| Some important information about chihuahuas & some common questions you may have: |
| Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can be life threatening to a chihuahua, and many other tiny breeds. A chihuahua has a tiny liver, so they can not store very much sugar, the tinier the chihuahua, the smaller the liver, so normally the extra tiny babies will take extra care & attention. If the blood sugar starts getting low, you may notice your dog/puppy not showing interest in food, being less active, stumbling around, and in later stages may go into seizures and/or coma, and die. It is important that you know what to do if your chihuahua goes into sugar shock. First of all, don't panic, and rush your dog to the vet, unless you feel absolutely necessary. The best way to treat sugar shock is to get some corn syrup, or nutri-cal and feed a small amount to the puppy/dog. In the later stages of sugar shock, I highly recommend corn syrup, as it's more likely to run down their throat & act quicker to get their blood sugars back up. It is also important to get them on a heating pad, because they can lose a lot of heat and this can make things worse. To help prevent this from ever happening, you can give your chihuahua nutri-cal every day, maybe a teaspoon a day, several times a day. It is also important to minimumize the amount of stress you put on your new baby. This can be done by not taking them to pet stores, friends, and getting them in loud, scarey situations. Chihuahuas need a lot of rest as babies, and shouldn't be made to play if they are tired. It is also important to make sure they are getting plenty of food and water. Chihuahuas can be notorious for being picky, so if they don't seem to be eating well, please try mixing their food with canned food, or boiled chicken breast. If your puppy gets a loose stool for more then 24 hours, it should be taken to the vet to be sure everything is well. Thank you for reading! |
| Q: What does limited registration mean, and why do a lot of breeders offer this at a more reasonable price? A: Limited AKC registration basically means you will not be able to AKC register any offspring produced by this dog. Dog will also NOT be eligible to show in the AKC conformation show ring. A lot of people offer limited registration at a more reasonable price for two reasons. (1) This decreases the chances of the dog ever ending up in a puppy mill, and will hopfully be a lifelong pet. (2) Responsible breeders have put in years of studying, dedication, and hard work to understand, and know the breed. We want our puppies to be bred to dogs of equal/better quality. Many of us have done a lot of research and study with different bloodlines to be sure we are crossing complimenting dogs. It is best if you do decide to raise dogs that you do a lot of reading and research first. There is so much to learn, and it really is beneficial to know as much as possible, before producing any litters. Plus, you always have to be ready for the possibility of losing your female and/or any puppies to birth complications. This is much more common in tiny breeds, such as chihuahuas. |
| Q: What is a t-cup and why do some people detest this term? A: First of all, I must say that there is truly not a t-cup category in chihuahuas. The AKC breed standard states that the chihuahua should be 2-6 lb., so anything outside of this, is also outside of the breed standard. My opinion is really no better then anyone elses, but I think a lot of people abuse the word. The general public thinks of a t-cup as a TINY TINY dog, maybe even that fits in a t-cup as an adult. Truly, the term "t-cup" is a lot like the term 'big' or 'little', it might mean 3 lbs. to one person and 5 lbs. to another. I personally think that if you are looking for a super tiny baby, it is important that you don't let people mislead you by using this term. I know many people who have said they have 4-5 lb. chis and when you arrive to look at them and you see 8-10 lb. chihuahuas running around. Some people have the reputation for producing tinies, and they can be trusted to know the difference between a 3 lb. and 6 lb. dog. My personal advice is to be very careful when looking for a tiny baby, you will also want to ask about the health of the baby, and if they offer any kind of guarantee. Tiny chihuahuas require extra care, and should be monitored very closely while they are puppies, and sometimes for their entire lives. |
| Some common questions: |
| Q: What determines the price of a puppy? This can vary from breeder, to breeder, but in my puppies, price is determined by several different factors. The overall quality of the puppy will play an important role in the pricing, as a puppy that has show potential is more rare, and will be priced higher. The size, color, personality, sex, bloodlines, and hair coat will also play a role in the price. When I price a puppy, I try to take everything into consideration. A higher priced puppy does not mean he/she will make a better pet. Don't assume that one puppy is automatically better because of it's price, it might just be my personal preference. |
| Q: When is my chihuahua puppy full grown? How big will my chihuahua puppy get? A: A lot of this can depend on the bloodline, as each puppy may grow at a different rate, just like people. However, I would say most chihuahuas have reached most of their size by 8 months old, but they may gain more weight from filling out. Please understand that it is truly impossible to fully predict the adult weight of a puppy. This would be like trying to guess the exact height of a human baby as an adult, when they are only 1-2 yrs. old, it's just not possible. However, a lot of breeders can give really close estimates, and those who know their bloodlines can guess even more accurately, because they know how their puppies develope. |
| Please take the time to read this page, if you do not have a lot of experience with tiny breeds. They are not the same as any other breed, and require extra care on your part. |
| Chihuahuas can sometimes make a quacking type noise. I have not found this to adversely affect their health in any way, but it can be somewhat annoying at times. They usually do it the most when they are excited, and sometimes if you rub their throat, it can help. It seems like the shorter muzzled chihuahuas are more likely to do this, from my experience. Open Fontanel- Many chihuahuas, especially the larger apple-head types will have an open fontenal (AKA Molera), which is on the top of their scull. Most will close to a very small size by adulthood, and some will close completely. However, while your dog is young it is very important to know that any sudden hit to their head can cause sudden death. This is why it's important not to leave your puppy unattended around children, larger dogs, or on top of furniture that is more then a few inches off the ground. Your chi can also break it's legs very easily if left on high objects. They don't realize how far down it is, and will try to jump if you don't keep your hands on them. The molera should not be considered a flaw, as stated in the AKC standard. It is more common then not, in show type chihuahuas. Luxating Patellas- Patellar luxation (loose or dislocated knees) can sometimes be detected at a young age. Due to the chihuahuas diminuative size, this is another issue that is somewhat hard to totally stay away from, especially in the teenie tiny babies, because their bones are so little & fragile. However, slight luxation may never cause your dog any problems, but severe luxation can sometimes require surgery. You can ask your vet what preventatives to take, if he/she diagnoses your puppy with luxating patellas. A dog should never be allowed to become obese, as this can certainly up the risk for surgery, and other issues later in life. If your puppy has luxating patellas, they will probably give you a rating scale for each patella that will be 1-4 (1 being the slightest, and 4 being the most severe). You can read more information on patella luxation at www.offa.org |