Mixed-breed Chihuahuas are among the most popular dogs if you look at the figures. Some people only like tiny pups. Some people like a massive canine. Others might not care about the dog’s size but prefer a particular breed over others. Of course, you can find out what type of dog you’re getting before you adopt one. But for this article, we’ll focus on Chihuahuas.
Chihuahuas are a terrific addition to any family, so let’s assemble some information to help put you on the right track with this selection. Mixed-breed Chihuahuas are a much-appreciated dog breed, but they can be misunderstood. They are not as assertive as some of their other counterparts, and they are very good with children and other pets.
And in this article, we will reveal the most common Chihuahua breed mixes and what to expect from them. Keep on reading, and don’t forget to share your stories in the comment section!
BREEDING A CHIHUAHUA
If you are intending to breed your Chihuahua, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. It is not a decision to be taken lightly, as it will impact the lives of many dogs and their future owners. In this section, we will look at the process of breeding a Chihuahua. This will include how long it takes for a female dog to give birth, what you can expect during each stage of the process, and some tips on how to make sure your puppy grows up happy and healthy.
🐶 Choosing healthy parents
While a Chihuahua is an adorable, compact little dog and an excellent companion, they are also prone to health problems. The breed is known for having bad teeth, heart disease, and eye problems.
Also, be aware of your Chihuahua’s health when thinking about breeding it. If your Chi’s family history had any heart disease or if she is already pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, it would be best not to breed. This is due to the increased risk of congenital disabilities with this breed due to the shortened muzzle and narrow hips.
🐶 Proven breeders
When looking for the right breeder, referrals from other Chihuahua owners are the best place to start. If they have any good ones, ask them how they found them and whether or not they would recommend that breeder to others. You can also check with local kennel clubs and rescue groups. Many of these organizations have a list of recommended breeders on their websites or in their directories.
When you contact potential breeders, be sure to ask about fees and contracts. Reputable breeders don’t make money off of their puppies. Instead, they take into account all expenses involved in producing healthy pups, then charge accordingly. Some may even offer reduced rates for older Chihuahuas or littermates who aren’t going home as show prospects or pets. But instead, need homes because of unexpected health issues in their families’ households.
A good breeder will also provide references from previous buyers so that you know how happy those clients were with their animals’ temperaments, appearance, and quality of care provided by the breeder prior through during puppyhood until adoption day.
🐶 Female maturity
The first thing you have to do is make sure that your female Chihuahua is old enough to breed. She should be at least 12 months old and weigh at least 45 pounds. It’s also important that all her vaccinations are up-to-date.
Another thing for you to know is how long it takes for a Chihuahua puppy to reach maturity so that you won’t be surprised when she reaches the age where she’ll start showing interest in mating with other dogs. When this happens, it would be best if she were kept away from any other dogs until she has completed her training in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies, which could lead her to become aggressive towards other species even when they aren’t related by blood relation!
🐶 Male maturity
It is very significant to make sure that your male Chihuahua is at least 12 months old before breeding him. This ensures that he has matured enough to breed successfully. He should also be at least 50% of the female’s weight, so if she weighs 5 pounds, he should weigh at least 2 1/2 pounds. Remember that the heavier he is, the more likely it is that she will have a successful delivery.
If a vet has checked his health and he has no problems, this would be another good sign that he should be able to breed successfully with your female. The same goes for being able to handle him and control him. If you have trouble doing these things when handling your female during her heat cycle, then it could cause complications when trying to breed them together as well.
🐶 Medical test
Heritable health conditions are diseases that are passed from parent to offspring. Although it’s possible for both parents to be carriers of a specific illness, each dog has a 50% chance of inheriting it from either parent. That’s why it’s crucial to have your dog tested for heritable health conditions before breeding them.
Heritable health conditions can range from mild to severe in severity. Some examples include:
- Heart disease (brachycephalic breeds)
- Patellar luxation
- Intervertebral disc disease (Chihuahuas over ten years old)
Testing is typically done by sending samples of blood or urine off to an accredited laboratory. This will then analyze these samples and give you results within 1-3 weeks’ time. The cost of testing will vary depending on what tests you need to do and how many Chihuahuas you’re breeding at once. However, it usually ranges between $60-$130 per test. Knowing whether or not your Chihuahua has any heritable health conditions prior to breeding them with another canine companion allows for informed decision-making when choosing which dogs are best suited for producing healthy puppies together.
🐶 Mother and puppies monitoring
You’ll need to make sure that the mother and puppies have a safe place to deliver them. Keep it warm and dry and draft-free, but don’t let it get too hot or cold. Make sure there are plenty of clean towels, puppy pads, waste bags for disposal, and bowls for water. If you’re planning on keeping the puppy indoors during pregnancy, now would be the time to start preparing your home by setting up a designated area where they can hang out together until they’re ready to go into their new homes as adults at eight weeks old.
