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BEFORE YOU BREED
THINGS TO KNOW
THINGS TO KNOW
Breeding should be viewed as a privilege. Everyone has the freedom to choose whether or
not they wish to become breeders. Even if you only want one litter you have now chosen to
become a breeder. It is your right to breed your Chihuahua if you so desire just remember
that there can be a silent, unpleasant side to the breeding activity. You have the freedom of
choice....PLEASE BE A RESPONSIBLE CHIHUAHUA OWNER by taking the time to ask
yourself this single question before the deed is done.
What is the motive behind your wanting to breed your Chihuahua?
There are far too many Chihuahuas to be found in animal shelters and rescues throughout
this nation to breed your Chihuahua without a good reason.
Here is some things for you to think about:
YOUR CHIHUAHUA STUD & BITCH:
The first thing you should be asking yourself is this.
Is your Chihuahua a show and breeding quality Chihuahua?
Just because your Chihuahua is American Kennel Club (AKC) registered does not make
your Chihuahua showing and breeding material. Just because your Chihuahua has
Champions in it's AKC pedigree does not make your Chihuahua showing and breeding
material.
The ONLY way to find out if your Chihuahua is showing and breeding material is by having
your Chihuahua entered in AKC dog shows. By entering the AKC dog shows you will be
having your Chihuahua compared to the AKC Chihuahua Standard by judges. This will help
you determine about the quality of your Chihuahua and should be one of several
determining factors in using your Chihuahua for breeding purposes. On the other hand just
because a Chihuahua has became a Champion does not make it the best Chihuahua for
using in your breeding program.
A quality Chihuahua breeding program must be one in which the genetic history of it's
Chihuahuas are known. The Chihuahua stud and bitch must both have good points to
contribute to their offspring and to the overall Chihuahua gene pool. Breeding of any dog
should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant
hereditary diseases. Recommended testing for Chihuahuas as recommended by The
Chihuahua Club of America (CCA) includes obtaining a CHIC number on all breeding
Chihuahuas. The Canine Health Information Center, also known as CHIC, is a centralized
canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF)
and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
Testing includes having your Chihuahua tested for:
A reminder that for CHIC enrollment, a dog has to have been:
microchipped, tattooed or have DNA ID.
1. Eyes - Canine Eye Research Foundation (CERF)
after 1 year of age and yearly exams for the life of your Chihuahua,
2. Patellar Luxation - Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
after 1 year of age. Evaluation of dogs under 1
year of age is encouraged if the owner desires to
breed at this age. The most opportune time to
gather breeding data is at 6-8 weeks of age prior to
the puppy's release to the new owner.
3. Hearing - The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
It is recommended this test be performed by board certified
veterinary neurologists, but will accept test results from
experienced veterinarians/audiologists.
One test suffices for the lifetime of the animal.
4. Cardiac - Congenital Cardiac Database to identify dogs which are
phenotypically normal prior to use in a breeding program.
For the purposes of the database, a phenotypically normal dog is defined as:
One without a cardiac murmur
-or-
One with an innocent heart murmur that is found to be otherwise normal by
virtue of an echocardiographic examination which includes Doppler echocardiography
While it is quite reasonable to perform preliminary evaluations and
provide provisional certification to puppies and young dogs between 8
weeks and 1 year of age, final certification, prior to breeding, should be
obtained in mature dogs at 1 year of age or older.
5. Merle Markers - Genmark Genetic Testing
One test suffices for the lifetime of the animal.
6. Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency - (genetic test)
Affected Breeds:
Basenji, Beagle, Eskimo, Chihuahua, Dachshund, West Highland White & Cairn Terrier
Abyssinians, Somalis, DSH
Even if you are a pet breeder you should do the above required testing. The health of your
Chihuahua and it's offspring is your responsibility. By selling unsound Chihuahuas you will
be making an extra burden for the puppies future owner and this could lead to the owner
placing the Chihuahua in a shelter or rescue situation.
Your Chihuahua bitch and stud will need to be tested and be free from brucellosis before
breeding. The temperament of the stud and bitch should be good. The stud and bitch should
be healthy and up to date with their shots and worming schedule.
Article resources for Before you bred
1. http://www.offa.org/deafbaer.html
2. http://www.qualitydogs.com/Chihuahua/information.html
3. http://www.wonderpuppy.net/breeding.htm#breeding
4. http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeding.html#should_i_breed_my_dog
5. http://www.learntobreed.com/checklist.html
6. http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/whelping.html
7. http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/services/deublerlab/pk.html
8. http://www.akc.org/enewsletter/akc_breeder/2005/summer/chic.cfm
9. http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/health_testing.htm
10.ttp://www.caninehealthinfo.org/chicinfo.html
not they wish to become breeders. Even if you only want one litter you have now chosen to
become a breeder. It is your right to breed your Chihuahua if you so desire just remember
that there can be a silent, unpleasant side to the breeding activity. You have the freedom of
choice....PLEASE BE A RESPONSIBLE CHIHUAHUA OWNER by taking the time to ask
yourself this single question before the deed is done.
