Mini mini mini chihuahuas

S

sblordita

Cathlete
Hi there :) I know this is WAY off subject, but I know there are a lot of pet fans here. I need a little advice. Yesterday, a nurse that works for our company brought her little "teacup" chihuahua into the office. 5 1/2 months old and only 1 1/2 lbs. SO CUTE!!! And her temperment, attitude, everything is perfect. Fairly calm, not shaky, not barky, loves loves loves people and children. I am seriously considering getting one for a few reasons... I just adore tiny dogs... not sure why, but it's probably just that they are so darn irrestistable! Also, because I need more of an indoor dog. I will be going to school and moving into an apartment - decently sized, but none-the-less an apartment - and I don't want the dog I have (or us) to be uncomfortable.

Now I know that the size of a puppy cannot be guaranteed, but I am having a hard time with the idea of spending 1200 dollars or so to get a dog that just might end up 5 lbs heavier than I expect. Do any you have these kinds of dogs and how have you done with them? Would love any input.

Thanks much!

Sara
 
Please consider adopting a pet from your local shelter or humane society. They have many types, and if you get an adult dog, you'll know what their temperament is. Cats often do better in apartment settings than dogs, who still need to be walked.
 
I have close friends with a 2 1/2 year old 3 lb female teacup chihuahua. She was not barky, not neurotic, just very tiny and cute. They have nothing bad to say about her. But she really has to watch out for other "normal" dogs, because they often want to hurt her. Something about tiny dogs makes bigger dogs frightfully upset. My Rottweiler can't bear the sight of anything under 15 lbs and it's all I can do to restrain her.
 
Hi Sara,

Before considering buying a teacup anything, do a little research on care. I looked into purchasing a teacup poodle or yorkie & the breeder I spoke with told me that even though they are weaned from the mother at 9 weeks, they need to be bottle fed for a few more weeks because their digestive systems don't mature. They have to be fed every couple of hours so that would mean not leaving them home alone & getting up in the night.

As for having a dog in an apartment or anywhere for that matter, I HIGHLY recommend crate training. This will help prevent some chewing on your stuff & some of the mess with housebreaking.

Good luck.
 
If you purchase your puppy from a reputable breeder they should have some guarantees and you should be able to meet the mom and dad doggy. That way you will know what to expect when your puppy grows up. The best experience I ever had was when I researched the breed, knew exactly what I was going to get, and purchased from a reputable breeder who let me meet the sweet daddy of the pups. Anyways, it has been a pleasure. A lot of people buy dogs/pups on impulse, have no idea what they are getting into and then end up with a problem on their hands. Make sure to do your research, go to a dog show and meet the breeders. Find one that you trust and go with it. That might mean putting your name on a waiting list, but good things come to those who wait.

The worst part about adopting a dog is that, even though you are saving a life, you don't always know what you are getting and some of those pups can have problems from being neglected or treated badly when they were youngsters. Just a cautionary note.
 
>The worst part about adopting a dog is that, even though you
>are saving a life, you don't always know what you are getting
>and some of those pups can have problems from being neglected
>or treated badly when they were youngsters. Just a cautionary
>note.

YES, YES, YES!!! Friends of mine adopted a beautiful lab from a shelter here. They went 2 or 3 times before bringing him home. The first few days he was disoriented & the sweetest most pathetic lover you'd ever laid eyes on. Just wanted to be petted & stayed very close to my girlfriend. A week later, he growled at her when she woke up in the night to go to the bathroom. She blew it off as protectiveness. A week after that, he growled (I mean, barred his teath & hair standing up) at her during the day when she got up off the couch to get a cup of tea. She was very scared. Then he went after her son--17 years old & was NOT antagonizing the dog.

That was the final straw. Back to the pound he went.

Labs are supposed to be even tempered & loving dogs. This one obviously had something happen that the shelter wasn't aware of.

Too sad.
 
>As for having a dog in an apartment or anywhere for that
>matter, I HIGHLY recommend crate training. This will help
>prevent some chewing on your stuff & some of the mess with
>housebreaking.
>
>Good luck.

Double ditto to this statement. I got religion on crate training when we got our Boxer. Crating when you're away also keeps the little buggers from doing/chewing stuff that might hurt them. Good luck in your search.
 
