Deer head chihuahuas are really far removed from the breed standard and wouldn't be a good start pointing to breed.

I wouldn't see breeding as a business, especially if done ethically. Some people never make a profit on breeding a litter, many understand the risk it involves which the main risk involved is losing both mother and puppies.

If you say you are what you are, a huge animal lover then spay your chihuahua and let them be a pet, your companion. There are so many points in your post which have me worried.

Chihuahuas aren't exactly far off the ground in the number bred and registered then there are those bred with no pedigree. It's already a breed with few ethical breeders carrying out health tests. I think there are 3 in the UK that health test. Health tests are more than a quick check by a vet to say your dog is healthy.

 

Breeding is a huge commitment - there is a lot to consider. You need to be honest with yourself. Plenty of people breed - not many are GOOD breeders, you should aim to be a good breeder and set yourself apart from others who are only breeding for cash without a care for the future of the breed.

We all think we have the world's best dogs - it's only natural but breeders need to be able to see the faults in their dogs, have a good experience support group around them to also help them see the good and bad points within their dogs temperament and structure.

Breeding isn't risk free - your bitch could die and it could change the temperament of both of your dogs. Breeding your dog has no benefits for them.

- The dogs should both be KC registered or similar - knowing their lineage is helpful in deciding your breeding plans to produce the best puppies. Helps make you aware of any health issues that could be potentially inherited but can't yet be tested for. You'll also need to work out the Inbreeding Coefficient or COI of the future puppies. Having a good relationship with your dog's breeder is very helpful since they will know their lines best and should be able to mentor you.

- Being a member of the breed club - breed clubs typically have much higher standards and ethics than a registering body like the KC. Get yourself involved with the club, attend shows, let your dog's prove that they are a great example of the breed by winning and taking part in breed and KC shows where they will be judged by someone impartial and experienced with the breed.

- Health testing - once old enough, get the recommended health tests done for the breed http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/chihuahua-long-and-short-coat/

If your dog does well at showing, passes the health tests, you have a good experience support network around you - then you can consider breeding

- Finding a stud - you'll likely have to outsource to find the best stud to compliment your bitch. Both structurally, temperament and health wise. It's extremely rare for a good breeder to own both the bitch and stud. If it's your bitch's first litter - ideally you'd need to find an experienced stud with an experienced owner to help during the mating to prevent either of them getting injured.

- Ensure the bitch is the correct age, she can't be too young or too old for her first litter. Have a good worming protocol in place for her pregnancy. Set up a safe den area away from busy places and other pets, including other dogs in the house for the first couple of weeks - you'll need to take time off work in order to keep an eye on them. Can you afford to do that?

- A scan to confirm the pregnancy and give an idea for the number of puppies - you'll need to have a vet on standby when she goes in to labour. What if a puppy gets stuck? How long do you leave her to push before a puppy appears before seeking vet help? Do you know how to help start a puppy breathing? Make sure you've counted all the placentas? You'll need to know this and have the answers - that's why having an experienced mentor is vital.

- Chihuahuas might need a C-section so have enough spare funds available in case an emergency C-section is needed. Can be £2000 in an out of hours emergency. Most insurance covers don't cover breeding expenses either.

- Socialisation and habituation starts at home with the breeder - gives the pups the best start in life. Puppy culture is excellent for this - https://www.puppyculture.com/

- Before 8 weeks of age, or older with vet permission the puppies must be microchipped - they must have your details and the new owners details.

Ideally you'd have a waiting list lined up before the puppies are born with backups just in case people back out - you'd need to vet these homes to ensure they are knowledgeable people.

Then you have created these lives that you are also responsible for - keep in touch with owners, if they can't keep their dog will you take it back? If you can't, having a good experienced support network in place helps here because they'll be able to help place the dog in a new home.

Breeding done right - isn't a business. It's a passion, there is no monetary profit.

If you make profit or breed more than 3 litters a year - you'll need a license from the council - https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/br...g.uk/breeding/dog-breeding-regulation/faqs-dog-breeding-regulations-in-england/

 

Breeding is a huge commitment - there is a lot to consider. You need to be honest with yourself. Plenty of people breed - not many are GOOD breeders, you should aim to be a good breeder and set yourself apart from others who are only breeding for cash without a care for the future of the breed.

We all think we have the world's best dogs - it's only natural but breeders need to be able to see the faults in their dogs, have a good experience support group around them to also help them see the good and bad points within their dogs temperament and structure.

Breeding isn't risk free - your bitch could die and it could change the temperament of both of your dogs. Breeding your dog has no benefits for them.

- The dogs should both be KC registered or similar - knowing their lineage is helpful in deciding your breeding plans to produce the best puppies. Helps make you aware of any health issues that could be potentially inherited but can't yet be tested for. You'll also need to work out the Inbreeding Coefficient or COI of the future puppies. Having a good relationship with your dog's breeder is very helpful since they will know their lines best and should be able to mentor you.

- Being a member of the breed club - breed clubs typically have much higher standards and ethics than a registering body like the KC. Get yourself involved with the club, attend shows, let your dog's prove that they are a great example of the breed by winning and taking part in breed and KC shows where they will be judged by someone impartial and experienced with the breed.

- Health testing - once old enough, get the recommended health tests done for the breed http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/chihuahua-long-and-short-coat/

If your dog does well at showing, passes the health tests, you have a good experience support network around you - then you can consider breeding

- Finding a stud - you'll likely have to outsource to find the best stud to compliment your bitch. Both structurally, temperament and health wise. It's extremely rare for a good breeder to own both the bitch and stud. If it's your bitch's first litter - ideally you'd need to find an experienced stud with an experienced owner to help during the mating to prevent either of them getting injured.

