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Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix: Dog Breed Info & Pictures

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By Nicole Cosgrove

German Shepherd Chihuahua mix

Height: 7-26 inches
Weight: 8-60 pounds
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Colors: Black, brown/black
Suitable for: Those looking for a loyal companion dog, apartment dwellers, experienced dog owners
Temperament: Loyal, loving, intelligent, easy to train, distrusting of strangers, higher potential for aggression towards other dogs or people

There couldn’t be two dog breeds farther apart than the German Shepherd and Chihuahua. One’s a world-renowned working dog perfect for military or law enforcement operations; the other is known for its extremely volatile personality and diminutive size.

So what happens if you cross the two?

A German Shepherd Chihuahua mix is a crapshoot of a dog. You really can’t predict what’s going to come out. Some of these pups will be sweet, loyal, and loving, while others will be an emotional train wreck and skittish towards everyone except their masters.

Even breeding these two different dogs is very tricky. It’s only logical for a male Chihuahua to be crossed with a female German Shepherd. And it may require some outside assistance for this to happen. Regardless, these pups are generally not bred purposely.

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Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Before you buy a German Shepherd Chihuahua mix, you need to know what you’re getting into. And that can be very difficult to do. That’s because there are no set guidelines as to what size, temperament, or even trainability your mix will have.

German Shepherd Chihuahua mixed breeds run the gamut on the entire personality spectrum. In essence, your training will be the key to molding your pup into a desirable dog.

However, there are still inherited traits that will have a major effect on how your mixed pup will behave. Ideally, you’d want the temperament and intelligence of the German Shepherd paired with the size of the Chihuahua, but that’s not always the case.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix

1. There’s Very Little Information About the German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix

This is a very rare crossbreed, and that’s because it isn’t an in-demand breed. Breeders aren’t out mass-producing this hybrid yet, and it’s unlikely they ever will. Also, this breed is a very strange occurrence even in nature. There’s no way a male German Shepherd can naturally mate with a female Chihuahua due to extreme size differences. So, the probability of this breed being conceived is very low.

2. Chihuahuas Were Once Considered Supernatural Guides for the Dead

In their native Mexico, the Chihuahua’s ancestors were often buried with ancient Aztecs. This is because they were believed to be spirit guides for the Aztec’s soul as they traveled throughout the underworld.

3. German Shepherds Were First Developed to Be a Sheep Herding Breed

The breed originated around the turn of the 20th century in Germany to be a sheepdog. However, due to their size and temperament, the German Shepherd was quickly trained by the military and law enforcement to be a working dog.

The parent breeds of Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix
The parent breeds of Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix: Left – Chihuahua (Daniel Kondrashin, Pexels) | Right – German Shepherd (Jana Ohajdova, Unsplash)

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Temperament & Intelligence of the German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix 🧠

It’s impossible to define this hybrid by its personality and temperament. Every single one of these dogs is completely unique. Each pup will inherit traits from both parent lineages, and some exhibit more traits from one parent than the other.

For example, a hybrid leaning more towards the German Shepherd side may be more apt to follow commands and remain calm under pressure. However, if they’ve inherited more from the Chihuahua side, they may be more feisty towards strangers and goofy around their owners.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Due to the volatile nature of this breed, we don’t recommend these dogs for families, especially those with small children. We’re not condemning all of these pups; however, there’s such a small degree of certainty when it comes to their personalities.

If your German Shepherd Chihuahua mix has the size of a German Shepherd and the minimal patience of a Chihuahua, things can quickly go south if they’re made uncomfortable.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

If you do adopt a German Shepherd Chihuahua hybrid, we recommend that you do so into a single pet household. This mixed breed may not get along too well with others. Both parent breeds are fiercely loyal to their masters. Putting another pet into the mix may complicate things, especially if your German Shepherd Chihuahua has the feistiness of the Chihuahua parent.

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Things to Know When Owning a Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix:

While there are many unknown variables when it comes to raising a German Shepherd Chihuahua mix, there are plenty of things we do know.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Your pup’s food and diet requirements are all going to be based on your dog’s size and activity level. As these mixed breeds can range in size from a small to medium-sized dog, you’ll need to feed them accordingly.

Generally speaking, a smaller dog should receive about 1-1½ cups of high-quality dog food, such as Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Bites. This will provide them with the nutrition they need in a bite-sized package they can easily handle. Larger dogs will need between 2-3 cups of food each day. In this case, opt for something with higher protein content and larger kibble such as American Journey Beef and Sweet Potato.

Exercise 🐕

Every dog needs a daily dose of exercise. But how much is enough? This will be determined by your individual dog’s size and personality. Typically, a smaller German Shepherd Chihuahua pup will require less exercise. Thirty minutes of daily exercise should be more than enough to suffice.

However, if your pup is on the larger size of the cross, they may require up to 90 minutes every day. That’s because the German Shepherd is a very active dog. And if your pup inherits this quality, you’ll need to make time to ensure they’re well-stimulated.

Training 🦮

Early training will be the key to success when raising your German Shepherd Chihuahua mix. You’ll need to start their obedience training and socialization while they’re still young so they can learn the proper way to behave around people and other animals.

And if your pup takes after the German Shepherd side of their lineage,  you’re in luck. Your dog will be very easily trained. However, if they inherit the lovable yet wildly independent attitude of the Chihuahua, you might have a bit of a chore on your hands. That’s not to say that the Chihuahua isn’t an intelligent dog—they are. They just like doing things their way.

Grooming ✂️

No matter which way you look at it, you’re going to need to invest some serious time into grooming your German Shepherd Chihuahua. Even though Chihuahuas can come in short-hair varieties, their long-hair gene when combined with the genes of the German Shepherd will produce a longer coat.

Your Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix will need a solid brushing at least once a week to help keep their coat shiny and healthy. Plus, a weekly brushing will cut down dramatically on the amount of shedding that will happen. German Shepherds are notorious shedders due to their extremely dense double coats.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Being a hybrid dog, the German Shepherd Chihuahua is technically susceptible to most diseases and conditions that the parent breeds can contract. However, due to genetic wizardry, the probability of actually developing these goes way down. Therefore, the German Shepherd Chihuahua is a relatively healthy dog.

But that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. They’re still susceptible to a large number of health issues. The main conditions that can affect this breed are patella luxation—or floating kneecap—and hip dysplasia. These two conditions can be very painful and difficult to manage, but they are treatable.

More serious conditions that affect the German Shepherd Chihuahua are congenital heart defects. These are heart conditions inherited at birth including aortic and pulmonic stenosis, mitral valve dysplasia, and endocardial fibroelastosis. However, these conditions are exceedingly rare.

The most common ailments your mixed breed will experience are easily treated and preventable such as heartworms, fleas, or other parasites. Also, your German Shepherd Chihuahua may be prone to obesity. Be sure to monitor their diet and exercise, and they’ll be okay.

Minor Conditions
  • Parasites
  • Obesity
Serious Conditions
  • Patella luxation
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Inherited heart conditions

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Male vs Female

When it comes to differences between male and female German Shepherd Chihuahua mixes, there aren’t any key focus points. And that’s because each individual dog in this breed is so wildly different that there’s no commonality in personality, size, or temperament.

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Final Thoughts

The German Shepherd Chihuahua mix can be an incredibly loving and fun companion for a single owner despite their perceived flaws. And the truth is that there’s still so much to learn about this breed!

However, you do need to take a special approach when adopting and raising a Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix. The volatility of temperaments, sizes, and daily needs between individual pups is too great to make overarching determinations about the breed as a whole.

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Featured Image Credit to Imasillypirate, Shutterstock

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