Chihuahua question....?

It's a genetic defect! If you breed him, the same problem will be passed on to the puppies. Do him and yourself a big favor and have him Neutered. He should never be bred!

You should not breed him at all, ever. He has a parrot jaw and could very well have puppies similarly afflicted. Even those that might look normal might be carrying the genes for the jaw that would afflict the next generation.

Every dog considered for breeding should be the best, the most perfect, the most accomplished dogs, not dogs carrying a major fault and physical defect.

Let him be a terrific pet. When he's full grown, have him neutered. You'll be doing the breed a favor.

I'm sorry to say that you shouldn't breed your boy. You may think him cute, but this is a grave example of poor genes that really should not be passed on.

EDIT: Thanks, the proper name is malocclusion.

The reason that there are dog shows and conformation and all that is to ensure that breeding dogs are of the best quality. That means that the dogs who get to breed have terrific temperaments, are the correct height and weight, generally look how they should, and are free of genetic problems.

This is only a very obvious flaw in his skeletal structure - he very well have many genetic defects, and some of them may be quite serious.

For instance, there are issues in Chihuahuas that all good breeders have thoroughly checked out. Were your pup's parents vetted for:

PRA (progressive retinal atrophy)

patellar luxation

collapsing trachea

hydrocephalus

cryptorchidism

If you don't know what these mean and your breeder doesn't, then I'm afraid you've bought a dog from an ignorant backyard breeder, and you may end up paying quite a bit for veterinary bills.

Anyways, this is seen as a serious fault and I would neuter your lovely boy as soon as possible and enjoy the rest of his days.

If you are serious about breeding, get ahold of some good breeders through the parent breed club http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/public_html/... and ask them to mentor you on obtaining a great dog, showing, and breeding. There is no shortage of bad breeders in this world, but good ones are few and far between! : )

Offhand, any good dog worth breeding is over 2 years of age, completely vetted for congenital disease, is (for America) AKC registered (or UKC for the FSS dogs that haven't received recognition yet), and has its championship.

I hope this helps, and have fun with your pup!

PS What is his name? : )

Sorry, the puppies will most likely have parrot mouth, too. It is more than just a cosmetic fault. It affects the dog's digestion and the way his teeth wear down. In short, it's unhealthy.

You wouldn't want to breed unhealthy puppies would you? Be kind and neuter you dog.

It is an inherited trait and though he is still young enough to have it corrected if you breed him the puppies will have the same deformity. Go to About.com:dogs and search the site for malocclusion. This will have all the information you are looking for.