“Breeding Better is Breeding Healthier — it’s our standard.”
Health • Ethics • Transparency • Compassion
Our Standard
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At A & A’s Chihuahuas, our mission goes beyond producing beautiful dogs — we are committed to building a legacy of health, structure, and integrity in the Chihuahua breed. Every pairing is thoughtfully planned through science-driven evaluation using our proprietary BreedGuru™ system, which integrates OFA, Embark, and conformation data to make balanced, responsible breeding decisions.
We are proud members of the AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. program and serve on the Chihuahua Club of America’s Health Committee, where we lead ongoing research into CM/SM (Chiari-like Malformation and Syringomyelia) and structural soundness in the breed. (Picture: Westminster Kennel Club Show, 2023)
Our Breeding Philosophy
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At A & A’s Chihuahuas, breeding is not simply the creation of puppies — it’s the careful cultivation of temperament, health, and legacy. Every litter begins with intention and ends with a companion who embodies the best of the Chihuahua: confident, healthy, and full of heart.
We do not breed for fleeting fads, “teacup” sizes, or marketing trends. Our goal is balance — where health, structure, and temperament harmonize. Through our proprietary BreedGuru™ system, each pairing is carefully planned using Embark genetic data, OFA certifications, and measured structural ratios to ensure every generation advances the breed rather than diminishes it.
But great breeding goes beyond genetics. From the moment our puppies are born, they begin a structured early socialization and confidence-building program designed to prepare them for life. Our process includes:
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Neonatal handling and desensitization to touch, sound, and scent from day one.
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Mini agility equipment and environmental enrichment introduced around six weeks to build coordination, curiosity, and problem-solving skills.
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Confidence exercises with natural textures, mild challenges, and playful exploration.
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BrilliantPad training to establish early hygiene habits and ease transitions into new homes.
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Positive motivation using single-ingredient treats and interactive play — including tug and chase games inspired by Fast CAT — to help each puppy discover what drives them most.
This structured foundation allows us to observe individual personality traits and instincts early on, helping us match each puppy to the right home or future career path — whether as a cherished family companion or a show prospect.
“Our puppies don’t just leave well-bred — they leave well-prepared.”— Rev. Tanya Stringer, FCG,
🧬 Our Genetic Promise
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At A & A’s Chihuahuas, health isn’t a checkbox — it’s a passion.
We go beyond simply testing our dogs; we interpret every data point, from DNA to structure, to make informed, ethical breeding decisions. Every pairing, every retained puppy, every generation is guided by science, experience, and compassion.
Our bloodlines represent seven generations of continuous Embark testing, allowing us to trace measurable genetic progress across time.
But we don’t stop at genetics — we quantify structure, too. Every adult Chihuahua in our program is carefully measured for key conformational traits including head ratios, leg length, shoulder layback, chest width, and neck carriage.
These measurements are entered into our proprietary BreedGuru™ system, which integrates Embark DNA data, OFA health certifications, and structural analysis. BreedGuru™ allows us to see how genetic markers and physical traits interact — turning numbers into knowledge and helping us make the right choices for each pairing.
Science, Health, and Ethics Combined
Each dog in our program is tested through Embark for Breeders and analyzed through BreedGuru™ to balance health, structure, and temperament.
We don’t breed for trends or color fads; we breed for balance, function, and legacy.
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We focus on genes and measurements that define a Chihuahua’s soundness — inside and out:
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IGF1R1 & GHR-PIT1L — regulate growth, proportion, and bone density
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FGF4 & BMP3 modifiers — influence muzzle length and leg proportion
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DLA Complex — reflects immune diversity and disease resistance
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DM & IVDD — neurological and spinal stability
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PRA-prcd & NCL — protect vision and brain health
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COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding) — maintained between 4–8% for optimal diversity
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BreedGuru™ Metrics — head ratios, shoulder angle, neck set, and overall balance for conformation and movement
BreedGuru™ connects what we see with what we know — merging genetics and structure into one holistic evaluation.
From Numbers to Knowledge
Testing is only the beginning. Understanding is the art.
BreedGuru™ allows us to visualize data across multiple generations — identifying relationships between genetic markers, structural traits, and health outcomes.
This insight helps us make decisions that protect the breed from hidden risks while improving type and function.
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We don’t breed around data.
We breed with it — intelligently, transparently, and compassionately.
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Beginning December 1, 2026, every puppy from A & A’s Chihuahuas will be Embark tested before leaving for their new home.
Families will receive a complete copy of their puppy’s Embark report, while anonymized data contributes to research that strengthens the breed for generations to come.
