Chiweenie Dog Breed, Appearance, Size, Fun Facts & More

The Chiweenie is a fun, loyal and energetic companion packed into a tiny body!

A cross between a Dachshund and Chihuahua they are the perfect pocket partner for anyone who wants a small dog with loads of energy.

As with any Chihuahua mix you can always guarantee this breed will be compact, loyal and have a huge personality. Chiweenies love to be the center of attention and are a great presence in any home, despite their tiny size.

Want to learn more about this confident and loyal dog? We share what it’s like to own one, what they look like, their temperament, and much more…

What Is A Chiweenie Dog?

The Chiweenie is a mix of a Dachshund and Chihuahua that is sometimes also called a Choxie or Weeniehuahua. Whatever you call them these dogs always have one parent that is a Chihuahua and another that is a Dachshund.

A F1 Chiweenie will have a perfect 50/50 mix of both parent breeds, this makes them a first generation hybrid. This is different from other mixes like Goldendoodles which you will frequently find in F1B hybrids. F1B means they have 75% one parent and 25% the other, rather than a perfect 50/50 with first generation dachshund and chihuahua mixes.

The reason F1B Chiweenies are avoided is because F1s tend to be the healthiest. Further backcrossing may result in health issues, such as spinal issues being bred ‘back into’ a dog.

These dogs get their adorable size from their Chihuahua parent and most will stand between 6 and 10 inches tall. What they may lack in size, they make up for in personality! They are confident dogs who love attention and often strongly bond to their owners.

You can expect any Chiweenie to have the loving nature and adorable looks of the Dachshund, while having the tiny size and fiery personality of the Chihuahua.

It may not seem like it but the Chiweenie can also make a brilliant guard dog. This is because they can be wary of strangers in their home and react by barking loudly and repetitively until assured their space is safe. This is very similar to how their Chihuahua parent would react.

Although barking can be a useful trait for deterring intruders, their tendency to nuisance bark should be trained out of them from a young age.

When it comes to training they are very intelligent dogs, however they inherit a stubborn streak from both parent breeds! Persistence and patience is key when it comes to training these little guys. With time and a little hard work they are very happy to be trained.

A trait they get from their Dachshund parent is a love of play! This mix loves games and has energy by the bucketful. Their size means a 30 minute walk a day should be plenty provided they also get lots of playtime and mental stimulation such as training.

Another trait some Chiweenies get from Dachshunds is a high prey drive. Dachshunds are bred as hunting dogs and are known for catching badgers and rodents. Luckily mixing them with the Chihuahua has removed most of this prey drive. Chiweenies are very unlikely to want to hunt in any way at all.

Breed Overview

History

The Chiweenie was first bred around the 1990s in the USA. The goal was to breed a dog that had the adorable appearance of the Dachshund, but had fewer spinal issues that come with their famous long backs.

Their idea was to breed Dachshunds with Chihuahuas to get a smaller dog with more ‘normal’ proportions. This shorter back length would therefore reduce the risk of spinal problems.

However, their goal was not considered entirely successful because some Chiweenies are still at risk of spinal disease. This is especially true for those mixes with longer backs that look similar to their Dachshund parent.

As a hybrid breed the Chiweenie’s history is strongly associated with the history of its parent breeds. Let’s take a look at the history of their parents to get a better idea of their origins!

The Dachshund is a dog of German origin bred to hunt rodents and badgers. They have a strong prey drive, love to work and have loads of energy. The breed first originated in the 17th century and has been a popular choice for many years.

Chihuahuas are also an old breed with evidence of them existing as early as the 16th century. They come from Mexico and although it is not known what they were first bred for, it is unlikely they ever had a physical job. It is more likely they were bred for their appearance and companionship.

The Chiweenie is a perfect mix of the Dachshund and Chihuahua. They are energetic and adorable, all packaged into one tiny dog breed!

What Does A Chiweenie Look Like?

Chiweenies have a wide range of appearances as they are a mixed breed. There are some common traits that you can expect most of them to have. They usually have shorter bodies than a Dachshund and longer legs than a Chihuahua.

Their ears tend to be large and floppy like the Dachshund. It is rare for them to have the smaller, erect ears of the Chihuahua, but they do normally have shorter, more upright tails like the Chihuahua.

They commonly have a short coat, but it is possible to get a long haired Chiweenie depending on the coat type of the dogs used to breed them.

RELATED: Long Haired Chihuahua Differences, Coat & Breed Facts

A Chiweenie can have any mixture of characteristics and traits from its parents. As a hybrid dog they do not have a breed standard because they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club.

These dogs can come in a whole rainbow of colors, just like their Dachshund parent which has over 30 different colors and patterns! The most likely colors include black, fawn, brown and cream. There are also different patterns and markings including the classic black and tan, dapple or even brindle. Dapple Chiweenies are very popular!

