Chihuahua Puppies

[smramirez]

I was wondering how hard it is for a female Chihuahua to have puppies.
Do all of them have to have C-sections or is that just a precaution for them?
Does anyone know how much it costs to have a Chihuahua go through labor and all that?

FYI, I have not bred a Chihuahua as of yet. I do not own a female Chihuahua.
I was wondering because I am going to buy one within the next year. Also, I am going to be responsible and only breed her twice. When she is 2 and again when she is 4. (I read somewhere that you should only breed them twice then spay them)

Any information you can provide me will be great!

[Furkin]

Well to breed you need to make sure both dogs are to standard, are you going to show them? We really do not need more low quality (obviously they have great personalities but so do the 4 million dogs PTS in shelters) dogs in this world. You will have to wait until mama is at least two so you can screen her for luxating Patella and other Chihuahua specific health problems that can be passed onto the pups, dad need those too. It would be awful for you to not think about what you may pass on to these innocent pups and their owners when a simple X ray can tell you if you are tempting fate. Both dogs should also be temperament tested in some way so you know that no aggression or excessive fearfulness is being passed on. Try getting both dogs their CGC or getting them therapy pet certified.

If improving the breed is not you thing and you really only want to raise pups then please don't breed and spay your girl, the world is too overpopulated to be breeding dogs that are no better than a purebred in a shelter. I would instead recommend that you foster a pregnant dog or a litter of pups, check out the shelters in your area and see if they need fosters and get pregnant dogs or puppies often, now that it is summer they probably do, and sign up to foster. Then you can still raise the pups and give them good homes but will not add to the over-population or risk your own dog's life, instead you save a life.

As far as the safety of breeding, Chihuahuas often have small litters which can make large pups and difficult birthing (so you might need a C-section) with any breeder of any breed if you cannot afford a C-section do not breed. The male must be smaller than the female at adult hood or chances are a C-section will be needed.

Also, I am going to be responsible and only breed her twice. When she is 2 and again when she is 4. (I read somewhere that you should only breed them twice then spay them)

A responsible breeder does everything I said in the first paragraph because they care that their breed is overcrowding shelters and know they have to be providing something that saving a shelter dog will not, so they make dogs that are to standard, of correct temperament and of great health (do not carry genetic illnesses like luxating patella). If you feel for some reason you must breed your dogs for some strange reason I would breed at age 2 and 3, waiting is not great. Do not breed more than once a year but I would not wait years without doing anything because with each heat you risk letting the dog get Pyometra (puss in the uterus, requires emergency spay which is more dangerous than a regular spay, if the dog is not spayed the uterus will rupture and the dog will die.)


I do not mean to sound harsh, I'm really a nice person but breeding sometimes makes my blood boil because the world is already over run with dogs. Now I don't think breeding altogether should stop but I believe that a breeder needs to offer what a shelter/rescue cannot or they are simply adding to the over population problem, there is no reason to get a dog from a breeder who produces regular dogs when you can get one in the shelter and save his life. breeders are for people who want a dog with a certain temperament or look (ad they have chosen the breed that fits that) and unless you show the dog and temperament test who knows if the pups will be anything like the breed. People go to breeders when they want to avoid the health problems you can get from a shelter so unless the breeder tests the dog for these genetic illnesses there is no way to know the dog's chances of getting those problems. Without these things the 2-4 pups you bring in the world are the exact quality of the Chihuahua who is going to be put down in the shelter around the corner and there is no reason that your pups should be taken into homes instead of that hopeless Chi in the shelter. Chihuahuas should also not be sold until 12 weeks of age.

This is a good breeder: The Rafina Chihuahuas Nursery

This is a bad breeder (IMO): Teacup Chihuahua Puppies For Sale Chihuahua Breeder Puppies For Sale Louisiana Chihuahua Puppies

See the difference? If you really want to get to work and starts showing so that you can responsibly breed, I can give you some advice. You'll need to make sure the female you get is from good stock )like from that first breeder) and is what they consider show quality. The breeder will be a good mentor for you.

