About Us and Our Goals

🐾At Carsten’s Chihuahuas, everything begins with a simple belief:

The right puppy, in the right home, at the right time. We are not a large breeding operation.
We are a small, in-home program where every dog is known, handled daily, and is a part of our everyday life.

🏡 Raised in Our Home. Our puppies are raised in our home, not kept in kennels or separate buildings. They're part of our daily life from the very beginning. With over 30 years of experience raising and breeding Chihuahuas, we know what to look for early on, how puppies develop, and how to guide them through those critical first weeks to become a part of their upcoming family.
They are born and grow up right inside our home, surrounded by normal sights, sounds, and routines.
That means:

They’re used to people, movement, and daily activity
They’re handled from the very beginning
They develop confidence naturally, not by chance
The goal is simple:
a Chihuahua that fits into your life without fear, stress, or struggle.

💛 Temperament Comes First. Chihuahuas are known for their big personalities… not all personalities are created equal. We focus on producing puppies that are:
Affectionate without being clingy
Confident without being aggressive
Alert without being overly reactive
In short, dogs you can truly live with and enjoy every day.

🧬 Purposeful, Limited Breeding. We raise a small number of litters each year so we can give each puppy the time, attention, and care they deserve. This allows us to:
Monitor development closely
Provide consistent socialization
Match each puppy thoughtfully to the right home
We are not first-come, first-served.
We are the best fit, always.

🐶 Our Commitment to Our Puppies. Every puppy receives:
Daily handling and early socialization
Age-appropriate veterinary care
A strong foundation before going home
Puppies typically leave between 10 and 12 weeks of age, giving them extra time to develop confidence and important early skills.

🤝 Our Commitment to You. We believe bringing home a puppy should feel supported, not overwhelming. When you choose one of our puppies, you’re not just getting a dog—you’re gaining:
Open, honest communication
Guidance before and after pickup
A breeder who remains available for questions and support
We stay invested long after your puppy goes home.

🏁 Is One of Our Puppies Right for You? Our puppies do best with families who:
Want a true companion, not just a small dog
Value temperament and early development
Are you ready for a long-term commitment?
If that sounds like you, we’d love to learn more about you.

📞 Let’s Connect. We take pride in matching the right puppy with the right home:
If you’re interested in joining our future family or learning more, we invite you to complete our application form on the puppy page or contact us page.
Your future companion may be closer than you think.

My contact info:
Mary Carsten
Bois D'Arc, Missouri
417-773-2380