OK so I have been watching every available clip of chihuahua judging on youtube today to pass the time at work (ha ha) and like, some of these dogs are HUGE! DEFINITELY over 6 lbs...and this is BOTH in the UK and in the US. Like, Bryco is a quarter the size of some of them (prob b'c he's not in coat yet, but still he is way smaller). I know coat makes up for part of the dog, but seriously, why are some so big and why does it seem to not matter? I noticed this at the shows I've been to in person, too...what gives? I also talked to a friend that does show grooming and she says just for kicks and giggles she's weighed some of the chihuahuas--7 & 8 lbers aren't uncommon.

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Thank you Jan & Chico!!

Kristi, we had this convo. awhile back somewhere. Many of the Chi's you see in show are over 6 lbs. They do not weigh them. In some of our size threads going with a "show breeder" has come up many times. But the truth be told, they do not strive for 3 and 4 lb. adults at all. 6 lbs. shows much better. I have a friend that show breeds Chi's and she said that size is the biggest joke when it comes to Chi topics. She said that they normally try to finish them out by 6 months of age, before full growth. But it is very common to see Chi's above 6 lbs. in the show ring. More often than not, 7 and 8 lbs.

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I know, but I guess I'm realizing how COMMON it is. What I don't understand is why if its so often done, why don't they just have the dogs hop on a scale before a show, every time? Its not helping the breed any to breed bigger dogs, at all!

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Thank you Jan & Chico!!

I think it's just part of the politics of the whole thing. I don't think they are necessarily breeding them bigger, it's just what they are getting. The most common adult Chi size is about 7 to 8 lbs. You could put 100 Chi's in a row, and only find maybe 5 to 10 out of that number that will be smaller. I'm talking adults here. What I've heard is that they only weigh them if they "look" over 6 lbs. To most, from what I can tell, 6 lbs. "looks" what is actually 8 on a scale. Crazy, but true. I think it will continue to be that way until someone makes a big enough stink. But at that point I truly think they will have no choice but to change the standard. If not, they won't have many showing.

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LOL well booo, that stinks. I mean, IMO there's no point in "finishing" a dog if you don't at least hope you can breed it. I know some do it just for the fun and sport, etc. but if you're finishing then breeding 7-8 lbers consistently, OF COURSE you're going to get bigger puppies!!

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Thank you Jan & Chico!!

They do breed them, oversized or not. Not all show breeders do this, but many do. I have even heard that they do some kind of "fasting" on the ones that are over standard right before a show. 24 hours without eating won't hurt a 7 to 8 lb. dog, but it will drop several ounces. The only way they will ever get it back to the smaller sized Chi's is if they stop this practice. But even then, you can't breed a female much under about 5 lbs. and be hopeful for a positive outcome. So you are still talking about 5 to 6 lb. adults. Which is perfect. Still tiny. A 3 to 4 lb. (adult) Chi wouldn’t even likely be able to hold up well to the rigorous events of showing.

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Its true todays breeders are changing the total look of chis.
They are breeding them to be short and stocky with more bone.
Some of the longhair chis almost look like poms.
As example, Dahlia`s sire Calmont Jackpot is stocky and short
but being a smoothcoat,he looks more like a french bulldog.
I was amazed Dahlia is as small and fine as she is.
I prefer the traditional looking chi that has that unmistakable breed ID.
If people have to ask you what breed your contempory chi is, doesnt that
tell you the breed is changing?? Im not sure its for the good either.

If it's so improtant to stay with the standards on other things then why not the size too? I don't mean to sound argumentive or stupid but it seems like I hear all the time only breed if it is going to improve the dogs, is making them bigger than standards say, "improving"?

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