What You Need to Know About Chiweenies: A Complete Guide

The Chiweenie breed of dogs results from cross-breeding between Chihuahua and Dachshund breeds. These adorable little dogs are your perfect partners in an urban setting.

Chiweenie dogs have inherited some of the best traits from both the parent breeds. These dogs are small in size, hence compact. Despite that, these dogs are very energetic and loyal, too.

If you like an energetic pup who keeps you on your toes and also loves you unconditionally, Chiweenie might be the right choice for you! If you are considering getting one for yourself or your loved one, read this article till the end.

You will become familiar with various aspects of the Chiweeenie breed, and you can make an informed decision!

History of Chiweenie Dogs

It all started during the 1990s in North America. They were the result of unintentional breeding at that time.

They wanted a dog breed resembling a dachshund and chihuahua without any back problems. They also wanted a dog that fits into any owner’s life, irrespective of the size of their home and garden.

The real date of their coming on trend is still a mystery. But this is sure that the trend of keeping a Chiweenie came from North America. Apart from this, there is no special history of chiweenies.

What is a Chiweenie Puppy Personality Like?

Chiweenies (also known as Choxie, Weeniehuahuas, German tacos, and Mexican hot dogs) are small-sized dog breeds that are quite popular around the world. Chiweenies are a breed of dogs that are a mix of dachshund and chihuahua (the reason they are considered “designed dogs” and not the real breed) and are very adorable.

You can find them in various colors like black, brown, chocolate, liver, fawn, and white. They are playful if you train them properly. In conclusion, Chiweenies are just dachshunds and chihuahuas with better personalities and deep bonds with their owners. Not every chihuahua looks like each other; they all look different. That is why their bodies can be of 2 types: either they have bulging eyes, erect ears, long bodies, and short legs, or they have long legs, short bodies, overbites, and floppy ears, depending on their resemblance to either mom or dad.

Whatever the type is, there is no lie that they are super cute! They grew up to 6-10 inches and weighed up to 5-12 pounds. They are extremely playful and joyful, just like other dogs. Moving on to their personalities, they are extremely confident and spunk (traits inherited from both parents). They love it when their owner or anyone gives them attention, and they build a very strong with anyone easily.

They are called yappy dogs because of their high-pitched and excessive barks, so you can easily trust them as a watchdog. They are perfect to adopt if you are single, a couple, or have a small family with mature kids. Though they are good for all kinds of families and conditions, you can consider avoiding anything unfortunate to happen. You can also keep them if you live in apartments.

Some other traits of chiweenies that can be considered are their friendly nature, ease of grooming, loyalty to their owner, and high potential for weight gain. Chiweenies’ parents have smooth and long hair (dachshunds also have wire hair coats). So, you can assume that chiweenies can have fur of any of the 3. The only color of fur that you can find is black, brown, white, and tan. In the blog below, we will discuss everything about chiweenies in detail.

Size, Characteristics, and Health of Chiweenies

1. Characteristics

Below are some main characteristics that you will find in Chiweenies.

• Appearance: As discussed above, no Chiweenies look like each other; they all look different. So, you will find varieties in them, some with short legs, some with long legs, some with long bodies, some exact opposite.
  Only the colors will be the same, like white, brown, black, and tan.
• Temperament: They are a very cheerful and energetic species. They are known for their lively, affectionate, and loyal personalities.
• Energy-level: Just like any other dog, Chiweenies are also very energetic. But requires some exercise to stay happy and healthy.
  Daily walks and playtime help them burn off some energy to prevent boredom.
• Intelligence: Chiweenies are quite intelligent and are quick learners; they can be independent and strong.
  They are quite good at learning stuff, so a little bit of training will help you and them. A good training method always works well with chiweenies.
• Socialization: Most chiweenies tend to be friendly and often get along with other dogs; you must socialize them from a young age.
  Remember that they are pets, so sometimes their protective instinct may lead to their aggressive behavior towards strangers or any other animal; if you have a Chiweenie or you’re planning to have a Chiweenie, then you must pay attention to these things and prevent or protect the other person or animal—a thing which a good owner must do.
• Lifespan: Like other large dogs, chiweenies have the same lifespan of 12-16 years, a relatively long lifespan compared to a small dog breed.
• Exercise Needs: Exercise is very important for both humans and animals to be happy and healthy from inside and outside. So, take them for a walk (30 minutes a day) and play with them. This little step of yours will help them a lot.

