I am the proud owner of 2 chiweenies, chihuahua-dachshund crossbreeds that are lighting up my home for years now. I can confidently tell you that chiweenies are worth the love, money, and the time you invest in them. After spending years with my chiweenies, I have learned a lot of facts about these crossbreeds.
Chiweenies are small dogs, but they are packed with energy, clinginess, and loyalty. They have a lot of personality and can sometimes be attention-seekers and stubborn dogs. They are easy to maintain because of their minimal grooming needs. But they are prone to a lot of health problems too, so it’s best to give them enough exercise, a well-balanced diet, and a lot of attention.
I have learned these things because I have been with these crossbreeds for years. I have also done some research online to expand on these facts I have discovered myself. Let me share with you the things I have found out.
Fact #1: Chiweenies are small dogs, but they are super energetic
Chiweenies are small dogs, with an average size of 8 to 12 inches and an average weight of 5 to 10 pounds. Their size alone makes them great dogs for those who live in apartments. They don’t require much space to operate and they also like cuddling and staying on their owners’ laps.
But remember that chiweenies are not cutesy and submissive crossbreeds you can brandish like barbie dolls. Despite their small stature, they are super energetic. Their small bodies are so packed with energy that they can play for a long time. They are perfect if you have equally adventurous and energetic kids. They are going to maximize the space in your yard too.
Despite their energetic nature, they are still good apartment dogs because they will only need 20 to 30 minutes of activity a day to keep them fit. And as small dogs, they don’t require a lot of space to operate, unlike bigger dogs that may feel a little confined if you put them in small spaces like apartments. Here are some tips to keep these small furballs of energy happy and fit:
- Walk your chiweenies regularly. Buy a harness and walk your chiweenies a few minutes a day. Sure, you can just let your dogs burn their energy by themselves, but walking with them is a good bonding experience.
- Give them toys to play with. Buy toys for your chiweenies not just to help burn their energy, but also to distract them whenever nobody else is in the house. Without anyone with them, they may burn their energy by being destructive. The next thing you know, your sofa has bites on it and your shoes have chew marks on them.
- Keep them tired to prevent them from barking excessively. Chiweenies can be very yappy. And you will only make it worse if you don’t let them burn their energy. Make sure to give them the physical activities they need so they don’t excessively bark around your house.
Fact #2: Even though they are energetic dogs, they need a balanced diet to remain fit
Because chiweenies are small dogs, there is little room in their bodies to store food and water. They may get obese if you don’t properly track their food intake. Sure, you can say that you can keep your chiweenies fit by giving them a lot of exercise. But this may not be enough. You may have to be very careful about the amount of food you feed your chiweenies.
As a general rule, it’s best to feed your chiweenies high-quality dry foods. They will need a lot of fats for their energy needs and a lot of proteins for balance. They will need dry foods because wet foods can cause dental problems, especially for small breeds that have their teeth packed inside small mouths. Here are some tips for a healthy diet:
- Consult a veterinarian. It’s best to consult a veterinarian to know the proper diet for your chiweenies. The amount of food they consume will depend on their age, size, energy level, and lifestyle.
- Give them 2 to 3 meals a day. If you can’t go to the veterinarian, follow this general rule instead. Feed your chiweenies about a ½ cup of dry kibble, spread across 2 to 3 meals a day. To prevent chiweenies from overeating, it’s a good idea to feed them at regular intervals instead of a few big meals.
- Reduce their food intake as they age. As chiweenies age, their metabolism and energy needs decrease, so their food intake should decrease as well. If you don’t decrease their food intake as they age, they may eat too much and end up fat.
Fact #3: They are so clingy and loyal that they can serve as great watchdogs
Chiweenies are great watchdogs. They mostly get their clinginess and loyalty from their dachshund side of the family. But clinginess and loyalty are nothing if they don’t have the alertness and strong personality to become watchdogs. It’s a good thing that most of them get these traits from their chihuahua side of the family.
