Breed Overview

Breed Type

Toy Breed

Care Level

Intermediate

Size

Very Small

Trainability

Highly Trainable Sociability & Friendliness Intelligence Strength Family Dog Physical Exercise Needs Mental Exercise Needs Guard Dog/Protection Instincts Suitability For Dog Sports Health & Longevity Grooming Needs Shedding Apartment Dog Suitable For First-Time Owners

Table of Contents

What is a Chiweenie?

The Chiweenie is a designer breed, meaning a purposeful cross between two existing breeds. The parents of a Chiweenie are the Chihuahua and the Dachshund. Like many designer breeds, they are a very novel mix that just started to be around in the 1990s. Since then, their popularity has been growing rapidly and they have become a loved companion for many dog owners. Their small size makes them perfect dogs for apartments and big cities. Note: The Chiweenie is also known under the less common names Chaweenie, Chiwinnie, Chiweene or Chawinie. In order to better understand the characteristics and traits of the Chiweenie, let's look at his parentage.

Chihuahuas

The Chihuahua is a very old breed that originated in Mexico. They evolved from a breed named Techichi. Depictions of the Techichi are found on objects that date back to as far as 300BC. Talk about being an ancient breed, huh!   Chihuahuas are very small dogs, standing 6-10 inches at the shoulder and weighing only 4-6 lbs (with Teacup or Miniature Chihuahuas being even smaller than that). As many small dogs, they have a long life expectancy - Chihuahuas can live up to 15 or more years.   Chihuahuas are companion dogs that do not have the same exercise and training needs as working dogs. While Chihuahuas will require regular walks, training and socialization, they are a good choice for beginning dog owners, dog owners that live in apartments or those that are not very active people themselves.    Chihuahuas have a tendency to be nervous/fearful and will require plenty of exposure when they are young. "Small dog syndrome" is big issue in these guys, so owners need to make sure to not let reactivity and snarliness develop.

Dachshunds

Dachshunds might be small and cute, but they are true working dogs. Originally bred to hunt badgers, they are feisty, brave little dogs with a lot of grit and endurance.  Dachshunds originated in Germany and their name literally translates to "badger dog". The breed was probably developed some time around the 1500s - though the exact origin is unclear. While these days there are three varieties (smooth coat, rough coat and wire coat) the first Dachshunds were all smooth-coated. Dachshunds can have a lot of nervous energy and quite some prey drive, so it is important that owners work with them on impulse control, manners and socialization. They can be prone to developing separation anxiety. While they like to go on walks, once grown up they are not a terribly high-maintenance breed and will be happy with a moderate amount of exercise.  Dachshunds come in different sizes: standard size (16-32 lbs fully grown) and miniature (8-12 lbs). Of course, the most notable quality about their appearance are their long, muscular body and small stubby legs.

What does a Chiweenie look like?

As a cross-breed, there is a lot of variety in the Chiweenie's looks. Because both the Dachshund and the Chihuahua come in different coat and color types, Chiweenies have a lot of  different looks. Most Chiweenies have the body of the Dachshund parent: long, muscular and with short legs. They also typically get the long, floppy ears of the Dachshund. Depending on the coat types of the parents, the Chiweenie's coat can be short, long and smooth or wire-haired and have colors ranging from white over red to brown and black, or any combination thereof. Chiweenies are small dogs that usually do not exceed 12 lbs in weight and 10 inches at their shoulder. You can check your Chiweenie's adult weight with our calculator here.

Temperament

The Chiweenie combines the traits of his parents. He is generally a sweet, loyal companion dog that adores his owner and loves affection. Chiweenies like to be coddled stay very close to their owners. Chiweenies are usually one-person dogs. They are not as outgoing as Doodles or Golden Retrievers. Instead, they tend to bond very closely to one or two people and not care very much about everyone else. Because both the Chihuahua and the Dachshund are rather nervous dogs, it is crucially important that Chiweenies get plenty of socialization and exposure. Otherwise they can become difficult and reactive around other people and dogs.  They are often thought of as the "typical small dog" - yappy and naughty. With the right training however, they can become fantastic and very well-behaved companions that even go on to become therapy dogs, learn tricks and participate in dog sport events.

