General Chihuahua F.A.Q's
Are Chihuahuas easy to care for?
Chihuahuas are small but highly intelligent dogs. Despite their size they still require a good deal of care. They need exercise, an appropriate diet, and plenty of human company. They must be trained from an early age, to prevent behavioural problems as they grow up, and treated as a dog not a small child. If you aren't willing to put in all this work, then I would suggest something like a Goldfish instead. Should I get a smoothcoat or a longcoat? Both long and short coated Chi's have a similar personality and the only real difference is the time and effort in grooming. Long coated dogs need to be groomed at least once a week, short coats still need grooming but less often. Both coat types shed, and this is an unavoidable trait of the breed, and as a general rule, smoothcoats seem to shed more than longcoats. Would a Chihuahua be a good pet for my child? Providing your child understands that Chihuahuas are very delicate dogs then they can be good pets for an older child. It is important that your child understands that they are small and can be fragile, but also that they are still dogs and they should be careful around them to avoid the risk of being bitten and should never be left alone with them. It is illegal to sell animals to under 16s, so as the childs parent or carer you would be legally responsible for the dog. However I will consider selling to family with younger children providing the whole family comes to meet the dogs to be sure it is a good match. My puppies are socialised with children of all ages, but like all dogs, they must never be left alone with any child. As a rule, I do not allow my puppies to go to homes with children under the age of ten. Can Chihuahuas be kept as outdoor dogs? No. Chihuahuas are family dogs, and because of their size, feel the cold easily. They do not do well as outdoor dogs, even in heated kennels as they need to companionship of humans. Being kept outside also increases the risk of them being stolen. What are the health issues in the breed? The chihuahua is a very healthy breed and they have very few common health concerns. The most common health problem in the breed is Patella Luxation (slipping kneecaps) which all my dogs are checked for. Other issues include Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar - Most often affects puppies and very small chihuahuas), Retained puppy teeth and Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). Should I breed my Chihuahua? There are many different things to consider before breeding a dog. Is she healthy? Does s/he have a good temperament? Do they fit the breed standard well? Is s/he Kennel Club registered? Do you have the time and knowledge to breed? Can you afford an emergency C-section if your dog needs it (very common in Chihuahuas)? Are you willing to risk your dog and any possible puppies lives? There is always a chance that the female will die giving birth and you will be left to hand rear the puppies, or worse, you could lose the puppies too. Breeding is expensive. You need to pay for your dogs health checks, Stud Fees, and you need to be able to recognise it if your dog is in trouble and afford it if your dog requires an emergency c-section to save her life. You also need to consider how much extra food she will need, how much the puppies will eat, the cost of their vet checkups and vaccinations, worming, and so many other little things that add up to a LOT of money. Unless you are certain that you have the knowledge, money and time to raise a litter then usually it isn't worth the risk. You don't make money from breeding - Often you lose money from it! I only breed when I want a pup for myself and only then if the vet gives us the go-ahead. |
Stormchi F.A.Q'sHow much are your puppies?
The price of the puppy will depend on a lot of things - E.g Gender, Suitability for the show ring, Breeding costs and what comes in their Puppy Pack. I aim to keep my prices as low as possible, however potential Show puppies will always be higher in price than pet puppies. They will also come with their puppy vaccinations, microchip, de-flead and wormed, and with an extensive puppy pack to give them the best start in life and make settling into their new home easier. Are they registered with the Kennel Club? All my chihuahuas are fully registered with the Kennel Club, meaning all my puppies will also be registered. All dogs bred by myself will come with their KC papers, a huge puppy pack and vets records. When the puppies are big enough they will also be microchipped and come with their microchip details. They will also come with a five generation kennel club pedigree along with the registration documents. What will my puppy come with in the Puppy Pack? Take a look at the "Puppies" page - Everything that comes with your puppy is listed there. I will also sometimes add additional items to each of the puppy packs such as a favourite toy or extra treats that your puppy likes. What will my puppy be socialized with? Your puppy will be socialized with other dogs, cats, people of all ages including small children, and they will be used to the normal household noises. Puppies will also have been taken out in a special dog buggy to get used to being around new people and outside without the risk of infection and illness. What training will my puppy have had? Your puppy will have had some basic training. Then will be used to being groomed, being crated (with their siblings), puppy pad trained, have had a collar and harness on and had a coat on. If the puppy is sold as having show potential s/he will be used to being stacked on the table. Can I breed my dog with one of yours? Very rarely I will agree to a breeding with an outside dog. If I do agree to the breeding, am happy to either pay a fair stud fee or offer you a puppy from the litter. You will be sent regular pictures of the puppies. Any dog my girls are bred with must be fully KC registered, health checked, and have excellent health and temperament. Remember that longcoats and smoothcoats are considered two different breeds in the uk so I will not agree to any of my females being bred to a smoothcoated male. Can I breed my puppy? If you are looking to breed then it will depend on the puppy. Some dogs are not suitable for breeding for various reasons. However if you do want to breed your dog then please contact me and I will talk you through everything to do with breeding and any helpful tips and hints I have come across. Remember, a bitch under 4.5lb should NEVER be bred from - It can easily kill them! What if I cant keep my chihuahua any more? If you can no longer keep your chihuahua (whether I bred them or not) then I would be happy to take them on for re-homing. Please note that I will not purchase the dog from you, I will simply care for the dog until a suitable home can be found, as a free of charge service. No money will be paid for the dog, and I will not ask any money for providing this service for you. Any dog I re-home will be vet checked before rehoming. If the dog returned is a dog I have bred then I may offer you another dog or credit towards a puppy from a future litter at my own discretion. |
All of my puppies are sold on a return to breeder contract. This is a legally binding contract that means you must return the dog to me if you are no longer able to care for it for whatever reason. This is to prevent the dogs from being sold on to people who may use them as puppy producing machines.