If the mother has more than one litter in a year, then you may want to consider having her spayed after her last litter, so she doesn’t have any more puppies. Spaying is also recommended if she has urinary tract infections frequently due to hormonal changes that happen when their period comes each month. And this usually occurs around six months old. You should consult with your veterinarian before making this decision. However, because sometimes medical conditions warrant exceptions being made, just ask!
🐶 Emergency
If you have never bred a Chihuahua before, you should have a vet on hand who is familiar with the breed and its unique health issues. You should also have a plan for what to do if there are any complications during pregnancy or birth. It’s best to be equipped for anything in order to avoid any unnecessary stress both for your Chihuahua and yourself, as well as prevent any unnecessary costs down the road. Having an emergency vet ready to go is highly advisable if you’re serious about breeding Chihuahuas to prevent health surprises.
IS YOUR CHIHUAHUA SAFE TO HAVE PUPPIES
You may want to consider whether it will be beneficial or harmful to your Chihuahua to have a litter of puppies. Raising a puppy is rewarding, but there are many risks involved as well. Breeding can be costly and requires you long hours of care and attention. Also, there is always the chance that your Chihuahua may become ill during gestation or delivery and pass away in childbirth, which occurs more often in older Chihuahuas.
However, if you are willing to take on these burdensome responsibilities and risks, then you should consider breeding your Chihuahua at least once. One goal of breeding is to leave behind offspring who will carry on the Chihuahua’s genes into future generations.
>>How risky is the breeding process?
Breeders are responsible for the health and well-being of their puppies. It is not always possible to predict which dogs will pass on what traits, so it is vital that you communicate consistently with your vet throughout the breeding process.
When you breed a Chihuahua with other canines, you are responsible for ensuring that each puppy has a loving home when they are ready to go. This means carefully choosing who will be adopting your puppies and ensuring they are healthy and have been appropriately vaccinated before being placed in their new homes. Lastly, you should also be prepared for unexpected things happening during pregnancy, such as a Caesarian section being required or one of the parents losing their life unexpectedly due to illness or accident.
CHIHUAHUA BREED MIX
Chihuahuas are small, fragile, and active breeds. Their small size can be seen as a benefit or a drawback, depending on what you’re looking for in a dog. Do you want something that works well in your small space? The Chihuahua might be perfect! Are you looking for something that won’t take up too much spot in your home? A mix between the Chihuahua and another small breed could be right up your alley!
Though they are a great companion, these breeds don’t make excellent guard dogs because they tend to prefer people over other animals and things around them. They also aren’t great watch dogs because of their tendency towards shyness, even though they do bark when necessary.
If this rings like what you’re looking for, then keep reading this section because we’ll list some suggestions on who would make good mixes with this lovable little pup!
🐶 Chihuahua Maltese mix
Maltese are small, clean, and quiet dogs who are hypoallergenic. They have a long history of being beloved pets and companions. Maltese are easy to train and can be taught a variety of commands. The Maltese Chihuahua mix will inherit some qualities that make both breeds so popular. They’re affectionate, playful, loyal, and intelligent. In general, however, this hybrid dog is likely to be less reserved than its purebred cousins, perhaps having more energy or being more vocal!
🐶 Chihuahua Yorkie mix
The Chihuahua Yorkie mix is a designer dog that combines the best of both worlds. If you love the look and size of a standard Yorkshire Terrier but want to add some sass and independence to your home, this might be the perfect breed for you. You’ll get all the cuteness of a Yorkie combined with the spunky personality of a Chihuahua! You might also like to consider breeds such as Pug or Miniature Schnauzer if you’re looking for something similar.
🐶 Chihuahua Pomeranian mix
The Chihuahua Pomeranian mix is a small dog with the temperament of a Chihuahua, with the size of a Pomeranian. The small dog was bred by crossing two small breeds together and then selecting puppies from those crossings based on their appearance.
The Chihuahua Pomeranian mix may have both short fur and long fur, but most have short hair like their Chihuahua parent breed. The coat could be single-colored (white or black) or multi-colored (brown or tan). This mix is active and playful but also intelligent enough to understand commands from its owner easily since it was bred from two intelligent breeds.
🐶 Chihuahua Shih Tzu mix
Have you ever been on the disposition to try something new? If so, it may be time to consider getting a Chihuahua Shih Tzu mix. Mixes are a sumptuous way to add some excitement to your life! Not only do mixes have new names and personalities, but they also have new coats and sizes. And for those of us who need extra energy boosts, mixes have longer lifespans than purebreds.
ADVANTAGES OF MIXED-BREED CHIHUAHUAS
Adopting a mixed-breed Chihuahua, also called a designer dog, has many benefits. This type of dog has become a popular choice over the past decade, and with good reason. Here is why you should adopt a mixed breed Chihuahua.
