Chihuahua Crossing Forum Closed

Elena · Senior Chi

size

Jessie · Senior Chi

Chihuahuas are usually as tall and as long as they will ever be between 6-8 months of age. After that, they "fill out" up until they are 12 months old.

Elena · Senior Chi

Thank you Jessie! I was just wondering because Pixie she is nearly 4 months but she is already long and has quite long legs!

ChiMom79 · Administrator

Yup, Jessie said it perfectly.

Jess · Senior Chi

If Pixie is looking particularly long to you it may be that she's having a horizontal growth spurt right now. They sort of go out, then up, then out, then up etc. until they've stopped gorwing!

Other than that Jessie said it well! How much does Pixie weigh at the moment?

x

Elena · Senior Chi

she is around 3 lb...she is 10 inches long from neck to before the tail

Jessie · Senior Chi

It sounds like Pixie is in the lanky teenager stage

It does sound like she is having a lengthwise growth spurt... her body will catch up eventually!

KimboUNCW1 · Adult Chi

gosh i wonder about gidget...she'll be 1 in january and she's 9 lbs....the people i got her from said she's full blooded and i talked to another woman who said in a litter sometimes each pup looks diff...some have an apple head some dont etc. she's pretty long in my opinion and someone said she has 'deer legs'? how do you know if you have a purebread...i bet with 'papers' you'd know, but i don't know anything about this type of stuff just thought i'd ask?

Alukex · Adult Chi

I would guess to make sure she is pure you could DNA her...but you would need her parents and her blood and send it to the dna place..but that is a lot of work..if you just have her for a pet...I had to have Ava dna'd because she is my pet and for breeding...she was such a weird color and soooooo fluffy that we thought she might be a Chorkie (Chihuahua and Yorkshire)...anyways nope she was pure...but I had the breeder (my aunt) do that ....so I guess if ya love her it doesn't matter....I was gonna take Ava either way...I just loved her when I saw her...didn't matter to me if I could use her or not....your pup is a doll!!!!

Jessie · Senior Chi

You are right, kimbo- the look of puppies can vary in a litter. The only way that you can really tell if you have a purebred are if you have papers (even then papers can be forged and counterfeited) and if you have a DNA test done. Many breeders already have their dog's DNA on file with the AKC, so you would contact AKC to have a DNA test done.

Without having papers, you can never really know if your dog is purebred or not. I saw this website that had a breakdown of % of mixed breeds... I think after the 5th generation of mixed breeding, the dog will have less than 0% of that breed in them (for example, you breed a yorkie with a chi, and then after that you breed that "chorkie" to only chihuahuas... 5 generations later, it will be almost impossible to tell that there was a yorkie in the blood lines).

KimboUNCW1 · Adult Chi

ohhh ok. cuz i was looking all yalls georgous doggies and saw how they were 3 lbs and 2.5 lbs lol and with those little apple heads and short legs.... the ppl we got her from were military and said her papers were on base but she didn't have them on hand. she also said the mom was a teacup and the dad wasn't; i figured she was just lying or something lol but i don't mind one bit. i guess breeding is out of the question without papers huh? i think it'd be cute to breed her with a shorter male with a little apple head and shorter legs to see what the babies look like. we already have 3 other dogs and horses, chickens, and rabbits (who not to mention just popped out some babies when we had no idea she was pregnant!) so i'm guessing baby chi's are out of the question lol yalls babies are SOOOO PRECIOUS i want some lol

Jess · Senior Chi

That was very sweet Kimbo! Anyone can breed, with or without papers. It just all depends on how you want to do it and what your purpose for breeding is. Personally I would never breed a dog without papers and really the only reason I'd breed (which I intend to do next year) would be to improve on my bloodlines, get closer to the standard, for showing. It is, of course, completely up to the person's discretion and is a decision that everyone who owns a dog must make, but if you were looking for advice, I'd say dont breed. Unless you really have a good reason and know what you're doing it's not worth it. There are too many unwanted, poorly bred dogs in this world as it is. Having a litter or two is very fun, but I'm not dure that that warrants breeding.

x

bluebrookchis · Senior Chi

"It just all depends on how you want to do it and what your purpose for breeding is. Personally I would never breed a dog without papers and really the only reason I'd breed (which I intend to do next year) would be to improve on my bloodlines, get closer to the standard, for showing."

Jess I have to let you know I feel the same way about breeding. I started off with just a CKC Registered. After some talking too from other breeders and pointing things out to me, I finally realized that I needed to impove my dogs and work on the standard. I have fianlly got to it and am so happy. At first it really offended me but I fianilly relized what these breeders meant, Some just have a mean way at telling you. Makes you feel as if there putting you down and not helping you. But I have a couple good CH sired males and some females with CH lines hoping to keep producing those nice babys. But you hit the nail on the head, for the way I think also.

Jessie · Senior Chi

I agree, Jess. I wouldn't breed a dog without papers either... there are so many dogs out there that need homes. I think that a breeder should be aiming to better the breed, and should only be breeding dogs that fit the breed standard (and trying to get as close to perfection as they can). If we do not breed to standards, we will eventually lose the chihuahua breed that we know and love.

