Following a request from the Chihuahua Breed Health Coordinator, on behalf of the breed clubs, the Kennel Club Board has agreed to allow the inter-variety mating of Smooth and Long Coat Chihuahuas.
There are ten breed clubs in Chihuahuas, but no breed council. The Kennel Club office therefore requested a majority reply from the breed clubs to take the request forward. The office received responses from all the clubs. They had asked their membership whether they wished to be able to inter-variety mate or whether this should be only by special permission. The results revealed that the majority of respondents were in favour of inter-variety matings but without prior permission having to be sought.
Dr Geoffrey Curr, Chihuahua Breed Health Coordinator, said: “This positive development for Chihuahuas would not have been possible without the unanimous support of all ten breed clubs. The allowing of inter-variety matings within the breed will have a positive effect upon genetic diversity for future generations, so this is very good news indeed.”
Dr Tom Lewis, Genetics & Research Manager at the Kennel Club, said: “The move to allow inter-variety matings for Chihuahuas will be helpful to breeders striving to deliver a sustainable population for generations to come and so is very welcome. The breed clubs should be proud of taking a step that will contribute to attempts to preserve genetic diversity in the Chihuahua breeds.”
Permission has now been granted for inter-variety matings to place on or after 2 June 2020. Applications to register the resulting puppies must be made on a paper form (not online) and all enquiries regarding such matings in Chihuahuas should be directed to hbs@thekennelclub.org.uk.
