Chihuahuas originated in Mexico.
Although a female Chihuahua may be biologically able to breed to any other canids, including wolves and coyote, producing healthy puppies limits the possible types of sires. Additionally, many tiny breeds develop problems while whelping. In addition to whelping issues related to their tiny size, Chihuahuas also have large heads that increase the difficulties, notes the British Chihuahua Club. Things to consider about breeding your Chihuahua include the risks to her health or life from breeding.
Size
Consider the safety of your bitch when choosing a stud. A typical well-bred Chihuahua weighs 6 lbs. or less, according to the Chihuahua Club of America. (Breeding a female Chihuahua with a larger dog may create puppies too large to whelp, either damaging or killing the bitch or making a cesarean surgery necessary for delivery. Although the American Kennel Club lists 16 toy breeds, only three of the breed standards call for dogs as small as 6 lbs. (Pomeranian, toy fox terrier and Yorkshire). A few other breeds typically weigh 9 lbs. or less, including the affenpinscher, Bolognese, Italian greyhound, Japanese Chin, Maltese and Xoloitzcuintli.
Health
Chihuahuas may have knee and seizure problems.
Breed responsibly by obtaining health clearances for both the male and female. Basic health clearances include verifying general health, examinations and x-rays for joints bones including hips and the patella or kneecap, eye examinations and blood work to make sure neither dog carries infections such as sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, obtaining each dog's certification through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and Canine Eye Research Foundation provides proof of quality evaluations.
Genetics
Health clearances also include testing for hereditary disorders, according to Alabama Cooperative Education Systems. Knowing genetic disorders in each dog's line help avoid creating puppies with problems. Many disorders often affect different breeds, according to University of Prince Edward Island. Because most genetic research concentrates on a disorder or its inheritance occurs in a specific breed, breeding your female to breeds other than Chihuahuas poses unknown risks with the combination of different genes.
Mixed
Creating puppies from two different dog breeds results in mixed breed dogs that responsible registries, such as the American Kennel Club, do not recognize nor register. Although mixed dogs remain popular among puppy mills and people seeking to sell pets, creating an actual new breed requires many years of work and breeding and rarely occurs, according to Vicki DeGruy, writing in Dog Owner's Guide. Breeding your Chihuahua with any other breed results in puppies with a variety of characteristics, not a known mixture, with some resembling one breed or the other more and some possibly looking like neither breed due to the genetic mix. Finding small mixed-breed puppies or dogs in shelters provides a more responsible way to save pets already born without creating more, suggests DeGruy.
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