I agree with both sides of the fence on the adoption thing. I think it is a fantastic opportunity for pets to find a home... I have actually adopted a couple of my cats from my local animal shelter. I have to say that they have been wonderful. My other, my baby, I found in a parking lot :) He's been a loving companion (and workout partner) for 13 years. Unfortunately we lost our littlest one recently. Apparently the vet did something wrong when she was being spayed. She was such a joy! Dogs are a little more difficult, though. Their personalities seem to be formed a lot more by environment and people than a cat's does... But aside from that, unfortunately, I just have my heart set on this kind of little dog. They are what I was looking for!

I've been researching quite a bit... on complications related to this kind of dog, but I haven't found much on care yet. Can anyone recommend a breeder to me? I'm still groping in the dark here :)

Thanks still
Sara
 
Well, a small dog is always going to be easier to take care of than a big dog (my opinion, though not always true with all breeds)-- I have lived with both small and large dogs, and it can be a lot more difficult if large dogs are not well trained. (Imagine being knocked down by a large dog who has no manners versus a small dog who is nipping at your heels)..

Anyways, to find your puppy you can start by contacting your local AKC chapter. You can find that online. You can also do some searches online for some local breeders, check your local newspaper. Attend a dog show! They are so educational, you can talk to the dog breeders and ask them as many questions as you want about the breed. And last but not least, be sure to enroll in puppy training school after you get your dog so that you will have a good canine citizen. I find puppy training beneficial because from an early age having exposure to other dogs is very important for socialization and you will learn a lot about the good ways to train (crate train etc) and promote overall good behavior.

These are small investments when you consider the life of a doggy... sometimes they live up to 15+ years! Goodluck!
 
Hi,
Honestly, I think it might be easier for you to go to a breeder rather than adopting a dog. I made a mistake of adopting a dog almost 3 yrs ago because I felt bad for her. She was only 8 weeks old (I really think she was younger than that when I adopted her) because she was so small and sad. No matter what I did, she was a monster as she got older. SO hyper, destructive and not loyal. They even lied about what breed she was. It was a nice shelter, very clean. She died almost a year ago.

I'm about to get a puppy from a very good breeder. You just have to do research. Did you look on AKC website? You have to ask them a lot of questions, follow your gut. It took me about 2 months to find a breeder I trust. Also, I would not buy a puppy from a show breeder mainly because they're more expensive and they're built for shows. The breeder I am purchasing from is a member of AKC and she breeds working dogs. She's very honest with her answers and she sends me pics of her dogs and what the puppy will look like, etc. Sometimes you need to go out of town or even state to pick up the puppy. In Nov. I have to drive out to New Hampshire which is 5 hours away to pick up the puppy. I get to meet the pup's parents. Even though she showed me pics of the pup's parents, I still want to check the parents out.

I even have cats, too. They're different but I prefer dogs. I've had cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, chickens, etc all my life so I'm pretty open to all animals.

I'm not too crazy about little dogs. They're a little harder to take care of than bigger dogs. My grandmother has a minature maltese and she needed a lot of care when my grandmother first adopted her...i.e bottle feeding, etc. Also, from my experience with little dogs, they're just so damn hyper and loud. Also, they're easier to step on since you don't really see them.

I'd do more research, find out how to take care of one, etc....I've never experienced a little dog my own since all of my dogs are/were big. If you're not going to be home that much, it's not a good idea to get a puppy for a while because they need to be walked and potty trained. It's not fair to the puppy either.

I wish you a lot of luck with it. Choose wisely.

Lisa
 
Hello People. I have a teacup Chihuahua called Louis! He is 3 years old now, weights 4lbs and is 7” tall! I got him two years ago. He spent the first year of his life locked in a shed with 20 other Chihuahua’s. He is gorgeous and very very loving. However!… I would recommend you going to a breeder for this bread. They are very sensitive dogs, and if not showed/passed around from a tiny pup are unlikely to me a people’s dog. My dog won’t go near anyone it doesn’t know, and pulls the most adorable ugly face to say “back off”. These breads are high nervous, and tend to shake (even if nothing is wrong) so this is to be expected. Short hair dogs do shed fur and lots of it, everywhere. This is one of the most upsetting aspects of this bread (Pugs do too!). Hairy goes everywhere. Long hair Chihuahua’s do shed too, but not as much. Go figure! The smaller the dog, the more likey that it will snore! This is true. The noses are very small, and the dog can actually grunt and sound very much like a pig. This may sound amusing to begin with, but trust me, at night; it really can get on your nervous! Chihuahua are the most loving of dogs, and will follow you around everywhere. The yare very very loving and never leave you side. I would recommend getting a Chihuahua to anyone, providing they know that just because its small does not make it any less work then a big dog. If you are interested, I have some pics of my dog that I can send to you vie e-mail so you can see what a 3 year old male dog looks like. Totally Gorgeous!
 
