Find A Chihuahua Puppy Online

So you've been searching the news papers for weeks with no luck. You've gone to every pet store in your area, still no luck, that is unless you want to spend $2,000. So you sit down at your computer figuring "What the heck, you can find anything on the internet, right?", Right... But how do you make sure you get the dog of your dreams and not a nightmare? And more importantly how do you do it with out spending a fortune? Well you are in luck, DexDog.com is here to help you and with our guidance, your own common sense, and just a touch of good luck you can find the puppy of your dreams without breaking the bank, all from where you're sitting right now. 

*This guide is the result of our experience finding our latest Chihuahua Puppy and this sites inspiration, Dexter the Chihuahua.

Do Your Homework

Well you've gotten off to a good start, consider DexDog.com's Guide to Finding a Puppy Online your personal interactive study guide. The following page contains a number of valuable links and information for you to research before you start looking for your Chihuahua puppy. If you have gotten this far chances are you already have decided that a Chihuahua puppy is for you, even so, if you haven't already I encourage you to take a look at our guide Are Chihuahuas For You? If they are, the next step is to educate yourself on a couple things before you start searching for your new Chihuahua puppy. First things first, especially if you plan on getting a purebred Chihuahua puppy, visit the Chihuahua Club of America website and familiarize yourself with the breed standard, this is important for two reasons.

  1. Purebreds are expensive, get what you pay for
  2. Some breeders will give you a discount if the puppy you want doesn't meet the breed standard.

Also there are a lot of other certifications popping up, we caution you that as of right now the AKC certification holds the highest standard and has been an upstanding Non-profit organization since 1884. The AKC has stringent guidelines for obtaining registration while some other certifications only require the breeder/owners word as proof of a puppies' lineage, we at Dexdog.com DO NOT recommend purchasing a  "purebred" Chihuahua puppy without AKC certification. If you aren't as concerned with your dogs bloodline you can get a great deal on perfectly good Chihuahua online, you might even be able to get one for nothing more than a tax deductible donation! If you like Chihuahuas a great place to start is at the Chihuahua Rescue , you can get information on rescue centers all over the United States. Check out our Chihuahua Rescues links!

What is a Chihuahua Rescue?

So what is a Chihuahua Rescue?

Well it is a rescue center for Chihuahuas that have been saved from undesirable situations, animal shelters, or have been turned in by there owners. Chihuahua Rescues are non-profit organizations and most carry a 501 (c) (3) status from the US Government, which makes any donation you give them tax deductible. To insure that your donation is tax deductible make sure that the rescue center carries the appropriate government status.

What Should I Know about Chihuahua Breeders?

The first and most important thing to know about Chihuahua Breeders is that all are not created equal. Chihuahua Breeders, much like all breeders vary from small family outfits to massive commercial businesses. There are draw backs to both and you should be aware that the size of the breeder is not as important as the level of responsibility with which they approach breeding. At DexDog.com we urge you NOT to support Puppy Mills or irresponsible breeders, we have compiled a small list of red flags we came across to help you identify a puppy mill or irresponsible breeder online:

  • They are involved in breeding more than 2 different breeds
  • They use "purebred" registration other than AKC
  • They are unwilling to let you inspect the facility where your puppy was born and kept
  • They are pushy and use "salesman" tactics
  • They are willing to sell you a puppy "no questions asked"
  • They cannot answer breed specific questions
  • They place a lot of emphasis on their Chihuahuas being "teacups", "miniatures", or "toy" NOTE "toy breed" is the accepted AKC category for Chihuahuas and should not be consider a red flag.

NOTE* Not all large commercial breeders are "Puppy Mills", nor are all small breeders irresponsible or less knowledgeable. If you find a puppy at a breeder that you are unsure of, we encourage you to visit them and see things for yourself, and ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS!

More information to help you find responsible Chihuahua Breeders :

This is a very informative article on Puppy Mills,  commercial and small breeders, legitimate breeders, illegitimate breeders, and the differences between them all, Just what is a Puppy Mill?

For those of you who wonder just how bad a puppy mill can be, this article should give you a good idea. (WARNING : Some people may find the images in this article upsetting), Life as a Dog in a Puppy Mill

Which is right for me? Adopt or Buy?

Those of you reading this step are at least considering Adoption, we commend you. At DexDog.com we realize that adoption is not for everyone, this step will help you decide if it is for you. The first thing to decide is whether you want a puppy or not, if you want a puppy stop reading now and move ahead to Step 3 :Finding My Chihuahua Puppy Online , puppies are hard to come by when looking to adopt, do not have breed verification for those of you looking for a purebred, and often call for a much higher donation. These factors make adoption a poor option for those of you set on a purebred puppy. This doesn't mean that all rescued dogs are old by any stretch, rescued dogs usually average in age from 2-8 years old, and are often great dogs put in a tough situation. This brings us to our next point, some rescued dogs will come with some baggage and may require special needs, a good Rescue center will make you fully aware of a dogs needs, temperament, and history to the best of their knowledge. These dogs take a special owner who is willing to provide for the dogs needs.

