The purpose of this page is to help the average prospective puppy buyer understand a few things I feel they need to know so they don't get robbed, and possibly left heartbroken while trying to purchase their purebred Chihuahua puppy.

The Health Guarantee is one of the most important things to consider when looking for a puppy. All purebred dogs can carry genetic health issues that are associated with each breed. Because Chihuahuas are my chosen breed I would like to tell you about problems that are associated with the Chihuahua breed. Genetic conditions that good breeders test their breeding Chihuahuas for are heart, patella's (knees) and thyroid. There are other problems that we screen for which don't have tests to help us recognise them. Examples of these problems are seizure disorders, open fontal, collapsing trachea, and cherry eye.

Good breeders breed for health, temperament and beauty - in that order. We know our lines very well and will offer a good guarantee with our puppies for very good reasons which I'll discuss later. First I want to talk about what a fair guarantee is and what it's not.

A good genetic health guarantee for Chihuahuas should be 3-5 years because it can take years for some of the genetic and health issues to show up. If the breeder only gives a 1 year or less health gurantee you may as well not get any guarantee at all. Often enlarged hearts don't show until the Chihuahua is 2-3 years old. Patella's that seem fine at 4 months old may show bad at 2 years old and need surgery to correct. Surgery to fix a patella is expensive. Here in New England it cost $750.00+ a leg for the procedure to correct this! A good guarantee will cover anything genetic that causes death AND anything genetic that causes the dog a serious quality of life issue.

Make sure to read the fine print carefully (and ask questions if there is anything you don't understand) because some breeders will fool you into thinking they've given you a good guarantee when in fact they haven't because they want you to return the dog in order to collect on it. Why do they want the dog returned? Well folks, because they're counting on the fact that because you already love the dog there's no way you'll want to give it back, so in reality the guarantee is moot.

A good guarantee will state that you may return the dog if you want to (this is in the event that you, the buyer, can't afford whatever treatment the dog may need, the breeder will provide treatment), but if the buyer wants to keep the dog and assume responsibility medically the breeder will still replace the puppy with another, or refund full purchase price if a genetic condition causes death or presents a serious quality of life issue.

Good breeders want to guarantee their puppies because when their puppies are guaranteed and something health wise arises, the new owner is far more likely to contact them and make them aware of the problem. A genetic or health related problem can't be corrected in the breeding program unless the breeder knows about it. Anything genetic and health related is very important information to a breeder that cares about the quality of the Chihuahuas they are bringing into this world. With no guarantee, or a guarantee that is minimal, why would you bother to contact them and tell them about it, right?

Any breeder that claims they don't guarantee their dogs because they don't have any health issues in their lines is being dishonest with you! Just think about this for a moment ... if they're so sure they have no health issues then why wouldn't they give a good guarantee? I mean how could you collect on what could never happen according to them, right?

Click to view my Guarantee and Sales contract,. It's a very good example of what a breeder who cares about her dogs and you, the prospective owner of one of her puppies, will offer you. It's not full of loop holes and clauses that favor the breeder. I like to call it Buyer/Puppy Friendly.

With all the different dog registries popping up eager to register anything with four legs, it can be very confusing to the average person seeking a nice puppy because many people have no idea just how badly they are being fooled into thinking they've bought a registered purebred dog. Often they have, but not always.

We have the American Kennel Club (AKC) which has been around well over a century now. The AKC holds the stud books on over 150 breeds of dogs. For years there was no other choice, if you wanted a purebred with papers the AKC was it. The AKC implemented a DNA program and made DNA for all frequently used sires mandatory. The DNA testing proves if a sire was the father of a litter (or puppy) or not. The cost to DNA stud males is $40.00. It seems about the same time AKC began mandatory DNA testing is when many of these *Alternate* registries began popping up. Some examples are American Pet Registry Incorporated (APRI) and the Continental Kennel Club (CKC) (should not be confused with the Canadian Kennel Club, also CKC, which is the Canadian equivalent of the AKC).

Years ago being a breeder meant you had a passion to further the integrity of the breed you fell hopelessly in love with and that you worked hard and honestly toward that dream. Registering your dogs and puppies was done by accepting the breeders word as being the truth on the papers that were filled out for each litter. This honor system worked well for everyone until the demand for purebred dogs exceeded the supply and people started showing an interest in breeding for money and profit rather than for the betterment of the breed. Once farming puppies entered the dog world, tons of integrity and honor went right out the window ... the old saying "money is the root of all evil" held true once again. There are breeders breeding for money and profit, and even worse, some of those breeders are cutting corners to increase their profit margins. They do this in many ways such as low quality food, poor or no veterinarian care, and registering through an *alternate* registry.

