Now that you know whom not to go to for a puppy, whom should you go to in order to find a quality Chihuahua puppy? As the saying goes, quality begets quality. In other words, find a quality breeder and you will find quality dogs. For those who have not been dog fanciers for a significant number of years, being able to differentiate between a truly experienced, honest breeder and a slick operator can be difficult — until you know what to look for and what questions to ask.

Here's a checklist that can help you determine who the reputable breeders are. A reputable, experienced and honest breeder will meet all the following criteria:

Be a member of the Chihuahua Club of America, a regional or local Chihuahua club, and/or an all-breed dog club

Be dedicated to improving the breed, putting health and temperament first in breeding, followed closely by conformation

Test and certify dogs for genetic diseases prior to breeding

Raise his dogs in the home as companions — not “out back” or in a barn

Willingly provide names and phone numbers of his veterinarian, as well as past puppy buyers for you to contact

Want to know everything about you, what you do for a living, how many hours you spend at home or can spend with a dog, where you live, what your home is like, who lives with you and their ages, your experience with dogs, and your reasons for wanting a Chihuahua

Require you to personally pick up your puppy; he will not allow any puppy to be shipped to you sight unseen, no matter how far away you live

Not specialize in ultra-tiny sizes or “rare” colors or make any claims that these sizes or colors are more valuable

Provide a health guarantee and a detailed contract requiring pet puppies to be altered by a certain time in order to receive full registration

Always take his own dogs back, no matter what the owner's reasons

Support the efforts of breed rescue

Of course, a breeder can be the most experienced and respected individual in the dog world, but if you don't find him approachable, friendly, and willing to openly and enthusiastically discuss the breed with you (and answer all your questions as if not a one of them is “dumb”), then you'll never be able to tap into his great expertise. You'll be too afraid to come to him for help when you need it the most. You need to work with a quality breeder you both respect and find easy to talk to, a breeder you can rely on throughout your Chihuahua's life.