Buying a Chihuahua (smooth coat) Puppy
What to expect from a breeder who puts Health, Welfare and Temperament first.
Avoid extremely small dogs, or those with very short noses or very protruding eyes, as these exaggerated features are frequently associated with serious health problems.
Essential Documents
- Heath Certificates (both parents)
- Signed AWF Puppy Contract
- KC Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Microchip Registration Certificate
- Temporary Pet Health Insurance
- Vaccination Certificate
A Good Breeder Will:
- have socialised and habituated the puppy
- provide a supply of food
- provide a blanket smelling of Mum
- follow the Code of Practice for Dog Breeding
Official Health Schemes
- BVA/KC eye scheme – DBRG recommends that all dogs should be visually examined for inherited eye disease before breeding
- available for all breeds, and checks for many inherited abnormalities that can cause progressive blindness or pain
- BVA/KC testing scheme for CM/SM – Chiari-like malformation/syringomyelia
- mismatch in size between brain (too big) and skull (too short) causing pain and neurological signs/pockets of fluid in the spinal cord
Other Diseases
No current health scheme or DNA test available.
- Dental problems
- possible issues include retention of milk teeth, overcrowding of teeth due to the small jaw, and tooth infections
- Eye problems
- such as ulcers and ‘dry eye’ –lack of normal tear production
- Fragile bones
- due to extremely small size
- Hydrocephalus
- fluid in the brain due to domed skull, causing pain, headaches, nausea
DNA Tests Relevant to Breed
Genetic laboratories offer several tests for rare inherited diseases in this breed, including:
- Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 7 (NCL7)
- progressive, lethal neurological disease
- Chondrodystrophy (CDDY & IVDD)
- short legs and abnormal discs in spine
- Merle coat colour
- linked to hearing and vision problems, especially in very white dogs
Other Tests
- Putnam scoring for patella luxation