✅ More affordable
The first advantage of having a mixed-breed Chihuahua is that they are cheaper. Considering that you have two breeds in one body, rather than adopting two breeds separately. They are significantly less expensive than purebred Chihuahuas and many other purebred dogs. Many people think that their dog will be healthier if born from two purebred parents, but this is only true if both parents have health problems in their DNA. If you pick up your puppy at the animal shelter and have no health issues, then there will be no reason to spend more money on dog food and vet bills!
✅ Potty training
The second advantage of adopting a mixed-breed Chihuahua puppy? More likely than not, it will already be potty trained! You don’t have to worry about training them to use the bathroom outside or taking them out every few hours during the night, so they can go out before going back into bed.
✅ Better health
As a Chihuahua dog owner, you can expect your mixed-breed pup to have fewer health problems than a purebred.
Mixed-breed Chihuahuas are negligibly likely to develop genetic disorders because they’re not as genetically similar to each other. This means that any one breed doesn’t have the same risk factors for diseases and illnesses as another breed does. In other words, if your Chi has a condition that’s common among Chihuahua dogs or any purebred, then it will probably be fine since he doesn’t share much genetic material with other Chi’s.
✅ Hypoallergenic
If you or your household have allergies, a mixed-breed Chihuahua may be the right dog for you. A mixed-breed Chihuahua has lower rates of producing dander or skin flakes and saliva. These are the two leading causes of allergic reactions in people. This means they’re less likely to cause allergic reactions than other breeds.
Mixed breeds are also more likely to be hypoallergenic because they don’t have specific genes that make them more allergenic than others. It’s thought that purebred dogs who have been bred over generations can develop genetic traits that make them more probable to trigger an allergic reaction in humans.
✅ Adorable
Chihuahuas are the only dog breed with a naturally occurring gene for dwarfism, meaning they are among the smallest of all dog breeds. However, this does not mean that they should be treated as pets for children. Chihuahuas are still very energetic and need enough exercise to keep them happy and healthy.
They also have an average life expectancy of 15 years. So, if you can commit to caring for a Chihuahua puppy until it’s at least 7 or 8 years old, then you might just be in luck. You’ll have yourself a lifelong companion to snuggle with on cold winter nights!
DISADVANTAGES OF MIXED-BREED CHIHUAHUAS
Searching for a mixed-breed Chihuahua can be difficult. While you will be able to find a healthy Chihuahua from a reputable breeder, many people simply don’t want to go this route. Mixed-breed Chihuahuas may be readily available at your local pound or shelter, but there are some disadvantages that should be considered when bringing one home. In this section, we will take a look at the disadvantages of mixed-breed Chihuahuas.
❌ Mixed-breed Chihuahuas are rarer than purebred Chihuahuas.
The first disadvantage is that the mixed-breed Chihuahuas are rarer than purebred Chihuahuas. They are not as popular since they don’t have the same history or pedigree that some people prefer in their dogs. Mixed breed Chihuahua puppies cost more than purebred Chihuahua puppies. This is because of their rarity. But, they can still be found in shelters and rescues just like any other dog that needs a home.
Though it was mentioned a while ago that mixed-breed are more affordable, cross-breeding still costs a lot. This is especially true if you want specialized features of the offspring. This includes the type of breed you want your Chi to be mixed with and some extra features such as color, fur, and more.
❌ Mixed-breed Chihuahuas tend to need a lot more attention.
You must be extra patient and gentle with a mixed-breed Chihuahua. There are several reasons for this. First, you may need to work harder to train your new puppy because they may have inherited behavioral problems from one or both of their parents. Second, if the dogs who were crossed to produce your puppy had health issues that were passed on to them, then you will likely have similar problems with yours as well as some other potential side effects.
Third, many Chihuahuas suffer from separation anxiety when they are left alone at home, which can cause them severe stress. But this is particularly true of mixed breeds Chihuahuas since they do not always know how best to deal with such issues themselves.
❌ Mixed-breed Chihuahuas tend to be quite needy.
Mixed-breed Chihuahuas are known to be needy and demanding. They need a lot of engagement and require to be taken on walks to the vet, groomer, and dog park regularly. Because they are only 20 inches tall and weigh around six pounds, these breeds can easily slip through cracks when you leave them in an open area such as a fenced backyard or indoors with no supervision.
❌ Mixed breed Chihuahuas sometimes look strange.
It’s not uncommon for some mixed-breed Chihuahuas to have strange markings. They might have stripes, spots, or even freckles. This can be a satisfactory thing if you’re looking for a unique dog! But it can also be a bad thing if you don’t like your dog looking so different from other Chihuahuas.
That’s because the coat of many mixed-breed Chihuahuas looks weirdly patchy and uneven. As well as unruly and can’t be groomed easily compared to purebreds, who usually have sleek coats that stay relatively neat over time, especially if brushed regularly.