2. Size

Most Chiweenies are small and grow 6 to 10 inches, weighing 5 to 12 pounds. They are a mixed breed of chihuahua and dachshund, and the interesting part is that they both are short and small-breed dogs. They are called designer dogs.

3. Health

Like all other dogs, Chiweenies can also be prone to many health issues. Chiweenies have long back and short, which can lead to serious back or spine injuries like slipped discs.

To prevent this kind of injury, make sure that your dog does not jump from high walls or areas, and if the dog is older, then you must take extra precautions. Secondly, if you own a chiweenie and a garden, be careful and watch out for your dog cause they are prone to knee dislocation or knee injuries.

Get rid of all the holes in the garden in the first place, also when you take them for a walk. Apart from all these health issues, they also suffer from high blood pressure, low sugar, low thyroid, and dental caries.

Another tip is to take your dog to an experienced vet frequently. Remember that they are your babies, so take care of them like one.

Pros and Cons of Chiweenies

Every human or animal has their pros and cons, and so does Chiweenie. So, in the below sentences, we will study the advantages and disadvantages faced when you keep a Chiweenie at home.

Pros

• Chiweenies are dogs affectionately towards their owner and most people around them unless and until they have that protective instinct. Also, they can be kept in a small apartment and are perfect for small families.
• You don’t have to provide them with a haircut or style them. Most of the chiweenies do not grow a lot of hair.
• They can be a great watchdog due to their alert nature. Their bark is quite loud compared to their size, which will alert you against intruders.
• They are playful and have a lot of energy in them. Even if you play with them for hours, they will accompany you without getting tired. (Do not judge them by their size.)
• Chiweenies can easily adapt to any living conditions. These include any weather conditions in rural and urban areas.
• They are fast learners, so training them is quite easy.
• They have short coats that require minimal grooming. Just regular brushing and occasional baths are more than enough to give them a clean look.

Cons

• They are quite stubborn (sometimes) in nature, which can be a challenge while training them. In this situation, the only thing you can do is to keep patience and have a positive attitude while training.
• Providing them with training and socializing them with other humans and animals is necessary. If not, then there is a high chance that they can suffer from small dog syndrome. This syndrome leads to undesirable behavior like excessive barking, aggression, or territorialism.
• As they are designer dogs and not the real ones, they may lead to health issues like back problems (found in Dachshunds), dental issues (found in chihuahua), knee problems, and others.
• They are small in size, due to which chiweenies can be fragile and can have the risk of some injuries. At this point, you must be careful with them and prevent them from getting injuries.
• They bark quite loudly, which can be a nuisance to the owners and neighbors sometimes.
• They have separation anxiety when they are separated from their owners or the person or animal they are attached to. So, be a responsible parent, give them time, and make your baby happy.

Health Issues Faced by Chiweenies

The mixed breed is much healthier than a pure breed. Still, chiweenies face some health issues, as discussed below.

1. Luxating Patellas

This is a common problem in dogs (especially in small dogs). This causes some serious issues like cartilage damage, inflammation, pain, and sometimes tearing of the ligament.

It is a condition where the kneecap of a dog slips out of the groove. Limping, dog licking the knee, and leg bent at an unusual angle are some of the symptoms that cause luxating patellas.

Consult a vet immediately if you see any of the above symptoms.

2. Periodontal Disease

This is a gum problem where the color of gum changes from bubble gum pink to black, blue, pale white, or bright red. If this happens, you must take your dog to a vet to avoid further big issues. They will fix it through surgery. To prevent this issue, you must pay attention to their dental health.

3. Intervertrabel Disc Disease (IVDD)

This is a spine problem faced by many dogs (especially small dogs). A condition that can be very serious in dogs, which causes them extreme pain and sometimes even leads to paralysis.

Some of the symptoms of this disease are trembling, unable to move or stand, difficulty in turning their head or lower head, and many more.

