Is my Chihuahua purebred?

''Is my Chihuahua purebred?''
I get asked this question several times a week. So I thought I would write a short article to answer this question.
 
What is a purebred dog or purebred dog? There is only one definition: It is a dog with a Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registration certificate. In Canada, all purebred dogs hold a registration certificate issued by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). Without this certificate, it is prohibited to sell a dog as a purebred dog under penalty of a fine. The certificate indicates, among other things, the dog's registered name, breed, date of birth, as well as the name of the father and mother. The breeder must register the puppy and send the registration certificate to the new owners within six months from the date of purchase. A recording from the Canadian Kennel Club looks like this;

A health record, a veterinary opinion, a sales contract, a puppy from two parents registered with the Canadian Kennel Club (CCC) etc; DO NOT DEFINE A DOG AS PURE BREED/PURE BREED. The ONLY thing that proves that a dog is purebred is a registration with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC).
 
On the other hand, there is a second problem; a purebred dog ≠ a dog conforming to breed standards. Which means that a dog with characteristics opposite to breed standards could be purebred!
Unfortunately some breeders have defrauded the Canadian Kennel Club by registering mixed dogs as purebreds and unlike other countries there are fewer or no checks here so no more fake purebreds in circulation. Even puppy mills can sell purebred/purebred puppies. In Quebec, there are therefore dogs which are registered and totally outside the breed standard and unregistered dogs therefore not purebred but which are 100% conform to the breed standards and which would win in dog shows if they were registered.
 
In short, to be a “real” purebred Chihuahua you must:
1) Be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club (CCC) therefore purebred/purebred
                                             AND
2) Be consistent with breed standards.
 
To find out the standards of the Chihuahua breed, consult this article: https://www.facebook.com/notes/machu-pitou-%C3%A9levage-chihuahua/le-standard-du-chihuahua/737312523016712

NB: In no case is this article intended to judge the adopters of non-pure dogs or to judge non-pure dogs. It is only to inform people of the implication of using the term purebred/purebred and to avoid fraud when adopting a puppy.

*Important*
In Canada, there is a law which prohibits anyone from selling a so-called purebred dog, without written proof, without registration with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). This law is called: the Canadian Animal Genealogy Act. Indeed, this law protects pure breeds. When we talk about written evidence, it is the dog's registration papers, the dog's pedigree. The Pedigree is issued by a club which has authorization to register and issue pedigrees. In Canada, it is the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC – CCC) http://www.ckc.ca/ . Never buy a so-called purebred dog without having the pedigree. If you do not have the CKC pedigree your dog is not purebred and it doesn't matter if you are told “the parents are purebred”! Any person displaying PURE RACE or selling under false representation but not providing the papers is liable to a fine of 25,000 to 50,000$ in Canada!!

The Canadian Animal Pedigree Act primarily aims to improve species and protect breeders and animal buyers. For these purposes, the Act provides for the establishment of animal pedigree associations which are authorized to register and inventory animals which are of significant value.
Offence:
66. (1) Any person who contravenes this Act or the regulations made under it commits an offense and is liable, on conviction:
(a) by summary procedure, a maximum fine of twenty-five thousand dollars
(b) on indictment, a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars

Author: Machu Pitou Chihuahua Breeding.
**Any use of this text is subject to copyright​