Chiweenie (Dachshund & Chihuahua Mix) Info, Pictures, Facts, Traits

This designer dog breed mix of the low-riding Dachshund and energetic Chihuahua earns our award as the dog with the funniest assortment of names. Whether you know it as a Chiweenie, Choxie, Weeniehuahua, German Taco, or Mexican Hot Dog, one thing is for certain: These adorable and compact pups will be loyal and energetic in spades!

Taking the best of traits from both of their parents, these lovable designer dogs make excellent pets for urban apartment dwellers, active couples, and always-on-the-go families. Though they can be a little bit yappy for some peoples’ tastes, they can also make wonderfully alert watchdogs and unfailingly devoted companion animals.

If you’ve been thinking about bringing a Chiweenie into your home, read on to learn more about their personality, healthcare requirements, trainability, and more. By the end of this guide, you’ll know for certain whether this breed is right for you.

 

Chiweenie Puppies

Getting to know a Chiweenie’s personality and behaviors is a wise step to take before considering buying or adopting one. But given that this breed has only been around for a few decades, how can you know whether it’s really the right dog for you? As with any designer dog, the best approach to take is to consider both of its parent breeds’ personality traits and health—and then compare how the blend of these makes the Chiweenie a unique breed.

The Chihuahua’s history and origins are exceptionally obscure and the source of much debate among dog breeders and anthropologists alike, but most can seem to agree that it was originally developed in Mexico. It is, after all, named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua! Even more interesting, it may have descended from an ancient companion dog in Mexico’s indigenous Toltec empire.

No matter where they came from, today’s Chihuahuas are notable for their small size and delicate bodies. They can be extremely intelligent, but always tend towards nervous behaviors and are easily frightened. While exceptionally loyal and loving towards their owners, Chihuahuas don’t easily make friends with strangers or newcomers.

The Dachshund, on the other hand, has clear origins in the German badger hunting scene. It was bred over many generations to fit into burrows and flush out the animals that live there and has a keen sense of smell and willful personality to match. They don’t take kindly to strangers and can often display aggression towards other dogs as well.

Playful but stubborn, Dachshunds have a trademark personality that doesn’t change much with training or socializing. They’re one of the most difficult dog breeds, in fact, to train to do anything – so don’t expect your Dachshund to be interested in doing anything except what they wish!

Unfortunately, both the Chihuahua and the Dachshund are prone to a wider variety of health problems than many other purebred dogs. For the Chihuahua, dental issues can commonly cause serious pain and health complications; the Dachshund is similarly afflicted by spinal issues, owing to its elongated body. Both breeds of dogs are prone to obesity and can have difficulties maintaining regular blood sugar.

What does all of this mean for the Chiweenie, then? Thankfully, the mixing of its two purebred parents does wonders for the German Taco’s health by reducing the severity of both sides. Additionally, they seem to possess a much mellower temperament than either of their parent breeds—though “mouthiness” is still common, and they retain much of the stubbornness and difficult training of the Dachshund.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Chiweenie

1. An adorably ugly Chiweenie named Tuna is Instagram famous.

With more than two million followers, Tuna may be the most well-known Chiweenie in the world. You can find him at tunameltsmyheart on Instagram, where you can follow along with his hilarious life and selfies. He’s a well-traveled dog, too, with on-the-go photos at thetravelingtuna, and his life growing up with a little girl at tunalovesgrace.

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2. Dental care is essential for Chiweenies.

While cross-breeding has helped the Chiweenie to eliminate many of its parents’ most ingrained health problems, both the Dachshund and the Chihuahua are prone to dental issues—making the Chiweenie equally susceptible to gum disease and tooth decay. Adopting a Chiweenie means that you’ll need to get used to brushing their teeth regularly and taking them for dental checkups each month.

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3. A Chiweenie was once Canada’s oldest dog.

Back in 2011, a Chiweenie named Midge held the title of Canada’s oldest dog, proving that this designer dog’s cross-breeding has done wonders for the breed’s overall health. Living to the ripe old age of 21 years old, Midge had only minor health problems and enjoyed long walks and cuddles up until the day she passed.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Chiweenie 🧠

Intelligent but willful, the energetic Chiweenie can be both a joy to have in your life as well as an occasional frustration. Because of their determined natures, living with a Chiweenie can be a wonderful way to learn to go with the flow in your life. Throw out your dog training books and learn to live with one’s quirks, however, and you’ll find yourself blessed with a lifelong friend.

