TEACUP CHIHUAHUAS - Articles - Zimbio

Where is my Chihuahua!?!

Wed, 6 Nov 2008 00:55:41 GMT

posted by cheekychihuahua

As a Chihuahua my hobby is to sleep and my job is to be cute.

Have you ever just wondered why these little dogs sleep all the time? It seems like when I can not find my Chihuahuas’ they are always tucked away sleeping. The first thing I do when I get home is locate the Chihuahuas’. When I got home one evening to my surprise Ghia was playing in the bathroom and had been there all day. Some how the door shut and when I got home all I heard was Ghia scratching at the bathroom door. On other occasions just grabbing the comforter from my couch could have been an unnecessary accident. Chihuahuas like to burrow in couches, beds, and laundry baskets (hmm….). So please locate your Chihuahua because sometimes they just forget to tell their master.

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures of my ‘Chi’s when they are sleeping. I take the time to unravel the linens or covers containing the ‘Chi’ give some kisses, and take some pictures.. They are just so cute when they sleep. I could take 1000 pictures and check on them 10 times in a matter of an hour. I see them as little babies and they require a lot of attention. Please beware a Chihuahua can be very vicious.

Where is my Chihuahua!?!

Wed, 6 Nov 2008 00:55:41 GMT

posted by cheekychihuahua

As a Chihuahua my hobby is to sleep and my job is to be cute.

Seriously, You Want A Chihuahua?

Sun, 22 Sep 2008 01:11:54 GMT

posted by CDHerron
Taco Bell, Paris Hilton and the upcoming movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua has and have made this household pet very popular, yet again. Popularity is good as information and those famed Chihuahua accessories will be readily available so that you can effectively fashion and raise your little companion.

Lets include the key temperamental and physical traits of the Chihuahua.

Loyalty. Their loyalty is unsurpassed, eh, I may be biased but this trait leads to their need of closeness from their owners. This hands down makes them excellent companions true to the definition.
Size. Their size is a convenient for most owners especially mobile and active ones, but hardly those looking for intimidation or a protector. Looking for a guard dog? Wrong choice. Even with that big ole bark Chihuahuas have.

The Why Syndrome and the Popularity Curse.

The unfortunate of Chihuahua popularity? It is now easy to find opportunistic breeders.
Well what about buying from your local pet stores? This too can lead to getting a dog that was bred without a concern for their health or temperament thus you're stuck with a Chihuahua that will most likely not be a cohesive one for you or your family.
Now you ask, why is this the case? Why can I not get a Chihuahua that will work for my lifestyle and companionship needs from a pet store or the local breeder? Because you probably did not do your homework. Chihuahuas produce small litters. This in turns limit the number of puppies available from good breeders due to the proper birthing process taken.

Health and temperament issues are the biggest reason many dog owners abandon the Chihuahua therefore, please don't fall into the hype of owning a Chihuahua without researching more about the Chihuahua and the Breeder you choose to buy from. I reiterate, carefully consider if this breed and its breeder is a right fit for you and your family. When all else fails consider Rescue.

OK Back to the Good, Well Sort of...

Chihuahuas have specific feeding, exercise and grooming needs.

Eating: Chihuahua eating habits demands two or three small meals rather than just one large daily feeding and you must stay dedicated to this.
Exercise: Although small, these doggies are actually capable of walking long distances. Which is good for the athletic owner. You, the companion specific owner? Chihuahuas wont object to you carrying them, eh but don't. The biggest benefit is for the laid back (lazy) owner. Why? Chihuahuas accomplish much of their exercise from mischievously running around your house or apartment so the Elderly and laid back (lazy) owners would truly enjoy the added companionship of a Chihuahua.
Grooming: A soft brush once a week followed by a wet towel rub daily will keep their coat shining. The long coat needs a few more days of brushing however, the wet towel wont cut it.

So as the children in your life, significant others and of course yourself, encourages the purchase of a Chihuahua, be a wise consumer. The experience will not only be worth it but will enrich the new relationship you are about to begin.

CHIHUAHUA - TEACUP

Thu, 12 Sep 2008 10:58:00 GMT

posted by CDHerron
Society tends to tag labels on subjects, groups of people or various other things that have been associated to those tags for so long that it has become the norm. I'm sorry to say that the premature or "Teacup" Chihuahua is merely a victim of these actions. Teacup, Pocket Size, Tiny-Toy or Miniature are nothing more than adjectives designed to enhance the description.