Just because a pet quality chihuahua shouldn't be bred, it doesn't mean that they aren't as deserving of love as a breed standard one! My Madison weighs 6.5lbs, has a deershaped head, floppy ears, no papers... and he is the sweetest boy in the world! He is as much of a chihuahua as my two appleheaded girls, Rylie and Chloe

KimboUNCW1 · Adult Chi

that's a point i never thought about; to better the breed. i would love to adopt another chihuahua so i'll look into that when i decide to expand my puppy family some more. thanks for yalls advice!

Radar_Love · Moderator

Radar is a deerhead. He is somewhat larger than most Chi's, he's around 8 pounds with long legs and a longer muzzle. Radar is full-blooded from what I was told, and so are his parents. He is all Chihuahua, just alittle bigger. I think some chi's are just built bigger or longer than others. I would love to get Radar tested to find out for sure, but I dunno what price range a DNA test runs. All that really matters is that we love our Chi's no matter the size, weight, color, or type.

Jessie · Senior Chi

I would love to do a DNA test on Madison some day as well, I think that it would be interesting to know for sure if he is all chihuahua. But some chihuahuas really do just run big, have long snouts, deer shaped heads, etc... even 2 show quality parents can have a puppy with a deer shaped head (uncommon, but it does happen sometimes).

I've heard that they are going to start selling DNA tests at petstores... all you do is buy the kit, swab the inside of your dog's cheek, send the kit to the lab, and then they send you your results. It's crazy how far science has come

Radar_Love · Moderator

That would be awesome if they were sold in Pet Stores! Then we could find out for sure what is goin on with our pups!

rosepedals9584 · Adult Chi

KimboUNCW1 wrote:

gosh i wonder about gidget...she'll be 1 in january and she's 9 lbs....the people i got her from said she's full blooded and i talked to another woman who said in a litter sometimes each pup looks diff...some have an apple head some dont etc. she's pretty long in my opinion and someone said she has 'deer legs'? how do you know if you have a purebread...i bet with 'papers' you'd know, but i don't know anything about this type of stuff just thought i'd ask?

you can tell if your chi or any dog for that matter is purebred by looking at their gums. black and pink gums are a mixed breed all pink gums are pure.

Jess · Senior Chi

Really, is that true?! I've not heard it before, but as soon as I did I checked Ellie's and hers are all pink! How funny! And now that I think about it, I once bred a litter of mixed breed pups and their gums were pink and black!

VERY intersting, thanks for sharing it!

x

Elena · Senior Chi

I am glad that Pixie's gum are all pink!

Alukex · Adult Chi

I would love to get Radar tested to find out for sure, but I dunno what price range a DNA test runs.

If I remember right, it was 45 dollars....per dog....we just had to do Ava and Dad....the bad thing is where we got it from only keeps records for a year....unless you do it all the time. If it is really important to you I can find out the name and info for you.

And with the gum thing...Ava's gums are mostly pink but she does have some black...She was just at the vets on Monday..so I know gums and teeth are healthy...I would question her purebreed standing if I did not have her tested....so..I guess don't be scared or freak out if there is some black....

Alukex · Adult Chi

I forgot to add.....I have 2 ckc dogs....Ava is only ckc because mom was...Dad is Akc..and came from a champion....I breed as a hobby...I would not sell without papers ..for the simple reason it is wrong...If someone is purchasing a dog from me at a price ( and no matter what you pay for a puppy it is a lot of money because of vet bills and food..etc)..I want to make sure they know that I am selling them a healthy pure-breed puppy...as far as improving the breed...as much as I love Ava..she is undershot..so if her litter of puppies comes out with the same problems I will spay her....on top of it is not standard on a chi...I am sure it can be painful and I don't want to continue passing that on....I love Ava's colors but the risk is not worth it...I want to purchase AKC...dogs once I get more experience with breeding...Right now it is just a hobby of providing a pure-breed dog at a reasonable price.

Jessie · Senior Chi

rosepedals9584 wrote:

KimboUNCW1 wrote:

gosh i wonder about gidget...she'll be 1 in january and she's 9 lbs....the people i got her from said she's full blooded and i talked to another woman who said in a litter sometimes each pup looks diff...some have an apple head some dont etc. she's pretty long in my opinion and someone said she has 'deer legs'? how do you know if you have a purebread...i bet with 'papers' you'd know, but i don't know anything about this type of stuff just thought i'd ask?

you can tell if your chi or any dog for that matter is purebred by looking at their gums. black and pink gums are a mixed breed all pink gums are pure.

Actually, dogs that are black/parti colored with black/ or have a darker color on them (like blue/black) normally have gums with black spotting. It has nothing to do with being purebred.

