Are Chiweenies Good Dogs? [Yes! Here Are The Highlights]


Are Chiweenies Good Dogs

One of the dog species’ unique traits is that they come in such a vast range of shapes, sizes, and personalities. With hundreds of breeds out there, you’ll find you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a dog. What’s more, if you’re not interested in any of the purebreds available, there are plenty of crossbreeds that are just as fun, affectionate and intelligent. The hybrid we’re going to introduce you to in this blog post is the Chiweenie.

Are Chiweenies Good Dogs? Chiweenies can be great dogs for a range of owners. Their small size means they are manageable for seniors, young people, and first-time owners alike. With a careful breeder, they will inherit many positive traits from both parents that make them excellent dogs to own.

What is a Chiweenie a Crossbreed of?

A Chiweenie is a crossbreed of a chihuahua and a dachshund. One method of breeding is to have one purebred Chihuahua parent and one purebred dachshund. Alternatively, both parents could be Chiweenies themselves.

As with both parent breeds, Chiweenies can have short- or long-haired coats, which can come in various colors. They can either inherit the upwards-pointing ‘bat ears’ of a chihuahua or the ‘drop ears’ of a dachshund – it all comes down to the specific gene pool.

Chiweenies will always inherit the ‘small dog’ size, as you would expect. A Chiweenie will rarely exceed 12lbs in weight and 9 inches in height (measured floor to shoulder).

You may also see them being referred to under several different names, including chiwees, choxies, doxiehuahuas, weeniehuauas, and even Mexican hotdogs!

What Personality Traits do Chiweenies Have?

One of a Chiweenie’s best traits is that they are fiercely loyal and will love their owners with all their heart. They won’t let their small stature get in the way of protecting you if they think you’re under threat. While these are positive traits, you need to keep an eye on how they may manifest in other behaviors.

For instance, protectiveness could cross the line into aggression if your Chiweenie isn’t socialized properly.

Be sure to have plenty of suitable meetings with other dogs and humans to keep this from happening.

They can also be quite vocal. Whether this is a desirable trait for you depends on your own needs. If you need a lookout dog to alert you of visitors – welcome or not – then a Chiweenie will do an excellent job.

Thanks to their loyalty, Chiweenies also make lovely lap dogs and will be content to cuddle with their owners, giving and receiving affection. They prefer to be close to their owners at all times, resulting in some significant separation anxiety if left home alone. For this reason, it would be preferable for there to be at least one person at home with them throughout the day.

Chiweenies will usually have the confidence of a much larger dog, which can sometimes lead to stubbornness. This can be a challenge when training them – though it is possible to do so. It will just take more time, patience and will ideally begin when they are still a puppy.

Are Chiweenies Good Family Dogs?

Chiweenies will often become most attached to one person but can get along well with the surrounding family members.

However, they are not well-suited to an environment with young children.

This is because young children tend to be less careful with animals and may accidentally become too boisterous during playtime, resulting in unfortunate outcomes.

For instance, the Chiweenie may get injured or become annoyed, which could cause them to snap at the child.

Therefore, if you’re introducing a Chiweenie to your family, it would be better if your children are older – at least at an age where they can understand the care they need to take with a small dog and tune in to any warning signs of annoyance.

A Chiweenie’s territorial nature can mean they’re not too friendly with strangers. If you’re bringing them into a large family, all members should be carefully introduced and spend time with the new dog. If a Chiweenie is unfamiliar with someone, they share a house with, they will become stressed, vocal, and possibly even snappy if undersocialized.

For this reason, smaller, tight-knit families are a better environment for a Chiweenie to live in.

Again, we should stress the importance of socializing your dog. Owners can sometimes make the mistake of thinking that aggression isn’t an issue because their dog is so tiny. However, this behavior can cause many problems, so it’s best to squash it as early as possible.

