What Is a Chiweenie? A Look at the Small Breed Dog

Chiweenies are a mix of two canine breeds. These adorable puppies are a cross between dachshunds and chihuahuas. Despite being a highly sought-after mixed breed, some chiweenies wind up in shelters all over the country.

Nevertheless, due to their distinctive appearance, diminutive size, and beautiful fur coats, chiweenies are often considered a designer breed.

Chiweenies make excellent companions because of their small size, which makes them suited for living in apartments, tiny houses, and the city (you may occasionally see them in a purse).

Chiweenies may be little, but that doesn’t mean they lack power. Chiweenies are little dogs with enormous personalities. They are playful and lively, which makes them rather needy as puppies.

On the other hand, as they age, these dogs become trainable and straightforward to handle. In addition to having longer lifespans than other breeds, Chiweenies are noted for having less significant health issues.

Continue reading if you have questions about chiweenies or wish to adopt one. We’ll review everything you need to know about this canine breed.

Defining the Chiweenie

A chiweenie is a crossbreed between a dachshund and a chihuahua. Over the past few years, this designer dog breed has grown in popularity.

One of the breeds that make up the chiweenie is rife with mystery and legend. One group asserts that Chihuahuas lived in ancient Egypt 3,000 years ago.

This group also thinks that cats and chihuahuas were both worshiped in ancient Egypt. However, European evidence suggests that chihuahuas originated in China during the 16th century.

Others contend that the chihuahua is a relative of the techichi, a breed native to Central America. As a result, there is much debate about the chihuahua’s ancestry, which significantly influences the chiweenie breed.

The dachshund’s history could be clearer, which is excellent news. Dachshunds are a breed of dog that first appeared in Germany in the 15th century.

The words “hound” (hund) and “badger” (dachs) combine to create a dachshund. Depending on the region of Europe where the dogs were bred, dachshunds came in a wide variety.

Nevertheless, the chiweenie didn’t really come into the mix until the 1900s. While some chiweenies started appearing in urban areas in the 1950s and 1960s, the breed only took off in the 1990s when urban living gained widespread popularity. Once the breed was dependable, many well-known people grew interested in it, and the breed developed into a pricey designer breed.

These dogs typically have dachshund-like long bodies and tiny legs but chihuahua-like, fully erect ears. These pups are highly sought after due to their adorable appearance.

How Do Chiweenies Appear?

Chiweenies are little dogs with chihuahua-like features. They often have black eyes that protrude from their big, somewhat rounded heads.

Although certain breed varieties of chiweenies have ears that stand straight, nearly like those of huskies, others have floppy ears. Because of their lengthy bodies, which they inherit from dachshunds, Chiweenies are frequently called “hot dogs.”

While most chiweenies have brown coats, some have lighter tans or even reddish-tinted coats.

Size of a Chiweenie

Chiweenies can be found in a variety of sizes and shapes. They range in weight from 5 -15 pounds on average, with males weighing a couple pounds more than females.

Chiweenies are typically 6 to 10 inches tall. Although there isn’t much difference between male and female Chiweenies, males are often a few inches taller than females.

Chiweenie Personalities

Chiweenies are playful, vivacious, and affectionate. Although they may have a lot of energy, they also make a great lap dog.

These dogs are excellent watchdogs as well. They have an extremely piercing bark and typically bark at anything unusual in their surroundings.

These canines are lovely for single persons, retirees, or families with older children but may be better for families with young children.

Most chiweenies will only enjoy spending time with a select few people and growl and bark at anyone else. Additionally, chiweenies typically do not get along with any other pets you might have unless those dogs are also full or part chihuahua.

Dachshunds are typically friendly to most dogs, though chihuahuas are less sure about other breeds. It’s best to keep a chiweenie as a solitary pet, though you may find certain ones are a bit more accepting of other dogs.

Training Chiweenies

Chiweenies are notoriously challenging to teach because of their extreme stubbornness. Continue training in frequent, brief sessions with various exercises. Chiweenies enjoy playing, so making training fun facilitates learning and keeps them interested.

Even the best trainers occasionally encounter resistance from this breed during training. Providing your chiweenie with lots of snacks is one approach to assist with training. These dogs are frequently highly motivated by treats. For a good treat, these dogs will rapidly perform a trick.

The Chiweenie Diet

Due to their small size, Chiweenies require smaller pieces of food, even though they are often not fussy. Most small dog foods are packaged in smaller portions that are considerably simpler for a Chiweenie to consume.

These dogs are also highly susceptible to obesity. Maintaining a reasonably tight diet is best to prevent children from becoming overweight.

It is preferable to divide the feeding into two separate feedings and strictly adhere to the instructions on the bag. You should cut your pet’s food intake by one-fourth if you offer them treats.

Information About the Health of Chiweenies

Chiweenies are often extremely healthy canines with extended lifespans. A chiweenie lives 12 to 16 years on average. The following are some of the ailments that chiweenies are most frequently diagnosed with:

Hypothyroidism

When the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, hypothyroidism results. Dogs with hypothyroidism frequently exhibit signs of obesity, panting, and a potbelly. Thyroid medicine is taken daily to treat this condition.

Allergies

Chiweenies frequently experience allergies. These dogs may have allergies to their food or even the grass, shrubs, and trees in their environment.

Your dog can be given medicine to treat their allergies and have their allergies tested by your veterinarian. When allergies are frequently incurable, there may be a method to make your pet more comfortable when experiencing a flare-up.

Diabetes

Just like people, dogs can have high blood sugar. These dogs tend to be older. Dogs with diabetes frequently consume a lot of water and urinate a lot.

To screen for diabetes in your dog, your veterinarian can do blood tests. If your dog does have diabetes, you’ll need to administer an insulin shot twice a day and put them on a special, low-sugar diet.

Intervertebral Degenerative Disc Disease (IVDD)

In dachshunds, intervertebral disc disease is frequently observed. Due to their long bodies and tendency to sway, these dogs may experience back issues.

Common symptoms of IVDD in dogs include:

• The inability to walk.
• A drunken stride.
• Dragging the hind legs.
• Reluctance to jump on or off furniture.
• Discomfort when picked up.

Hypoglycemia

Chiweenie puppies might experience low blood sugar when they are very young. These dogs will require frequent, modest feedings to maintain stable blood sugar levels over the course of the day.

Dental Illness and Adolescent Tooth Loss

Dachshunds and chihuahuas are both known to have dental problems. They impart this undesirable quality to the chiweenie as well. They might even lose a few teeth throughout their lifetime and require routine dental cleanings.

Use dental chews on a daily basis and try to brush their teeth 2-3 times per week.

Conclusion

Even though you must watch out for health issues, these dogs are often healthy. To ensure their health and to screen for any of these disorders, these dogs will require routine visits to the vet.

Additionally, these dogs require exercise. A quick but intensive play session for this breed will be sufficient exercise. Due to their tiny legs, they typically dislike going on long excursions or hikes.

Chiweenies are an excellent addition to your household as a pet. They bring playful energy with them but are equally comfortable relaxing on the couch, cuddled up next to you or under a blanket.

Seek veterinary attention if your chiweenie exhibits any health issues as soon as possible. The better the outcome, the earlier the treatment is started. These dogs are terrific companions for anyone seeking a new dog because they live long and fairly healthy lives.

Expect to get a lot of love if you bring one of these wonderful pups into your home!