i want 2 get a dog 4 my mum, she has wanted a Chihuahua for many years, but every1 say they r pron 2 hip problms and other problams, and i want 2 get her a dog tht will have no problams.... what other small dogs r there??
something tht dont have problams and r loving 2 there owners ect.??
2007-02-10 15:17:05 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Chihuahuas are not more prone to health problems than any other breed. Every breed has its own health problems. The main thing is to find an excellent breeder, one with a good reputation, get references from their vet and other puppy buyers. A chihuahua is a wonderful dog and can easily live to be 20+ yr old if they are cared for properly. They are the absolute most loving dog anywhere and the ultimate lap dog.
Happy owner and breeder of the wonderful little dog from Mexico.
2007-02-10 15:31:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your mom really wants a chihuahua but you're afraid of health problems, you can beat that in a couple of ways:
1) Adopt an adult chihuahua from a purebreed rescue. Or actually, chihuahuas are so popular that even mixed breed shelters and rescues have them pretty often. Most of those health problems appear when the dogs are puppies or just entering adulthood, so getting a healthy adult would be pretty safe (though not guaranteed.)
2) Buy a chihuahua from a responsible breeder who can show you the dog's healthy parents, their health tests, and a family tree of healthy, problem free dogs, and who is willing to back up your puppy's health with a guarantee.
Other small dogs with similar personalities that can be easy to find at shelters and rescues are rat terriers, pugs, miniature poodles, dachsunds, and pomeranians.
If you decide to get a different breed from breeder, be sure to do a little research first, since most breeds of dog have some kind of genetic problems. Irresponsible breeders use the same dogs and their close relatives over and over and don't care about whether they're healthy or not, which means they could be producing lots of puppies with health problems that will just get worse as the generations go on.
2007-02-10 23:40:22 · answer #2 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kit Kat is right. All breeds have a risk of having some kind of health problem. I think you should get your mom a chihuahua, because it is the dog she always wanted, and she will Love it so much. And i work at a vet clinic and have seen a Lot of chihuahuas, and i have never seen one with hip problems. What we see most is over weight chihuahuas because people feed them too much. I think you should find a great chihuahua breeder and get her the dog of her dreams.
http://dogbreedinfo.com/chihuahua.htm
2007-02-10 23:32:38 · answer #3 · answered by Stark 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The best dogs are mutts. Mixed breed dogs. They are healthier because of a more dilluted gene pool. They have great personalities of the different breeds that make them up. All of mine are mutts and they are happy, healthy and wonderful. Go adopt a dog from your local shelter or from a breed specific rescue group. Adopt a homeless pet from petfinder.com. Good luck, and thanks for helping to save a life! Of course, why buy while shelter pets die? Opt to adopt! It's a good thing you'll be doing. Thanks. It is those who think about the big picture and do the best thing they can to help the problem and you can take pride in that. Adopt and then have them spayed/neutered if they aren't already.
2007-02-10 23:27:05 · answer #4 · answered by jacob_200356 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Greyhounds are literally disease and problem free. Despite popular belief, they are very calm dogs that rarely bark. With a Chihuahua or other toy breed you will have a lot of yapping and bouncing off the walls.
You can save a life by rescuing one off the race track.
2007-02-10 23:32:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no best dog; there are too many variables involved. One person's best dog is another's worst. Dog ownership is a highly personal thing and, in general, a gifted dog isn't what the primary person, the new owner, really wanted in a dog. Bottom line: it will be your mother's dog; what she wants is what she should get (and she should pick out the actual dog/pup for herself).
2007-02-10 23:38:41 · answer #6 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sarah, the thought to get a small dog for your Mom is great.
However, it might not be the best approach. Have you thought of telling her your desire and that the TWO of you, together, visit Animal Rescue/SPCA etc. and let her select a doggie of her choice. Remember, that which she wants may not be the same as your assumptions. If so, don't be disappointed. Remember who the gift is for.
2007-02-10 23:30:25 · answer #7 · answered by dooner george 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local shelter and tell them about what you are looking for. Their knowledgeable staff can inform you if a dog that suits your lifestyle is available. Many of the dogs in the shelter are very loving and will be very gratful to you for giving them a good home. You can also find one from: http://www.petfinder.com
2007-02-10 23:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by angela923 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All dogs can end up with things wrong with them but if you are looking for a breed that has a short list of problems here is a web site to check out
http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/hereditary_congenital_diseases_in_dogs.htm
2007-02-10 23:26:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bought a shih tzu puppy and she is awesome learns fast house trains easy. that is my recomendation. i'm going to keep mine in a puppy cut just because it's easier with time schedule for up keep. but get 1 that is at least 10-12 weeks old
2007-02-10 23:23:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