[Chi80]

Hi all,

I bought a KC registered Chihuahua last June, he was the bigger one compared to his brother. I chose him due to his massive ears!

Obviously he is now fully grown, and he weighs just under 5kg. When I am out with him, people comment that he is 'big'. My friend's Chi is half the size of my Pablo, but hers was the runt of the litter.

Is 5kg normal? I read websites that state the breed standards, and it makes me sad/angry to think people would say Pablo is not a perfect example of the breed. I was on one website that had a lady begging for someone not to breed from their 'big' Chihuahua!

Gem

 

[susan davis]

Some chi's are just 'big'!! They ARE chihuahuas, but just not showable in the ring. The AKC 'standard' is 2-6 pounds. Just love him the way he is!

 

[Brodysmom]

5 kg is about 11 pounds. So Yes! That is a very large chihuahua! He does not meet the standard, he should not be bred. NO worries though, many people have larger chi's. They are great pets and some people prefer the larger size as they are more sturdy and less fragile than the tiny ones. Just get him neutered and enjoy him.

 

[flippedstars]

Well yes, he is bigger than standard...he still is a small dog but not exactly a pocket pet or anything like that.

No, larger chihuahuas should not be bred from, especially males. ONLY chihuahuas that fit the breed standard should be bred from, and this means dogs under 6 lbs. Some reputable breeders will use females in the 6-7 lb range but only when they know their bloodlines and know she will not produce 'bigger' chihuahuas too.

There is NO perfect example of the breed...I show and have seen many, many chihuahuas, and to be honest, very few even come close, even champion dogs/bitches. I agree w/ the suggestion to love your do for who he is, cuz he certainly won't shrink

 

[Chi80]

I do love him as he is, don't worry.

And thanks for replies x

 

[MChis]

Pablo is a perfect pet for you & you love him unconditionally & think he is absolutley perfect...that's the way it should be and there is nothing wrong with that. I do agree with the others though--he is much larger than the breed standard calls for. A lot of Chi's are. They also make perfect pets. But they shouldn't be bred from either. It is DIFFICULT to find a Chihuahua that comes even close to fitting the breed standard let alone being perfect. And I'm talking about more than just size.

Love your boy & know some Chi's are just LARGE. Doesn't make them any less Chi if he is bigger than others.

 

[Chi80]

I hate myself, because I thought he would be smaller. And I keep looking at other Chi's and wanting them as they are smaller. My boyfriend won't let me have two dogs. I sound so shallow and hate myself. I really do :-(

 

[Tink]

The Breed Standard for size is 6 lbs and under, so yes, your dog is larger than the Standard. Both mine are under 4 lbs each....I think that's just a bit under 2 kg. So while they fit the Standard for size, they are nothing like show quality chis in the way they look. But that's fine with me, they were rescues and the last thing I was thinking was whether or not they were show quality lol!

I understand what you're saying about wanting a smaller chi, I really do. There is something very appealing about a tiny dog. One of the reasons I chose the chihuahua breed when I was ready for a companion dog after my kids moved out was because they're small, and I wanted a small dog. But you need to understand that the smaller the dog, the greater the chance of health problems, ESPECIALLY with the countless backyard breeders out there, who care NOTHING for the health of their dogs, they just want to make money.

Honestly, if you are finding yourself becoming disinterested in your dog because he's bigger than you want, I urge you to really examine that feeling. You already say you hate yourself, though you don't specifically say why. Because you don't like your dog anymore? What?

Here's the thing. Having a meaningful, enjoyable relationship with a pet has to start out with you liking the animal. Having a bond with them. Finding the special emotional connection that tells you Yes! This animal is for me! That feeling is far more important than just liking an animal because it's small, or it's a color that you like, or it has cute ears or whatever. You have to love ALL of the dog, not just the way it looks, or you're going to be an unhappy owner and you're going to have a miserable dog who knows that no matter what he does, he's not going to be able to please you. And that's hell for a dog, whose only job in life is to love and please their owners.

I can't and wouldn't try to talk you out of wanting a smaller dog. But I HOPE, for your sake, the sake of your current chi, and the sake of any future chi you decide to get, that you'll really examine your motives for wanting another dog before you go ahead and get one.

 

[Chi80]

No no, I do love my dog. I feel like I am betraying him almost, though, for thinking about smaller Chihuahua's! And the guilt really upsets me. I am not disinterested in him at all, he's the happiest little pooch in the world, and I love him to pieces. I guess I just need to accept that it is OK to go 'awwwww' at smaller dogs, it doesn't mean I think mine is any less perfect. I mean, he is still a small dog, most cats are bigger than him. I feel like I am some sort of monster and I'm really not, I'm just good at putting myself down and thinking the worst of me.
I wouldn't want to be without Pablo, I know that much. He is so funny and the way he looks at you either makes you laugh or makes your heart melt. I chose him over his brother because of his face and ears, his ears are huge. I should have known he was going to grow into them! His brother was smaller, but Pabs won me over with his face. I have to remember that and stop torturing myself.
xXx

 

[Wawies]

we all love the tiny ones and always say aww so don't feel guilty, but i tell you one thing a smaller dog comes with more health problems! i learned that with the 2 i lost, after that i have not gotten smaller ones, the ones i have now are a lil bigger cause im scared of getting a smaller one again. Pablo is so cute btw, small or big after all they are all pour babies.

