Our Commitment to Our Dogs & Their Health

At Salem’s Finest Chihuahuas, our sires and dams are more than breeding dogs — they are beloved family members who live in our home. Always Pets First.

All of our Chihuahuas are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), and pedigrees are available upon request once you’ve submitted a puppy application.

We take health seriously. Each of our dogs is routinely checked and cleared through the recommended health screenings for Chihuahuas: eyes, patellas, and hearts. We submit our results to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), a trusted public database. This ensures transparency and helps us make thoughtful breeding decisions. For example, if one of our dogs shows a minor concern with knees or eyes, we make sure not to pair them with another dog that carries a similar issue — always putting health first.

In addition to veterinary health exams, our breeding dogs are also genetically tested for over 200 health conditions and traits. While genetic testing doesn’t replace a vet exam, it plays a crucial role in identifying inherited conditions that could impact future generations.

Our goal is simple: to produce healthy, happy, well-tempered puppies who will thrive in their forever families. We believe in full transparency, which is why we share our health testing results publicly. Many breeders claim to health test — but we encourage you to verify. Search the OFA database, ask to see certificates, and expect proof. A responsible breeder should be proud to share this information openly. As genetic testing continues to advance, we will keep expanding the health tests and clearances we perform on our adult breeding dogs. 

Lastly, we know it’s important to see more than just a couple of staged photos when considering a puppy. That’s why we share multiple pictures of our dogs — living their best lives every day — so you can truly get to know them.