Hi all.

I have been researching breeding and showing for the past 4 months or so, and I intend to do so for at least another 5-6 months before deciding whether to proceed with anything. I am quite adamant that I want to be completely informed and equipped to do everything properly, and I want to build up a bank of cash in the mean time so that I have ample funds to cover the vet costs should anything go wrong and lead to emergency treatments for the beloved dogs involved.

I get on really well with the breeder I got Jelly (my Chihuahua) from, and she would have happily mentored me, however she is emigrating in the very near future and this means that she won't be on hand by the time I proceed. I may request to sit in on a delivery of hers in the meantime, but I travelled quite a way from home to get my dog, and it would take me a good hour and a half to travel to her by train and I'd have to hope that her dog whelping luckily happened at a time when the trains were running.

I live 5 mins from my vets so this would be less of a problem should I need to transport any Mum or pups there myself at any point in the future.

I am in the process of learning to drive, and I would hope that once I am qualified to drive I could also start showing my dogs. My children are all getting older and less dependant on me, and I have just finished a course I was doing and am taking an indefinite break from work so I have plenty of time on my hands to meet the demands. I also live in a three storey very large 4 bedroomed house with it's own 12 foot walled garden.

I intend to join the British Chihuahua Club (once I have followed the nomination process through) and I assume once I have been able to do so I will be in a better position to approach them for advice and information.  I have managed to get hold of several of the books recommended on another (Chihuahua specific) site that cover chihuahua care and also breeding and whelping. I have also got some grooming and showing books in my sights that were written by the late Hilary Harmar.  The thing is I really would like to build an informal and relaxed but mutually respectful relationship with an experienced and caring Chihuahua breeder through this site if possible.

I am not taking this on lightly, in fact it's quite daunting as I realise the breed I have chosen is notorious for difficulties during whelping.  But it is my love of the Chihuahua breed and the positive qualities that they have which has inspired me to devote so much of my time to learning more about them, and *possibly* embracing the breeding / showing side purely as a hobby (I anticipate I would only maybe ever have 2 litters of my own spaced over the next 8-10 years).  I waited and searched for my Chi for a year and she was well worth the wait.  I am quite apalled at how overproduced non registered Chihuahuas are on the internet these days, just to keep up with the lates fashion trend - please trust me when I say this is not what I am about.  I would be getting guidance from my mentor and hopefully go on some long waiting lists of reputable breeders to try and get some good quality dogs, with good temperaments and of show standard.  I don't mind how long I wait, but I do want to do things the right way.

I am based in London in the UK and I have also lived in the home counties, so I know my way around well.

I think buddying up and mentoring would help me gain confidence and be in a better position to decide whether to take things on to the next step if I felt competant enough following the mentoring - I wondered if anyone felt that they would like to help me please?

Thanks for reading :)

You've obviously given this a lot of thought and have discovered all the right things to do to get knowledge and experience about your breed in general and breeding dogs in particular.  The breeder of my first bitch agreed to help me on condition that I went to see her next mating and whelping, at whatever time the pups were to arrive and to visit once a week for the 8 weeks that she reared the pups, including at 7am for the last 2 weeks, so that I can see what was involved first thing in the morning when pups were 7 and 8 weeks old! AAAAHHHH!!! :(  This was not at all convenient for me as I was over an hour's drive away and had a 3/4 year old daughter, but I did it to show my commitment to the breed and what I thought that I may want to do.  I had also started to go to shows with her a couple of times a month (my bitch was completely out of coat!) to learn what was right and wrong with my bitch and what I should be aiming for.

I think that you should do all the things that you are talking about, if only to learn about your chosen breed.  And then, in a couple of years down the line, when you have learned how to drive (it'll be difficult to travel to the best stud dog if you have to rely on someone else to drive you to the other end of the country - that's ususlly where the most suitable stud dog for your bitch lives! :D) then that's the time to decide whether the bitch that you have is a good enough example to breed from and if it's what you really want to do to put her at risk. 

This makes interesting reading too.  http://www.dogplay.com/Breeding/ethics.html   Good luck.

Thanks Val, I really appreciate your input.  The breeder you got your bitch from sounds spot on, and like you I agree you have to prove you are up to the job, otherwise it would be foolish to even consider the option.  I think the thing that puts me off the most is the possibility that I may lose a very much loved bitch or a pup, and I know that's a real possibility.  The breeder I got my bitch from has never lost a Mum, but has lost pups from time to time.  I think I would find losing a puppy very hard as I have always bonded emotionally with my pets, as I think all true animal lovers do! I would be totally devastated if I ever lost a bitch though, because obviously there would already be a solid relationship there with the bitch that would be less prevailent with the puppy (although I am not underestimating the anticipation and ante-natal bonding that takes place believe me)!

