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Chiweenie: Everything You Need to Know!

a brown and tan merle Chiweenie.
Dr. Sara Ochoa DVM author of Chiweenie: Everything that you need to know
Veterinarian approved seal

Chiweenie’s are becoming a very popular mixture of dogs. You may even be considering getting one yourself.

These dogs can make a great companion, but there are some things that you need to consider before getting one of these breeds.

This article will tell you everything that you need to know before getting a Chiweenie


What is a Chiweenie?

A Chiweenie is a mixture of chihuahua and dachshund. This is a designer dog breed that has become more popular over the past few years. There is no real history on when this breed was actually first created. It is believed that it was first created in the 1990s and originated in North America.

These dogs usually have short legs and long bodies like a dachshund but fully erect ears like a chihuahua. This cute look makes these very cute dogs that are highly sought after.


Chiweenie Personality

Chiweenies are energetic, playful, and loving. Even though they have lots of energy at times, they also make an excellent lap dog. These dogs also make great watchdogs. They have a very sharp bark and will usually bark at anything that is abnormal in their environment.

These dogs may not be best for families with kids but make great dogs for single people, retirees, or families with older children. Most Chiweenies will have just a few people that they love to be around and will growl and bark at anyone else. Chiweenies also tend not to get along with other animals that you may have. A Chiweenie should be kept as a single pet.


Training Chiweenies

Chiweenies can be very stubborn, which can cause lots of problems with training. It is best to keep training in very short sessions that are varied in activities. Chiweenies love to play, so making training a game helps them learn quickly and stay engaged in their training. This breed will resist training sometimes, which can frustrate even the best trainer. One way to help with training is to give your Chiweenie a lot of treats. These are usually very treat motivated dogs. These dogs will quickly perform a trick for a tasty reward


Chiweenie’s Diet

Chiweenies are very small dogs, and while they are not usually very picky about the food, they will need smaller size pieces. Most small dog foods come in smaller pieces that make it much easier for a Chiweenie to eat. These dogs are also very prone to being obese. It is best to maintain a very strict diet to avoid them getting overweight. When feeding, it is best to strictly follow the instructions on the bag and split between two different feedings. If you give your pet and treats, it is advised to decrease the amount of food that you are feeding them by 1/4th.


Health information of Chiweenies

Chiweenies are usually very healthy dogs that live a long life. The average lifespan of a Chiweenie is 12 to 15 years. Some even live longer. These are some of the most common medical conditions seen with Chiweenies:

  • Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroid is when the thyroid gland does not produce enoughthyroid hormone. Dogs with hypothyroid are usually overweight,panting, and have a potbelly appearance. The treatment for this disease is daily thyroid medication.
  • Allergies: Allergies are very commonly seen in Chiweenies. These dogs can beallergic to things in their environment, such as grass, plants, andtrees, or even their food. Your veterinarian can test your dog for what they are allergic to and get your dog on medication to help with their allergies. While many times there is no cure forallergies, there may be a way to help your pet more comfortableduring their flare-ups.

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  • Diabetes: Dogs can have high blood sugar, just like people. Most of these dogsare older. Common signs seen with diabetic dogs are drinking a lot of water and urinating a lot. Your veterinarian can run bloodwork to check your dog for diabetes. If your dog does have diabetes, you will give them a shot of insulin twice a day and keep them on a special diet that is low in sugar.
  • Intervertebral Degenerative DiscDisease (IVDD):Intervertebral Disc Disease is commonly seen ina dachshund. These dogs have very long bodies and can have backproblems due to the swaying of their back. Commons signs seen in dogs will IVDD are not walking, drunken gait, dragging the back legs, not wanting to jump on or off furniture or pain when picked up
  • Hypoglycemia: When Chiweenie are very young, they can have low blood sugar.These dogs will need frequent small feeding throughout the day to keep their blood sugar regulated.
  • Dental Disease and Early Tooth Loss: Both Chihuahuas and Dachshunds are known for dental disease. They also pass this bad trait on to the Chiweenie. They will need regular dental cleanings and may even lose a few teeth during their life.

While these dogs do have some health problems that you will need to look for, they are usually very healthy. These dogs will need regular trips to the vet for checkups to make sure that they are healthy and check for any of these diseases.

These dogs will also need exercise. A short but intense play session will suffice for exercise for this breed. Due to their short legs, they usually do not like going for long walks or hikes.

Chiweenies would make a great pet to add to your house. These are different medical conditions seen in Chiweenies that you need to be aware of and look out for any signs in your dog. If you notice any health problems in your Chiweenie, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. The earlier the treatment, the better the outcome. Since these dogs live a very long and healthy life, they would make a great companion for anyone looking for a new dog.


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Meet The Author 

Dr. Sara Ochoa DVM

Since she was a little girl, she knew that her dream was to become a veterinarian. With a tremendous passion and love for animals that makes her a great source of knowledge for others. She lives happily with her husband Greg and her babies Ruby the Schnoodle, and Bam-Bam the bunny.




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