I live in Zurich and I've been trying to get a chihuahua puppy but haven't been able to find any in the area. Does anyone have puppies at the moment? Or could you tell me where I should go? I looked in petfinder.ch but they only have other breeds and moslty big dogs.
Thanks in advance.
Melanie
Pet shops are not allowed in CH - thank goodness. So you'll have to find a proper breeder, and not much chance at this time of year. I am hopeful that you have done all your research and are serious about giving a dog a permanent and good home- so I wish you good luck. Tell us how you get on.
You can find chi breeders under here. You might need to wait for a puppy to become available, or the breeder will be able to point you in another direction. All reputable breeders here have a wide network of fellow breeders:
http://www.skg.ch/pid/104.html#C
Why not check out the adoption database in the meantime and give an older chi a good home?
http://www.tierdatenbank.ch/cms/tier...unschtier.html
IF you must go over the border, please make sure its from a reputable breeder. Here's a thread which will give you a good start on how to identify one
Whether from a reputable breeder or from a rescue, adding a dog to the family is not something to be done on the spur of the moment - both options involve advance planning on your part, and scrutiny of your suitablility as an owner on the part of the breeder/rescue - this takes time. From top breeders multi-year waiting lists are not uncommon. And as per Odile's post, many rescues are very wary about holiday time adoptions - as the old adage goes, 'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas'.
Any breeder willing to hand over a puppy right away is not a good breeder - most likely a battery farmer. Do not support this vile industry.
Another option is to look for a breeder or breed rescue in Germany; the same planning and scrutiny will be required, you will find the same wariness of holiday time adoptions. The German version of the SKG is the VDH ( http://www.vdh.de ); to find a breed rescue google something like 'chihuahua in not'.
Be aware that you would need to comply with import conditions if you buy or adopt abroad; see the BVet ( http://www.bvet.admin.ch/themen/0161...x.html?lang=en ) for those requirements.
Also, get in touch with rescues to let them know that you are looking for a chi should one come into rescue in the future. Get to know the staff, give them a chance to know you. This is what I have done - my favorite breed doesn't come into rescue too often, but all the breed rescues in Germany and Swiss general rescues local-ish to me know that I'm a sucker for ancient, broken, or psychotic shelties and collies.
In addition, are you a first time dog owner? If so, you will need to do the theory portion of the SKN before you acquire your dog. The theory course is 4-5 lessions, usually done at the pace of once a week, although there are trainers who provide different schedules. A good breeder or rescue will expect you to show proof that you have done this before you can take your dog home. If you fall into this category and have not yet taken the course, get that done before you even start looking for the dog, especially at this time of year when many training schools close for the holidays/winter.
All owners, first time or experienced, are required to take the SKN practical course within the first year of ownership with each and every dog you add to your family.
Wishing you and your future four-footed friend all the best - and a good start to a lifelong commitment.
You will most certainly have to wait to get chi puppy from a reputable breeder. The list of registered breeders in switzerland is on this site:
Mostly Chi breeders don't have litters in winter. It's very difficult to keep the pups warm enough. Heck, it's difficult in spring, never mind winter! lol.
So you are looking at litters in march/april/may then waiting til they are old enough another 2.5-3 months, picking up baby in may/june/july.
If I were you I would start talking to breeders and start getting my name on the list of the ones you are interested in. You could get lucky if you are willing to take a slightly older dog. Sometimes breeders will keep pups to see how they develop and then if they are not champion material they will find them new homes. But "not champion material" still is a very beautiful dog!
Also, as summer rain said you can check the shelters. Not too long ago there were two chis looking for a home! I wanted to go over and snap them up. ;(
Don't be fooled by the offers in other countries unless you know for sure the reputation of the breeder. The supervision in other countries is quite lacking and there are plenty of really bad breeders around. The biggest issue is not necessarily health issues as Chis are quite healthy for pure breeds but the biggest problem with irresponsible breeding in Chis are personality and behavior issues that can be difficult to correct. Chis are notoriously difficult to house train if you don't start at age zero!
