hmm... more questions and random comments :)

:wink: It takes a long time to find the perfect puppy so be patient or you might end up regreting the impulse buy. I'm not exactly sure where you are from but trust me..good breeders are out there...shipping a puppy is expensive and risky. :wink: We have lots of great topics here and I recommend you do more reading..personally, I think the breeder that said the puppies were 7 weeks was probably lying..puppies at that age can start to chew on mushy to solid kibble..and about the sugar water that is good for puppies not to go on low sugar episodes or hypoglacemia (sp?) but only if they suffer one! (a bad episode can even kill them) we actually have a sticky on that topic on top of the Q&A page. This are normal things you should try to know as much as you can BEFORE you get the puppy. It saves lots on vet bills and worries! The Chihuahua Handbook is a great book! :wink: I'm pretty sure you'll get good advice on this. Good luck puppy hunting. :wave:

A little advice, and I'm really not trying to be rude, I'm just trying to save you and your future puppys some problems.

If a breeder wants to sell you a puppy that is 7 weeks old, RUN away!
Chis need to be with their mom and siblings until they are between 10 and 12 weeks old. Chis sold younger than 10 weeks are more prone to aggresion issues.
Chis are normally started on the weening process at 5 weeks old. That doesn't mean they eat dry kibble at 5 weeks, it's usually ground up and mixed with a liquid to make a kind of mush. But are usually still nursing some.
Chis and small breeds are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when they are puppys.

In my opinion you need to do more research before you get your puppy or puppys. The things you are asking and commenting on are the BASIC things that chi owners already know. Perhaps this is why you are having a hard time finding a pup. The man upstairs knows you are not ready for one.
Please do more research so you and your family will have a very happy experience when you finally do get your babys.

I just endured the puppy search in Southern Cali. I'm not sure where you are exactly but I searched San Diego and Riverside Counties. I finally got Frasier further north - I ended up looking all the way to Burbank.

For this area $325 is not bad for a pup with no shots, not dewormed, and no vet check. If you want shots, worming, and vet check, you're gonna pay $600+ around here, unless you find an ad in the paper where some families chis just happened to have puppies. Then you can get a puppy for under $300 - no papers, no shots or medical care, and coming from a home where they may have good intentions but really know nothing about breeding dogs this tiny.

You shouldn't take the puppy home untill it's at least 10 weeks.

And, watch out for the people who consistently only sale males, this is a sign that they're breeding huge amounts of puppies.

Another thing I thought of.. While you're searching for a puppy, read Chihuahuas for Dummies. You will not have time to read after you get the puppy. He/She requires all of your attention almost 24/7 the first few weeks/months. Not that I think you're dumb. It's just that chi puppies are different. Every other kind of pup I've had - you bring them home, give them lots of love, and keep an eye on them untill they're through trying to eat your entire house while they're teething.

Chihuahuas are different in that they have longer life expectancies than other breeds, but seem to be harder to get started as puppies. You need to be sure you know what's going on if your chi pup suddenly won't eat or becomes lethargic or makes funny sneezy sounds, and all those things plus many others are very likely to happen with a chihuahua.

I think "for dummies" are the best books because of the way they break info down. I used the GRE for Dummies to pass my grad school entrance exams and Grants for Dummies to acquire a major grant for the school in which I teach. So, don't be insulted by the title - and - read the book.