-- Edited by Jessie at 17:58, 2006-12-15

-- Edited by Jessie at 18:06, 2006-12-15

Alukex · Adult Chi

Thanks for the add on that....Ava has a black muzzle...so I would expect that on her...Oliver being so fawn and now starting to get some cream/white on his little toes and shoulders..his are completely pink...plus...Ava was jet black when she was born....that is why we had her tested...all these fawn babies and cream babies and then Ava...this fluffly little black ball...not that it couldn't happen...just mom is red and dad is white and cream...just the first of her kind..so we wanted to make sure. She is now a more red with just a black tipped tail and muzzle ...which is hard to believe...I can't find any newbie pics of her...but the one I think in my newbie welcome area..shows her at 4 months and her head was still black...It is hard to believe she is the same dog....

I couldn't find it so I just put it on here...here she is a lot lighter than when I got her..her face was her whole body...than the reddish hair started coming out and for the longest time she just had this jet black streak down her back...that just went away about 2 months ago...it just slowly faded out...although if you flip her over..it looks like she grows long black armpit hair..its kind a gross..but funny too!...I tell her all the time I am gonna shave those pits!

-- Edited by Alukex at 00:03, 2006-12-16

rosepedals9584 · Adult Chi

Jessie wrote:

rosepedals9584 wrote:

KimboUNCW1 wrote:

gosh i wonder about gidget...she'll be 1 in january and she's 9 lbs....the people i got her from said she's full blooded and i talked to another woman who said in a litter sometimes each pup looks diff...some have an apple head some dont etc. she's pretty long in my opinion and someone said she has 'deer legs'? how do you know if you have a purebread...i bet with 'papers' you'd know, but i don't know anything about this type of stuff just thought i'd ask?

you can tell if your chi or any dog for that matter is purebred by looking at their gums. black and pink gums are a mixed breed all pink gums are pure.

Actually, dogs that are black/parti colored with black/ or have a darker color on them (like blue/black) normally have gums with black spotting. It has nothing to do with being purebred.

-- Edited by Jessie at 17:58, 2006-12-15

-- Edited by Jessie at 18:06, 2006-12-15

my vet was the person who told me about the gums. i called about the black spotting and he said that that has something to do with their color. but that if there are huge amounts of black with the pink then they are mixed.

Jessie · Senior Chi

rosepedals9584 wrote:

Jessie wrote:

rosepedals9584 wrote:

KimboUNCW1 wrote:

gosh i wonder about gidget...she'll be 1 in january and she's 9 lbs....the people i got her from said she's full blooded and i talked to another woman who said in a litter sometimes each pup looks diff...some have an apple head some dont etc. she's pretty long in my opinion and someone said she has 'deer legs'? how do you know if you have a purebread...i bet with 'papers' you'd know, but i don't know anything about this type of stuff just thought i'd ask?

you can tell if your chi or any dog for that matter is purebred by looking at their gums. black and pink gums are a mixed breed all pink gums are pure.

Actually, dogs that are black/parti colored with black/ or have a darker color on them (like blue/black) normally have gums with black spotting. It has nothing to do with being purebred.

-- Edited by Jessie at 17:58, 2006-12-15

-- Edited by Jessie at 18:06, 2006-12-15

my vet was the person who told me about the gums. i called about the black spotting and he said that that has something to do with their color. but that if there are huge amounts of black with the pink then they are mixed.

Well, that is definately an old wives tale. If it were that easy to tell if a dog were mixed, then there would be no need for DNA tests, and a lot of dogs would be considered purebred or mixed on false pretenses.

rosepedals9584 · Adult Chi

Jessie wrote:

rosepedals9584 wrote:

Jessie wrote:

rosepedals9584 wrote:

KimboUNCW1 wrote:

gosh i wonder about gidget...she'll be 1 in january and she's 9 lbs....the people i got her from said she's full blooded and i talked to another woman who said in a litter sometimes each pup looks diff...some have an apple head some dont etc. she's pretty long in my opinion and someone said she has 'deer legs'? how do you know if you have a purebread...i bet with 'papers' you'd know, but i don't know anything about this type of stuff just thought i'd ask?

you can tell if your chi or any dog for that matter is purebred by looking at their gums. black and pink gums are a mixed breed all pink gums are pure.

Actually, dogs that are black/parti colored with black/ or have a darker color on them (like blue/black) normally have gums with black spotting. It has nothing to do with being purebred.

-- Edited by Jessie at 17:58, 2006-12-15

-- Edited by Jessie at 18:06, 2006-12-15

my vet was the person who told me about the gums. i called about the black spotting and he said that that has something to do with their color. but that if there are huge amounts of black with the pink then they are mixed.

Well, that is definately an old wives tale. If it were that easy to tell if a dog were mixed, then there would be no need for DNA tests, and a lot of dogs would be considered purebred or mixed on false pretenses.

my vet was the one who told me this. and that they have the dna test to make sure 100% but you can look at the gums also. domino has lots of black in his coloring yet he has all pink gums and a friend of mine has a all black purebred pit and she has all pink gums. yet all the mixed breeds i have seen had mixed. i trust my vet.

Jessie · Senior Chi

Nope, not true. Your vet is very misinformed.

-- Edited by Jessie at 17:42, 2006-12-18

Jessie · Senior Chi

Here is a link disproving a very similar myth:

http://www.pedigreedpups.com/Dog-Myths.html