Size

There are no set standards on how big does a Chiweenie get because they are not an officially recognized breed and are a mix of two dogs. However you can expect a full grown Chiweenie to stand between 6 and 10 inches tall. Their height is measured from the ground to the top of the shoulders. Most will weigh between 5 and 12 pounds fully grown.

When you get a Chiweenie puppy they will probably only weigh around one pound!

Temperament

The Chiweenie might be small in size, but they certainly have massive personalities! Some words often used to describe them are ‘energetic’, ‘loyal’, and ‘confident’. With both of their parents having stubborn streaks this mix can be known to have an attitude. They also love the sound of their own bark!

One trait most of these dogs inherit from their Chihuahua parent is their tendency to bark.

They will bark at anything that they deem a potential threat to their space, which could be anything from a stranger outside the window to a new lamp in the kitchen. This can make them good as alert dogs, but will often not make you too popular with your neighbors! Puppy training can help nip this barking in the bud.

Chiweenies prefer to be the only pets in the home and love to be the center of attention.

If there are other pets in the house they will get on better with smaller animals such as cats or other small breeds, rather than larger dogs as they can find them intimidating.

The Chiweenie will certainly make themselves known when living with one. They love being centre of attention and with all their energy, you won’t ever be left wondering where in the house. They will always be vying for attention by being at your heels, making trouble with their toys, or barking to let you know where they are.

Are They Good With Families?

Chiweenies might not be a great choice as a family pet. The main reason for this is that their size doesn’t make them the ideal playmate for young children. They can be easily hurt and need a more careful hand when playing.

If you are looking for a small and energetic family breed that is great with children then take a look at the mini Blue Heeler.

They have a tendency to develop a very strong bond to a single member of the family, normally the person who feeds them or spends the most time with them sat on their lap! This attachment makes them more suited for adults who live alone and want a loyal and loving dog by their side.

It is not uncommon for Chiweenies to get jealous when ‘their’ human spends time with other people or pets. This is something they get from their Chihuahua parent. Although this won’t make them aggressive, they can become very demanding.

Care

Feeding

The best diet for a Chiweenie is a specifically formulated small-breed kibble. Small dogs have fast metabolisms which means they burn energy quickly. They are also very active so they need plenty of nutrients in their food to keep them going.

Small breed kibble has the right balance of nutrients and also has smaller, softer pieces to suite their tiny mouths.

A rough feeding guide would be to feed approximately 3/4 cup of kibble across three small meals each day.

Try feeding 1/4 cup of kibble for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Chiweenie can be prone to weight gain, especially as they get to the age of two when they will start to ‘chill out’ a little bit more than when they were puppies. Make sure to watch their food intake and reduce it if they start to go much over 12 pounds. Weight gain can also put them at risk of diabetes.

Walking

When you are walking your Chiweenie make sure to pay close attention to the weather.

They do not particularly enjoy the heat and should not be walked during the hottest parts of the day during summer, especially on tarmac which can become very hot on a dogs paws.

Being small with short hair they also do not like the cold. You can thank their Chihuahua parent for this! When the temperature starts to dip into single figures during the autumn consider putting a coat or jumper on your Chiweenie to keep them toasty warm.

These dogs are happy with a 30 minute road walk each day. They are perfect dogs for city-dwellers and adults who may not have a lot of time on their hands to walk a dog for hours every day. If you are looking for a small dog to fit into a more active, outdoor lifestyle take a look at the Pocket Bully.

Even though a Chiweenie does not need long walks every day, they are energetic and love to play at home.

Training

Chiweenies can be very responsive to puppy training as they are intelligent and eager to please their owner. However both their Dachshund and Chihuahua parents are known for being stubborn most of the time.

Unfortunately the Chiweenie has inherited this trait too.

It takes persistent and patient positive reinforcement training to ensure they do as you ask!

Consistent training in short ten minute sessions every day is the best approach with these headstrong little dogs. Short sessions will also help to make sure they don’t get too bored at any one time.

Shedding

Chiweenies often have short, straight coats which means they do not shed much. They are not a hypoallergenic breed, but they can be a good option for those with mild allergies due to their reduced shedding.

It is quite normal to see long haired Chihuahuas and wire-haired Dachshunds, but not as common in the Chiweenie. Some dachshund and chihuahua mixes might inherit long or wire-haired coats, but not often. Luckily even the long-haired ones don’t shed a lot.

Grooming

Short haired Chiweenies do not need to be groomed more than once a week. The same is true for their long haired siblings.

Bathing in water with pet-safe shampoo needs to be done once a month or when they get particularly dirty.