4. Parasites

Many parasites can be found in dogs, like fleas, heartworms, ticks, hookworms, and giardia. Some of them among these are easy to identify, while some are not. A regular visit to the vet may help.

5. Ear Infection

The overgrowth of fungal (yeast) or ear mites in the inside and outside of the dog’s ear canal. This issue causes serious itching and pain in the ears.
The symptoms may include dogs shaking their heads, scratching their ears, ears getting red, and many more. You can visit the vet the moment you see these symptoms.

6. Allergies

Chiweenie may be prone to some allergies. You can consult your vet and get to know the allergies they have. At last, chiweenies are a healthy breed and will not catch any of these issues if proper care and attention are given.

Pay regular visits to the vet, make them exercise daily (30-minute daily walk and playing with them is enough), and dental care will keep them away from all the above issues.

Interesting Facts About Chiweenies

• Chiweenies are called “Designer Breed” as they are the intentional crossbreeding of Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. They are known for their distinctive look and personality.
• They were first bred in the United States in the early 1990s.
• They are typically small dogs that grow up to 10-12 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 10-12 pounds—making them a decent choice for dog lovers who live in small apartments.
• They are said to be “Velcro Dogs,” meaning they are very affectionate towards their owners. They also get attached easily to anyone who shows them a little love. They are affectionate and cuddly.
• Compared to other small dog breeds, they have a comparatively longer lifespan of 12 to 16 years, depending on the care they are getting.
• Talking about their size, one more interesting thing is that no 2 Chiweenie will be the same size. Some will have small legs, some will have long legs, some will have a long body, and vice-versa. But the common size is 10-12 inches.
• They have pretty strong vocal compared to other small dogs. Their barking frequency is quite high, which will be convenient for your house but not so inconvenient for your neighbors.
• Chiweenie can be found in various colors like brindle, black, white, tan, and brown. Sometimes, it depends on the type of color their parents are having.
• They not only have various colors, but they also have a variety of coats or fur, which includes some characteristics like longhaired, smooth, wiry, and longhaired. The smooth-coated one is the most common Chiweenie, followed by the wiry-coated and longhaired Chiweenie.
• Chiweenies are said to be playful, affectionate, and loyal towards their owner. Sometimes, they can be stubborn, but it is easy to train them. They are quite good watchdogs, and you trust them with your house safety.
• Like any other human, they also require exercise to care for their body. Though they are not active like other dog breeds, a 30-minute daily walking and playing can solve the problem.
• There is a famous Chiweenie who has over a million followers on Instagram named Tuna. He is said to be an internet celebrity who was abandoned by his original owner and was found in a vulnerable situation. Later, he was rescued by volunteers and was adopted from the Los Angeles farmer’s market in 2010.
• They are healthy dogs but prone to health problems like back pain, knee pain, etc.

Controversy and Price of Chiweenies

• For now, no controversy has been heard of chiweenies till now. Talking about the price, chiweenies are not cheap if you want to buy them then you will need a good amount of money.
• The cheapest Chiweenie you can get is 50$. Another way of getting Chiweenie in cheap is rescuing them. But the chances of finding them on the streets and rescuing them are really low.
• The average price for a Chiweenie is 250 to 350 dollars.
• Female Chiweenies are more popular than male Chiweenies.
• Some rare colored chiweenies (blue) have high prices in the market.
• If you want to buy a puppy, it will cost 600-1200 dollars. Sometimes, this price goes up to 1900 dollars! So, if you have this much in your wallet, you can have them.
• After buying, get ready to spend some more money on their daily needs, which is approximately $ 3,000 per year, including quality food (120 to 300 dollars), training, toys, harnesses (100 to 280 dollars), and veterinary visits (150 to 2,000 dollars). Make sure to take care of a puppy.

Summing It Up

Even though it is a cross-breed, it is mostly healthier than its parent breeds. There has been no controversy regarding this dog breed, so it is safe to have one of these at home.

The Chiweenies are social, loving, and energetic despite their short size. Due to their distinct appearance, this breed is called the “designer breed.” These dogs can be stubborn sometimes, but it is not difficult to train them. You can get these cute-looking creatures in about 250-350 dollars. The price varies depending on the color.