Last update: 29 December 2008
Please use this information to help you make the right choice when buying your dog. This suggestion is based in our 15 years of experience with dogs and dog owners.
Where find a true healthy chihuahua ?
If you want a healthy and 100% true chihuahua you should never buy a puppy from a pet store because that most of those puppies come from mass breeding facilities better known as puppy mills. In the most cases the puppies have genetics and comportamental problems and do not respect the standard breed. Bitches are bred on consecutive heat cycles over and over again until there is no use for them and then euthanized. A for profit mass production of dogs where money is the only concern of the owner. The dogs never get out of a cage their entire life. They are bred regardless of health issues. Some dogs are debarked to rupture the voice box. These dogs recieve almost no socialization. Remember that puppy mills not only sell to pet stores, they sell also over the internet. Please don't spend money to contribute to this massacre, educate yourself! Rather do please consider rescuing a dog that already needs a good home! Don't pay for a mixed dog from unhetical breeders.
Also make attention to buy puppies from people who breed their dog to make money or simply because they have a dog "with papers." Reputable breeder not breed dogs "to make money" but breeds to advance their breeding program and for their love and devotion to purebred dogs not just to produce puppies for pet buyers.
Do you know who is a puppy mills? Please look at this link, read more and see the video: http://stoppuppymills.org/inside_a_puppy_mill.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_farming
Never believe in those who sells toy or T-cup chihuahua like a rare and expensive chihuahua. Chihuahua have only one standard and the T-cup are in the most case unhealthy too little dogs. Remember that reputable breeder often sell the puppy too little at cheap price just like as a pet-quality dog.
Male or female as a family pet ?
There's a common opinion that female Chihuahua are more affectionate, loyal and easy to train than males. We don't support this opinion because in our experience males are more demanding of human attention and they become more attached to their people. Males tend to be more steadfast, reliable, less moody and more accepting of other pets. Males are more outgoing and fun-loving almost until the day they die. Female are generally less affectionate and friendly than male dogs and can be emotional and tend to be very independent and reserved. They may come to their owner when they are seeking affection but will often move away when they have had enough. Female dogs mark the territory in the same way male dogs do, and tend to escape like a male when she is in heat.
In our opinion a male would be a much better choice as a family pet but this is a personal preferences because both sexes can be very affectionate and loyal, both sexes can be difficult to keep and both sexes can be equally a joy to have in the home. Plus the females that are spayed and dogs that are neutered often do not have the gender-specific problems associated with their sex such as coming into heat or marking. If you consider buy a female for future breeding don't take it easy. Breeding chihuahua is not like breeding labrador or beagle but are very difficult and expensive.