About Us

 Our family has been hobby breeding and raising chihuahuas in our home for our own enjoyment for several years. Through the years we’ve had many happy and sad times, Blessings and losses, learned much about the breeding world and decided at some point we would like to retire from regular jobs and travel, showing our line of chihuahuas. That day has yet to come, with children in school, middle age health issues cropping up and retirement from the 9-5 looking like it may never happen, we muddle through like everyone else with our faithful dogs by our side, making our days brighter and our nights warmer! It’s a family affair that spans several generations, that otherwise would not be possible. Caring for these little ones from delivery through the day they leave truly takes a village to do safely, ethically and responsibly. Years of experience have taught us that to produce quality chihuahuas with excellent temperament, health and conformation, short cuts are not an option. Puppies prefer to be born late evenings on weekends and holidays, and the emergencies tend to be after 5 pm and before 8 am. It’s a 24/7 breeder family commitment to monitor pregnant dams and newborn puppies. Our chihuahuas are lovingly bred with expertise and raised in our home with tender care, not short cuts. 

At Tenderheart Chihuahuas, we believe every chihuahua puppy deserves the best start in life, beginning before that puppy is even born, and our commitment to you and your new puppy begins long before we are acquainted, with our breeding standards and practices.

Our breeding program consists of good-natured, AKC-registered, genetically tested, pedigreed Chihuahuas chosen from champion pedigrees following lengthy research with their breeders, if acquired. Our breeding dogs and hopefuls receive optimal nutrition, genetic testing to assist in avoiding health issues, mostly holistic approach to vaccines as safely possible, an enriched environment with play time and socialization, come from emotionally sound, good natured parents with good conformation and titles in the pedigree to prove good lineage. Our dogs are not kept caged up in a kennel or left outdoors. They are part of our family, sleep indoors on furniture, or in their crate for the night, whatever their preference. At the end of the day, these are companion animals, domesticated and not livestock and live with us as cherished pets. They are very much loved and treated with adoration and respect. They have toys everywhere, snacks, fuzzy beds in every room and corner and lots of cute outfits. We love them. We are not a breeding facility. We are a knowledgeable family that breeds only chihuahuas.

Once our breeding hopefuls are of age and again evaluated for breeding fitness, we make the final decision to add them to our program for what attributes they may bring or decide to rehome them if they have not met our high standards or have other flaws that would not be suitable for breeding. Temperament, health, structure, and the dog’s instinct for breeding all play a key part in this difficult decision. We believe it’s equally important that each dog is comfortable and happy in a pack environment in addition to being emotionally and behaviorally sound for breeding. Not all dogs are happy to be part of a pack. As difficult as it may be, and it’s so so difficult, we sometimes must make adjustments and find suitable homes for gorgeous young dogs that were intended to be bred. All necessary to produce the high-quality companions we’ve come to be known for.

Chihuahuas are our passion which makes raising them a labor of love and sharing that love with other families, making lifelong connections, watching them grow from afar is what we love most. We know our effort is appreciated. We have made many great friends throughout the years.

When we do have puppies available for sale, the money goes back into caring for the dogs, for their food, equipment, supplies and medical expenses. Our puppies are loved and pampered from the moment they are born, just as they should be. They are fed only nutritious high quality foods and receive lots of daily hands on attention. Using Puppy Culture, we practice early neural stimulation, socialize early and acclimate the pups to people, pets and household noises. They are held often and are given the same love and attention they would get, if they were all staying as cherished pets. They are raised in common areas where there is lots of new and familiar faces and voices. When it comes to raising quality chihuahuas, we know that it takes expertise, patience, love, dedication to the breed and lots of commitment! We wouldn’t change it for the world. Most of our puppies are sold from our waitlist as beloved pets, but we are willing to discuss full AKC to the right small breeding or show family homes. We are Proud members of the International Chihuahua Club!

You can always just give us a call anytime, but click below if you'd like to be directed back to our Home Page for Our Puppy Process