To give you a couple of examples: the CKC doesn't charge anything to register a litter of puppies, and APRI charges about half of what AKC charges. The AKC charges $25.00 plus $2.00 per puppy (a litter of four Chihuahuas is $33.00). Now honestly, when you're selling a litter of four Chihuahua puppies at, say, $750.00 each, how is $33.00 to register the litter considered so much money that you'd risk going to an alternate registry that has less integrity? It's not, but you'll see breeders saying that's why they left the AKC and went with an alternate registry. In reality they left AKC not because of the money factor but fear of being caught in the act of being less than honest with their breeding program, because they know that at anytime the AKC could ask for DNA proof (at the breeder's expense) of which stud sired the litter and they would loose their rights to register with AKC if caught, and a possible fine and/or suspension of AKC priviledges.

The AKC not only has DNA testing, they have inspections for breeders who breed over seven litters a year, they sponsor dog shows and many other dog related events. All breeders registering with AKC must follow their rules. One AKC rule that irresponsible breeders have a hard time abiding by is the one that states AKC breeders are not allowed to sell to a broker (pet stores) or in litter lots. If you break this rule the AKC will pull your right to register for one year up to life depending on the severity of your offense, just as they will if you maintain poor record keeping, fail to properly identify your breeding dogs, if your dogs are in poor physical condition or if your dogs live in dirty housing. "Selling to a pet store? Ahhh" you say, "but I've seen AKC puppies in pet stores." You're right, and I'll address that in Part 3 of this series titled "The Breeder".

The AKC can be a pain in the butt, for example if you don't fill out the paperwork exactly or if something doesn't match they'll send it right back to you as denied. AKC is not very customer friendly but it's the one registry trying to maintain some integrity among breeders. In this country the AKC is the best any good breeder has, it's not an easy registry and I, for one, like it that way. By comparison the other *alternate* registries have no inspectors, no DNA, some have no fee's, and no sponsored dog shows and your're not required to provide proof (of your dog's breed) to register your dog with many of them. In other words if it looks like a Sheltie but the breeder say's it's a Chihuahua then it will be registered as a Chihuahua. The *alternate* registeries are very user friendly, thus they get their nick name the "Hassle Free Registry ". Sorry folks, I'll take the hassles, the inspections, the DNA, I enjoy the dog shows. I always buy AKC and would never consider a puppy from another registry except maybe duel registering with the Canadian Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club (UKC) if I was showing outside the USA, but in this country there's only one true registry, the one that started it all, The American Kennel Club. (AKC).

It's your money, but wouldn't you like to know that the puppy you spent your good money on came from a breeder who isn't afraid of being inspected or asked for proof of DNA when in question, a breeder who is made to stand up and be held accountable? Why would anyone want to go to a breeder that didn't care enough about their puppies to go the extra mile to prove their puppies' parentage, who left the AKC for *greener* pastures because AKC' s fees cut into their profits and the DNA testing put them in danger of being exposed as less than reputable and honest? When I spend good money on anything I want to know I've gotten the best value for my money and supported ethics that I feel deserve to be supported at the same time.

Buyer beware... remember it's your money, your choice and your new puppy. You're in charge, you're the buyer...please buy responsibly!

When looking for a Chihuahua puppy you have to consider where to look. The internet is a valuable source of information but it can also be full of con-artists and tricksters, so becoming a responsible and well informed buyer is your best chance of getting a sound healthy puppy. First and foremost I'll come right out and say this, you can't buy a puppy at the pet store and get a good value. Even if by chance the puppy you buy doesn't have any health issues when you bring him/her home, that doesn't mean a few years down the road some life threatening condition won't arise and all is lost, even the thousands you're going to spend to try and save your best friends life. If you are lucky enough to end up with a healthy puppy, the temperaments of pet store Chihuahua pup may be greatly compromised because with this breed a loving, well-adjusted social start is essential. Good breeders keep their puppies until about 12 weeks of age so the puppy will be mature and be socialized enough to have the confidence to do well in a new home. Without confidence a Chihuahua can become fearful and a fearful Chihuahua can become a fear biter. Do yourself a favor and seek a good breeder and stay out of the pet stores.