 

[Rocky]

Rocky is a bigger Chi as well (he has 3,7kg) and I actually love that he is bigger. I would be way to scared if I had a teeny tiny Chihuahua.
I don't really get why someone advised to get him neutered though just because he is bigger. Rocky is not neutered and I am not planning on getting him neutered (and make him have a surgery) just because he is bigger. But just because a dog is not neutered doesn't mean that the owner will stud him :S.

 

[Brodysmom]

Rocky is a bigger Chi as well (he has 3,7kg) and I actually love that he is bigger. I would be way to scared if I had a teeny tiny Chihuahua.
I don't really get why someone advised to get him neutered though just because he is bigger. Rocky is not neutered and I am not planning on getting him neutered (and make him have a surgery) just because he is bigger. But just because a dog is not neutered doesn't mean that the owner will stud him :S.

I am the one that suggested he be neutered. Only because most people do not want to deal with the disadvantages of having an intact dog. Roaming, urinating (marking) in the house, humping, excessive licking, moaning after bitches in heat (even if they are miles away). For me, the marking in the house would be an automatic deal breaker. I would not want to deal with that. Many people put up with it or use belly bands. I just don't want the stress of it all.

The average pet owner just does not want to deal with these things. In addition, accidents happen. Not everyone is able to keep a mindful eye on their dog at all times, and an intact dog can climb over, dig under, or squeeze out of a fence or shoot through an open door in a heartbeat. Those hormones are powerful.

In addition, breeding to the standard should be the goal of every ethical breeder. Animals not used for breeding are much better pets when they are neutered or spayed. The average pet owner just is not set up for the mess and hassles of having an intact animal.

I'm sure there are a handful of people who can happily co-exist with an intact dog and their habits. I, for one, can't and don't want to. And I think I speak for most when I say that a neutered dog is absolutely the most loving and devoted pet you could have. Having an intact dog is not the same.

That's why I suggested he be neutered. No reason to keep a dog intact if he's not being used for breeding. He will be healthier and happier for it.

 

[Wawies]

That whole marking and hiking of the legg on the furniture is why i own all girls now, i hate it. My g/fs parents live here and have 2 boys and they pee and hike everywhere and anywhere and they are so use to it they don't even get on to them anymore. I think they should have them fixed just 4 that, but i cant tell em 2 or make em...lol i sure wish they would thow.

 

[Rocky]

I am the one that suggested he be neutered. Only because most people do not want to deal with the disadvantages of having an intact dog. Roaming, urinating (marking) in the house, humping, excessive licking, moaning after bitches in heat (even if they are miles away). For me, the marking in the house would be an automatic deal breaker. I would not want to deal with that. Many people put up with it or use belly bands. I just don't want the stress of it all.

I am totally disagreeing. Sorry. Rocky has never marked inside the house, humped another dog or a person, and doesn't at all moan after bitches in heat and he doesn't even mark a lot outside. I know way more females marking excessively or humping. Also I know many dogs who are still marking inside the house, humping and moaning after females in heat even though they got neutered.
I tink it's just something that can't be generalized. Also, Rocky is a really shy dog. Neutering would mean that he would even get worse.
For me, I just don't see the point in getting Rocky neutered and have him go through a surgery and pain unless it would be medically necessary.

And I also don't agree that "Neutered dogs are much better pets". Rocky is a great pet, even though he is not neutered.

 

[Chi80]

Oops, what have I started!?
I was just getting upset because Pablo is perfect... Yet I allowed his size difference make me think otherwise on some levels. You see on another site someone told me not to breed from him because his puppies would grow to be bigger than average, ruining the breed. I was told not to be another back yard breeder! Pablo is neutered anyway, and I never intended on using him for stud. He's was always going to be just a pet.

 

[Chi80]

Me and Pablo!

 

[DKT113]

A person who likes dogs is "allowed" to think the dogs of other people are cool, fun, neat looking, etc. without feeling like they are cheating on their dog. That really the joy of loving animals you can love your own and love other people's for the neat things about them, guilt free

 

[Chi80]

I wish I could post a picture of him here, but I can't! Is it because I am not a paid member?

Thank you for nice messages, I feel much better today

Gem & Pablo xXx

 

[DKT113]

You can post pictures without being a paid member ~ upload them to photobucket and then from photobucket drop them in here.

 

[Chi80]

When Pablo met a German Pointer!