Chiweenies are sweet dogs that can cuddle with you, but they can turn into protective dogs at the sign of danger. Here are other related facts about chiweenies:
- Chiweenies can become intimidating fast. They may look like cute dogs because of their size, but they can turn into intimidating ones when they notice something odd in their surroundings. They are generally yappy dogs, so expect a lot of barking when they sense something out of the ordinary.
- They are always alert. Chiweenies are alert and observant dogs. They easily notice when something is not right or something is new in their surroundings. But they know which stimulus to react to. They don’t randomly bark because of random sounds in the house. They bark when they see an actual intruder. This trait is what takes them to the next level as watchdogs.
- They are prone to separation anxiety. Sure, chiweenies are great watchdogs. But this doesn’t mean you can just leave them all the time. These crossbreeds are so clingy and loyal that they tend to have anxiety whenever they are separated from their owners, especially for long periods. Make sure to bond well with your chiweenies instead of just treating them like your personal security guards.
Fact #4: They like to be the center of attention
Because of the facts stated above, it can be said that chiweenies are great family dogs too. They are small and energetic, so they can play with children for a long time. They are alert and protective, so they can guard the elders and minors in the family. And they like to cuddle too, so you can sit with them on the couch and relax.
But there is a little downside – chiweenies like to be the center of attention. You can also make the argument that they are not great family dogs. They may not get along with younger kids and may not like being around other pets. They tend to not like others that can get your attention. But this downside can be remedied with the following:
- Let them get used to being around others. Start young. Expose your chiweenies early to other people and pets in your house. This way, they can grow thinking that they are part of a big family and they don’t need to be the center of the universe.
- Let them know that you give attention to others. If your chiweenies are acting up when you show attention to others, ignore them. Eventually, they will realize that acting up will not get your attention and that there is nothing they can do with the fact that you give attention to others just as much as you give attention to them.
- Be careful when you play with them. Chiweenies can have sensitive bodies, especially their backs and legs. If you are bonding with them, be very careful not to hurt them. They may associate bonding with others with negativity. Keep bonding sessions happy and productive so they associate bonding with others with positivity. That will help them socialize more.
Fact #5: They can be very stubborn and hard to train
There is this running joke in the dog community about how chihuahuas have the strongest personalities. As the children of chihuahuas, don’t be surprised to know that chiweenies have strong personalities too. Sure, this can be advantageous, like how chiweenies can be so clingy and loyal that they can serve as great watchdogs.
But this can also be disadvantageous, like how chiweenies can be very stubborn and hard to train. Here are some tips to contain this disadvantage:
- Train them while they are young. You should start training your chiweenies when they are 8 weeks old. The earlier you start, the more you instill discipline and your expectations in them, and the less likely they are to form bad habits that will be hard to eliminate in the future.
- Keep training sessions short. As energetic and stubborn dogs, chiweenies may lose interest fast, especially if your training sessions are too demanding and time-consuming. If you make training sessions unappealing, you are just making your chiweenies more uncooperative. Keep your training sessions light and short. If your chiweenies are no longer responding properly, consider ending the session.
- Use positive reinforcement. Don’t hurt or punish your chiweenies whenever they do something wrong during the training sessions. This will only make your chiweenies associate training sessions with negativity, and that will affect their cooperation. This will also affect the bond and trust you have built with your dogs. Use positive reinforcement instead. Whenever they do something good during the training sessions, acknowledge their good work and reward them with a tap on the head and a light snack. They will cooperate more if they associate training sessions with positivity.
There are 3 general aspects your chiweenies should be trained for: potty training, excessive barking limiting, and socializing. Your chiweenies need potty training for obvious reasons. Your chiweenies need to learn how to control their barking because they do tend to be yappy dogs. And they need to learn socializing because, as mentioned earlier, they like to be the center of attention and may not like being around others too much.
Fact #6: They are prone to a lot of health issues
Chihuahuas and dachshunds are prone to a lot of health issues. So, it’s not surprising that their chiweenie children inherit the same proneness. Chiweenies have a lot of years in their lives. They can live 12 to 16 years. But they can live shorter or longer than that, depending on a lot of factors, such as their general fitness and proneness to health issues.
