I'm new here...pics!

[Honey&Ritzy]

Hi my name is Elizabeth and I am new here. I am 21 and a college student (almost a senior, yay!). I am engaged to the love of my life, Shawn (28), a real estate appraiser. He has two children from a previous marriage, Courtney age 5 and Devon age 8. I love them like my own. We also have one son together who is 14.5 months old, Alexander (aka Alex).

I've always loved animals and have always owned animals. Right now we own 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 2 guinea pigs. Our first dog is a 5 year old rescued Boxer named Spooky. She is just so excellent with everyone, especially the kids. She was going to be put down because she couldn't have anymore litters, so we adopted her and spayed her and now she's a loving member of our family. We all love the day we stumbled upon her!

We also have two chihuahuas, our second chihuahua is actually becoming a member of our family tomorrow, we are sort of rescueing her from a puppy mill. Her name is Honey and she is a CKC reg'd female Chihuahua, "breeder" is unsure of her age. She is currently pregnant. She weighs about 5lbs and is a fawn and white. She is very very shy and we hope she will come around with time. We just couldn't leave her when we heard about her.

Our other chihuahua we just bought from a respectable breeder 2 weeks ago. He is a 4 month old half-a-pound teacup Chihuahua. His name is El Rizzito (Ritzy for short) and he is an AKC reg'd chocolate and white spotted male. We plan on keeping him intact and eventually breeding him, he comes from champion bloodlines and is show quality. I plan on showing him as well.

We also have 2 guinea pigs that I rescued a few weeks ago, both are pregnant. There is a tri-colored American Crested named Sprite and a solid black Abysinnian named Midnight. I built a huge C&C cage for them.

We also have a "rescued" kitten. Someone threw him out of a car window doing 60+mph and left him to die. Luckilly I witnessed it and brought him into my vet. His lip had been ripped off and had to be sewn back on and he had no feeling in the entire right side of his body. He only weighed 3oz. It was touch and go for two weeks at the vets, but he came around and only had one leg with no feeling from below the shoulder down. He was obviously too little to do surgery, so we've been piling the weight on him and letting him grow up a bit. He gets around great pulling the one leg around and we've named him Gimpy, because, well, he's Gimpy lol. It just sort of stuck. He goes in to be neutered and have his leg amputated next Monday.

Here are some pictures..


This is Spooky, our Boxer, meeting our friends' Boxer they got for Christmas. The little girl is Courtney, my soon to be stepdaughter.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/December06017.jpg

This is Gimpy.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/Gizmo2.jpg

This is Sprite.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/SwirlofSprite.jpg

[Honey&Ritzy]

This is Midnight.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/MidnightEnvy.jpg

This is El Rizzito.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/ElRizzito4.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/ElRizzito3.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/ElRizzito2.jpg

More coming...

[Honey&Ritzy]

Last Ritzy photo...
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/ElRizzito1.jpg

These are recent pictures of Honey and the tri-color Chi is the male she is bred to.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/honeyngizzy.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/honeyngiz.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/honey99.jpg

More coming..

[Honey&Ritzy]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/honey4.jpg

Another picture of the male she is bred to...
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/gizzy3.jpg

And these pictures were of Honey and her last litter of puppies in 2004 from birth on up.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0101puppy_tractor0003.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0101puppy_tractor0006.jpg
More coming..

[Honey&Ritzy]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0101puppy_tractor0008.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0101puppy_tractor0015.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0101puppy_tractor0022.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0101puppy_tractor0029.jpg

[Honey&Ritzy]

And pictures of (I think) her most adorable puppy.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0106dogs0018.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/royaldressage/2004_0106dogs0007.jpg

Rizzito has his check-up and rabies shots and worming later today, and I've made an appointment for Honey in 2 weeks time for a full check up and pregnancy check to make sure she is healthy.

Sorry about all of the pictures, but I hope you enjoy! I can't wait to meet all of you!

[islandbabies]

Welcome Elizabeth AND large family!! LOL.
Don't ever be sorry for posting lots of pictures! We love photo sharing time!!
Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate, especially with a pregnant chi coming in a couple weeks!! Wowza!
Thanks for joining us here at CC! We are a great bunch of friends here.
BTW, I'm JJ live in HI with 4 puppers and a fish.

[Hercules Momma]

Wow.. Elizabeth.. that's what we like to see.. bunches of pictures!!! You have definitely had your hands full. I commend you for taking in the rescues and taking good care of them.. Gimpy's story broke my heart, but he certainly looks good in his picture. Honey looks like a good mom and her puppies look so sweet. I love the colors on Ritzy!

