What to do?

• 02-05-2008 8:29 AM

  Hammerhead1987 Joined on 01-31-2008 Posts 1 Points 0	What to do? Reply Contact  Just got a full blood, AKC registered, chihuahua over the weekend. I was looking at his pedigree and wow, does he have bunch of champions in his bloodline. All of my dogs have been spayed and neutered. I was wondering if I should neuter him or stud him out, when he is old enough. What do you guys think?
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• 02-05-2008 8:45 AM

  In reply to Hammerhead1987

  glenmar Joined on 09-10-2007 Northwestern Michigan Posts 11,375 Points 405

  Re: What to do? Reply Contact Unless you plan to show and prove him, go through all the gentic testing for ailments common to chi's, no really reputable breeder will even want to talk to you.  If you advertise in the newspapers or at the vets office on the bulletin boards you may attract some takers, but these will be folks who have not proven their bitches, and usually not done the genetic testing.  Chi's have a ton of ailments that are common to the breed and are genetically passed down.  So, unless you HAVE the best and are studding him TO the best, you are simply becoming a part of the backyard breeder pool and simply adding more sub par pups to an already overcrowded pet population.  And the only way to know your pup is the BEST or even worthy of being bred is to prove him in conformation and test like crazy to be sure you aren't passing on some less than desireable condition. My best advice would be to nueter your little guy and enjoy him as the lovely pet you intended for him to be. A house without fur is not a home. Glenda

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• 02-05-2008 9:29 AM

  In reply to glenmar

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,947 Points 1,955

  Re: What to do? Reply Contact Glenda is absolutely 100% right.  Showing is a LOT of work -- tons of training, tons of time involved and a huge commitment.  And just the genetic testing is incredibly expensive, not to mention the costs associated with showing. Chi's, as a breed, have taken a huge hit in breed-related health problems.  Made popular by celebrities who use them as accessories, and commercials, that have also (in some parts of the country) become the most incredibly disposable of all dogs.  Be proud of your little guy's lineage, yes ... but love him enough to neuter him and make him healthy and long-lived unless the "fancy" really is your goal and idea of fun.

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• 02-05-2008 4:14 PM

  In reply to Hammerhead1987

  samshine Joined on 09-10-2007 Denver, CO, USA Posts 381 Points 0	Re: What to do? Reply Contact Well, are you willing to live with a dog who hikes his leg in the house? Marking behavior is very common in intact males.
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• 02-06-2008 12:22 AM

  In reply to samshine

  HoundMusic Joined on 09-01-2007 Bronx, NY Posts 464 Points 0

  Re: What to do? Reply Contact      Don't ever make a decision to breed a dog based on pedigree alone. Champions are a good place to start, but that doesn't automatically make your pup breeding quality. Chihuahuas have health and temperament issues, so you'll want to have your Vet check his patellas (knees) for any luxation, for starters. Start researching his pedigree, talk to other breeders who own the dogs in his pedigree and also the breeder you purchased him from can be a great asset to you when making any breeding decisions. If you know nothing about Chis and really don't care about things such as conformation, health issues - basically if you couldn't care less about taking a serious stance on improving the breed, then you really shouldn't be studding him out. If you're willing to research and find bitches who compliment his faults and vice versa, then I'd suggest you start looking into it further and get involved with people who are seriously in the breed. Studding your dog out is NOT about allowing him to sow his wild oats or make some cute pups for $$$ ... And again, champions in a pedigree do not automitacally make him well bred. Plenty of champion dogs are walking health time bombs :(

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• 03-12-2008 3:03 PM

  In reply to samshine

  Xeph Joined on 06-25-2006 Green Bay, WI Posts 1,748 Points 10

  Re: What to do? Reply Contact samshine: Well, are you willing to live with a dog who hikes his leg in the house? Marking behavior is very common in intact males.   Yeah, ok...no.  I have two intact males and both mark to their heart's content OUTSIDE of my house.  Housebroken is housebroken, whether they're intact or not, and they know better than to hike their their little doggy legs on my furniture! Friends come in all sizes, shapes, colors and races. They can do it, why can't we? Marcato Shepherds Where it's about function, not flash

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• 03-13-2008 7:42 PM

  In reply to Xeph

  AgileGSD Joined on 09-16-2007 Posts 381 Points 0	Re: What to do? Reply Contact Xeph: and both mark to their heart's content OUTSIDE of my house.  Housebroken is housebroken, whether they're intact or not, and they know better than to hike their their little doggy legs on my furniture!   This is true but toy breed males tend to be exceptions - marking is a big issue with them. That said it seems to be an issue with intact and neutered toy males.
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• 03-13-2008 10:14 PM

  In reply to AgileGSD

  Xeph Joined on 06-25-2006 Green Bay, WI Posts 1,748 Points 10	Re: What to do? Reply Contact I've got friends with Papillon and Chihuahua males and none of them lift in the house either x.x Maybe their dogs are just weird.   Friends come in all sizes, shapes, colors and races. They can do it, why can't we? Marcato Shepherds Where it's about function, not flash
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• 03-14-2008 1:25 AM

  In reply to Xeph

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,566 Points 75

  Re: What to do? Reply Contact Both parents, all grandparents and great grandparents being champions does NOT mean that your dog is breeding quality. Even top producing champions produce pet quality pups in EVERY litter. Pet quality dogs should be neutered.   Is this not in your breeder's contract?  Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 03-14-2008 3:29 PM

  In reply to Xeph

  HoundMusic Joined on 09-01-2007 Bronx, NY Posts 464 Points 0

  Re: What to do? Reply Contact Xeph: Yeah, ok...no.  I have two intact males and both mark to their heart's content OUTSIDE of my house.  Housebroken is housebroken, whether they're intact or not, and they know better than to hike their their little doggy legs on my furniture!      Do your males also live with intact bitches? That makes a huge difference. All my males are housebroken, meaning normally no accidents and they KNOW outside is for peeing. They do tell me when they need to go and hold their pee as long as possible. But will mark up the house after squabbles ... and forget when a bitch is in heat! Their brains are in their balls and they mark up everything.

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• 03-17-2008 1:22 AM

  In reply to HoundMusic

  ColleenC Joined on 07-26-2006 Posts 1,558 Points 5	Re: What to do? Reply Contact  I actually have TWO intact males and one intact bitch in my one bedroom apartment.  Rose was just in heat and I had NO problems with marking.
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• 03-22-2008 2:23 AM

  In reply to Xeph

  Laurelin_429 Joined on 11-07-2006 Texas/OK Posts 1,009 Points 100	Re: What to do? Reply Contact Xeph: I've got friends with Papillon and Chihuahua males and none of them lift in the house either x.x Maybe their dogs are just weird.   Nope Xeph, I have had multiple intact toy dogs and intact toy bitches living together and haven't ever had any marking problems. yeah Beau marks EVERY tree outside, but never indoors.
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• 03-30-2008 6:07 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  huskymom Joined on 09-10-2007 Thunder Bay ON Posts 5,179 Points 465

  Re: What to do? Reply Contact jennie_c_d: Is this not in your breeder's contract?    I wondered this same thing.  If the dog is from such great lines, you should have had some sort of contract to sign.  What does it say?   My friend just got a female GSD from great lines.  She had to do some fancy footwork to get her spayed.  She was not supposed to be and the breeder wanted her finished and bred if she finished well.   But living with an intact bitch was not what my friend wanted to do.  Candace

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