- Ensure the bitch is the correct age, she can't be too young or too old for her first litter. Have a good worming protocol in place for her pregnancy. Set up a safe den area away from busy places and other pets, including other dogs in the house for the first couple of weeks - you'll need to take time off work in order to keep an eye on them. Can you afford to do that?

- A scan to confirm the pregnancy and give an idea for the number of puppies - you'll need to have a vet on standby when she goes in to labour. What if a puppy gets stuck? How long do you leave her to push before a puppy appears before seeking vet help? Do you know how to help start a puppy breathing? Make sure you've counted all the placentas? You'll need to know this and have the answers - that's why having an experienced mentor is vital.

- Chihuahuas might need a C-section so have enough spare funds available in case an emergency C-section is needed. Can be £2000 in an out of hours emergency. Most insurance covers don't cover breeding expenses either.

- Socialisation and habituation starts at home with the breeder - gives the pups the best start in life. Puppy culture is excellent for this - https://www.puppyculture.com/

- Before 8 weeks of age, or older with vet permission the puppies must be microchipped - they must have your details and the new owners details.

Ideally you'd have a waiting list lined up before the puppies are born with backups just in case people back out - you'd need to vet these homes to ensure they are knowledgeable people.

Then you have created these lives that you are also responsible for - keep in touch with owners, if they can't keep their dog will you take it back? If you can't, having a good experienced support network in place helps here because they'll be able to help place the dog in a new home.

Breeding done right - isn't a business. It's a passion, there is no monetary profit.

If you make profit or breed more than 3 litters a year - you'll need a license from the council - https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/br...g.uk/breeding/dog-breeding-regulation/faqs-dog-breeding-regulations-in-england/

There would be no point in advising to show the dogs and let them prove themselves in the ring. Apple heads are desirable for the ring not deer heads and with the number of chihuahuas being shown even at open show level they would be lucky to get placed as their heads would be considered a fault.

Any pups resulting from this intended mating would never be able to be registered with the kennel club as you are not allowed to register puppies from parents with different coat types.

To the OP please reconsider breeding from your bitch yes chihuahuas can be self whelping my own bitch self whelped but I also know a woman who is a licensed breeder whose bitches are always needing c sections. This can lead to all sorts of problems such as the bitch rejecting the pups to loosing the bitch and the pups or just the pups resulting in a litter of pups needing to be hand reared.

Very few breeders actually make money from breeding if it is done properly. Remember chihuahuas generally only have litters of 2 maybe 3 pups a bitch that needs a section at £2000 if it is in normal hours done by your own vet out of hours with the emergency vet would be a lot more. Selling the pups even with 3 pups to sell with unregistered pups you would not even cover your costs. The temperaments of both the dog and the bitch may change for the worse the dog possibly will start to seek out bitches in season.

If you do make a profit you now have to declare any profits over £1000 and to breed more than 2 litters a year you will need a breeding license from your local council.

 

I provided information on how to go about being a good ethical responsible breeder for benefit of the breed and any future puppies.

So from my list the owner's dog's wouldn't be a good breeding prospect - but if the owner tried with showing, they could get learning about showing, get to know breeders and owners within the breed club to gain more knowledge and support - perhaps not right now but maybe in the future they can carefully work towards becoming one of the best breeders, going above and beyond for health testing etc... since Chihuahuas are really lacking breeders in that department.

No point telling people - don't do it. Half the time they aren't going to listen - they want puppies or profit and that's it, so if they are going to do it, they might as well do it well.

 

I'm not sure that this line of argument is helpful to the OP.

 

Showing is not the be all and the end all, true.
However, anyone looking to breed should at the very least have their dog evaluated by an independent party. We're all blind to our dog's faults to an extent, and all dogs have faults. It's better to know them going in so that you can make a more informed choice about who to pair your dog with for the best outcome for the puppies.

But showing isn't just about getting your dog evaluated. It's also a good way to start making connections with other breeders, perhaps meet one who would be willing to mentor you, it opens your options to finding other dogs who compliment your dog as far as breeding goes. Again, trying to make sure the resulting puppies have the best shot at health, and good temperament. The more you know about the dogs you're breeding the more informed your choices. This is where it pays to get involved in the show world and meet these breeders, talk to them about their dogs, get their opinions on your dogs and their lines etc.

Showing is also a pretty decent test of temperament IMO.
In order to show well (regardless of how the dog places), a dog has to be okay with being in a large crowd, being handled by strangers, and dealing with lots of nerves and business. A dog who handles this well shows the appropriate resilience and soundness of temperament a good pet should display.
Dogs who wither and can't take the show environment might be too easily upset and stressed out by a typical busy home environment. That matters.

 

Don't you get it? The breed standard is for the game, it is the target that is to be aimed for. It is not for me, maybe not for you, and certainly not for the dogs. The KC is the game - it's what they do. You can't blame them as you don't have to play it, and their rules only apply to players.

A snippet from a quote..............
"The breed specialist sometimes sees perfection or beauty in qualities that might make you or I wince,"

"The show ring has changed the way many dogs look and you could say that they are now deformed. They are certainly not in the form they started off in."

I just can't see why anybody would want to slavishly follow these people (unless they are players themselves), and to say that they should be able to tell you what to want is a complete non-starter.
All just a personal view, of course, and you are free to make up your own minds.

 

Closing this now as the OP hasn't contributed for a few days.