Choosing a Puppy From The Litter

Okay, so you've found a responsible breeder with a litter of puppies who are 8-12 weeks old and ready to go to off to new and loving homes.

Do you just pick any Chihuahua puppy from of the litter? No, some individuals may be better suited to you then others. Those with personalities that match yours will be best suited to you. The breeder will most likely point out which puppy is the best match for you.

However, you can also conduct a personality test on each of the puppies in the litter to get an idea of what each of their own unique personalities are like. And you should also be aware of what a healthy puppy looks like so you don't pick one that is sick (which is highly unlikely to be the case if you're buying from a responsible breeder, but it's good to know how to spot a healthy puppy from a potentially unhealthy puppy anyway).

Ethical breeders will never sell a puppy before 8 weeks of age. So this is the time to go and see the litter.

Also keep in mind that the breeder may classify some of the puppies as "Pet" quality and some as "Show" quality. This doesn't have anything to do with their health or temperaments, it has to do with their appearance. Basically, in dog beauty contests, the best looking dog wins (the one with the least amount of faults). Some Chihuahua puppies will have more faults than there brothers and sisters. Such faults, such as ears slightly to big, a short tail, or nose the wrong color, may stop the puppies from winning in shows, so the breeder will be deem these as "Pet" quality puppies who will live their life as a pet - not a show dog. These are the puppies in the litter you will get to choose from. Unless, of course, you intend to show your Chihuahua in conformational trials when he grows up.

Personality test

Chihuahuas, by their very nature, are not social dogs. But they should not be vicious or extremely shy around strangers once.

Whether you get a Chihuahua with a solid temperament is hugely dependent on his lines - the temperaments of his parents and grandparents. This is why you should choose to buy your Chihuahua puppy from a responsible breeder who breeds Chihuahuas who have great temperaments.

However, every puppy in the litter will have his or her own unique personality.

Personality can be divided into three categories:

1. Normal
2. Independent
3. Dominant
4. Submissive

You can get a good idea of which of these personalities your Chihuahua puppy will have as an adult, by doing a personality test on him in the breeders home. A puppy who is normal is your best choice, an overly independent and dominant puppy will be harder to train, an overly submissive puppy will tend to be a little quieter around the home and a little shy in social situations.

Keep in mind that a puppy cannot fail this test. Some puppies will just suit certain people better. If you are an assertive person who can establish yourself as "pack leader" than a more dominant Chihuahua will be fine for you. If you are more laid back than a dominant Chihuahua will be more of handful to train and may try to make himself the boss of the house. A Chihuahua with a normal personality will be your best bet in most cases. The test is also only gives you a rough idea of the type of personality the puppy has.

Conduct the following test twice (to get more accurate results), in unfamiliar environment to the puppy (another room in the breeders home). Each puppy in the litter should be tested by himself in the room. It's a good idea to video tape the test so you can review the puppies later and have a good think about each one.

• Gently restrain the puppy on his back for 20 seconds. Does he fight for 2 seconds and then submit, happily laying there? Then write "Normal." Does he fight or cry the whole time. Then write "Independent or Dominant". Does he lay their licking your fingers? Then write "Submissive."
• Cradle the puppy in your palms, underneath his chest, and lift him off the ground for 20 seconds. Does he struggle for a moment, then accept his position, possible looking around the room? Then write "Normal". Does he struggle to get free for most of the time he is held there? Then write "Independent or Dominant". Does he just hang there submissively? Then write "Submissive".
• Get the puppies attention, tap your leg, walk forward, in a friendly voice call him to follow you. Does he follow you as you walk forward? Then write "Normal". Does he look and then ignore you to go off and do his own thing? Then write "Independent ". Does he rush up to you and bite your shoe? Write "Dominant". Does he stay where he is, and possibly sit down, or follow you with his tail between his legs? Then write "Submissive".
• Get down on your knees and softly clap your hands and in your most inviting voice call the puppy over to you. Does he come? Then write normal. Does he come, but then bite at you? Then write dominant. Does he ignore you? Write "Independent". Does he come slowly, with his body low to the ground, possibly with his tail between his legs, and/or roll on to his back when he gets to you? Then write "Submissive".
• Take your car keys and rattle them (Loud enough so he hears them, but not so violently so that they scare him). Does he come over to investigate. Write "Normal". Does he come to investigate and then pounce or bite when he arrives? Write "Dominant". Does he comes with tail between his legs, with caution? Write "Submissive". Does he ignore you all together? Write "Independent".

A Chihuahua puppy with a temperament that will be good for most families and people will score "Normal" in the majority of tests. If he scores mostly "Dominant" or "Independent" he will need an owner who is assertive (and only ever positive) while training him and will be find in louder householders. If he scores mostly "Submissive" he will suit a quieter household and more laid back owners.

General Health Inspection

If you're buying your puppy from a responsible Chihuahua breeder, and i strongly recommend you do, it is probably pretty safe to assume that all the puppies are of sound health. After all, the breeder has been taking care of her litter for 8 weeks or more now and she would know if one of the puppies wasn't healthy, and she definitely wouldn't try to knowingly sell you an unhealthy puppy.

However, it's still good to do a quick general health inspection on the puppy. Here's how to know if the puppy is healthy:

• Eyes should be shiny and bright with no discharge. Not splashed with red or yellow.
• Nose should be moist with no discharge.
• His ears should be clean and not smelly.
• Gums should be light pink in color and clean.
• Teeth should be white.
• There should be no coughing or evidence of the puppy vomiting.
• His bum should be clean with no signs of diarrhea.
• His paws and pads should be clean.
• His coat should be shiny, soft and be clean.
• You should be able to feel, but not see, the ribs which means the puppy has the right amount of body fat
• He should not have a pot belly, which may mean he has worms
• His skin should not have any fleas. A sign of fleas is excessive scratching or biting of his coat.
• He should be energetic and playful between naps. (He sleeps more often than they he plays)

Once you've chosen and purchased a puppy you like, you should take your puppy to the vet that same day, for a thorough health check up. The contract will have a 48-hour money back health guarantee. So if the Vet finds any health issues with the puppy you can take him back for a refund.