I think the key here is that I am in no rush and I am happy to use the time whilst I am researching to try and pass my driving test so that I can drive to and from shows, and back and forth whenever a mentor would dictate to me to learn more about the whelping and weaning process.  I am finding the prospect of learning what to look for in a show dog/good example of the breed very exciting.  When I got Jelly (my Chi) I wanted a family pet, and her absolutely brilliant nature and character just blew me away, and it is down to her that I am as enamoured as I am with the breed, she's truly adorable.  I was hoping to get her looked over at the BCC show this morning in Hatfield, as well as ascertain what the judges were looking for in the ring, but the bus I took to get me to the train station had a fight on it, and we ended up getting locked on the bus whilst the driver waited for the police to arrive! As a consequence we missed the train, and then missed the following one waiting to buy tickets - so I was quite disappointed I missed the event and came back home with my most miserable face on! LOL

I'll folow that link and have a read though - and once again, many thanks for your input. :)

You can't take unenetered dogs to dogs shows, so maybe it was just as well that you didn't get there??????

I endorse all my pups registrations so that their progeny are not eligible for KC registration as I wouldn't encourage breeding from a pet quality puppy, but you may be luck and have a gem.  But if you are seen regularly at club and Championship shows, you will be noticed for your interest and commitment and other breeders will be happy to help and talk to you about the breed.  Shows are a collection of experience in one place and definitely the best place to learn - if only what NOT to do! :)

PS Don't buy a stud dog to use on your bitch (or any other bitch that you might buy) - you have the most suitable dog in the country available to you for a stud fee and a tank full of petrol! ;)

Aaaahhh do you keep chihuahuas then Val?

No mine are bigger and hairier! ;)  But what I've said applies to all breeds. :D  Generally speaking, people who don't understand breeding buy a dog and bitch to mate together!

OK, yes I see what you mean ;)

I am fortunate as whilst trying to find a dog of showing standard I have just had an email from a very nice sounding lady who seems to know her stuff.  She's also very friendly, so fingers crossed I can benefit from her advice and wisdom too.

I agree that you've definitely given this some thought and I applaud that.

However, I would encourage you to try to separate breeding and showing.  You seem to be seeing them as almost an extension of the same thing, and refer to "breeding/showing" many times. 

The thing is, at the moment you don't even own the dogs you plan to do all this with.  Let alone having shown them successfully and received good results on that front.  Let alone breeding them.

All this isn't one thing, but several individual steps.  Take each step at a time and for itself, because you don't know if one step will necessarily lead to the next.  Get the dogs.  See how they develop, because even the most promising puppy can develop into an unexceptional adult.  Pass the driving test and figure out how to show them.  As a new driver, you may be daunted by the motorway miles and expense in petrol money required to drive to champ shows.  Several years after you have some showing success under your belt, you might want to consider breeding.  By then you will know, from the show results and the feedback from other Chi people, whether your dogs are worth breeding or not.

It's too much to want to breed Chis, before you even own the dogs.  Slow down.  Get the dogs, pass your driving test, and show them.  Forget about breeding for the foreseeable future.

Yes, yes you're right.  I guess it seemed like I was lumping everything together in my one post.  I suppose what I was trying to do was explain that I had got several steps to follow, but was aware that at some point I may not feel that I wanted to go in the direction I previously thought I might!

I really just wanted people to be sure of my thought process and not mistake me for somene who was trying to get a quick fix from jumping on the unregistered Chi breeding bandwagon that seems to sadly be rife on the internet.

The driving is definitely my next task without a doubt.  I would just like to get advice and contacts whilst I am researchign in the meantime.

Thank you though for being the voice of reason :)

If you can get to shows where you know there will be chihuahuas entered(like Champ shows on toy day)then sit & watch which ever coat type you are interested in(or both if you haven't made up your mind yet)& after judging is over politely approach exhibitors whose dogs you like(no point in getting dogs of a type that doesn't appeal to you) & tell them of your interest in the breed & what you wish to do.

Most breeder/exhibitors would expect a "newbie"to have a go at showing the best dogs they have before eventhinking about breeding a litter.

I was told by Bill Siggers(Kennel Manager to the most successful Great Dane Kennels in the world)to buy the best bitch I could afford of the type I liked, show her, learn about the breed & when I really knew the breed inside out & back to front consider breeding from her to the most suitable stud dog. He told me it could(& did)take years & to go forward slowly

I am busy working my way to the same goal with dachsies,my bitches breeder has agreed to mentor me which I am grateful for. I am gaining info from every where I can and being shown the good and bad points to look for and now look at pictures and spot any problems. She even encouraged me to examine her retired dogs and state the good and the bad.

I am limited re shows due to my work schedule and try and fit my holidays in so I can attend breed shows at least.

Good Luck with attaining what you want to do.

Rhona

I was told by Bill Siggers(Kennel Manager to the most successful Great Dane Kennels in the world)to buy the best bitch I could afford of the type I liked, show her, learn about the breed & when I really knew the breed inside out & back to front consider breeding from her to the most suitable stud dog. He told me it could(& did)take years & to go forward slowly

Fantastic advice - I am also following this advice MM.  Bill and Ouborough kennels were a bit before my time but sound sensible information lasts a lifetime :-)
A good mentor is worth their weight in platinum!

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the feedback and advice.  I must apologise for the delay in checking the boards but I unexpectedly aquired a rescue puppy and she's been a bit off colour so I've not been about online much.

She's getting there now though so fingers crossed.