Attention! 🍪 Want a cookie?
Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and PLEASE READ PAGE ENTIRELY—don’t skip a word. It is a 5 min. read but necessary if you want to be an informed buyer.  

🚫 Many Breeders Lie 
Even the ones with charming personalities and fancy websites. Scammers are everywhere...and come in all forms. After 34 years of breeding and showing, I stand by this statement.

If a breeder can’t provide proof (official paperwork or direct OFA links) or seems annoyed by your questions, walk away.
👉 Always demand proof—don’t be fooled. Most people research a new car more thoroughly than a puppy. Don’t make that mistake.

✅ Your Cheat Sheet is below for Finding a Reputable Breeder
(Even if it’s not us!)
✨ Pro Tip: A professional website or high prices do NOT guarantee a good breeder.
Ask the following questions and demand proof. Good breeders welcome these questions—they have nothing to hide.

💡 Puppy Buying Tips – Ask These Questions First!

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1. 💰 Price Comes Last- NOT an indication of quality and any young puppy under $2500 is either poorly bred (back yard breeder or puppy mill) or a scam GUARANTEED.  Any puppy over  $5000 had better be very small and healthy with tested parents AND a show puppy (even if it goes to a pet home). 
Don’t judge a breeder by their website or price tag. Most quality breeders price puppies between $2,500 – $5,000 (as of 3/31/2025; males typically on the lower end). Prices outside this range may indicate red flags.  DIG DEEP
👉 Treat breeders like car salespeople—ask for documentation and proof before committing.

👉 Follow-up: How do you justify your price? 

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2. ✅ Do You DNA and OFA Health Test the Parents?
The right answer: The breeder should provide OFA paperwork (patellas, heart, and eyes) for the parents. Verify through OFFA.org. Vet checkups alone are meaningless—they only detect obvious issues.
💡 Ask for DNA reports (Embark, Wisdom Panel, etc.) for genetic diseases on the parents of a puppy. Never buy from parents who both carry the same problematic gene.  ASK to see OFA links or paperwork on the puppy parents and other dogs! 
👉 Follow-up: How do you justify your price if the parents aren’t health tested?

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3. 🐾 Are All Dogs AKC Registered?
The right answer: Yes. Ask for proof of AKC paperwork for the parents. Breeders should be part of AKC’s Bred with HEART or Breeder of Merit program.  These programs expect high ethics and expectations beyond AKC registered.  
🚩 Warning: CKC and other registries are often linked to puppy mills and backyard breeders or people who cannot show parents AKC paperwork to you.
👉 Follow-up: How do you justify your price if you’re not AKC-registered?

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4. 🏡 Where Do the Dogs Live?
The right answer: Indoors in their home.  Chihuahuas are not "outside dogs".   Our dogs go inside and outside all day long but are mostly inside, socialized and safe and loved.  
💡 Red flags:

• Dogs that seem to be nervous with their owner

• Dogs kept in unsanitary conditions

• Dirty fur, long nails, or excessive waste around property​

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5. 📝 Do You Offer a Health Guarantee?
The right answer: A written guarantee for at least one year covering genetic/congenital issues, with copies of the parents’ health records (OFA, DNA reports).
👉 Vet exams alone mean nothing—demand proof of genetic testing.

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6. 👀 Can We Visit You?
The right answer: You should be able to visit in person even outside on their porch (for safety) or FaceTime/Zoom live.
💡 Quality breeders limit visits when puppies are under 8 weeks to protect them from diseases but should offer virtual viewing at least or visits outside on a porch to see the puppy live.
🚫 Never send money without seeing the puppy live.

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7. 🍗 What Do You Feed Your Dogs?
The right answer:

• Adults: High-quality food or diet with healthy additions to kibble (e.g., boiled chicken, green beans). Some breeders also feed a raw diet. 

• Puppies: High-quality puppy food (e.g., Royal Canin Chihuahua).

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8. 🐕 How Do You Socialize the Puppies?
The right answer: Breeders should use programs like Puppy Culture or BadAss Breeder methods. Puppies should have regular nail trimming, socialization, exposure to sights/sounds, people and playtime with a variety of toys and chewies.
💡 At 10-12 weeks, puppies won’t be fully trained yet, but good breeders start potty/pad/litter box training and socializing.

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9. 🏡 What Are Your Home Requirements?
The right answer: Expect a rigorous screening process.
🚩 Red flag: If they sell to anyone with money, walk away.

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10. 🏆 Are You Involved in dogs Beyond Breeding?
The right answer: Yes. Quality breeders are involved in dog shows, obedience, therapy work, or rescue.
💡 At Impeccable Chihuahuas, we:

• Rescue 1-2 Chihuahuas at a time from outside sources (not our dogs! Ours would never end up in a shelter or rescue situation) 

• Show in conformation events

• Are members of the International Chihuahua Club
  👉 Follow-up: How do you justify your price if you’re not involved in showing, rescue, or breed improvement?

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11. 🔍 Do You Research on this breeder and significant other or partner.  
✅ Ask for the breeder's full name and address.
✅ Request a copy of their driver's license with the number blanked out for their privacy.
✅ Run a Google search and use public records to verify their identity.
🚫 Red flag: Breeders who operate under multiple names. This doesn't mean hyphenated names. 

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12. 💼 Do You Work Outside the Home or have income or retired? 
The right answer: Most quality breeders have a primary career.  Even retirees have income. Full-time puppy sales = potential red flag. 
💡 At Impeccable Chihuahuas, we are educators. Puppy sales fund dog care, shows, and testing, not our lifestyle. 
👉 Look for breeders whose income doesn’t rely solely on puppies.  Remember, many people LIE.  

🚩 Potential Red flag: If they don't have a career 

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13. 🐾 Who Watches Your Dogs When You’re Away at work?
The right answer: Quality breeders have sitters or help.
💡 At Impeccable Chihuahuas, we have a sitter for two hours daily and are home all evenings and weekends.

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14. 💉 May I See Your Vet & Testing Bills?
Ask to see annual vet invoices, food, and testing bills.
💡 Ours totaled $26,000 last year—proof of our investment in care.

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15. 📞 May I Call Your Vet for a Reference?
The right answer: Yes. Call and verify that the breeder has a trusted veterinarian and runs DNA tests and submits documents to OFA.

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16. 🐾 What Dog Clubs Do You Belong To?
The right answer: Quality breeders are involved in clubs, shows, or rescue.
💡 At Impeccable Chihuahuas, we are members of the International Chihuahua Club and other breed clubs.

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17. 🏅 Do You Show Your Dogs?
The right answer: Yes.
💡 Breeders who claim they “stay home instead” are often covering for dogs that don’t meet AKC standards or are not registered or are actually mixed breeds.
👉 We hire handlers to show our dogs while staying home with them. No excuse not to show!  

🚩 Red flag: They do not show or are involved with any aspect of the breed other than breeding.  

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18. 📏 May I See the Parents?
The right answer: Yes.
💡 Ask to see the parents' weight on a scale or vet records. Chihuahuas should be 6 lbs or less, but dams may be slightly larger.  Occasionally, one of the parents will reside with someone else (as a stud may) but photos and testing forms still must be shown. 

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19. 🐶 How Many Litters Do You Have Annually?
Quality is more important than quantity.
💡 Some breeders with frequent litters still produce health-tested, socialized puppies, while others with fewer litters cut corners.

✅ Be Smart—Ask for Proof
Quality breeders welcome questions and provide documentation. Don’t be fooled by fancy websites or smooth talkers. Take your time and find the right breeder—you’ll thank yourself later. 💕

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