You can socialize your Chiweenie from a young age with careful, supervised meetings with others, whether it’s in your own home or a different location. Take care to let your Chiweenie get used to being around others at their own pace – simply dropping them off at the dog park unleashed and directing them towards a big group will cause more problems than solutions.

Are Chiweenies Good for Seniors?

a photo of seniors

Chiweenies can make excellent companions for seniors. They don’t require a lot of exercise and, though they tend to shed (especially the long-haired varieties), their upkeep is manageable for an older person. Overall, they are a low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for breed.

For a senior living alone, this affectionate little lap dog could stop any loneliness in its tracks. Also, a retired owner will be able to stay home for most of the day, which is perfect for a Chiweenie. They much prefer having a human around rather than being left alone.

The most challenging form of maintenance for a Chiweenie is training them. As mentioned, they can be stubborn and quickly become bored if a session is not engaging enough. However, teaching them will be less of a challenge than dealing with the alternative of bad behavior and disobedience.

Are Chiweenies Good for People Living Alone?

As you may have guessed, Chiweenies have great adaptability and can live in several different environments. They are just as happy living with a single adult – in fact, this would even be their preferred arrangement. They become very attached to their human and will love to curl up on their lap for some quality time.

The only potential issue with this living arrangement is a Chiweenie’s tendency for separation anxiety. If their owner is out of the house during the week for work, a Chiweenie will likely become distressed. This could trigger bad behavior such as causing damage to furniture or being very vocal – which won’t make you very popular with your neighbors.

For this reason, a Chiweenie would be best suited to a single owner who can work from home or otherwise be around a lot.

Are Chiweenies Good for First-Time Owners?

It’s often recommended that first-time owners start with low-maintenance dogs. On this front, a Chiweenie would suit a first-time owner very well. While any dog will require care, expenses, and a change in routine to meet its needs, a Chiweenie can quite easily fit into an existing pattern. Their arrival will not be an overwhelming change for a new owner.

Nevertheless, first-timers should be prepared to take on owner responsibility wherever and whenever it is demanded. This will likely be most difficult during training stages – as we’ve seen, the Chiweenie can be stubborn and lose interest quickly, even when offered rewards.

How Much Should I Feed my Chiweenie?

Chiweenies are tiny dogs, so they do not require much food at all. Their recommended diet is between ½ cup and 1 cup of high-quality dry kibble per day, spread across two or three meals. Small breeds can become overweight quickly, so it is important not to overfeed your Chiweenie. They can also have some soft food but remember to give them small portions only.

How Much Should I Walk my Chiweenie?

A Chiweenie will typically require thirty minutes of exercise per day. Not only does this keep them fit and healthy, but venturing out of the house keeps them entertained and prevents boredom. Walks can also be an excellent opportunity to work on their socialization in a safe environment. It’s important not to over-exercise a Chiweenie; they are tiny dogs, and overexertion could damage their health.

Where can I get a Chiweenie?

Chiweenies have risen sharply in popularity over the past few decades, with many breeders producing them. While this is good news for those looking for this crossbreed, unfortunately, it also means that many are also ending up in shelters. So, if you’d like to welcome a Chiweenie into your family, you will likely be able to find a reputable breeder with some research. However, it would also be worth checking out your local shelters to see if your companion is waiting for you there.

Final Thoughts

Chiweenies are good dogs for a wide variety of owners, environments, and experience levels. They would do best in a small family with no young children, where at least one family member can be home most of the time. They are known for their loyalty and will often pick a favorite human who they will protect fearlessly. Though small, they have a lot of confidence and would make a very effective lookout for visitors. They can be stubborn with a proneness to aggression; however, these behaviors can be kept under control with training and socialization. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance canine companion who will love you with all they have, a Chiweenie could be perfect for you.

More on Chiweenies

If you’re simply in love with Chiweenies and can’t get enough, then check out our other posts below:

Sources

https://allthingsdogs.com/chiweenie/

https://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Chiweenie

https://thehappypuppysite.com/chiweenie

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