Many people who bought a puppy from a pet store have said "I saved this puppy from the pet store", when in reality what they actually did was send their money back to the puppymill to ensure that the mother of the puppy they bought will be bred again to make more brothers and sisters to your puppy, every cycle until she dies in the cage she lived her whole lives in...If the mother dog was able to talk she would say "Please don't buy anymore of my puppies, I'm tired and can't keep replenishing the pet store stock, let me rest just one season before I die".

Now you're probably going to say the man running the pet store told you the puppies he sells come from good breeders - not puppymills. Hogwash! All pet store puppies come from commercial breeders or mills because good breeders honor the code of ethics of their breed club which states we may not sell to a broker or a pet store. Good breeders don't trust someone else to sell their puppies. Good breeders carefully screen homes so they'll know who is buying their puppies and so they can match the puppy with the right family. Good breeders keep in contact with the adoptive family throughout the puppy's entire life. Good breeders don't sell to someone just because the person has the cash (or plastic) to pay for the puppy. With pet stores it's first come first serve regardless of whether or not the puppy and the buyer are good matches for each other.

Ask yourself this, if the pet store puppy did come from a good breeder and not a mill, then why can't that good breeder find buyers for their puppies? Why do they need to ship them half way across the country so a broker (pet store) can sell them? I know I have no trouble finding wonderful homes for my puppies right here in the state I live in. Could it be these mills ship to pet stores to keep people from coming to the house/kennel and seeing the conditions of the parents and housing? Could it be they've sold so many sick dogs in their area they risk getting another complaint filed against them (can't get a complaint filed against you if the puppy was sold in a different state).

A couple of things for you to seriously consider. Ask the pet store manager to show you the papers on one of their puppies, and I'll bet the papers aren't from the same state you're in. Ask the pet store manager if you can see photo's of the puppy's parents and of the breeders home. What, they don't have any? How do they know if the puppies they sell come from good breeders if they've never met the breeder or seen the breeder's home? Are you supposed to believe the puppies come from good breeders without proof? I know I don't believe anyone with making a sale as their agenda without proof. Get tough, and let your money reflect what you believe in and want to support...find a good breeder and stay away from supporting the puppymill industry.

Now what is a good breeder? A good breeder is:

• one who really cares about not only their dogs but the preservation and betterment of the breed as a whole.
• one who belongs to a reputable breed club.
• one who has a good reputation in their area.
• one who tests all their breeding stock for all genetic related health issues relevant to their breed before breeding.
• one who has no problem with you asking them for references and proof of test results and guarantees.
• one that carefully screens homes and matches the puppies up with what is thought to be a great match.
• one who will ask you a lot of questions and get a feel for you before agreeing to sell you one of their puppies.
• one who guarantees their puppies and is responsible for them for life.
• one who registers all their puppies with AKC (American Kennel Club).
• one who sells all pet quality puppies on a LTD AKC Registration but guarantees health the same as a show quality puppy.
• one that will stand by you if something should arise with the puppy that can't be resolved.
• one who is very knowledgeable on everything to do with the breed, including training, and can answer all your questions with ease.
• one who is involved in dog sport and breed rescue.
• one who will help you find a good dog from another breeder if they haven't a suitable one available rather than to see you make the mistake of going to a back yard breeder (one with little or no breeding knowledge and sells out of the newspaper) or a pet store.
• one who will take a puppy back if it doesn't work out, no questions asked, because if you don't want the puppy then they don't want you to have it, period!
• one who, above all, you feel is completely up front and honest with you, who shows you the parent dogs and gives you free roam of where the dogs are kept so you can see for yourself that the puppy was raised in a clean environment (puppies raised in their own filth are very difficult to train).

Good breeders don't breed for demand, often you need to be approved in advance and be placed on a waiting list until a puppy becomes available.

Now here are some of the tricks and lines bad breeders will use to try and fool and con you because they only care about one thing - getting your non-refundable money and, boy, can they get inventive! First be sure you're dealing with a breeder and not a broker posing as a breeder. Ask them "Are you the litter owner"? If they say no, that they're selling for a friend or their mother, or a sick neighbor with cancer or a friend that's in the hospital, don't fall for it! It may not be true, and the latter reasons are classical excuses to make a symphathy sale. The litter owner is listed on the registration papers and is always the person who owns the mother dog. If the person you're buying from is NOT the litter owner that's listed on the registration papers, no matter what story they feed you, they're a broker, buying puppies from bad breeders at low prices and reselling them to you at a huge profit (just like a pet store)!