So what are the benefits of Adopting?

Well besides the monetary benefits (donations are typically between $50 and $200) there are many other, more important reasons to adopt. One benefit that is often over looked by people set on getting a puppy, is the  task of housebreaking and training a new puppy which can be a challenge, a challenge that can be avoided with  many rescued dogs, which typically come with some degree of training (A note to perspective Chihuahua owners, Chihuahuas are difficult to housebreak, this benefit should not be over looked, for tips on housebreaking your Chihuahua see Puppy Housebreaking). Also, along with training an adopted dog from an accredited rescue center will also come fully up to date with it's vaccinations and veterinarian check ups to insure it's health at the time of adoption , which can be costly for a puppy and will almost always be your responsibility. When it's all said and done I think it's important to remember why people adopt, they want to give a hard luck dog a home, if you're looking for a puppy, a show dog, or aren't open minded about what kind of dog you want, adoption is probably not for you. If you  think adoption is for you may we suggest that you get started by looking at our Chihuahua Rescue links, for those of you not looking to adopt we urge you to consider donating to a rescue.

Finding My Chihuahua Puppy Online

So here we are, the meat and bones of it, you've decided what kind of dog you want, you've decided how you want to get your new dog, it's time to start looking! Ummmm... well, where do I start, the internet is a big place after all. For those of you who have decided Adoption is for you, a good place to start is to look for a Rescue center near your home by simply searching using your favorite search engine. Simply enter "Chihuahua Rescue center City and/or State" or click on one of our several Chihuahua Rescues links at the bottom of the page. In general you should be able to find a rescue center within a reasonable drive of your home, if not, don't give up, try phoning your local Veterinarian they should at least be able to give you the number to a rescue in your area. Which brings us to one important point about finding a puppy online, BE WILLING TO DRIVE. Perhaps the biggest mistake people make when looking for a dog online is falling in love with a picture. Let's remember that your new dog is going to be a part of you life for up to the next 14-20 years, don't commit to anything without first meeting the dog. If you are truly interested in a puppy you should be willing to drive twice, once to meet the puppy and again to pick him up.  A puppy is a big commitment and a Saturday drive or two is well worth it.

How Far Should I Be Willing To Travel?

Well for the most part this is a matter of preference, but lets be reasonable , while some people are even willing to fly to pick up their new puppy, unless you are searching for a show quality dog of a rare breed a drive of over 2-3 hours shouldn't be necessary. While we're on the subject of flying I'd like to take this opportunity to advise you against shipping a puppy. While many breeders and airlines go to great lengths to insure a puppy's comfort during shipping, let's be realistic, shipping is most likely a terrifying experience for a puppy. If you do decide to have a puppy shipped to you make sure to ask lots of questions, and request that the puppy be put on a direct flight.

Where is the best place to buy online?

Well there are a number of places to find a Chihuahua puppy online, which of them is the best isn't for us to say, but if you have read What Should I Know about Chihuahua Breeders? and Just what is a Puppy Mill? you should be armed with enough information to find a responsible breeder in your area.

How much will I pay for a purebred Chihuahua Puppy?

When you start looking you will notice prices that range from $300 all the way up to $2000,  this a wide range which usually causes confusion. Those of you who have read other our other Guides will notice that almost exclusively the higher priced pups are advertised as "teacup", "tiny", and "miniature" one of our red flags seeing as there is no such thing! In general prices for purebred AKC Chihuahua Puppies will range from $400-$1000. We paid $500 for Dexter, we consider him to be an absolute steal because of his appearance, demeanor, and what he brings to our life. Those charging more than $1500 are generally trying to capitalize on the ignorance of the buyer or an "exceptional" bloodline which can be somewhat misleading seeing that not all Champions come from Champions, but generally speaking if you are looking for a "show quality" dog be prepare to pay a little more.

Where did you find Dexter?

Dex came from a small family breeder in Oregon, IL , for those of you who read Just What is a Puppy Mill? you might classify the breeder as something between a "Hobby breeder" and a "Backyard breeder". Dex was the result of one of their first litters from their  AKC purebred female (and family pet), and a AKC Champion purebred stud to whose owner they paid a stud fee. We found the breeder in an online classified ad, did our homework, and after  a smooth and enjoyable transaction with a couple of wonderful people, we ended up with a wonderful Chihuahua Puppy and the experience that helped us to write this guide. In all the process took about a month and a half from initial phone conversation to Dexter's home coming.

It's Time To Go Find Your Chihuahua Puppy!!

I hope we were able to help! Remember, do your homework, be willing to drive, and ask lots of questions, GOOD LUCK!!! Don't forget to come back and see us!! Tell us you success stories and share your new pups pictures!

Chihuahua Rescues

Canadian Chihuahua Rescues