Moleras and hydrocephalus: A Chihuahua should have an apple head. The standard calls for a well rounded apple dome skull and a molera is perfectly acceptable. In order for the dog to have the preferred apple dome a molera is necessary for proper skull development. Most people are unaware that human babies actually have a soft spot on the top of the head which is diamond or kite shaped. This is the same in Chihuahuas, you want the molera to have a uniform even shape and be centered on the head. If it is larger then a dime or irregular in shape then it is a birth defect as this is not normal. Many mis-informed people and vets think an apple dome or small molera is a sign of hydrocephalus. This is not the case. A hydrocephalic pup has water on the brain, meaning the fluid surrounding the brain does not drain properly. This can occur in any breed even those that do not have an apple dome. The excess fluid will cause the soft spot to be large and remain open or irregular. The pup will exhibit signs of brain damage and will not be able to walk normally, he will be lethargic and will eventually die. This condition is rare in any breed including Chihuahuas, where it is over-diagnosed. If you or your vet feel that a molera is a health problem you should not be purchasing a Chihuahua! I have seen two hydrocephalic pups in my 25 years of breeding, one Chihuahua and one Standard Dachshund pup. Neither lived beyond 12 weeks of age and the condition was obvious by the time the pup was 4 weeks old and started to walk.
Teacups and Standard Chihuahuas: These terms are used as marketing gimmicks. There is no such thing in any registry as a "teacup" or "standard" size Chihuahua. For the show ring the breed standard states the Chihuahua should be under 6 pounds. many judges do not bother to weigh the dogs they are judging so many of the Chihuahuas in the show ring are over 6 pounds. In my area most are 5 to 7 pounds. Because many vets are not knowledgeable about the breed and because true chihuahuas are difficult to raise, puppy millers would buy the biggest Chihuahuas they could in order to produce pups that required less care and could survive in poor conditions. These pups are able to be weaned early and can survive shipping to pet stores. These breeders started the term "standard Chihuahua" to describe their poor quality dogs. Teacup was a term coined by poodle breeders to describe unnaturally small poodle pups. It is normal for a small chihuahua to be 3 to 4 pounds.
Are Chihuahuas good with Children? Many breeders refuse to sell Chihuahuas to families with young children. This is very sad because many families can provide a loving environment for a Chihuahua. The Chihuahuas are not aggressive and these people do not fear for the safety of your child. They are concerned that the puppy will be harmed by rough handling or be kicked or dropped. I have two young children and they have been taught the proper way to treat animals. For a child under the age of three I would always recommend adult supervision with any small animal. As a parent YOU will be responsible for the care of the dog and you need to know if your child is mature enough to understand that an animal is not a toy and needs to be treated with respect. With several dog shows not being shown on cable TV kids get to see many breeds of dogs and shows. Showing can be a fun hobby for kids as long as they have a parent willing to help them out.
What age are your puppies ready to go to their new homes? This depends on the puppy. Bigger pups usually start eating solid foods before smaller ones. They are ready to go at 8 weeks, while the quieter tiny pups are more like a preemie baby and require extra care and TLC to get them eating well. They may not be ready to go until 12 weeks of age. Personality can also make a difference as a shy pup may become stressed if moved form mom too early. A small outgoing pup may jump right into a new family with out ever becoming homesick.
How do you determine the cost of your puppies? It is very time consuming and expensive to raise a quality healthy, well bred puppy. We spend hours researching the history of our dogs and their health and pedigrees. We provide our dogs with excellent health care, monthly heartworm protection, annual physicals, dental exams and genetic screening. We do not treat our dogs like livestock! They deserve the best and we pamper our pups, with soft clean dog beds, pork hide chews, greenies, and vitamins to keep them in top physical condition. We devote almost all of our time to the care of our pups and this extra TLC shows! Puppy prices are based on the individual conformation and personality of the pup.
Do you provide a Guarantee? YES! we have a TWO YEAR guarantee on genetic or congenital problems. We are also willing to extend the guarantee for up to 7 years of age if certain conditions are met!
Is it safe to ship a puppy? YES! We have shipped dogs for 25 years and only on rare occasion is a flight delayed. The airlines take excellent care of the pups. We drive them to the airport in Minneapolis MN and make sure they are comfortable, with a soft blanket from home and that they are well fed and watered before the flight. We send you instructions on what to do once you pick up your pup to make the journey as easy as stress free as possible!
Can we visit your home and the puppies? Yes, once the pups are fully vaccinated and ready to go. We do not have people inside of our home. This is our dogs and our family's home. You may unintentionally bring in a virus or parasite that could be deadly to our babies. We have a nice area set up for you to view the pups and parents. Please be considerate of our home, be on time and come to see the puppies! Do not wander our farm as we have electric fencing for the horses and we do not want our exhibition poultry frightened or disturbed!
Can we bring our dog? NO! All dogs carry different bacteria, viruses and parasites that our dogs may not have been exposed to. We have a small hobby farm with Miniature horses and poultry. Your dog will have no interest in the pups but will find the farm smells MUCH more exciting. Your dog may actually try to bite or hurt the puppies as she will NOT want to interact with them when there are so many other interesting sights,sounds and smells! Excited dogs have to potty and he will either go in our showing room or in our yard. This will make our dogs think it is OK for them to do so as well. We want to keep the area we train and play in clean for our family and pets. If you are concerned with your dog getting along with a new addition, take him to a dog park or a pet supply store on a busy day. If he likes to play and meet other dogs he will be fine. if your dog is a spoiled princess she may resent a new puppy.
Are the puppies Registered? Our adults are all AKC registered. We will provide you with a pedigree on your puppy. Our companion pups are either sold with AKC limited registration or pedigree only. We register our Chihuahuas with the AKC or UKC only. Most breeders using APRI or CKC are doing so to avoid AKC's cleanliness and inspection requirements. In many cases these are becoming the "Puppy Mill" registries and many of these dogs lack DNA and genetic testing and are of poor quality. We do not register hybrid or designer pups.
What if we are interested in breeding? We are happy to let you know which pups have show or breeding potential! We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on show/breeding prospects! This means if your pup does not turn out to be the dog you were hoping for you may purchase another pup with show potential for the pet price listed. This guarantee covers conformation, temperament and personal satisfaction. We will not replace a dog that you have used in your breeding program. If you feel the dog is NOT breeding quality he must be spayed or neutered prior to replacement.
Do you show your dogs? YES! We show at both AKC and IABCAA shows in conformation. We are also looking into UKC events!
Do you have a waiting list? NO We no longer keep a list without deposits. Many people impulse buy and see a cute puppy photo and want the dog. A few days later they find another cute photo and if that puppy is ready to go they buy it. Then when I contact them to tell them the pup they wanted from me is ready they either do not reply or admit they adopted another dog.
Can we reserve a puppy? YES! If you know you want a dog from us we accept deposits. This will reserve a specific pup for you. We will refund the deposit only of the pup has health problem that develops as he grows.
Can we reserve "Pick of the litter"? YES! If we are not keeping a pup and you are looking for a specific personality this is the way to go. It gives you first choice of the pups in the litter!