I'm Renata, I've got two chi's, one lab, and two cats.

[Romans Mom]

Hi Elizebeth :wave: Welcome to Club Chi. All your furbabies are adorable, and Courtney is a cutie too! How sad for Gimpy, but very lucky you were right there to save him and are now taking care of his needs. I am also happy you are rescuing Honey. :) Barb

[2Chiwawa]

Hi Elizabeth, Wow, great introduction. I have a cat named C.J. who is now 3 years old. I adopted him from a shelter 2 years ago. He had been thrown from a car as a kitten too. A man scooped him up and brought him to the shelter. They fixed him up. He has a chipped tooth but otherwise is fine. After two previous homes rejected him (they said he talked too much) he and I got lucky and found each other. I know Gimpy will do fine on just 3 legs. He is beautiful and lucky to have you.

Your other rescues are wonderful too. Poor Honey. It is good you are getting her out of that situation. She will be a good friend to your other chi and the boxer. Let alone all you humans.

I love piggies. Thank you so much for posting pics of the piggies. I had them as a kid and loved how they squealed when they heard me come home. I loved them calling out to me.

I am Faye. I live with one chi female, 6 years old, expecting new puppy in two weeks. Also have two cats: C.J. red tabby and Einstein a Maine Coon who I adopted about 1 year ago.

Here are some pictures. We never get tired of posting or looking at pictures.

[Liz]

Those are some cute babies. I love the color on the dark brown and white chihuahua (Ritzy).

Liz

[Jessie]

Welcome to the forum :D Your babies are very cute.

By the way, there is no such thing as a teacup chihuahua. The AKC breed standard calls for a chi to weigh 2-6lbs, and it is a toy breed. There are only 2 types of chis, and they are longcoated and shortcoated. :D

[Amaze]

Elizabeth and "crew",

Welcome to Club Chihuahua! It seems like you and your family are true animal lovers and have helped many animals! It makes me sick to see how your poor Honey was treated and am glad that she will have a better life with you. The members here range from first-time, new Chihuahua owners to one or two who have been showing and breeding dogs for a number of years. If you are intending on breeding in the future and wish to do so responsibly, I think you will learn a lot from these boards.

If I may be so forward, why do you feel your little male is show and/or breeding quality?

Also, there are many factors that determine if a dog is worthy of breeding/showing, champion bloodlines mean absolutely nothing unless the dog itself is of show quality. It is really just a selling tool unscrupulous (sp?) people have twisted pet owners into thinking it is worth something. Ideally, all people breeding dogs would be doing so to support the purebreed of their choice and continue developing dogs that fit their standard and behaviors as originally intended. Those people will either show or trial those dogs and thus, add titles to the names of the dogs that are qualified to become potential breeders. So "champion bloodlines" was supposed to show pet people that the dogs were of high quality. With so many puppy mills and backyard breeders (people with pets who breed pets with little to no knowledge of what bloodlines or genetics are behind their dogs) who have a dog or two with Champions in their pedigrees advertise that as if it brings value to the pets they are producing. Not so.

Even with breeding show quality or Champion dogs, people are lucky to produce just one dog in a litter that is show quality, rarely are there more then a couple. Any littermate, although of champion bloodlines are still pets and did not receive many of the genetics necessary to be show dogs. Truly responsible breeders and exibitors know that just having a Champion title does not mean a dog should be bred or has enough good qualities to pass on to future generations. When making the decision to breed, you must ask yourself if you feel by producing these puppies, will you improve the breed or just add to it?

Alyssa

Picture of an 8 Week Old Show Quality Long Coat Puppy

[Jessie]

I agree, Alyssa. Just because a dog is AKC registered and has champions in its pedigree, it doesn't mean that he or she is show/breeding quality.

[Honey&Ritzy]

Well I've had two friends who are very respectable breeders and show Chihuahuas say he definately looks show quality. Of course, we'll have to see how he matures. I plan on taking him to obedience school, teaching him basic obedience, then taking him to an AKC show or two. If the judges feel he is not breeding quality, his nads will be chopped off quickly (not to be crude, but I, too, do not believe in breeding dogs just for breeding..only reason I would EVER breed him is to IMPROVE the breed and if someone who is more knowledgeable than me sees flaws that should not be passed on, I will listen to them and have him neutered and enjoy him as my best friend anyways!).