Once you're sure you're dealing with a breeder not a broker there are ways to identify a less than honest/reputable breeder:

• claims the puppy is vet checked and has shots but has no vet records to prove it. (No vet records could mean the breeder is not providing adequate vet care, is trying to cut corners to save money.)
• uses the terms teacup, pocket, ultra tiny to impress a higher price for the smallest puppy. (Beware of breeders who "specialise" in the tiny ones. Tiny ones are the runts of the litter and often have serious health problems. Tiny ones do appear in a good breeder's litters, but they don't purposely breed for them, they breed to match the Chihuahua standard.)
• brings puppies and adults up from the basement or from out in the kennel but won't let you in to see where the dogs are kept, using the excuse you may infect the puppies. *Funny one*, if you were going to infect the puppies with a virus they'd be infected just as easily when the breeder puts them back upstairs where you've been (only breeders that don't keep their dogs protected by being up to date on shots worry about such things. Yes, we need to be careful of strangers handling young unprotected puppies, however letting someone see where the puppies are raised isn't touching them or harmful to them. You may be asked to step into a disinfectant solution before entering the kennel area but that's just being extra careful which is smart.)
• they tell you they'll meet you somewhere to show you the puppy or deliver it to you to save you the long drive (they may lie and double how long it really takes you to drive just to discourage you, may tell you they're busy the days you're free because they just don't want you at the house because they're hiding something. You say you want to see the parents, they'll bring them too...but are they the real parent dogs? Doubt it ! ....
• they only take cash.
• they always have puppies or dogs for sale.
• their only phone number is a cell phone (that way when the puppies are sold and they've robbed so many people that it's catching up to them, they just change cell phone companies and get a new number.
• they won't guarantee the puppy more than a couple of days, claiming their lines don't have all the health issues other Chihuahuas carry. (Why not guarantee the puppy, if they're so sure of themselves what would it hurt to give you a written guarantee?)
• they ask you nothing about the home you'll be providing for one of their puppies and spend more time trying to sell themselves to you than asking you questions. (If they really were so great they wouldn't have to shove it down your throat would they now ?)
• they have no written sales contract, and are reluctant or don't want to give you a formal receipt. (Wonder why they don't want a paper trail?)
• they claim the reason why they don't do something you ask them about (such as register the puppies or guarantee genetically for 3-5 years as it should be) is because they only breed for pets. (Ummmm, the translation of only breeding for pets really means they're breeding as cheaply as they can, trying to produce a puppy that somewhat looks like a Chihuahua at 8 weeks old, just long enough to fool you out of your money before it grows to 15 pounds and looks like a mix breed. Sadly some really bad breeders will sell mix breed puppies and tell you the puppies are purebred but they just don't have papers, that if you want the papers they can get them but it will cost you hundreds of dollars more. This scheme relies on you opting for the no papers option because of the huge increase in the price of the puppy. If you opt for the papers and push the subject they will try harder to get you to save your money with excuses like "it's just a pet, not a show dog, you don't need the papers, save your money", because there are no papers - they were counting you wouldn't call them on it.
• they do not require a spay / neuter agreement (once they've got your money and you leave they don't care what you do with the puppy, you're on your own, if there's a problem it's your problem, not theirs.)
• And lastly there are some smart con-artists in the dog world that can talk a great lie and seem so honest they'll make you believe it, so be sure to get it in writing.

A good breeder welcomes a careful buyer - a bad breeder will move along until the ignorant buyer is found rather then attempt to fool a person whom they recognise has done their puppy shopping homework. I say take the attitude that it's you're money, you're puppy, you're in charge. Make spending your money be a reflection of what kind of breeding you support and let your decision show that you care about the circumstances your next family member will be coming from.

Don't just get a Chihuahua, get a great Chihuahua, one that you can look into its eyes and say, "I chose you because you look just like your Daddy, acted just like your Mommy and were so much prettier than your sister. I love how I can see hints of your family in your looks and postures, I know you came from greatness because everyday you prove it over and over again with your antics, loyalty and love!"