The chiweenie is a crossbreed dog mix between a Chihuahua and a dachshund. This mix is commonly referred to as a choxie or doxihuahua.
Chiweenies are small dogs that measure up to 10 inches at the shoulder and weigh around 7–10 pounds. These dogs are energetic, friendly, and extremely loyal to their families. The breed is perfectly suitable for life in a city apartment or a country house.
This dog is energetic, demands attention, and is known for barking a lot. With these challenging traits, the chiweenie is not suitable for all dog owners.
Chiweenies cost between $200 and $1,000, depending on the reputation of the breeder and the dog’s pedigree.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chiweenie Characteristics & Overview
| Common names: | Chiweenie, choxie, doxihuahua |
| Origin: | Germany |
| Parent breeds: | Chihuahua and dachshund |
| Breed group: | Hybrid |
| Size: | Small |
| Height: | 6–10 inches |
| Weight: | 5–11 pounds |
| Colors: | Brown, chocolate, black, white |
| Coat: | Smooth, long or short |
| Life expectancy: | 12–16 years |
| Temperament: | Loyal, energetic, attention-seeking, playful |
| Shedding: | Minimal |
| Barking tendency: | Frequent |
| Cost: | $200–$1,000 |
Origin & Purpose
The chiweenie originated in Germany around the end of the 20th century. The purpose of mixing the Chihuahua and dachshund breeds remains unclear.
Today, the chiweenie is considered a designer breed and is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Parent Breed: Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is an ancient breed that is named after Chihuahua, Mexico. The breed is a descendant of the Techichi dog that was kept by the Toltec people as early as the ninth century.
The Chihuahua is a small elegant dog that reaches up to 8 inches in height and weighs no more than 6 pounds. This dog has short smooth fur that includes various colors such as black, fawn, cream, red, and white.
The Chihuahua is a confident, loyal, and playful dog. This breed needs training early on for ideal behaviors.
Parent Breed: Dachshund
The dachshund is a German breed that originated in the 15th century and was used for hunting. This breed can be standard-sized or miniature. Standard-sized dogs are up to 9 inches in height and nearly 30 pounds in weight. Miniature dogs reach just 6 inches in height and weigh no more than 10 pounds.
Dachshunds have short or medium-length coats and can vary in color. Coat colors range from black and chocolate to cream and white.
These dogs are fearless and protective, yet loveable and friendly with their families. The breed is always willing to play and spend time with its owners.
Lifespan
The chiweenie can live for between 12 and 16 years, which is considered a long life for a dog. The length of the dog’s life depends on the dog’s health condition.
Chiweenies may suffer from conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, and seizures, which should be closely monitored.
Chiweenie Appearance
Chiweenies are small dogs that can differ significantly in appearance, depending on which of their parents’ traits the puppies inherit. This mix comes in a range of body, ear, and color variations.
Height and Weight
Chiweenies are small dogs that measure 6–10 inches tall and weigh between 5 and 12 pounds. Males and females are the same size. There are no height and weight standards for the chiweenie because it is a relatively new mix and isn’t registered with the AKC.
Puppies vary in size depending on the traits of their parents. The chiweenie puppy reaches its adult size and appearance between the age of 18 and 24 months.
Colors
Chiweenies can come in a variety of colors and can be solid-colored or multicolored. Coat colors depend on the color of the dog’s parents.
Some of the most common colors passed down from the chiweenie’s parents are brown, black, and white. Rare colors are gray and red.
Coat
Any combination of parent coat traits can be passed to the chiweenie. Most Chihuahuas tend to have short and smooth single coats. Dachshunds can have long, straight or wavy coats.
Chiweenies often have interesting color patterns of two to three different colors, which gives this breed its unique appearance. These dogs are low shedders and don’t require frequent brushing.
Body shape
The chiweenie is a small dog that can inherit an elongated body and short legs from its dachshund parent, or a shorter body and longer legs from its Chihuahua parent.
The shape of the breed’s ears also varies based on the dominant traits of its parents. Most chiweenies inherit sharply pointed ears from their Chihuahua parent. Some dogs have long, floppy ears, like the dachshund. Chiweenies inherit their long and narrow tails from both parents.
Personality and Temperament
The chiweenie is energetic, playful, intelligent, and protective of its owners. Just like dachshunds, this mix enjoys attention and loves adventure.
The breed possesses a strong personality and confidence, inherited from the Chihuahua.
Chiweenies may be a lot to handle because they bark a lot.
Barking
Chiweenies are loud dogs that love barking. These dogs make great watchdogs and will alert their owners if anyone approaches the house.