Here are some of the most dangerous health issues your chiweenies may have:
- Intervertebral degenerative disc disease and luxating patellas. They can get intervertebral degenerative disc disease because their dachshund parents are prone to this back problem, thanks to their elongated backs and short legs. They can get luxating patellas because their chihuahua parents are prone to this kneecap problem, with about 10% of chihuahuas experiencing this health issue at some point in their lives.
- Diabetes and hypoglycemia. Chiweenies can get diabetes because their dachshund parents are prone to this blood sugar problem. They can also get hypoglycemia because their small stomachs can be overwhelmed and find it hard to regulate blood sugar levels.
- Dental problems. Small dog breeds are more prone to dental problems compared to big dog breeds. This is because their teeth are packed inside small mouths. When teeth are packed in such tight spaces, plaque and tartar can easily build up and damage multiple teeth. Tooth decay and tooth loss can be particularly notorious for small dog breeds like chiweenies.
Sure, these are inherited vulnerabilities. But this doesn’t mean you should just give up and wait for your chiweenies to get these medical conditions. You can swing the odds in your favor by doing some preventive measures.
- Avoid straining your chiweenies’ backs and legs. Carry them when you need them up or down the stairs. Don’t let them jump in and out of furniture. And use a harness instead of a collar. As much as you can, avoid putting pressure on your dogs’ backs and legs to minimize the risk of acquiring their inherited medical conditions.
- Keep them active and feed them a healthy diet. Unfortunately, genetics weigh more than lifestyle when it comes to dog sugar problems. But it’s such a defeatist attitude to just give up. Keep your chiweenies physically active. Feed them high-quality foods and even include fruits and vegetables in their diets.
- Feed them dry foods and brush their teeth regularly. Wet foods are more likely to cause dental problems for small dogs, so it’s best to stick with dry foods. There are also dry foods out there that help with your dogs’ dental hygiene. But you shouldn’t rely on these either. You should brush your dogs’ teeth with dog toothpaste regularly, about once a week.
Fact #7: They are easy to maintain
You may think that chiweenies are hard to maintain because of all the things we have talked about so far. But in reality, they are low-maintenance dogs. Aside from the specific requirements like exercising and monitoring of food intake, chiweenies are very manageable pets.
Here are some grooming requirements you should know:
- Brush their fur once a week. Most chiweenies have short coats, so you don’t need to brush them a lot and remove their shedding. And brushing too much is not good for dogs anyway. It may remove the natural oils in their coats. Brushing your chiweenies’ coats once a week is enough.
- Trim their nails once a month. Long nails can be very dangerous, especially for very energetic dogs like chiweenies. They may end up hurting themselves or the members of your family. You know their nails are already too long when you hear them clicking on the floor as they walk around your house.
- Give them a bath once a month. Chiweenies have sensitive skin, so you should use dog shampoos that have labels like chemical-free, hypoallergenic, and moisturizing formula. They will minimize the risk of your chiweenies getting skin irritations.
Of course, these grooming requirements are not set in stone. Their frequency can increase or decrease based on your chiweenies’ bodies and habits. Chiweenies with longer furs may require more brushing and chiweenies who like to roll on the yard may require more bathing.
Bonus fact: Chiweenies don’t look the same
Here’s an 8th fact for you. Do you know that chiweenies don’t look the same, unlike other dog breeds that have very particular characteristics? Some chiweenies have elongated backs like their dachshund parents. Some are short and have protruding ears like their chihuahua parents. You just can’t tell what features the chiweenies will inherit from their parents. Their diversity and unpredictability are part of their appeal as crossbreeds.
Chiweenies are endearing dogs that can give you a lot of years of love
Those are 7 – or should I say 8 – interesting facts about the chiweenie breed. These crossbreeds are small, full of personality, and quite vulnerable. They will give you a lot of love and time if you do the same for them. And as the owner of 2 chiweenies, I can confidently say that they are worth the investment in love, money, and time.