I am really sorry if i rained on your parade, but there is no reason you cannot get another Chi or foster a litter Breeding is just something that I feel strongly about you see, i hope I did not offend you at all

[smramirez]

No you didn't offend me. But that you for all your input.
I am not planning on breeding anytime soon. I am just looking into it right now. I'm making sure I know all the pros and cons before starting, how to do the breeding, how to choose both a good mother and father, how to help with having the puppies unless there has to be a c-section, how to properly raise the little puppies especially if the mother doesn't make it, and more. Its not something I'm taking lightly, I'm really looking into it and I don't plan on doing it for a couple years.
As of right now I do not have a mother. I only have a 2-year old male who's name is Caden, but he is not going to be having any puppies because he is neutered.
As for being able to take in a pregnant mother from a shelter, I can not. I do work at our local ASPCA, but my mother will not allow me to be a foster home (I still live at home); however, I am moving out next year and I am definatly becoming one. I enjoy helping all the animals at our shelter and I would never do anything to hurt any of them especially my own. I don't think I've mentioned this, but I am going to school to be a veterinarian.
I would love to start showing, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that.

[Furkin]

Oh I'm sooooo glad you are not taking this lightly and are willing to work at it. I was thinking you were simply getting a girl and breeding her to your current male, glad to hear you are putting much more thought into it. I think the most important thing is health screening, you'd need to find out what your breed needs done (I found Luxating Patella and some heart problem) and become an expert on Chihuahuas now. Health screening is done by OFA and eyes are done by OFA or CERF. Your biggest help with showing should be the breeder, you may have to co-own your first ***** but read into the co-owning contract to see how much control the breeder has and how much you have. If you need any help finding a breeder for your future showing and breeding dogs (assuming they are good quality for breeding) I can help. I am a member of another forum which has a Rottie breeder on it who can probably help with a lot of questions once you are there for a while (as far as showing, health testing, co-owning and breeding goes) and I think we had a thread there on co-owning. If you want the name of the forum ask and I'll PM it to you along with my Username there so you will know who I am and can PM if you need anything.

If you ever need any help with this I'll help with what I can and try to find information on the other forum if I don't already know the answer.

[smramirez]

I would love for you to help me find a breeder for a good quality show/breeder Chihuahua. Since my male Chihuahua is already neutered I will also have to look into either owning a show quality male or find a stud with a good history.
However, since I'm wanting to buy these Chihuahuas in a year or so how seriously are the breeders going to take me? I am very serious about picking a great female and male for doing this and I only plan on doing it twice (having the female have puppies twice then I'm done). Then both of the new dogs can be very loved family pets/show dogs.

I have looked into Chihuahua breeders that show their dogs, but everyone I've seen has a spay/neuter contract so how can I get a female and a male without having to alter them from a breeder?

I would love the name of that forum and your username. Thank you so much for your help.

[Furkin]

Generally all "pet quality" dogs are on spay/neuter contracts as most people looking on their websites are looking for just that, the dogs that did not show the qualities for showing. If you can find out when there is a dig show near you it's a good time to head in and check out the Chihuahua handlers and owners/breeders and can talk to them (although try and pick a good time as they are generally very busy and anxious at shows). As far as whether to get a male as well, it's up to you. You just want a small scale breeding practice, a couple of litters, so perhaps finding a stud would be a better route. That said I have no idea how seriously they take new breeders, that would be a question for the breeder on the other forum which I will PM you in a moment. I'll start looking for breeders in your state, are there any other states you are willing to travel to?

[smramirez]

I am willing to travel anywhere close by me. So that would include Texas (of course), Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Colorado. Also, I am moving in a year to attend a University in Georgia. So I would also be wanting to look in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

[Furkin]

You are attending vet school right? Are you sure you'll be able to afford and have time for your dogs and the pups during this time? Perhaps you should wait until after unless you are sure you will be able to do it successfully. I will start looking for breeders though!

[smramirez]

Yes, I am going to attend vet school; however, right now I am getting my associates in Biology. I have another year of classes before I even get that degree. Then I am going to UGA where I will attend vet school. Since I am moving to Georgia I am not going to be taking too many classes for the first year (I'll be going part time and residency takes a year) because out of state tuition is very expensive and I'm trying to save up for my future puppy needs. While going part-time to school I am going to work at a vets office, if thats not possible I will volunteer until a spot opens up (I will not be jobless though cause I will get a job somewhere else if volunteering is all I can do at the vet).
I'm not sure if this answers your question. If not I'll try again.