Learn About the Chihuahua Dachshund Mix aka Chiweenie

Chihuahua Dachshund mixThe Chihuahua Dachshund mix is more commonly known as the Chiweenie in breeding circles. Other lesser-known names for it include the Mexican hotdog, Chiweeni, and the Chiwi.

The Chiweenie is a small breed dog and is also known as a designer dog. This dog breed is loyal as well as friendly. Sometimes this breed can get an attitude that can come from the Chihuahua parent.

Since this is a small dog breed, it will not take up a lot of space, making it perfect for apartment living.  Just remember to give this dog breed lots of love, and you will have a perfect addition to your family.

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix History

The Chiweenie is actually a rather new designer breed that combines a Chihuahua and a Dachshund. This breed started getting bred together and gain popularity in the 1990s. 

While we do not know very much about who first started producing this crossbreed, we can look at the history of this designer breed’s parents.Chihuahua Dachshund Mix aka Chiweenie

Chihuahua History

The Chihuahua breed dates back over 3,000 years ago during the Aztec time in Mexico.  This dog breed is widely popular in Mexico and still is one of the most common dogs seen there.

They believed this dog breed would help guide them in the afterlife, so the breed would be sacrificed and buried with owners. 

This dog breed is part of the toy group category due to its small nature and size. Since the Chihuahua is so small it is perfect for apartment living. This breed can be feisty, so keep that in mind. 

The American Kennel Club accepted the Chihuahua in 1904.

Dachshund History

This fact may surprise you, but the Dachshund dog breed is actually a member of the hound group. This breed originated in Germany and was used to hunt smaller game animals such as rabbits and badgers. 

While this dog is small, it is fast and makes an excellent hunter. Nowadays, this dog breed is a loyal companion and a valued member of any family.

This breed is also small enough to fit inside small-spaced homes such as apartments. This breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1935.

Chiweenie Appearance

Each Chihuahua Dachshund Mix that you see may look a little different depending on which traits it takes on from which parent.

This is a small dog of a stocky stature with shorter legs and a slightly elongated body. Their distinct ears are large and bat-like that either stand erect or flop downwards.

A Cheenie’s eyes are generally large, and their foreheads are wrinkled, giving it a frowning appearance.

They can come in a variety of different colors that you can see below. 

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix Temperament

This is a friendly dog and is much calmer than the full-bred Chihuahua. It loves people and being in the company of humans, and they form attachments very quickly.

When separated for too long from its owners, this dog has the tendency to suffer from separation anxiety.

While it is keen to please its owners, this dog is more difficult to housebreak than others.

They do not respond well to a firm hand, and better results can be seen through positive reinforcement with regards to training.

Although the Chihuahua is known to not be well-suited to children, the Chiweenie seems to be the opposite and loves to be in the company of children and all the attention they give it.

Sometimes the Chiweenie can become a little too complacent, and once attention is given, they expect all the time.

This is a high-spirited dog, and despite its size, it appears fearless, especially around other dogs, even those that are much bigger than it.

It also has a strong protective instinct, and it has been known to go above and beyond when protecting its owners. It is a barker, and it can get a little bit yappy at times if left alone for too long. Because of its protective nature, this dog makes a good watchdog.

Chiweenie

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix Coat

The coat of the Chiweenie can differ dramatically from dog to dog and it can go from short and bristly to long and silky.

Both Chihuahuas and Dachshunds can either have long or short coats of different textures, so it depends on the parentage as to what kind of coat the Chiweenie puppy will have.

Chiweenies, just like their parentage, can come in a number of different colors; however, the most common colors are tan, brown, or black.

What Colors do They Come in?

There are not a lot of colors that this breed can inherit but there are a few which are:

  • Black
  • Brown
  • White
  • Tan
  • Tri-Color

There are typically two color options when it comes to the nose of the dog. Your dog may have either a black or brown nose.

The eyes of this dog breed can either be hazel or brown. 

Chiweenie SizeChihuahua Dachshund mix

This small dog measures a mere 8-9 inches (20-22cm) in height and weighs only 5-15lbs (2-6kg)

Chiweenie Health Problems

These small dogs only suffer from a few known minor health problems, with the most common being allergies to pollen and dust. Just like when a human suffers from hay fever, the dog’s eyes will water constantly.

The Chihuahua Dachshund mix does not really suffer from inherited health problems, but it cannot be completely ruled out.

Some possible inherited Chiweenie health problems could be Hypothyroidism, which causes weight gain, heart disease, and skin problems.

Another illness that could be inherited if the dog is overweight is diabetes, and some of the classic symptoms in a dog could be excessive thirst, constant urination, its coat being in poor condition, and even vision loss.

A typical Chihuahua illness is hypoglycemia, which could result in the dog being suddenly weak, shivering, lack of coordination, and even seizures.

Most inherited health problems are due to over breeding, so to avoid any potential inherited health risks, be sure to go with a reputable breeder and check the parentage of the puppies.

Life Expectancy of a Chihuahua Dachshund Mix

If looked after carefully, the average life expectancy for the Chiweenie falls between 12-15 years.

This is quite a long time so remember that mixed breeds have a longer life span than purebred breeds. When two breeds are crossed together, it breeds out certain diseases.

Living Conditions

These are small dogs, and it is an ideal dog for those people who live in an apartment. However, they do have a lot of energy and will need a couple of daily walks to unleash their energy.

