I was recently asked to submit a chapter for a new book on showing Chihuahuas and my topic was to be from that of a newbie. With a year of dog showing under my belt this month, I have to say, what I have learned is the equivalent to a college degree. The costs have been equivalent too!

When I had to sit down and gather my thoughts to write my submission, I realized, there are a lot of us “newbies” out there. Perhaps sharing more than a few pages in a book would help any of those wishing to step foot into the ring learn from my mistakes and my triumphs. The idea for an entire section on my website devoted to showing Chihuahuas was born!

The plan is to add my tidbits, lessons and experiences in an unbiased fashion. Some of the things I have learned are unwritten rules that a newbie often learns the hard way, while others are lessons that can only be learned from the veterans in the breed. All will eventually be posted and I do hope you enjoy and learn from my journey.

Chances are, you are on the couch, looking down at your precious Chihuahua cuddled in your lap thinking, “You are so beautiful! I bet I could enter you in a dog show and you would win!”

I am here to tell you that the odds of that happening are less than you winning the Lottery! I know, I know, we all love our sweet Chihuahuas and think they are hands down, the best in the world. The thing is, Chihuahuas are bred for many reasons and their main job is to be your companion. That is a job that they do very well. They love us unconditionally and steal our hearts with their sweet eyes that are filled with their devotion.

As with any breed, you have Chihuahuas that are bred without the true knowledge of genetics and the understanding of the breed standard. Anyone can breed dogs. Yes, I said it – ANYONE CAN BREED DOGS! And you have read a gazillion times that you should get a a dog from a reputable breeder. Basically,  those that take good care of their dogs, breed a litter or two a year and have a very active role in where the puppies produced go. Perhaps there needs to be an additional type of breeder added to the list – Reputable SHOW Breeder. You see, there are many reputable Chihuahua breeders out there that produce some fantastic pets that will make a wonderful addition to a family. But for a dog to be of show quality, there are so many other pieces to the puzzle – Pieces that the average breeder doesn’t understand. Pieces that require a rather hefty investment of both time and money.

Going back to the question of, “So you want to show your Chihuahua?“….

If you got your beloved lap-lover through an ad you saw on the internet or your local paper. If your bestest buddy came home to you younger than the age of 6 months. If your Chi-Chi came with Limited AKC rights – You have a wonderful pet Chihuahua that you can loved unconditionally. If you want to enter your own Chihuahua in a Dog Show and see it through to a Champion title, we need to find you a new Chihuahua. But before that, you need to know how to spot a show quality Chihuahua.