CHIHUAHUA STANDARDS
A widely used euphemism to describe a small Chihuahua OR Imperial Shih Tzu is TEA-CUP or Pocket pet.
Please remember that this is a description only. This is not a special breed of Chihuahuas or Shih Tzus .Remember that these little one can be hard to raise, as they are prone to heart and lung problems, and hypoglycemia. If no one has explained this to you before these are premature puppies, as the mom can breed between her ninth and fifteen day of of heat, she can conceive on these days, thus it's possible for puppies to be conceived a week apart, making one older than the other, as the labor starts, all the puppies are born at the same time, this is why you have different size puppies in the same litter. There are no runts, just "younger" puppies. They will generally catch up by six months of age. Judge your puppies by the size of parents. If you can, go for the larger puppy (gestationally older), choose with caution unless you have the financial means and time to invest in your new baby
Please remember that this is a description only. This is not a special breed of Chihuahuas or Shih Tzus .Remember that these little one can be hard to raise, as they are prone to heart and lung problems, and hypoglycemia. If no one has explained this to you before these are premature puppies, as the mom can breed between her ninth and fifteen day of of heat, she can conceive on these days, thus it's possible for puppies to be conceived a week apart, making one older than the other, as the labor starts, all the puppies are born at the same time, this is why you have different size puppies in the same litter. There are no runts, just "younger" puppies. They will generally catch up by six months of age. Judge your puppies by the size of parents. If you can, go for the larger puppy (gestationally older), choose with caution unless you have the financial means and time to invest in your new baby
Definition Teacup:
A small fragile porcelain vessel to serve hot tea in.
Definition pocketbook: a bag to carry possessions in.
CHIHUAHUA BREED STANDARD
TOY GROUP
The general appearance is a graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with a saucy expression, he is compact and has a terrier-like temperament.
The body is off-square; slightly longer when measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, than in height at the withers. Shorter bodies are preferred in males.
They should be 6-9 inches in height.
The head should be a "apple dome" skull, with or without the Molera.
Eyes should be full, but not protruding, set well apart, luminous dark or ruby.
The ears should be large and erect, held more upright in a 45 degree angle when in repose,
The muzzle slightly pointed, the cheeks and jaws lean.
The nose should be black, or self-colored in light, blue moles or chocolates.
The bite should be level or scissors, there should be no undershot or overbite of the bite or jaw.
The neck should be slightly arched, gracefully sloping into lean shoulders,
the topline level and ribs rounded and well sprung,(not barrel shaped),
the tail should be moderately long, carried like a sickle either up or out,
or in a loop over the back, with tip just touching the back, (never tucked between the legs).
The forequarters should be lean, sloping slightly broadening above straight forelegs,
shoulders should be well up, giving balance and soundness, sloping into a level back.
The feet should be small and dainty with toes well slit up,
but not spread, pads should be cushioned.
The hindquarters should be muscular with hocks well apart, neither out nor in,
well let down, firm and steady.
The smooth coat should be of soft texture, close and glossy.
The coat placed well over the body with a ruff on the neck
and more scanty on the head and a furry tail.
In the Long coats the coat should be of a soft texture,soft to the touch, either flat or slightly curly,
the ears fringed and the tail full and long as a plume.
Feathering on feet and pants, ruff on the neck is desired and preferred.
They will come in many different colors
and one never know what color that they are going to get.
Chihuahuas are pretty healthy as a breed, but some may suffer from eye problems,
heart disease, collapsed trachea and dislocated kneecaps. Luxated paellas (kneecaps) are a
congenital condition.
The luxation may not be present at birth, but structural changes lead to luxation are present.
The kneecap is the cap on the knee of the back legs.
This can be caused by injury, but evidence suggest the conditions is genetic,
or they are born with this condition, the exact mode if inheritance is still not know
. The ligaments around the patella can be weak, thus allowing excess motion,
the cap dislocates and will move towards the body and lock the leg.
Minor cases can be treated with diet and exercise,
but in more severe cases, there is more than one option of surgeries is available.
MERLE INFORMATION
Even though I don't breed merles, I like to include information about merles.
It is very important that a responsible breeder will not breed merle puppies.
It is very important not do not breed merle to merle.
the genetic explanation is: "nm" (nm=no merling) is a dog of normal color with no coat pattern.
A" Mm" (Mm=merling) dog is merled., The "MM" dog is considered a double dilute
doubled merle and has more white than is normal in the breed.
The double merle is known to be a lethal gene when breeding
merle to merle, this can produce puppies that have hearing loss, vision loss,
small or missing eyes. and possible infertility.
The only safe way to produce merle puppies with no defects is to breed
a sire and dam that are genetically sound, and a merle to a solid or non-merle dog.
One parent has to be a merle to get a merle, the dominate gene
is not carried recessively. If a dog has a Phantom or hidden gene, which
are visible at birth, but disappear as they mature, should not be be breed to
another merle. Genetically they are still merles and will
produce merle puppies. These genes are carried in different gene series,
the pattern modifier is the gene the dog is caring, not the color.
Breeders breed black, black and tan to produce blue merles. The Tri colors
brings out the mosey colorful merles because of their red and fawn markings.
Any non merle can be bred safely to a merle, even if it has a merle parent, because the merle
gene is the dominant gene , so it is not carried.
If you breed with two apparent non-merle parents, but end up with
a merle puppy, then one of the parents has the hidden or Phantom gene.
Two non-merles from merle parents or grandparents or great greatparents
cannot produce merles because the gene is NOT CARRIED.
The merle is accepted by the AKC Club.
Just remember that the most important thing in breeding is soundness and types,
if you don't have these, forget about color.