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“BreedGuru™ unites genetics, structure, and heart — transforming raw data into living legacy.
Every pairing is a study in purpose, not chance.”
— Rev. Tanya Stringer, FCG
For the Future of the Breed
Our OFA CHIC Commitment
“True excellence is proven — in every test, every record, every generation.”
At A & A’s Chihuahuas, integrity in breeding means accountability — not just to our dogs, but to the families and breeders who trust our program.
Each of our breeding adults is OFA CHIC certified, a designation awarded through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals’ Canine Health Information Center, which tracks and verifies official health results for every registered dog.
To qualify for a CHIC number, each Chihuahua must complete the health testing recommended by the Chihuahua Club of America, including:
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Patella Evaluation – performed by an OFA-certified veterinarian, confirming proper knee alignment and stability.
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Cardiac Examination (Auscultation) – performed by a veterinarian certified through the OFA, evaluating heart rhythm and function.
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Many of our breeding dogs go further, completing Advanced Cardiac Screening, which includes a full echocardiogram conducted by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.
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CAER Eye Exam – performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, screening for hereditary eye disorders.
All results are submitted to the OFA public database, ensuring transparency, traceability, and trust.
Each certification becomes part of a permanent public health record — open for anyone to verify, because responsible breeding should never hide behind closed doors.
But CHIC is only one part of the puzzle. When integrated with our Embark genetic testing and BreedGuru™ structural analysis, OFA certifications allow us to connect what’s in the genes to how it manifests in real-world health and structure.
Together, these layers of data help us make breeding decisions rooted in science, compassion, and long-term soundness.
Why We Don’t Breed for “Teacups”
At A & A’s Chihuahuas, we do not breed or market so-called “teacup” Chihuahuas — a term never recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), Chihuahua Club of America (CCA), or any legitimate kennel club worldwide. There is only one Chihuahua breed, defined by balance, proportion, and soundness — not by size extremes.
The AKC Breed Standard clearly states:
“A graceful, alert, swift-moving compact little dog … Weight — a well-balanced little dog, not to exceed six pounds.”
(AKC Breed Standard)
The Chihuahua Club of America reinforces this point:
“Teacup, Pocket Size, Tiny Toy, Miniature … are just a few of the many tags attached to this breed over the years. The Chihuahua Club of America does not endorse nor condone the use of any of these terms and cautions the prospective puppy buyer not to be misled by them.”
(CCA Official Statement)
We breed for structure, longevity, and health, not fragile novelty. A correctly built Chihuahua typically matures between 4–6 pounds, with some healthy individuals reaching 6–8 pounds depending on bone density, genetics, and maternal lines. These dogs are not oversized — they are balanced, functional, and crucial to maintaining genetic diversity and whelping strength.
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We do not use the common “toy breed growth charts” that attempt to predict adult weight based on birth weight.
These charts were never scientifically validated and are especially unreliable for Chihuahuas, whose growth patterns vary dramatically depending on:
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Line genetics and ancestral size history
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Bone density and skeletal maturity rate
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Nutrition and early developmental environment
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Litter size and milk availability
Relying on these charts encourages unrealistic expectations and misrepresents the complexity of Chihuahua development.
Instead, we evaluate growth patterns holistically — using lineage data, structural assessment, and past generational trends to make informed estimates.
Our focus isn’t predicting weight — it’s predicting soundness.
🚫 Why “Growth Charts” Don’t Work
The Chihuahua is more than its size — it is courage, intelligence, and spirit wrapped in a compact frame.
At A & A’s Chihuahuas, we strive to preserve that balance: a dog small enough to carry, yet strong enough to live fully and confidently.
Our focus isn’t on creating the tiniest Chihuahua, but the most complete one — a well-structured, emotionally balanced, and genetically sound companion capable of both beauty and endurance.
We believe true excellence comes from harmony between form, function, and temperament, and that every generation should be a step forward in both health and heart.
— Name, Title
Through the integration of Embark genetics, OFA certifications, and our proprietary BreedGuru™ system,
we breed not for trends, but for timelessness — the enduring spirit of the real Chihuahua.
The Chihuahua was once described as a “working dog in miniature,” and we honor that heritage.
Behind every elegant outline is a capable, confident companion — one bred for agility, intelligence, and resilience.
Because breeding better isn’t about producing more dogs.
It’s about building a legacy that honors the breed’s past, protects its future, and celebrates its unbreakable heart.
Balance, Health, and the True Chihuahua
Featured in Alphaluxe A Luxury Lifestyle Webzine
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