Let me just remind everyone that as cute as Chis are and they are amazing dogs, they are huge commitment in terms of training and socialization. They are not dogs for the inexperienced or those who melt when looking in their big eyes (LOL). They are stubborn as hell! Ask me how I know!
Also, Chis and small children are a very very bad idea!
Ok, other than that: Good luck! I hope you find your perfect family member!
got very lucky I guess but werent really looking for a chi.
They are a handful tho as they require a ton of attention (loving) , hate the cold so in this weather he is always cuddled up. I swear you cannot train one as they havve a mind of their own, and ours has just starting snapping at every stranger trying to touch him......after a while of getting to knowthem (10 min or so ) he is fine with them
Actually I came here to talk about the shelters again. And there was your message talking about the same thing.
Anyway, I had to stay off that site. I want to go get all of them!
There is a baby boy 6 months old, but he is a mini-pincher not a chi, #29051 in Zurich and the two 2-3 yr old chis that need a home are #28963 also in Zurich.
In terms of my experience with dogs, I only owned one when I was a kid but my mom gave it to my grandmother eventually becasue we lived in an apartment and she had a big garden. I always wanted a dog and now I live alone and it's a bit too quite in the house sometimes but maybe I'm in over my head.... I have been thinking about this for a while, but maybe I should go through it all again.
Thanks again!
As for 'good with children' - while some breeds are known in general to be more laid back, this is really down to the individual dog. You will need to assess the individual, see how he/she reacts to your children - and they to him/her. The flip side of 'good with children' is that children need to be taught to be good with the dog as well. How old are your children?
And just a comment - there is no such thing as an 'indoor dog'. No matter the size, all dogs need exercise; they need to run and play, they need social interaction with other dogs, mental stimulation from you. They need to be dogs, as nature intended. Chis are not 'handbag accessories', despite silly owners like Paris Hilton.
To learn more about Chis, why don't you contact the Zwerghund club (linked in MiniMia's post)? Talk to breeders, see if you could go along to some of the Club events - spending time with Chis will help you to decide if they are the breed for you.
Or, volunteer to pet-sit a Chi.
But before you go much further, do think about taking the SKN theory course.
(If you truly want an indoor pet, please consider a cat.)
All the best.
When I was a volunteer in shelters back home, chis and JRs are the most popular dog breeds in there, simply because the owners were under the impression that they dont need much walking and they are "indoor dogs". Due to their size, owners treat these dogs like babies. Carrying them, petting them, letting them sit on the sofa and sleep with them - and guess what? They become snappish, aggressive over time towards anyone else because the human has elevated their status in the pack by doing all of the above. They dont get corrected, their unwanted behaviour gets continually nurtured subconciously by the human, and in the end, these clueless owners throw their hands up saying "oh I tried everything, I really dont know what else to do! This dog's impossible" and drop them off at the shelter. This happens almost every other week. Its heartbreaking. Guess what, after a few weeks of rehabilitation and learning new boundaries, some of these dogs go to new owners. Some come back because the new owners are just as clueless, and undo all the hard work the volunteers have put in re-training the dogs - but some stay with their new homes till old age. Its not the dog - its the owner.
You mentioned that you live alone and I am assuming that you work. Who will take care of the dog whilst you are out, for 8-9 hours a day?
My best advice is for you to talk to people with chis and JRTs. Some breeds are generally more child-friendly I have to concede, but any dog can be trained to live with children.
Sorry for going on a rant, and coming across as all negative but I urge you to dig deep and consider the reasons for that particular breed, and see if your lifestyle fits the breed, or even having a dog. I always believe that its not about getting the dog you want, but getting a dog that is for you.
Good luck
Honestly, if you live alone & don't have experience with Chis, I'd suggest a different breed or that older couple of chis. They get very possessive of their people and since it you live alone it could be a problem. Could be, not saying it will be. Just things to think about.
Anyway my advice is: Go get that baby boy mini pinscher!!