Hi, I have asked for help from people in the know re Fontanelle's in Chihuahua's.  I have been to look at a litter of puppies recently, well a few litters.  i am in the process of adding to my family and want the right girl.  In one of the litters there is a beautiful girl and i am quite taken by her.  However, she has a rather large Fontanelle and she is now 8 weeks old.  The breeder advises that it will take approx 6 mnths to close and i had a look at some of her other dogs and non had open fontanella, in same breeding program, aunt and mum and sister.  Dad was free too....

In the "Book of the Bitch" it states that if Chihuahua has open Fontanella it should be culled! (only reading as it has been mentioned so much on this forum and i wished to read what all the fuss was about).

So i am confused as to this girl....Is it wise to take her on and wait for it to close? Should the owner be culling these pup's....

Any information would be greatly appreciated as i only want to take on a pup that will have longevity.... Many thanks

Have a look on the british chihuahua club website there is some information on there. My uinderstanding frrm previus research I did on the breed before I got our chix was that the chi is one of the breeds the molera as they call it (dont know why a different name) is often very apparent at birth but usually closes up with in a few months so shouldn't be a problem not my advice just what I have read.
Hopefully jeangenie ? who I belive breeds chi will be on soon with advice
sorry jeangenie think I meant jeansw

Hi chip

If all breeders culled Chihuahua pups with open fontanel I guess we would no longer have the breed.  Have to say that I have never heard anything so preposterous!!!  :-(

I do know of certain lines, where the fontanel is still open as adults, and, if I'm totally honest, I feel that folk shouldn't be breeding from adults with open fontanel.  Please can I say that this is my opinion.

I really haven't had an adult that I have bred myself, that has still got open fontanel, so I am giving this reply based on my own experience.  I don't know if some lines are affected more than others.

I have, in the past, bought in a bitch with a larger than average open fontanel, and at 3 years old, it has never fully closed.  She is still with me, and has never been bred from.  I had her spayed after her first season.

I have never yet (with fingers crossed) bred a pup that hadn't closed by 6-8 months of age.  Although I have bred another breed many moons ago, I am relatively new to the Chi, approx 6-7 years now.  I did talk this through with my vet when I was considering breeding a new breed, and, daft though it may sound, used to get him to check how open they were as pups, until I got the hang of it! 

All Chi breeders are going to feel differently, and I am just giving my view on things, as I would never assume that I am qualified to advise you on this decision.  I just like the opening to be as small as possible as a babe.  As to longevity - I don't know any breeder, of any breed, however reputable, can make you that sort of promise.

As I said JMHO.  :-)  Hope that is of some help.
Jean

Thank you for your advise, it is what i thought but knew i wasn't qualified enough to make....... My other Chihuahua girl was 12 months old when i acquired her and did not have an open Fontanel. She is a big old girl now who i love very much. So wanted to add to my family of Children and dogs and i love the breed so much.  So getting the right girl would be very important.  Reading the book of the bitch worried me re this problem so thought i'd get a new opinion of champdogs.... i am glad i did :-) thank you

I will check the Chihuahua club for more information, as it is an important issue. 

Once again thank you