The Chiweenie are small dogs with big personalities, and they can be quite a handful, given their tendencies to bark and desire all the attention of their owner. With due training, they can be cherished lap dogs for life. Known by different names like chiweenies or choxies, they can be the most amazing companions in return for bowls full of kibbles, regular walks, and a heck lot of love.
What Is A Chiweenie?
A mix between Chihuahua and Dachshund, these mix breeds can play their roles of being the perfect lap dog. There isn’t much information on how this breed came about, but they are considered “designer dogs,” nevertheless. They are not pure breeds like their parents. Whatever their history, they are undoubtedly popular.
Making their lineage proud, they are endowed with strong personalities, developing profound bonds with their owners and being their center of attention. If you are wondering how long do chiweenies live, their average life span is 12-16 years.
Appearance
The Chiweenie dog varies greatly in appearance relative to the traits they acquire from their parents. They could have long bodies, erect ears, short legs or long legs, bulging eyes, short bodies, overbites, and floppy ears.
They could also have a combination of these traits. Whichever purebred parent counterparts they resemble, they are all petite, at a height of 6-10 inches and weighing 5-12 pounds.
Both breeds have two types of coats- smooth, long haired Chiweenie, and wire-haired (if the dachshund is such.) Their fur can be any of the three types. The ones with smooth cats are known to shed less, but the wire or longhaired coats cannot be considered hypoallergenic.
Whatever the texture or length, the coats can come in different shades, such as tan, black, white, or brown. Merle and brindle chiweenies can also be found. According to Jennifer Gregory, the vice president of Doxie by Proxy Rescue, the most common type is the smooth, tan-colored ones.
She describes Chiweenies to be “small dogs with big dog personalities.”
Temperament
The temperament of the Chiweenie dog breed also differs based on lineage. Whereas Dachshunds can be pretty strong-willed, Chihuahuas are feisty and noisy. It is incumbent that chiweenies could inherit any of their parent’s traits.
Catherine Gorton, the founder of Texas Chihuahua Rescue, says, “Chiweenies will work in almost any family situation. They are happy-go-lucky dogs that offer the best of both breeds and make much better family dogs than Chihuahuas.”
Chiweenie dog breeds are known to be steadfastly loyal and have the capacity to develop a strong bond with their owners. They are often found displaying their sweeter side to their owners and can be incredibly suspicious of strangers. Their sweet nature includes being playful, affectionate, and cuddly.
They are afraid that strangers could take away their toys, beds, and snacks, given their unfamiliarity. You must make sure you socialize the chiweenie in their training period so that they can get comfortable when they are older in new environments.
Positive reinforcement and treat-rewarding can help get rid of behaviors that are not suitable for family living. It can help your pup become more confident in any given situation. Their dachshund heritage could make them stubborn and resistant to training. This means you will have to make their training session fun from their point of view.
Care
Just like any other dog, take care of Chiweenie with regular vet visits. Your vet can advise you on their diet and supplements to keep them healthy.
Being prone to weight gain, Chiweenies also have high energy levels. You must make sure your pup gets an hour to an hour-and-a-half-long walk each day with some active play sessions and short walks in between.
You must keep track of their ears for debris and pests every day and clean them as recommended by the vet. Trimming their nails once or twice a month to a length that does not click on the floor when they’re walking can help prevent soreness.
Their oral health could become your central concern, as they are prone to dental issues. Your vet can help you figure out how to brush your dog’s teeth every day.
Diet
Their diet must be formulated keeping in mind that they are a small breed with a lot of energy. They could gain extra weight if they are fed beyond their capacity. You must therefore stick to a diet that is just enough to keep the Chiweenie full. Try not to leave food out during the day, and keep track of their treats as well.
Their diet will evolve as they grow from a puppy to an adult dog. It continues to change into their senior ages. Your vet could recommend a diet suited to your pup’s needs, given the variations in each of these mix breed dogs. Their diet will depend on energy, weight, age, and health.
Chiweenie And Other Pets
The Chiweenies is a small dog that can be hurt by children who are overactive and hyper-energetic. Members of the family around a Chiweenie must learn to be gentle and calm around these tiny dogs.
Children who learn how to play and deal with these small puppers can become lifelong friends. They can become friendly with other pets, too, if they are introduced slowly and calmly. Early socialization can help the process smooth out in the long run.
Getting used to other pets early can make them get along better too. But Chiweenies are not known to be friendly with other animals preferring to be the solo player. But the Chiweenie has got along just fine with other cats and dogs up until now. It all just comes down to socialization, training, and the luck of the draw.
To Conclude
It can be difficult to find the right place to get these dogs as they are a mixed breed. Before you begin to look for Chiweenie puppies for sale on the internet, you can try the Dachshund and Chihuahua breed-specific rescues. Some of them are:
If you have thoughts to share or you have questions to ask about the Chiweenie dog, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
MORE FOR YOU:
- The Golden Retriever Bernese Mountain Dog Mix
- German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix Facts
- Cockapoo Dog Breed: Information and Personality Traits