Common thinking is that these terms are used by, for profit, breeders to persuade you the prospective buyers into thinking that these "descriptive" puppies have greater value. Many Hobby (Recommended) Breeders condone the practice of breeding these types of Chihuahuas due to potentially serious birth defects and the simple fact that they are not typically suitable for breeding also pointing out that it is difficult to predict the eventual adult size of their litters.

"The Chihuahua Club of America does not endorse nor condone the use of any of these terms and would caution the perspective puppy buyer not to be misled by them."

These Chihuahuas are no doubt very attractive yet fragile canines that will demand your attention and primo care. That's because these Chihuahua may not be the healthiest and will require this attention regardless.

I dig these tiny canines wholeheartedly but lets be realistic my obligation is to provide information that is valid and true. Go ahead purchase your "Teacup" just do the necessary research, copy/use our Questionnaire and befriend a knowledgeable Veterinarian.

CHIHUAHUA - MERLE

Thu, 12 Sep 2008 11:42:00 GMT

posted by CDHerron
This genetic color pattern has gained too much popularity. Granted I am no breeder but as a lover of life and almost all things living, this may not be a good trend. So, I decided to add some information about this defect and the potential health problems of the Merle breed. If you are deciding to make this pet purchase you should already be aware that I want you to make an informed decision.

It's unfortunate that profit speaks volumes when dealing with these living beings we call dog. Now I'm not going to get all PETA on you but hopefully as concerns are voiced, Chihuahua breeders will reconsider not breeding for the Merle litter. Why? How about the health issues your Chihuahua will experience? How about your personal expenses to cover those issues?

Typical color patterns due to Merle.

The Red Chihuahua Merle (Assumed).

The Blue Chihuahua Merle (Assumed).

There is what I believe is called hidden merle, this is when the pattern isn't easily visible.

Merle is a dominant gene, which means one of the parents had the Merle trait for it to show up in the litter. Dominant genes do not remain docile and skip generations, so the breeders intention were clear.

Now understand I admire these animals only if the attempt to breed Merle Chihuahuas also includes breeding out many of the genetic defect.

The assumed origin.

It is believed Merles came into existence in the late 80s' early 90s' prior to this no one is really sure. One thing many Breeders and Vets are sure of is the color pattern is assumed a product of cross-breeding the Chihuahua with breeds that have the trait of Merles than creating false records to indicate a purebred. Now it is very possible for this defect to come from natural mutation but the Merle gene traditionally found in Dachshunds, Aussies, Shelties, etc is the one found in many Chihuahuas effected.

Just know that if you purchase a Merle Chihuahua, it is a strong chance you are not getting a purebred Chihuahua, even though it might actually have registration papers.

Merle Negative Effects.

Chihuahuas with Merle have a higher occurrence of health issues. Why is that, merle is only a color pattern right? Unlike colors that grace the coat of many dogs, Merle creates patches in the Chihuahuas coat...this whitening is caused by mutation of the pigment so instead of being a fun color, it is an indication that something is genetically wrong.

Chihuahuas born to one parent with Merle have roughly a 40% chance of hearing loss, either difficult hearing to total deafness. Also your do becoming blind also increases. I am not talking about the dogs natural aging process, I speak of premature concerns that may show up from birth to the first year.

Many breeders of Merle admit these problems occur when breeding two merles together, yet they fail to add this disclaimer when breeding a merle to a non-merle. Deaf and blind puppies still exist from this breeding procedure even if the Chihuahua puppies seems healthy.

Health issues and the questionable Merle parentage.

Breeding of Merle Chihuahuas is actually raising concerns as some countries are forbidding the practice. Dr. Willis shares his viewpoint of the merle pattern in Chihuahuas. Read Here

Anyone who loves dogs and attempts to breed Merle Chihuahuas or any other Merle breed, will experience the distress and heartache of potentially creating blind, deaf puppies or a loss of the litter. Honestly is it worth it?

Breeding disabled canines?

A questionable pedigree?

The questionable action of selling these puppies?

I too enjoy uniqueness but not at the cost Merle breeding demands. If and when someone is able to breed out the genetic defects associated with Merle, than fine. Until than reconsider your purchase.