BadComrade wrote:

My new kitten.

Oh my!

Does it have a name yet?

It's very cute.

I'm considering getting a chihuahua, but I'm a bit worried about adopting one. Due to the recent popularity of the breed, puppy mills have been churning them out, ignoring good breeding practices.

Is it so terrible to get one from an AKC registered breeder? I know all of these poor puppies are in pounds and need to be adopted, but I would rather not have a dog than have a pain in the ass dog with lots of congenital defects.

The AKC at least makes their registered breeders do genetic tests, etc.

A chihuahua from such a breeder costs at least $600. But adopting one can cost $100-200 anyway. My concern is if I adopt, I end up spending a lot of money in vet bills and have an unhappy and sick dog.

The other advantage is most of these pups are already paper trained. Going from paper to a litter box is no big deal. Then I will have a dog that is as convenient as a cat without the indifference (and half the size too).

yut, as a general rule, a mutt is far, far less likely to have any congenital defects, no matter what the paperwork says.

To make a short answer to your question, yes. It's fucking ridiculous to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars just so you can be sure what your dog's going to look like. (And that is the ONLY advantage to buying a purebreed. Statistically, a purebreed will cost you more at the vet, because they're more likely to have genetic weaknesses.)

Behavior problems can be overcome, and shelter dogs by no means necessarily come with behavioral problems. Uncertain ultimate size isn't a big deal, because the variation isn't huge. Is it a big deal that the dog you thought would be 20 pounds turns out to be 40?

Thousands of dogs euthanized every day and people pay obscene amounts of money for purebreeds just to keep as pets (as opposed to breeding for show). To put none too fine a point on it, I find it obscene.

For me, the size is important. My HOA only allows dogs under 20 lbs. It makes sense, because it is cruel to have a large dog in a small apartment (but still better than putting it to sleep). They also had a problem with people getting pit bulls and rottweilers.

The only dogs I like that are < 20lbs are chi's. I don't like the fluffy dogs. I am not even a fan of long coat chi's.

I guess if I adopt one that is over a year old, I will have a pretty good notion of what size it will be.

My other concern is that a lot of people get a puppy, don't train it properly, and then give it up to a shelter because it is a pain... I guess, like you said, I can re-train it.

I tried to adopt a 2 year old 7 lbs chi, but the owners said it wasn't a good fit. They were breeders, and it is used to being around other dogs and being outside. They said they were unable to housebreak the dog.

Behavioral problems can be overcome 99% of time. It's not easy, but it can be done.

If you're stuck with the 20-lb limit, you really are in a tight spot. Try looking for small-breed rescue groups nearby. They take in purebred pups that others didn't want or couldn't keep for one reason or another.

I just urge people to rescue unwanted dog at every opportunity because their fates are so grim otherwise. Save your money for obedience training if needed.

And don't get me started on the big dog in a small apartment thing. It's such a load of bullshit. As long as the dog gets out and gets enough exercise, it doesn't give a shit how big the apartment is. Dogs have a strong den instinct and are perfectly happy spending most of their time in relatively small spaces as long as they're sufficiently exercised. But I realize that rule is out of your hands.

BadComrade's cat is cute.

Artsy fartsy i know, but that motherfucker would take you to the cleaners.

glynnis, that looks like a photo out of Sam Peckinpah's family album. Bad. Ass. (You know, for something with a cat in it.)

This is Rex. He is my friend Catherine's dog, but we have become excellent buddys. He is an awesome dog.

rachael wrote:

BadComrade wrote:

My new kitten.

Um....can I come over?

Oh my god, my girlfriend would totally kill for that kitten.