Key Takeaways
- A chiweenie is a mix between a Chihuahua and a dachshund.
- This is a small and long crossbreed dog that is classified as a toy-breed.
- Chiweenies are loyal, fearless, and do best when they receive singular attention.
- Chiweenies are well-suited for apartments and city lifestyles.
In this world of crossbred, hybrid and designer dogs, it can sometimes feel as though there is an infinite number of dog breeds. The American Kennel Club currently has 192 purebred dogs registered. If we crossbreed two of these purebred dogs, a Chihuahua and Dachshund, then we will have a litter of Chiweenies.
A first-generation Chiweenie has both purebred Chihuahua and Dachshund parents. A Chihuahua Dachshund Mix, otherwise known as a Chiwee or Chiweenie, is a small and long-bodied crossbreed dog. The Chiweenie is classified as a toy breed dog measuring from eight to twelve inches in height and weighing less than ten pounds.
A typical litter size has anywhere from two to six pups and due to their mom’s small size, some complications can arise during pregnancy which may result in cesarean. Interesting fact: the dam is typically a Dachshund and the sire a Chihuahua, and the dam is normally artificially fertilized.
History of Chiweenies
First bred in the United States during the 90s, this breed attempts to combine the courageous temperament of the Chihuahua with the loyal personality of the Dachshund.
The rise of the Chiweenie has been fast and is increasing in popularity thanks to celebrity pet parents and one of our favorite Instagram pooches, Tuna.
Chiweenie Personality
If you are lucky enough to have spent time with or owned a Chihuahua, then you will have first-hand experience of their famous fearless temperament. A Chiweenie is no different from its parent and inherits this personality.
Whilst being a toy size, their personality is larger than life, and they are known for their yappy personality from their Chihuahua parent and high levels of loyalty and affection from their Chiweenie parent.
This small dog will require lots of attention and love. They’re not known to cope well with other animals or children, so many breeders recommend that they’re adopted by independent adults or senior folks who can provide them with that singular attention they crave. Luckily, weighing only ten pounds they are small enough to travel with so that charming personality can be with you at all times.
Fun Facts
- The lifespan of a Chiweenie is between thirteen to sixteen years old.
- Like most dogs, female Chiweenies are typically smaller than males measuring from eight to twelve inches in height and five to eight pounds in weight. You should expect a male to be a couple of pounds heavier.
- ½ cup of chow each day will keep your Chiweenie’s tiny stomach full and ensure they don’t become overweight (which can lead to back problems as many Dachshund parents are well aware of).
- A Chiweenie will require roughly thirty minutes of exercise a day, making them ideal for city living and apartments.
Next time you are at the dog park, take a look for dog with short stumpy legs, from its Chihuahua parent, and a long body, from the Dachshund, and you might have found a Chiweenie. If they are barking, full of life, and fantastically fearless you definitely have found one!
We’d love to see pictures of your charming Chiweenie! Make sure to tag us on Instagram #gohealthypaws with your favorite pics. And if you aren’t already a pet parent with us, look into getting a free quote (where you can even choose ‘Chiweenie’ as your pup’s breed) to help safeguard not just your lovable pup, but your wallet too.
This article was provided by All Things Dogs —a digital dog publication looking to educate over 40,000,000 dog owners on how to care for their dogs.
