Breeding suitability guide — Chihuahua
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
Verband Deutscher Kleinhundezüchter e.V. requires these tests for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patellar Luxation (PL) | Physical examination | PL 0 | Polygenic | Verband Deutscher Kleinhundezüchter e.V. |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
We currently have no structured mating rules for this breed. Please consult your club's regulation.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptorchidism | Physical examination | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Tracheal collapse (TC) | X-ray | — | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
| Corneal dystrophy (CD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) - "dry eye" (KCS) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) | Eye examination | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA) (CDA) | Skin test | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Demodicosis / Demodectic mange | Skin test | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Pattern baldness | Skin test | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Mitral valve dysplasia (MVD) | Ultrasound | normal | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (PDA) | Ultrasound | normal | Polygenic | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Pulmonary stenosis (PS) | — | normal | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) (CM/SM) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hydrocephalus | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
4. HonestDog verification
- Upload a legible certificate (PDF or photo) per test in the breeder dashboard
- Certificate must show date, examining vet, and FCI/VDH logo
- Certificates older than 36 months are flagged as stale
- We extract the results from each upload using AI and check them for consistency with the dog's profile — the profile tile then shows 'verified'