Chiweenie Dog Breed

About This Breed

A cross between a Chihuahua and a Dachshund, the Chiweenie is a small breed, sometimes with long, floppy Dachshund ears. They tend to be happy, easygoing dogs … although they need a lot of love and attention when they’re young.

Physical Characteristics

Small in stature, the Chiweenie usually has the long body and build of a Dachshund, although they could have either long, floppy ears like a Dachshund or smaller ones like a Chihuahua.

COLOR(S)

Exhibits a variety of colors (in either solid or mixes) including black, blond, brown, tan or white.

COAT

Short or medium; glossy and silky

Personality and Temperament

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Low to moderate

POSITIVES

A Chiweenie is easy going and happy, a sweet breed that enjoys spending time with their families. They make fantastic lap dogs.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Chiweenies can be stubborn and need a lot of training and attention, especially when they are young puppies. A Chiweenie can also be very quiet or quite the barker. They can become jealous of other animals and people, and don’t necessarily do well in households with other pets.

Care

IDEAL LIVING CONDITIONS

This small breed does well in both small apartments or large homes. Because exercise isn’t especially important, they do well with either a small daily walk or a quick romp around an enclosed backyard.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The Chiweenie requires regular bathing, although their coats are extremely low maintenance. They are a stubborn breed, though, and training may be difficult. They also tend towards jealousy and don’t do well in homes with other pets, and some may bark excessively.

Health

The breed tends towards ear infections and other issues that commonly occur with small dogs, like knee and back problems.

History and Background

This energetic mixed breed became popular only recently — around the 1990s — mostly due to their small size, easygoing personalities and low maintenance coats. Besides their overall looks, the breed doesn’t share much in common with their hunting dog ancestors, the Dachshund, and tend more towards their Chihuahua roots in terms of activity level and personality.