How much should I pay for a Chihuahua?

[lavyrnia]

Hi

I am planning to buy a Chihuahua puppy and it's the first time I've bought a dog. I know I'd like a bitch, and know I want a Smooth Coat, ideally the smaller the better and as young as possible - definately under 3 months so I can train from as early as possible.

First of all, I'm pretty sure I'd like a pedigree but can anyone tell me exactly what the benefits are of a pedigree over a non-pedigree?

Secondly can anyone give me any thoughts on what would be a 'standard' price I should expect to pay for a Chihuahua puppy of this criteria? I've seen prices ranging from £300 to £1500 - I am not looking necessarily for the best of the best - just a nice, good condition, healthy puppy which is pure bred, well proportioned and generally with a nice temperment - as a pet I can love, not something I want to breed from properly or show or anything...

Anyway any advice would be appreciated. I'm planning to buy a book on dog care (like one of those big encyclopedia things which everything you ever need to know in it!) so I can be absolutely sure before I buy what I need to do - any tips on good books?

Many thanks
Danielle

[Monkey]

Well, the pedigree dogs has often a health record. You can tell what lines has given what kind of dogs when doing research online and with the chi club. I would suggest to take contact with your country's chi club so THEY put you into contact with good approved breeders.

This cause chi's have several geneticly inheritable deseases that backyard breeders don't care about. also, with papers you know you get a pure chi and not a chi cross. Also paper so you can meet the parental dogs and see their temperament and health records so you know that you get the best chi for you.

A lot of people that has no papers on their dogs and breeds do not have the breeds best interest at hand, but more to earn money, since they are not a part of the breed club they are not required to do the tests, the comformation, the health tests etc and your choice of dog is more based on luck than actual genetics. Of course buying a pedigree dog might stil get you one that might be sick, but most breeders that are bound to a breed club if the pup has a desease that can not be cured or something happens they replace the pup or give you money back, a backyard breeder has rarely any responsibility of that sort.

A chi when I left sweden was between 1000 to 2000 British Pounds, depending on lines, the better show parents the more expensive it was. This was during the high chi hype though.

Be VERY carefull and I suggest take contact with the Chi club and it's better to wait for a properly breed dog and pay extra money than buy a cheaper one from a BYB that's just in it for the money. That is if they breed the dog and say Ohh she is such a sweet dog, and you ask if they have done patella test, and they haven't then you know it's a BIG fraud.

Also if someone advertises tea cups, another fraud, they are just a normal chi just the runt of the litter and people try to sell them as tea cup cause people feel the smaller the better and tha tmakes them more valuable which is NOT true. Cause if they are not breed standard they are LESS valubale cause then they are not likely to even have a breeding value if you would be interested in comformation shows for example.

That's all I can think of for now..

Good luck and I say save so you get a truly good dog, it will pay in security and healthwise for the puppy, not to mention you support the people who takes breeding seriously instead of the ones that don't really care.

Just my two cents..

[PrincessRescueDogs]

I have a 9 wk old chi pup, he's lovely. He is standard size, not this 'teacup' nonsense.

There are lots of rescue chihuahuas waiting for homes, mainly due to elderly owners dying. If you decide against a pup this might be an idea, if you contact Chihuahua Rescue. Often there is nothing 'wrong' with these dogs, just people realising they are as hard work as any other or owners getting ill health.

Be careful, because pedigree rarely means anything these days. Anyone can register a litter with the Kennel Club, they often are puppy farmed and have health problems. Do not buy from store no matter what you do.

Hope this helps. Make sure you see mum and dad too in their home environment, and make sure they are being reared in the home, getting used to the normal everyday noises, not shut up in a shed or a barn.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c17/juicygemma/PICT0064.jpg

[PrincessRescueDogs]

Also, with price, the higher price does not mean better. Often backyard breeders charge the most, cashing in on supply and demand and silly people wnating the latest trend.
The Chihuahua Club in America suggests quite low prices, so in English money, I should think £500 to £800 is about right, any more and they are conning you. I have seen some advertised for upto £3000 just for colours, not even coming with injections or Cruft winning parents in the history! The truth is, these people charge what they want knowing someone out there will have more money than sense.

[Abercrombie]

Hi
I have a chihuahua and he was my first dog!
Basically, the 'going price' is £750, over that, and you are being ripped off. You need to get a small girl but not a teacup, as they live for a very short time and they are much to fragile, as we found out after learning the hard way

good luck!

x

[skunkstripe]

This thread is very old and I am fairly sure that the OP has already made a decision. :)