Something that is important with this breed is to brush their teeth once a day as they are prone to dental disease. Most small breeds are prone to dental disease because of the size of their mouths.

Brushing once a day helps to remove plaque and keeps their mouth nice and healthy. You can train your Chiweenie to sit and accept the toothbrush as a puppy and it can easily become part of a daily routine at any time of the day.

How Long Do Chiweenies Live?

Chiweenies tend to be very healthy dogs and can live for 12 to 16 years. The Chiweenie lifespan is almost identical to the lifespan of a Dachshund.

The goal behind first breeding this dog was to reduce the risk of spinal problems in their parent breed. Degenerative disc disease is very common in the Dachshund because of their very long backs and short legs.

If your puppy has a slightly longer back then there is also a chance they may suffer from degenerative disc disease too.

Another issue commonly seen in the Dachshund that your Chiweenie may inherit is luxating patella. This is a problem with slipping of the patella on the knee of the back leg which causes them to hop.

The Chihuahua also has some genetic issues that this mix may inherit.

Chiweenies may inherit some ‘small breed’ related issues from their Chihuahua parent. One of the most common is hypoglycemia which is low blood sugar. The best way to avoid this is to ensure your pup is fed a well-balanced diet regularly with three meals each day.

Fun Facts

• The Chiweenie @tunameltsmyheart is a very famous dog with over 2 million followers!
• This breed is sometimes called a ‘Mexican hotdog’ because one of their parents has Mexican roots and the other looks a little bit like a hotdog with their long backs!
• Chiweenies are not currently recognized as an official dog breed by the American Kennel Club as they are a mixed breed. Both parents are recognized as the Chihuahua was first recognized in 1905 and the Dachshund was even earlier way back in 1885!
• The Chiweenie’s round eyes, narrow nose, and floppy ears not only make them charming and cute, but also goofy and playful!
• Usually the mother of the Chiweenie is a Dachshund and the father is the Chihuahua. This helps to make sure that the puppies don’t end up too big and cause the mother issues at birth that might result in her having to have a caesarean section.

Puppies

Chiweenie puppies are irresistibly adorable with tiny bodies and large paws that they grow into as they grow up. Their ears may be floppy when you get them, but will soon stand up if they inherit their Chihuahua parents’ triangular ears.

A Chiweenie puppy will cost between $500 and $1,000. This is very cheap when you consider similar small mixed breeds like the Frenchton can cost $3,000.

You can expect to pay closer to $1,000 for a rarer puppy like the Dapple Chiweenie and less for a more common colors like black and tan.

Finding a trustworthy breeder is really important in finding a healthy puppy. Remember the original goal of this breed was to breed a dog that had the appearance of the Dachshund, but had fewer spinal issues.

First make sure that you can look at and interact with both the parents of your puppy, especially the mom. You want to find out if either of them have any health issues which your puppy could inherit, especially when it comes to the back problems that could be inherited from the Dachshund parent.

When visiting or enquiring about a puppy, have a list of questions to ask such as:

• What are the parents of the puppy?

When breeding dogs normally the female is the larger breed to avoid birthing issues. For this mix the mom should be a Dachshund, not a Chihuahua.

• What is the mix of parent breeds?

You will need to make sure you are getting a first generation Chiweenie bred from purebred parents. They should be 50% Dachshund and 50% Chihuahua. Avoid F1b hybrids because of the potential for backcrossing spinal issues.

• Have both parents been fully health tested?

You want to make sure the male Dachshund parent does not have degenerative disc disease.

• Has the mom had any other litters?

As the Chiweenie is a mixed breed seeing other puppies that the mother has had all grown up might give you a clue to what your puppy will be like as an adult.

• Are both parents kennel club registered?

Both the parents should be registered with a kennel club. Even if they are not, they should be fully health tested and their pedigree should be proven. Any reputable breeder will be willing to share all this information with you.

The cost of a Chiweenie will often be reflected by how well a breeder can answer these questions. First generation Chiweenie puppies from a reputable breeder that has kennel club paperwork for the parents and health test results will sell for closer to $1,000.

Summary

The Dachshund is loved for their cute ears, energetic personalities and loyalty. Chiweenies were first bred around the 1990s to produce a dog that kept these loveable traits, but had fewer spinal issues.

Mixing the Dachshund and Chihuahua reduced the health issues relating to their long backs. It also kept their charming features and small size.

You can expect any Chiweenie to be charming, energetic, fun and loyal.

These tiny dogs have a tendency to develop a very strong bond with a single family member. This attachment makes them more suited for adults who want a loving companion to keep them company.

Do you want a Chiweenie?

As a mixed breed no two look the same, but they will definitely be a tiny, floppy-eared bundle of energy and love!