chihuahua puppy

Question
QUESTION: hi,im going to buy a chihuahua puppy tomorrow,she lovly cute etc! she has no papers to prove her true pedigree but does look a true chihuahua! she is been sold as a pet only and not for breeding thats why no papers come with her! is there anyway or anything to look for to prove her true pedigree??? any help will be gr8,i can send you a picture of her if you send me your email address!!!! thanx m

ANSWER: Hi!

I'm wondering why you have a need to prove her pedigree?  Are you asking me if I would look at a picture of her and tell you if I think she's a full Chihuahua?  Did you see the parents on site?  Did you ask the breeder lots of questions?  Is this a reputable breeder?  Does this breeder have other pups in the litter that she's selling as "show" quality or "breeding" quality?  

I'll wait for you to get back with answers to those questions and will just say that the only other way I know of that you can definitely get an answer is to have a DNA test done that will tell you if both parents are Chihuahuas.  People that get "pet" quality Chihuahuas don't get papers with their pups and that's why interviewing the breeder, seeing the parents (although there's no guarantee that a pup will look like the parents) and meeting the breeder at their home (or kennel) is important.  I always caution people about purchasing pups over the internet or from people that live far away & ship their pups - just too many loop holes, surprises and disappointments in transactions like that.

Jo Ann

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QUESTION: hi,thanx 4 ur reply,my reasons 4 asking was i think the seller of the dog is a scammer!! i really want the dog which is advertised online in uk, yet there offering to deliver but i only live 30mins away yet they say there delivering from 5hrs away in another city so either they are genuine or the pups a scam as they wont speak to me via phone,its only a forgion guy that will not give me his address and each time i have called its like an international call/ringer tone! so u tell me? i dont want to buy a pup that costs me a lot of money for it to be a none pedigree as i want a chihuahua and dont think its fair breeders selling pups under false pretence... or is the advert too good to be true? is the pup just a picture and thats all? as its so perfect? i did ask for other pictures and did get them but im so unsure? have u heard of this sort of scamming b4? any help is gr8 thanx

ANSWER: Hi Mishelle!

You're very welcome and thank YOU for writing back!

Not only do I think the seller of this dog is a scammer, I think that you should RUN as FAST as you can AWAY from this unethical scam.  Yes, I've seen this type of thing happen over & over and it's a rotten shame.  I have one friend that purchased a Chi pup over the net sight unseen and it had not one, but TWO umbilical hernias and doesn't look like it's even almost full Chihuahua.

Scams like this are just too common and showing you pictures is no guarantee that the dog will look like the pictures when they arrive with the pup.  They count on people still paying them for the pup & taking it by saying that they'll give you a discount or that they'll be forced to take it to the pound...things like that.  A good, ethical breeder would NEVER deliver, NEVER refuse to speak via phone and WOULD invite you to come see the premises where the dog was bred.  This deal was just wreaking of a potential scam and your instincts were right!

Also common with this type of scammer is selling pups that are far too young so that you think that they'll remain tiny like what you're seeing when they deliver (and the new owners are lucky if the pup doesn't die due to hypoglycemia) and (like you suspected) showing up with a pup that's so young that you wouldn't know if it's full Chihuahua or not.

I just think you're awesome to be able to slow down and not be impulsive and ask good questions.  You deserve the dog you want and to be treated fairly by the breeder that you do business with!  ~Jo Ann~

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QUESTION: hi,thanx 4 ur fast reply! the more ive checked out i belive this dog of my dreams is that only! in my dreams! I thank you ever so much as you said my instincts told me that a true breeder would be more inviting to me to come and pay them at there home and let me view as i could be anyone and if i was selling pups id like to check people out and be fully assured the buyers was genuine and was truely sure they wanted and could look after the pup! as you just dont sell to anyone and would not set off on the road with a pup in your car 5hrs away to deliver a dog when its safer to have genuine buyers come view them at your home/kennels etc! i'd never agree to a pet via email as its a big comitment im sure you agree and to be honest no breeder really would drive for 5hrs to deliver a pup on the reliance of an email! it could be a child writting those emails and surley they would phone you to confirm things and actually speak to you! also its so much easier to talk on a phone than emails so this breeder must be a **SCAMMER** i just hope nobody else has fell for this act of cruelty on us doggy lovers cause its just wrong!!! but i did email the breeder saying id phone tomorrow to arrange viewing and collection at there home so Hay i will follow this up and just see how far they will go! and if they will speak! I no this is a scam so i will give them chance to tell me i have to send money 1st or anything of the sort and then i will report them to the website where they have a private advert! GOOD RIDS! after telling them what i think of them of course! yet again i thank you for making me realise a few things and reading my questions as u have probably saved me a lot of money! I will be sure to buy from a breeder who is very proffesional and able to let me have a true viewing and maybe avoid websites where these scams are taking place! mishelle :o) p.s i will let you no if i (or we!) did detect a true scammer when i call the breeder tomorrow!

Answer
I wanted to follow up with you and let you know that I thought that your plans for handling this situation are excellent.  I most certainly agree with you that having a Chihuahua is a big commitment and you deserve to start out on the right foot and I think that will only happen if you can find a responsible, reputable breeder or an honest person that is having to rehome their Chihuahua.  I have no doubt that you'll succeed in getting the right puppy as you're bright, you have good instincts and you're not afraid to ask questions.  Good for you!!

Jo Ann