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. We just got Honey today and I have been so PEED OFF all day. I am so disgusted with this lady. I'll be posting about it soon. Poor Honey. I wish I could've saved them all. :cry: But I did what I could and saved Honey and her unborn pups.

[debradaniellee]

Very impressive! You are wonderful for rescuing all the pets you have. Its so nice to hear.

[2Chiwawa]

Hi Elizabeth, good luck with Ritzy's evaluation. We have two members who show dogs and it will be exciting to have a third. I am impressed that you are having him evaluated and will neuter him if necessary.

Let us know how it goes. :)

[Romans Mom]

Elizabeth and "crew",

Welcome to Club Chihuahua! It seems like you and your family are true animal lovers and have helped many animals! It makes me sick to see how your poor Honey was treated and am glad that she will have a better life with you. The members here range from first-time, new Chihuahua owners to one or two who have been showing and breeding dogs for a number of years. If you are intending on breeding in the future and wish to do so responsibly, I think you will learn a lot from these boards.

If I may be so forward, why do you feel your little male is show and/or breeding quality?

Also, there are many factors that determine if a dog is worthy of breeding/showing, champion bloodlines mean absolutely nothing unless the dog itself is of show quality. It is really just a selling tool unscrupulous (sp?) people have twisted pet owners into thinking it is worth something. Ideally, all people breeding dogs would be doing so to support the purebreed of their choice and continue developing dogs that fit their standard and behaviors as originally intended. Those people will either show or trial those dogs and thus, add titles to the names of the dogs that are qualified to become potential breeders. So "champion bloodlines" was supposed to show pet people that the dogs were of high quality. With so many puppy mills and backyard breeders (people with pets who breed pets with little to no knowledge of what bloodlines or genetics are behind their dogs) who have a dog or two with Champions in their pedigrees advertise that as if it brings value to the pets they are producing. Not so.

Even with breeding show quality or Champion dogs, people are lucky to produce just one dog in a litter that is show quality, rarely are there more then a couple. Any littermate, although of champion bloodlines are still pets and did not receive many of the genetics necessary to be show dogs. Truly responsible breeders and exibitors know that just having a Champion title does not mean a dog should be bred or has enough good qualities to pass on to future generations. When making the decision to breed, you must ask yourself if you feel by producing these puppies, will you improve the breed or just add to it?

Alyssa

Picture of an 8 Week Old Show Quality Long Coat Puppy

Fantastic post Lys. Well said! Thanks for your expert information.

[Amaze]

Thanks Barb!

Elizabeth-I am relieved to hear you say that you are willing to neuter your puppy if he is not of quality to show/breed. I hope you can understand that we have had more then a few people come to CC who feel they have a need or right to breed their dog and don't understand that they are just adding to the world's pet population. Even if people are breeding for something other then show, it should be an educated, well-thought out, commited process to producing dogs they feel are representatives of Chihuahuas and to produce the healthiest, happiest dogs they can.

That being said, I think it is important for you to understand that Chihuahuas, as a whole, are not a strongly-represented breed in the show world-meaning there are many poor examples of dogs winning points and even finishing because judges have nothing else to choose from. Even in the Midwest where there are some very strong, experienced breeders who have been in the breed for years and produced National Specialty and Best in Show dogs, we have our share of "pet" dogs being shown by people-and sometimes winning! I personally feel that anyone and everyone considering or showing their first dog should attend as many specialty shows as possible, including our National Specialty or Rotating Specialty to truly understand and SEE the quality of dog being shown across the country. What wins on a local level isn't usually competative in a National ring...

Thanks for putting up with all my information, I am glad to help you in any way I can to evaluate your puppy and/or prepare him for the show ring!

Alyssa

[lovemygirls]

Welcome!!! What a wonderful person you must be to rescue all these babies.. I loved all the pictures!

I have 2 chi's Chloe and Caylie and my "adopted" daughter Sterling, a weimaraner (my boyfriends dog).

[cinnamon]

Welcome Elisabeth with all your beautiful family, thank you very much to have posted so many pics, I like very much to see pictures (by the way it's so long I don't post mine......).
I'm Patrizia from Italy I have three chi girls: Polpetta (that means Hamburger), Cacao which is her daughter and my mother's dog, and Cannella (Cinnamon)

[Bev&Casey]

Hi Welcome

I'm just reading through all the wonderful information. I often come up empty when strangers inquire as to whether my dog is an apple dome? a teacup? a deer head?
The last time it happened I was thinking WHERE'S Lys when you need her.

[kellyandmiko]

very cute pictures

[VentiBear]

Ritzy is so so so cute. He looks like my chi.