I completely agree w/ ya here. Kind of why I asked the question, to get people's opinions and see what they were thinking. I knew it was true there were larger chis in the ring but after watching show clips all morning, I am AMAZED how MANY there are.

If/when I breed, I personally won't breed a dog over standard size, but thats just me. I used to think it was OK to breed a 7 or 8 lb bitch to have it be safer for her or to get a bigger litter size but now I really don't think that's the route I'll be going LL!

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Thank you Jan & Chico!!

Yes there is some that are over the limit of 6 lbs and a judge most likely won't pull out the scale(for many reasons not just politics)what if a judge pulled out the scale because one looked a bit over 6 lbs but wasn't then he would be called names people would complain that judge did unnessacery actions. then you have ones that finish before they are an adult most likely before a year old so what happens is that dog ends up being over 6 lbs and they spent all that money in showing them and finished.
I have heard of putting them on diets and giving them something to bulk them up as well.
the show is basically a beauty show for dogs-grooming, dieting/bulking, special shampoos, coat products and ect... When I first started on a big yahoo group of chis the breeders said it is nice to have a brood bitch that is more than 6 lbs simple fact giving birth was easier well after a few years now I hear they are improving their females and males and making them to the standard (which is good) but more problems with breeding and/or birthing so this is where it stands.
you will always find a show/breeder think they are doing good with improving the breed but will not get the eyes, ears and hips cert aproved this is for any breed not just chis.

I doubt that's true, the only to size (under 6lbs) chihuahuas I have seen here are show chihuahuas and their offspring. The only bigger ones I have seen are not from show lines.

I got Bruno and Poppy from someone who shows and all her dogs are standard chihuahua size and Bruno who is almost 18 months is 4 lbs 7oz and Poppy almost a year is 3lbs 5oz neither of them are going to hit anywhere near 6 lbs. I have kept in touch with her and all her pups range in around that size.

I think their full coats has a lot to do with and also the fact that they are fluffed and buffed for the day - I think my two always look fluffier and bigger after their baths

It would be interesting if someone who actually shows in both countries commented here and let us know the size of chis they come across in the ring

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can you show dogs in the US before 6 months then?

here in the UK you cant until they are 6 months old and to make up a champion they have to win one of the CC's when they are over 12 months so they would be more mature..

I remember B's first show when he won Minor Puppy Dog and we were in the challenge with all the other class winners...i looked around at all the other chis and wondered if he would ever match them for size and coat he seemed tiny in comparison...now i think hes very comparible to the other dogs at 23 months and 4.5lbs, yeah there are some that are over 6lbs, and there are quite a few that carry a big coat, i would say the majority are under 6lbs tho

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www.teclo.co.uk

I think size is just a fault not a disqualification in the ring. You have to remember chihuahuas use to be bigger back in the day!! I don't think they are necessarily over 6lb just different shapes and sizes. Lotus mum was 5 1/2lb dad 4lb 7oz they have both been shown successfully. Her breeder said she prefers her girls to be 5-6lb as the risk is less but likes her boys smaller to try to bring the size down

It would be interesting like Jane said for someone who has shown in the uk and us to give their take on it

No the US is the same you can start at 6 months I think what she meant was as soon as they hit 6 mths old they try to finish them quickly ( well I would too it cost a lot to have a handler show your dog, more time passes more money) I agree the coat makes a difference but if we are talking about smooth coats then where do we explain that. I wasn't trying to say all do it I have just heard stories of some breeders doing that and sorry I think that is everywhere. the group I am on has people from the USA, UK and Canada mostly a few from other countries. these past couple years I have noticed a change in the breeders for the good they have been breeding to the standard but of course there is going to be those ones that will cheat. I also agree the look of a chi has changed so much (the extreme head/muzzles, stocky build and so on) but is this really to improve the breed or just to try to fit the "standard"?
people remember unless you weigh a dog yourself you can't tell from pics or video or someone just saying their weights to you (unless a picture of the dog on the scale) IMO. you look at Cali you would think she was heavier then 3 lbs but nope also ricky is 4 1/2 lbs he looks bigger but it is just the way it is.
I agree any chi over 6 lbs should not be breeding/show, it's sad when you spend thousands of dollars and find out they are over the weight limit though, but have been seeing show breeders sell those that do go over the limit.
just to throw it out there having a smaller male does not mean he will produce small it just doesn't work that way wish it did would make sense. I know I am new to this forum but not new to breeding or learning about chis, I hope to be able to help teach and give advice about them as I have love this breed...

You can start showing at 6 months of age, and from what I'm told, finish them out before they are full grown. I myself have never shown, just going by what I have heard. At 12 months is when they really start filling out, and doesn't complete until they are 18 months of age. This I know from having Chi's of my own. So what I assume is that they strive to get a near over standard sized pup finished before he or she goes over 6 lbs. I do know that after they are finished, and they are old enough to breed, there are many that are over 6 lbs. that they still breed. On the LC's they will look fuller/fluffier, but not "bigger." Or to me anyway. You can still see their tiny frame, no more than 9" tall, and usually 8.5" in length. That is if they are "standard" in "shape." At those measurements above, they are about 6 lbs. depending on their build, but very close. But if you check out pics and vids around the net, you will see Chi's definitely bigger than that showing. Or if you are at a show, and you see the ones that are the lil tiny 5 and 6 lbers., you will see just as many that are bigger, but still showing.

As Triple A mentioned, judges don't want to rock the boat, so to speak. The lady that I know that has shown for 30 years said she can count the times she has seen a Chi actually weighed in the show ring.

Anyway, since I don't show this topic isn't a "personal" thing to me, just a convo. about different things I have heard, and observe. I know it can be a touchy subject, and I don't want to offend anyone. I also know that there are some awesome show breeders out there, and not all of this applies to all.

This is a little 5.5 lb. LC. Little fella' stands about 8.5" tall, and about 8" in length.

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Then too, as Triple A mentioned, maybe they are just light on the scale, but much bigger than their weight "shows" them. No way to know unless you put the pup on a scale. As I mentioned, it's just an observation that so many have weights that don't match their size.

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