This mix will also use barking to get attention from its owner, which can be challenging for people who prefer a quiet environment. Barking habits can be controlled with training.
Chiweenie Care
The chiweenie has minimal grooming needs, with occasional brushing and bathing every week or two. These dogs need regular dental care because, like most small breeds, they are vulnerable to tooth loss.
This mix also gets cold easily so wearing dog clothes, like warm sweaters and coats, can become part of the dog’s grooming routine.
Food Needs
Though chiweenies are small dogs, the breed can gain weight easily. It’s best to keep a strict diet to ensure the dog maintains a healthy weight.
Dog treats should be given rarely and treats should make up no more than 10% of the dog’s daily intake.
Feed chiweenies twice a day at the same time with high-quality dog food for small breeds, and limit the dog’s total food intake to 1/2 or 1 cup of food daily.
Grooming Needs
Most chiweenies have short smooth coats, making brushing a minimal requirement. Dogs with longer coats will need weekly brushing. This breed also needs an occasional bath every one to two weeks.
The most important part of chiweenie grooming is dental care, as these small dogs are prone to dental issues. Brush the dog’s teeth two to three times per week and take the mix to a dental professional for deep cleaning every six months.
Exercise Needs
Chiweenies are energetic dogs that enjoy running and playing. These dogs need between 30 and 60 minutes of intense physical activity every day. This exercise can be divided into a walk in the morning and evening.
The breed also loves walking, running, active training, hiking, swimming, and other exercises. These dogs will make excellent adventure partners for outdoorsy people.
Chiweenies thrive in households with access to a yard where the dog can run around and play.
Mental Needs
The chiweenie is an intelligent dog that needs a lot of mental stimulation for harmonious development and a happy life. These dogs can easily become bored if not given enough mental stimulation. Boredom can result in aggression and destructive behaviors.
The breed benefits from learning new tricks during training, playing with various toys, and spending time outside exploring new places.
Common Health Concerns
Chiweenies are generally healthy dogs, but the breed can suffer from a number of health issues. Health problems are either inherited from parents or can occur if the dog doesn’t receive proper care.
These dogs can inherit hypoglycemia (or low blood sugar) from their Chihuahua parents. This condition needs to be treated with a special diet and glucose solution injections. This mix can also develop diabetes, which requires continuous treatment.
Like many dog breeds, chiweenies can also suffer from joint issues as they age.
This breed also commonly experiences dental issues, which can be prevented or delayed with a balanced diet and regular teeth brushing.
Training
Chiweenies are stubborn dogs with strong personalities, but the breed loves learning and is eager to please its owner. These dogs can be difficult to house train, so it’s best to hire a professional trainer to help.
The best strategies to train a chiweenie at home include positive reinforcement and interesting activities that keep the dog engaged in the training process.
For a chiweenie puppy, start with potty training, separation anxiety training, and socialization with other dogs early on. Socialization will help the dog develop confidence around others and prevent aggression in later stages of life.
Train the chiweenie for at least 5–10 minutes per day beginning when the dog is young.
Chiweenie Price
Chiweenies are not considered expensive dogs. The price for a puppy depends on the reputation of the breeder and the dog’s bloodline.
Adopting this dog costs less than purchasing one.
How Much Is a Chiweenie?
A chiweenie typically costs between $200 and $1,000. The price can vary based on the breeder and the puppy’s pedigree. Dogs with pure bloodlines can cost up to $2,000.
If this mix is adopted, the price can be as low as $200–$300 and includes all the necessary vaccines and a microchip.
How Much Does it Cost to Own a Chiweenie?
The initial cost of owning a chiweenie is around $300–$500. Initial costs include purchasing a collar and tags, leashes, food and water bowls, a bed, grooming essentials, and a variety of toys.
The long-term costs of owning a chiweenie are between $120 and $200 per month. Recurring costs include high-quality food, occasional grooming, and veterinary visits depending on the health condition of the dog.
Is a Chiweenie Right for You?
Chiweenies are loveable, friendly, and positive dogs that bring happiness to many households. The breed’s love, loyalty, and playfulness will keep its owner entertained.
However, these dogs may be a challenge for some owners because of the dogs’ specific training needs, exercise needs, and difficult personalities.
Who Should Get a Chiweenie?
The chiweenie is a perfect dog for big families living in the countryside, or in a city, who have access to a yard. These dogs enjoy all opportunities to be outdoors and will thrive in a place where they can fulfill their exercise needs.
The mix also enjoys company and is happy in a household where the dog can receive attention from various family members.
A chiweenie will also make a great dog for lovers of the outdoors. This dog will gladly accompany its owners on adventures like hikes, mountain climbs, and walks.
