A Chihuahua puppy can be a great choice of a family pet for many folks, as long as you exercise some caution in deciding where you will get your puppy. Pet stores will advertise, "Chihuahua puppies for sale!" and people will flock to the shop to get their pet. However, pet stores that sell dogs are really nothing more than a broker who is working for commercial breeders and puppy mills that are interested in nothing more than taking your money for a substandard dog. These places do not care about breeding animals that are healthy or well socialized. Purchasing a dog from a pet store is simply asking for trouble.

There are also people who will advertise themselves as Chihuahua breeders, but some are irresponsible in their breeding practices, and others are con-artists, plain and simple. Fortunately, there are some guidelines that you can learn to help you recognize a con artist or poor breeder to protect yourself from paying money for a dog that will not be healthy.

Finding a breeder is the best way to purchase a Chihuahua puppy for sale, but not all who claim to be breeders really are. To find out for sure, check the registration papers for the mother of your puppy. If the person's name is on the papers, then he is the legitimate owner of the dog. If not, you are dealing with a broker, which takes you back to the problems listed above.

If you can determine that you are indeed working with the actual breeder, there are then some other red flags to watch for. First, bad breeders will not have veterinarian records for their dogs, often because they are trying to cut corners by cutting back on vet visits. Next, a breeder that does not allow you to see the place where the puppies are being cared for may not be keeping his puppies in a clean environment. Puppies that live in their own waste can be very difficult dogs to house-train.

Finally, a good Chihuahua breeder will not even consider letting you take a pup before it is at least ten weeks old. Any sooner, and the breeder is not being responsible with his puppies.

There are plenty of ways to identify a bad breeder, now let's look at the ways to recognize a good one. A reputable breeder with Chihuahua puppies for sale will never sell them without ensuring that the people purchasing them will be able to provide them with good homes. It's not all about the money for a good breeder, but about the betterment of the breed and the best care for the dogs. A good breeder will be willing to take a dog back at any time in the dog's life because he never surrenders the responsibility of his dogs entirely.

A good breeder will have you sign a contract that states that if at any time you are no longer able to care for the dog, you will return it to the breeder.

By knowing what to look for in a breeder, you are more likely to find a healthy Chihuahua puppy that you can enjoy for many years to come.