What is the motive behind your wanting to breed your Chihuahua?
There are far too many Chihuahuas to be found in animal shelters and rescues throughout
this nation to breed your Chihuahua without a good reason.
Here is some things for you to think about:
YOUR CHIHUAHUA STUD & BITCH:
The first thing you should be asking yourself is this.
Is your Chihuahua a show and breeding quality Chihuahua?
Just because your Chihuahua is American Kennel Club (AKC) registered does not make
your Chihuahua showing and breeding material. Just because your Chihuahua has
Champions in it's AKC pedigree does not make your Chihuahua showing and breeding
material.
The ONLY way to find out if your Chihuahua is showing and breeding material is by having
your Chihuahua entered in AKC dog shows. By entering the AKC dog shows you will be
having your Chihuahua compared to the AKC Chihuahua Standard by judges. This will help
you determine about the quality of your Chihuahua and should be one of several
determining factors in using your Chihuahua for breeding purposes. On the other hand just
because a Chihuahua has became a Champion does not make it the best Chihuahua for
using in your breeding program.
A quality Chihuahua breeding program must be one in which the genetic history of it's
Chihuahuas are known. The Chihuahua stud and bitch must both have good points to
contribute to their offspring and to the overall Chihuahua gene pool. Breeding of any dog
should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant
hereditary diseases. Recommended testing for Chihuahuas as recommended by The
Chihuahua Club of America (CCA) includes obtaining a CHIC number on all breeding
Chihuahuas. The Canine Health Information Center, also known as CHIC, is a centralized
canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF)
and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
Testing includes having your Chihuahua tested for:
A reminder that for CHIC enrollment, a dog has to have been:
microchipped, tattooed or have DNA ID.
1. Eyes - Canine Eye Research Foundation (CERF)
after 1 year of age and yearly exams for the life of your Chihuahua,
2. Patellar Luxation - Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
after 1 year of age. Evaluation of dogs under 1
year of age is encouraged if the owner desires to
breed at this age. The most opportune time to
gather breeding data is at 6-8 weeks of age prior to
the puppy's release to the new owner.
3. Hearing - The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
It is recommended this test be performed by board certified
veterinary neurologists, but will accept test results from
experienced veterinarians/audiologists.
One test suffices for the lifetime of the animal.
4. Cardiac - Congenital Cardiac Database to identify dogs which are
phenotypically normal prior to use in a breeding program.
For the purposes of the database, a phenotypically normal dog is defined as:
One without a cardiac murmur
-or-
One with an innocent heart murmur that is found to be otherwise normal by
virtue of an echocardiographic examination which includes Doppler echocardiography
While it is quite reasonable to perform preliminary evaluations and
provide provisional certification to puppies and young dogs between 8
weeks and 1 year of age, final certification, prior to breeding, should be
obtained in mature dogs at 1 year of age or older.
5. Merle Markers - Genmark Genetic Testing
One test suffices for the lifetime of the animal.
6. Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency - (genetic test)
Affected Breeds:
Basenji, Beagle, Eskimo, Chihuahua, Dachshund, West Highland White & Cairn Terrier
Abyssinians, Somalis, DSH
Even if you are a pet breeder you should do the above required testing. The health of your
Chihuahua and it's offspring is your responsibility. By selling unsound Chihuahuas you will
be making an extra burden for the puppies future owner and this could lead to the owner
placing the Chihuahua in a shelter or rescue situation.
Your Chihuahua bitch and stud will need to be tested and be free from brucellosis before
breeding. The temperament of the stud and bitch should be good. The stud and bitch should
be healthy and up to date with their shots and worming schedule.
Article resources for Before you bred
1. http://www.offa.org/deafbaer.html
2. http://www.qualitydogs.com/Chihuahua/information.html
3. http://www.wonderpuppy.net/breeding.htm#breeding
4. http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeding.html#should_i_breed_my_dog
5. http://www.learntobreed.com/checklist.html
6. http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/whelping.html
7. http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/services/deublerlab/pk.html
8. http://www.akc.org/enewsletter/akc_breeder/2005/summer/chic.cfm
9. http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/health_testing.htm
10.ttp://www.caninehealthinfo.org/chicinfo.html