The Chiweenie is known as a yappy breed and can be relied on to alert you of anything that might be going on in your nearby environment. For that reason, combined with their wariness of strangers, these pint-sized pups can make excellent watchdogs, but may not be the best choice around young children.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

While less nervous and fragile than the Chihuahua, Chiweenies still err on the side of being small and frail. Add this to their mouthy temperaments and high energy, and they’re not a great choice to keep around small children. Families with older children may find them a suitable pet, but Chiweenies truly thrive with just one or two owners in the house.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Depending on which parent they take after most, the Chiweenie may still have a vigorous prey drive or be entirely absent of predatory instincts. This puts most Chiweenies out of the category of being friendly with small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, but they can often be seen to get along with cats due to their smaller stature.

Chiweenies seem to be naturally hesitant to make friends with other dogs, thanks to their Chihuahua side, though this is not true in every case. They tend to get along better with smaller dogs than larger ones, and more energetic dogs rather than more sedate breeds.

 

 

Things to Know When Owning a Chiweenie:

After what you’ve read so far, do you think the Chiweenie might be right for you? If so, you’ll want to know more about its diet, exercise, and health care requirements. The Chiweenie’s health can be more complicated than many hardier dog breeds and should always be planned for as you’re considering bringing one into your home.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Because of their small size, high energy, and tendency towards obesity, choosing the right food for your Chiweenie is essential to their ongoing good health. Always consult with your veterinarian to choose an appropriate food for your Weeniehuahua’s stage of life and immediate dietary needs.

Chiweenies take after their Chihuahua side in having difficulties with low blood sugar due to their small stomach sizes. While feeding multiple smaller meals regularly throughout a day is good for almost every dog breed, it’s especially important for the Chiweenie.

Exercise 🐕

Constantly energetic, the Chiweenie is especially playful and has a great need for regular exercise. Their smaller statures and more fragile bone structures incline them towards less intense activities, such as brisk walks around the block or exciting games of fetch. Most Chiweenies are partial to letting their owners know when they need exercise and will gladly bother you to get out of your chair and come play with them.

Training 🦮

Owning a Chiweenie usually means abandoning any notion of training, outside of long-term projects aimed at slightly adjusting their behaviors. Though they may have strong potential for intelligence coming from their Chihuahua side, the Dachshund in a Chiweenie makes them exceptionally stubborn and willful. Obedience training when they are young may go some ways towards helping to accommodate for this but can’t be relied on as a consistent method for changing behaviors.

Grooming ✂️

Most Chiweenies are blessed with moderate to low grooming requirements, little shedding, and are not prone to developing odors. They can be a useful choice for mild allergy sufferers, as they don’t produce much dander.

More important to the Chiweenie’s regular grooming is frequent brushing of their teeth. Because they are prone to dental problems on both sides of their family tree, you’ll need to learn how to properly clean their teeth and take them in for regular check-ups with your veterinarian.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Though the Chiweenie is not nearly as prone to health problems as either of its fragile parent breeds, it’s still far from being the hardiest dog breed around. Some common conditions that you should be mindful of during vet checkups include:

 

Male vs Female

Both male and female Chiweenies most often display similar or identical personalities and health characteristics.

If you’re looking for a dog with a certain temperament, it’s better with this breed to consider which of its parent breeds it takes after more. If the Chihuahua side is dominant, the puppy may be smaller, less social, and easier to train. A Dachshund-dominant dog would display more willfulness and be harder to train, but also likely to be more sociable as well.

Final Thoughts

Chiweenies are an excellent example of a designer dog breed that manages to combine the best of two parent breeds into one unique dog, all while avoiding the inherent health problems that come with owning and caring for a purebred. If you’ve ever wanted a small, high-energy dog with loads of personality, the Chiweenie is definitely worth considering!

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Featured Image Credit: Destinee Marie Sims, Shutterstock