Chiweenies and other dogs

Chiweenies are generally social dogs that can get along very well with other dogs. Due to their small size, it is important to get them used to being around other dogs when they are young. As all small dogs, they tend to become defensive if the are not properly socialized.  Because of their small size, it is best to not let them wrestle with large dogs - they can easily get injured. Even very friendly large dogs can accidentally hurt a Chiweenie by stepping on them, rolling on them or biting too hard during play. Chiweenies usually do best with other small or medium-sized dogs, such as e.g. Havanese. They appreciate companionship and will tightly bond to dogs in the same household. Especially if you work outside the home for long hours, you should consider getting your Chiweenie a companion. He will appreciate it - they are very social dogs that do not do well when left alone all day long.

Are Chiweenies good with kids?

Due to their small size and loyal temperament, Chiweenies are often picked as family dogs. They are generally good with kids and love to snuggle and play with them. However, because they are a small and more fragile breed, it is crucial that the kids are respectful and gentle with them.  Kids should be taught to not pick up the Chiweenie and carry him around, especially when he is a puppy. Dropping a small dog can result in injuries with lifelong consequences. Children should also be mindful around the Chiweenie's food and toys, and not take away his food bowl or pick up a bone he is chewing on. This can quickly lead to resource guarding (in all breeds!) and should absolutely be avoided. Chiweenies are very easy to walk on leash due to their small size. Many children enjoy taking their Chiweenie for a walk, which will be bonding for both of them and a great way to interact safely.

How to train a Chiweenie

Chiweenies are generally easy dogs to train. They do not have the intense drive and prey instinct of many larger working dogs. However, as every dog a Chiweenie will need some training. If you skip out on training your puppy, he will probably become a more difficult adult dog. Invest time when he is young and get training started properly right from the beginning! For a Chiweenie, you mostly want to focus on:

• potty training (as for all small dogs, this can take a bit longer)
• socializing your puppy with people and dogs
• teaching him to stay alone for a couple hours, as the breed is prone to separation anxiety

It is really important to be consistent about training when your puppy is young. If you wait until your dog has grown up and rehearsed unwanted behaviors for months, it will be much more difficult to change those.Aim for investing at least 5-10 minutes every day into training. While it does not sound much, it will make a big difference.

Consistency is key - it will be of no use to train your puppy once a week. Daily is the best frequency for successful training!

Exercising

While Chiweenies should not be kepts without any exercise, these are not the most athletic dogs and they do not require hours of physical exercise. If you are a very active person and are looking for a dog that you can take along with you to go jogging, bike-riding or mountain-climbing, the Chiweenie is not the right dog for you. Because both Chihuahuas and Dachshunds are prone to developing knee and back issues, you need to make sure that their exercise is not too high-impact and mainly happens on soft ground.

Do not take your Chiweenie jogging daily on asphalt roads  for 5 miles - they are not the right breed for this.

Deciding on a Chiweenie

Ready to decide if you want to add a Chiweenie to your family? Chiweenies live 15 years and longer, so you want to only add one to your family if you are really sure that this is the breed for you.  A lot of issues that I see in my work as a dog trainer could have been completely prevented if the owners had more carefully chosen the breed they purchased.  Your Chiweenie is probably going to bark quite a bit, startle easily and require extra effort during potty training. If this does not sound like the right fit for your life - there are many other breeds to choose from!

A Chiweenie is not the right dog for you if:

• You are looking for a dog that does not need training and interaction
• You want a dog that can stay by himself for many hours
• You want a quiet dog who won't bark
• You want a dog that can rough-house with your kids and larger dogs
• You want a dog that you can take on long runs and bike rides

A Chiweenie is the right dog for you if:

• You love small dogs that enjoy cuddling and being close to you
• You want a loyal, devoted companion
• You enjoy training your dog and are ready to train him a little bit every day
• You know that regular grooming will be required (either by you or a groomer)
• You want an outgoing, social-butterfly type of dog

How much is a Chiweenie Puppy?

Like for all designer breeds, prices for Chiweenie puppies vary. While purebred Chihuahuas and Dachshunds both are around $500-$1,500, a Chiweenie puppy can be found for anywhere from $200 to $2,000. Purebred Dachshunds and Chihuahuas are not cheap, and their cross also is not the least expensive breed. If one of your Chiweenie's parents was an especially small dog, expect to pay even more. Teacup Chihuahuas alone can cost as much as $5,000; and miniature Dachshunds are expensive as well! Here you can find a detailed price analysis as well as annual costs of owning a Chiweenie!