaviorial problems such as defecating on your bed or on your sofa, or peeing on the floor. My dog actually defecated on my pillow on my bed, when I left her alone one night. My husband said she did that once to his bed years previous, when she was really mad at him.

If I leave her alone for any length of time, my chihuahua will bark and run in circles for hours and jump against the wall until there is a stain on the paint. I feel that is very unhealthy for any dog to be running for hours. She is lucky because I am staying at home, perhaps permanently. But I worry for her if I do get a job.

I know this sounds like a crazy dog. Maybe my dog is just more neurotic than most. But you never know what temperment you will get when you get a dog. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that chihuahuas tend to have certain health problems, as each breed of dog is known for different ailments. Chihuahua's tend to have luxating patella's, which means that their rear legs have badly formed knees. My dog needed knee surgery which cost me $1500. Also, chihuahuas tend to have narrow tracheas, so they cough a lot (they call this a reverse sneeze. It is a very weird sound.) Yup, you guessed it. My dog has a narrow trachea too. But thankfully, at this point, she doesn't need to go on medication for it. In some dogs, it's so severe that they need to take a drug that opens up the trachea or something like that.

Good luck in your pursuit of the perfect dog for you! Remember, don't rely on what the breeder says. She wants to sell dogs. A rescue group can tell you more information, as well as the books and web sites out there.

 

[whatseekye]

Thanks for This info . MY Father in law gotten Male Chiluhaua for Christmas that just passed. He is having nothing but problems with this Puppy. He got him at age 8 weeks old and I need more info and advice. He has kept him in a cage and wondering why he won't potty train. He wants the dog to run around but, He won't go Number two at all. Thanks for the encouragement.

I know that chihuahuas are slow to potty train, but once they do get trained, they aren't very troublesome about potty habits. But it takes a lot of patience and consistency. I would highly recommend contacting a really good dog trainer who can get your father in law some tips on house training a chihuahua. You could also try to search on the internet for chihuahua fancier groups. I know that Yahoo groups has a large chihuahua list, such as this one:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahua/

don't give up on the dog, and don't let anyone on the internet talk you in to giving up your dog or something crazy like that. there are conartists on the internet that try to get free animals. But ask for help with some information and tips, and you can get the dog trained yourselves. good luck!

 

[Fangtastic]

man are they cranky and sensitive.cant take the cold so better buy a coat for them.isn't this the breed paris hilton has?

 

[Starting again]

Lol, They aren't too cranky, it doesn't get too cold here, and yeah it is the breed that Paris Hilton has, but don't get me wrong, I AM NOT A Paris Hilton kinda girl!


Ooo! And yesterday I went to see a breeder, and she said I'll be able to get a Chi in May, she is really cool, and her Chi's are really nice.
so thats awesome!

 

[kaleighsmommy]

I have a sweet 2 year old chi, and it breaks my heart but I am trying to find her a good christian home. My family is moving into full time ministry work and we are not allowed to keep her. I am so broken hearted she is like one of my own children. She is only 2 pounds and she will not get any bigger. She is the most loving little girl. Be warned that she loves lots of attention, she wants to curl up on your lap alot. She loves car rides and loves to eat ice cream. She has lived with 4 children. We have a baby and she is so sweet to the baby. I am want to give her to someone for free as long as I am sure she will be cared for. If you are interested please e-mail me more about yourself and I can send you pics of her. kaleighsmommy2004@yahoo.com

In christ love, kaleighsmommy.