I would absolutely love to see pictures of your doggie! I am so in love with these dogs, and everyone tells me the same thing... that they are very loyal and loving. I actually found one online yesterday for $1000, almost 7 months old and very tiny. I am so tempted, but it's so hard, because I know nothing nothing of these people and they are so far away (Oklahoma, I'm in northern Nevada).

I did find one web site online who seems very reputable... as they get a tremendous amount of business. They have exactly what I want right now, but the prices are high (about 2000 for a tiny teacup)... I could put myself on a waiting list, and I would probably get a baby within a year. Maybe that's better so that I can save up the money, do the research, and really know what I'm getting into.

It's even harder now that I don't hear you guys saying bad things about these dogs :D ... I can deal with the shedding (my big cat sheds like nobody's business!!), and the snoring... well, it would be interesting... but you love an pet as much as any other member of the family, despite their "weirdnesses". But I think since I decided on this so quickly, I should take my time... If I put myself on that waiting list, I am guaranteed to get one of the first picks of a baby... but I can pass until I am ready. I think the extra money might be worth that security.

Anybody else have a say in this? I know that to some getting a new pet isn't a big thing to think about, but I think it really is. Especially for one so dependent. It's a huge commitment! Anyway, thanks for all of your input...

Would still love to see those pictures! Very much.

My bigger e-mail address is [email protected].

Thanks,
Sara
 
Hey, thanks for the reply, I will e-mail you later some pictures so you can see what you think. He is fawn and white (most common colour) and totally gorgeous. Funny thing…yesterday I was teaching an exercise class and my partner picked me up after and brought Louis to greet me. When he (Louis) saw me he gets so excited, gets yelping, and (I’m not lying) smiling and his eyes (which are huge) just look like they’re coming out of his tiny head! Its so funny. I really think you’ll love this breed. Most Chihuahua’s will be about 3-6lbs in weight, depending on the height and build of a dog. I know that it can been very tempting to get the smallest one you see, but often times this isn’t always the best way. Smaller is not always better, however you don’t want a huge Chihuahua that looks like a Jack Russell either. The little only on the internet sounds nice, and if these people are genuine, then they will allow you to return him/her within a 6 week period should things not work out. Chihuahua’s get on very well with cats. We got a kitten to keep Louis company and the cat thinks that he’s a Chihuahua and its very fun to watch. I will e-mail you a free pictures later…my mother has a Chihuahua and hers is a big breed so you can see what size they can get too. x
 
Hey Wayne,

I e-mailed you :) Thanks so much for those pictures. Louis is a doll. I would love to see video of your Chihuahua cat... that would be hilarious!!

Sara
 
I do chihuahua rescue

PLEASE do not encourage vanity and money-oriented breeding practices such as this. These animals are more delicate than others and have more health problems.

$1,200 is outrageous to pay for a dog when dozens of chihuahuas die every day in shelters.

Take a look at chihuahua-rescue.org

You might find a needy one on there (maybe even a teacup).
 
> I actually
>found one online yesterday for $1000, almost 7 months old and
>very tiny. I am so tempted, but it's so hard, because I know
>nothing nothing of these people and they are so far away
>(Oklahoma, I'm in northern Nevada).

I would not buy from a breeder unless you knew more about them, met the parents (at least one), siblings, relatives, etc. Ask for a pedigree, ask which dogs are still alive, the ones that aren't ask for a cause of death. Ask for copies of health testing. ALL BREEDS NEED health testing. At a minimum, hips, elbow, eyes and thyroid but every breed has problems. If they say they don't run run run run. With the copy of your pedigree go to www.offa.org and look up the dogs on the pedigree. You can get their ofa rating for hips/elbows, etc. if they have been done. Look at not just the parents, but siblings also.

Most reputable breeders do have waiting lists of up to a year or so for any breed. Ask for references, are they affiliated with their local and national breed clubs?

Colleen
 
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