Chiweenie Exercise

Since this mixed breed has high energy, it needs to be walked on a regular basis, ideally twice a day. It is a good idea to make them run and burn off calories as they are prone to weight gain.

Twenty or thirty minutes of exercise a day should be plenty for this small dog breed. The good thing is this is a small dog breed, so it doesn’t need very much space to roam around to get exercise, so a small yard or deck would do.

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix Feeding

Again this a small cross breed, so it won’t need very much food throughout the day to sustain itself. One cup of high-quality dog food divided into smaller meals.

Depending on the brand and quality of dog food purchased, you can expect to pay between $0.75 to $1.00 per day.

Try to pick out a food that is specially formulated for small breed dogs. When your dog is a puppy, you should purchase a small breed puppy formula. The same thing goes for senior dog food; it should be specially formulated for small dogs.

Chihuahua Dachshund mixChiweenie Grooming

This dog has a low-shedding coat, and it is easy to keep clean and maintain. If it has a shorter coat, a brush once a week with a soft bristle brush is sufficient, and if it has a longer coat, then it is advised to brush it every 2-3 days to stop it from getting tangled and keep it shiny.

It is necessary to feed the Chiweenie high-quality health food as they are prone to runny eyes and weight gain.

Because of their stocky build, they should not be overfed as they have the tendency to put on too much weight if given a lot of food.

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix Training

Training a dog like this may take some time. As the Chiweenie can have some attitude problems. Even though this dog breed is part Dachshund, it will take some time to properly train.

Start with easy things like socialization and potty training. Eventually, your dog will pick up on these things, and you can start training your dog on other things like tricks.

Remember to always train your dog through positive reinforcement with treats and positive affirmations. 

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix Puppies

The price of this designer mixed breed will truly vary depending on how the breeder’s standards, show dogs, and what comes with the puppy.

You can expect to pay between $500 and $1,500 per puppy. Find a breeder that you can truly trust and see if the breeder, if they are local, will allow you to come to see their facility.

This is a really affordable mixed breed. Some designer breeds can range to astronomical prizes.

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix

Chihuahua Dachshund Mix Litter Size

This mixed breed can have between two and six puppies in a single litter. Remember each puppy make take certain traits from each parent.

Remember when you get your puppy home that you start socialization right away from a young age. This will help make your dog friendlier.

Suitability

The Chiweenie make a perfect family pet and they get on well with children. They do however require a lot of attention while growing up and owners need to spend a lot of time trying to socialize and train them.

Close relatives of the Chihuahua Dachshund Mix

Here are some examples of breeds that are similar to the Chiweenie:


5 thoughts on “Learn About the Chihuahua Dachshund Mix aka Chiweenie”

  1. I have a Chiweinnie, and I LOVE her!! My children are all grown, I have grandchildren. I never thought I would own a small dog, I don’t care for the yappy type. This one doesnt bark at all!! She will whine if she needs to go outside and potty. Other than that, she is happy and travels in a carrier with me when I go run errands. She gets along wonderful with my highland collie and my australian shedherd/highland collie. Which are both happy dogs…they play together and my female collie could not be spayed (allergy to anesthesia) she acts like the mother of this little gal. So cute to see them together. I could not be happier with this small dog! Our vet said this breed seems to have breed the bad of both chihuahua (yappy) and dachshund out. We used to have a miniature dachshund so I am aware of the “stubbornness” of that breed. She does prefer me to my husband. I’m glad this spoke of how well the dog responds to positive reactions when training. My husband tends to use “anger management”, now he knows to try a lighter positive hand.

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  2. My Chiweenie, Cinnamon Christopher is the best dog I have ever had in my life. He is always cheering me up when I’m feeling down, he has even ran away from home with me as support before. I can’t put how much I love him into words because it’s just so much more than words could say. My little Prince will always forever be in my heart. Cinnamon is very intelligent I even taught him how to read flash cards! Anyway I just wanted to brag about my wonderful, loyal Chiweenie pal.

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  3. My little Chiweenie, PIA(yes, her full name is Pain in the a$$), is the best little dog I have ever known. She loves to cuddle, has only weighed 4lbs for all of her life, and loves me, my boyfriend and my son unconditionally. I never thought I would own a little dog like her, but I saved her from a horrible situation when she was three months old and I was six months pregnant with my son and just the thought of losing her quickly became unbearable. I think it was an effect of adopting her when I did, but from the second he came home, she became his protector, even going after my brother the first time he went to pick up the baby. She has never been much of a barker, but even now, at eight years old, she gets huge bursts of energy daily and needs to run. She also gets along with cats fairly well, meaning she doesn’t mess with them unless they come after her. But when we spent several months living with a friend who owned a pit bull, she put the bigger dog in his place almost immediately and was top dog until we left. I recommend this breed for anyone living in a small apartment or sharing a home with others. They’re great in multiple pet situations and if you have a small child, the dog and child will be able to entertain each other for hours a day.

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  4. I have a Chiweenie that I’ve had since she was 2, she was rescued out of Texas where they were going to put her down . She is now almost 7 . The best dog I have ever had . She know’s I don’t feel well or am hurt.She has been my constant companion since my Wife’s passing in 2015. She’s a clown & won’t play with any thing that doesn’t squeak. She is not my pet she’s my babygirl, her name is HOPE

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  5. Omggghh my baby Nemo is a chi and he my very first dog and let me tell you we both suffer separation anxiety when away from eachother I love him so much no kids but he really make me not think about having any

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