In addition, if your mixed breed is hairless, then its coat will need more than just regular brushing. It will require frequent bathing and moisturizing with oils or lotions and possibly clipping. But there are also some benefits. If you get tired of bathing your dog every day, then this type may be easier on your schedule!
❌ You may never know what you may get.
Mixed breed Chihuahuas are unpredictable. You never know what you may get with mixed-breed Chihuahuas. Some of them are sweet and loving, while others can be aggressive and stubborn. They all have different temperaments, body types, and personalities. The size of the hybrid may vary considerably as well. Some can be very small, while others will be larger than a purebred Chihuahua.
These factors make it difficult to predict how well your Chihuahua will adapt to being around other animals or children in your family. You also cannot determine its lifespan. And this is something that is important when considering whether or not it would perform well with your lifestyle as an owner.
GENERAL CARING TIPS
There are plenty of tips for taking care of a Chihuahua. In fact, there are numerous things you can do to keep your mixed-breed Chihuahua healthy and happy.
Chihuahuas are delicate small dogs that need special care. They have very little fat, so they don’t tolerate the cold well. They also have trouble breathing if it’s too hot outside because their nostrils are narrow compared to most other breeds.
🔵 Feeding guidelines
Chihuahuas are not known to be fussy eaters, but they still do require regular nutrition. But, mixed-breed Chihuahuas should be fed twice daily with high-quality food. It’s also critical to determine that Chihuahuas have a proneness to overeat and become overweight if given too much at one time. Feeding in small portions throughout the day will help prevent this from happening.
🔵 Vaccinations and Veterinary care
It is vital that you have your pet vaccinated with the appropriate vaccines. Vaccines are designed to protect them against certain diseases. But, they also help reduce the risk of contracting other diseases, as well as reducing the spread of harmful illnesses.
Your vet will recommend a vaccine schedule based on their age and lifestyle. This schedule can include one-off injections or annual boosters, which need only be given once a year. Side effects from vaccines are rare. But, some Chihuahuas may experience mild reactions such as a fever or feeling unwell for a few days after getting vaccinated. These side effects are usually temporary and not severe in any way!
🔵 Grooming
Grooming your Chi on a regular basis can help keep him healthy and happy. Use a brush or comb to remove dead hair, or pull the hair out manually with your fingers. Brush their teeth day-to-day with a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically made for mixed-breed Chi, or use doggy dental wipes. Make sure you clean under their nails too!
It would help if you did bathing and grooming as necessary. If they have been rolling around in the mud, they’ll need a bath. While if they’re getting ready to go outside in cold weather, it’s time for a trim. Also, if they’ve just gotten over an illness and aren’t feeling well, give them extra attention so that they don’t get chilled by the dampness of their fur.
When possible, use warm water when bathing your pup. This will make it less likely that it’ll get cold after being dried off. You can also use warm towels instead of blow dryers when drying off wet pups. This will prevent them from getting chilled due to dampness in their fur coat.
🔵 Exercise
Your Chihuahua is a companion dog and will be happiest when you are involved in his daily activities. One of the best ways to do this is by including him in your exercise routine. This will not only be beneficial to your health, but it will also give your Chi the option to get out of the home and mingle with other dogs as well.
The type of exercise you choose should depend on what interests both you and your Chi have. Whether that’s walking or more active pursuits like swimming or agility training. The most momentous thing is that it’s fun for both of you!
🔵 Chewing and Training tips
Keeping your Chihuahua’s mouth busy can be a great way to ensure that it does not develop any destructive chewing habits. Having a variety of toys and chew toys available for your pup can help keep it from chewing on inappropriate items such as shoes or furniture.
If you have an older Chihuahua that has a mixed breed, it is also essential to consider its teeth. As your pet ages, its teeth will begin to wear down naturally. For this rationale, it is advisable to give your pup bones that are softer than those intended for younger dogs. This is because they are easier on their gums and teeth.
Lastly, be careful when giving treats to your Chi. This can lead to bad breath and can affect its overall oral health. To know more about this problem, click here.
BOTTOM LINE
The mixed-breed Chihuahuas may take a while to train them personally, but it is generally an adorable and well-behaved pup. It has great energy and can be hard to ignore as it begs for attention. The important things to remember are that the mixed-breed Chihuahua needs extra attention, love, and care to ensure its health and longevity.
While there’s no official reason for the Chihuahua’s immense fame, it’s likely because of the dog’s vast and varied appeal. They’re cute, they’re cuddly, and they’ll always be loyal and protective. They might also be a little feisty, but they make the perfect pet.
Here at ILoveChihuahua, we share our personal experiences as owners of this feisty breed. We talk about recommended methods, dog supplies picks, and advice on common Chihuahua problems. Our goal is to promote responsible dog ownership, so there would be fewer Chihuahuas in shelters.
