Long haired Chihuahua

Question
Hi there, I'm hoping to get a long haired chihuahua in the fall and have some questions. I've never bought a dog myself (but had one when I was younger) so I don't really know what to look for, and how to check if the pup is healthy. Also, are first set of vaccines usually done by the breeders? And what does it mean if the puppy is registered or not? Also, when I bring the pup home, what do I feed it and how much how many times a day? Also, how often should I bathe the pup? Do long haired chihuahuas adapt well to apartments? How many times a day do they usually go to the washroom?
sorry for asking so many questions, but I really don't have a clue on getting a new pup.
Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi there Chloe....

You do have a lot of questions and I really give you a lot of praise for being so RESPONSIBLE and asking all these questions BEFORE you get a Chihuahua pup, rather than afterwards.  Really, you're a role model.

I read over all of your questions and I thought about it for awhile and tried to think of the best way that I could address all these issues without my response turning out to be a book.  What do you think of taking one question at a time?  Like maybe we could start with the question you asked concerning how to check if the pup is healthy?  Better yet, maybe we could discuss where you are more apt to find healthy pups verses irresponsibly bred pups that have the potential for bad health issues?

Here's a few links to get you started in understanding the various potential health issues associated with the Chihuahua breed:

http://www.chihuahuapage.com/chihuahuahealthissues.html
http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/chihuahua-health-problems.aspx

I wanted to make sure that you're aware that short coated Chihuahuas and long coated Chihuahuas are exactly the same with the exception of the length of their coats.  A long coat Chihuahua may need a tad more grooming and possibly a few additional baths, but that's about it.

So, write me back and let me know what you think about addressing your questions as I've suggested above.

Jo Ann