Looking for the perfect small dog which you can move cuddle and move around with? Chiweenies are the best companions for you. Chiweenies are a cross breed of the Chihuahua and Dachshunds breeds. They were developed in the 1990s. They are known for many different nicknames such as German Taco and Mexican Hotdog or Weiner.
Physical appearance
Being a mixed breed, you expect these dogs to have features of both the Chihuahua and the Dachshunds with a visible dapple . Their bodies are long from the Dachshund genes while their legs are a bit short from the Chihuahua genes. A full grow Chiweenie will be about 24 pounds. They have a small head and ears which varies depending on the dominant gene.
Their coat is silky with little fur hence a right choice for someone allergic to dog fur. Breeds that are long haired are also available given their parent genes have a relative amount of hair. They come in several colors most having black, brown or tan colors. However, you can also find some which are white, blond, red or multicolored.
Behavioral properties
A Chiweenie has a friendly personality mostly with familiar faces. It loves being placed on a person’s lap as well. It can sometimes become protective of its owner causing them to be aggressive. Just like many dogs, they too need consistent training to have some level of discipline.
They are indoor animals and may want to sleep close to their owners in the night. Just like other puppies, they can be loud when it comes to barking and most of the time is to look for attention. To reduce this, you need to keep them occupied with toys or play with them.
The Chiweenies need to be around older children who understand how to be gentle with little dogs. Avoid being rough with them mainly because of their susceptible disc problems. Chiweenies, just like Dachshunds and Chihuahuas, are diggers and may try to dig out a lot of your furniture if kept in the house for long.
How to Groom Chiweenies
Chiweenies are very easy to groom because of their size having minimal fur which does not shed frequently. You can brush them once a week to keep their hair straight and soft. If they have long fur, you can clean them daily which will also mean a lot of shedding. They do not take a bath regularly, once a month is enough unless an urgency arises.
Brush their teeth regularly to avoid dental deterioration which is familiar with their parents, the Chihuahuas. You can trim their nails once or twice a month to prevent them from growing too long and splitting. Some children will want to apply a little color on their nails which are okay for a female Chiweenie. You can as well dress it for fun when you have the time.
Health
Chiweenies are mostly healthy animals with very few health issues throughout their lives. The most common health problem they can contract is allergies to pollen and dust. This happens to dogs that are kept most of the time indoors. To cater for this, you can buy air filters and change them frequently.
A crossbred dog may be considered healthier than its parents, but this is not a 100% chance. There are still some diseases that Chiweenies may inherit from Dachshunds and Chihuahuas. From the Dachshund side, these diseases include seizures, intervertebral degenerative disc disease, diabetes, and hypothyroidism. From the Chihuahua side, they may inherit health complications such as dental problems, hydrocephalus, hypoglycemia, and luxating patellas.
Though the genetic diseases may be in the Chiweenies’ line, it does not mean you should be afraid that yours has them. However, being aware of their possible occurrence will help you plan accordingly. Prevention is better than cure as they say.
How long do Chiweenies live?
The life expectancy for any animal is relative to the environment where it lives. A dog in the wild will die younger than a dog in a domestic environment. The same case applies to Chiweenies. How well you take care of your pet will determine how long it lives.
Given that a Dachshund and Chihuahua dog has a relatively long lifespan, a Chiweenie may take 10 to 15 years to the full grow. To archive this for your Chiweenie, you need to observe proper grooming, take care of it like you would a baby, but allow it to play around in order to exercise its muscles. Frequent visits to the vet will give room for early treatment in case there is a health issue. Make sure it is also vaccinated against common dig diseases.
Given that Chiweenies are hybrid dogs, they are not recognized by purebred registries which include the American Kennel Club. They are, however, recognized by International Design Canine Registry (IDCR) which requires the Chiweenies to have an equal share of genes of their parent species. Chiweenies’ ix litter of puppies have different looks. This is because of the breeding series. For puppies to have a uniform look, the breeding process may take as long as six generations.
Chiweenies are adorable dogs. They are a great choice and quite economical to take care of.
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