Who Should Not Get a Chiweenie?
The chiweenie is a difficult dog for owners who enjoy time alone and prefer the quiet. The dog’s loud nature makes it less suitable for life in a small apartment or in a house where neighbors can hear the dog bark.
Since the mix may suffer from separation anxiety, it will bark even louder and may become depressed if its owner leaves for long periods of time.
Chiweenies also need lots of exercise, so people who don’t have a yard or don’t live close to large green spaces aren’t suitable for this breed.
More Chihuahua and Dachshund Mixes
Want a Chihuahua mix or a dachshund mix, but aren’t keen on the chiweenie? Check out these other hybrid dog breeds:
Chihuahua Mixes
- Chihuahua Terrier Mix
- Jack Russel Chihuahua Mix
- Shih Tzu Chihuahua Mix
- Pomchi
- Pomeranian Chihuahua Mix
- Chihuahua Poodle Mix
- Chihuahua Great Dane
- Chorkie
- Chug Dog
I adopted my cheewinie, Annie when she was 5 1/2 years old.
She just turned 8 in July.
She is a loving cute little dog that sleeps with me at night. In the winter she sleeps under covers. She will lye down next to me in my recliner.
She loves for me to chase her around the house. She will chase her rubber pig when I throw it around the house.
She loves to ride in the car. She has a little seat that is high up so she can look outside!
I just love her to death.
I love those dogs had one and she was so loving, trying to find another one.
Best of luck Emily 🙂
Still want one I have a 7 month old boy
My chiweenie, Mr Monkey is my best buddy. He’s loving & the perfect amount of cuddly, noisy (yappee & howls like a siren), & hot mess. He loves his “babies”, his treats, & car rides. My son brought him to me when he was about 2 months old & we’ve been inseparable ever since. I can’t imagine life without him! ?❤
I love this breed. I have found they are great with children. We socialize ours right from the start. They do not seem to be overly yappy. I have found that females tend to be more vocal than the males. ❤️
Great info to share…thanks! My husband & I are thinking about this breed/hybrid in the near future.
Tina
I have a male and he is the best dog ever. He’s very smart,loving,and sociable. He loves kids!! He is very protective of his family. I take him everywhere. We love him so much. Great breed.
8 just commented on someone else’s comment re: lifespan but I ended up writing a lot more about my 17yr old Chiweenie. If you’re still thinking about adopting (or rescuing. A lot of Chiweenie from Puerto Rico need rescuing). Even though all dogs are individuals, my info might be helpful.
I rescued “Sassy” at 3 months old from someone that had no idea how to handle this small energetic puppy. She makes every move I make. Easily trained, she responds to treats and “Good Girl” comes when I call her. She has a job, she goes to work with me in the afternoon and is around other much larger dogs. We have a routine in the morning she knows she will stay at home until I pick her up at noon each day, and is good with that. I love this baby girl!!!
I rescued an abused Chiweenie puppy two years ago. Bella is so smart, loud, affectionate, and hilarious! Everybody just adores her!
I just got one and we are so in love!!!! Hes the sweetest little guy. I cant believe how good he is with my three kids. He plays and acts like they are puppies to play with.
We have one that bosses around his 2 huge pitbull house mates. I was leery about the living situation at first due to his little man complex w big dogs. No issues, he can hold his own very well. In fact, the pits are scared of him. They all play chase together, share toys, GREAT DOG.
Some info on my Chiweenie.
Chloe is my red Chiweenie. She has an apple shaped head, bent ears. She was given to me by someone who didnt know what a great dog this is.
Compared to Chihuahuas, which I also own, Chloe is slightly bigger than them all, is a little less energetic than other Chihuahuas, but more energetic than many other breeds, and doesn’t bark as much. She does howl when left alone sometimes.
Overall she is quite alert and picks up on household patterns well, Such as when I grab the leash, or put on shoes or she hears the alarm go off, she acts predictably.
Like the article said, she is prone to digging and will always try to dig out ground moles, field mice, and chipmunks. Occasionally she catches and kills them.
She doesnt like to be approached by strangers or small children, but if people ignore her, she will take her time and come to you.
When Chloe was Bread (only once before being fixed), with a Full blooded dear headed chihuahua, She had five puppies, Chocolate, Tan, White, White/brown fawn, and red like her mom. Chiweenie ears may or may not stand upright like a chihuahua, however all stood up with 75/25 Chiweenie mixes. I kept the white one.
Now the White Chiweenie 75/25 mix has massive upright ears. In terms of behavior, this mix is notable, because she can “communicate” with other full blooded chihuahuas, yet also can bonds with her mom. Those with multiple Chihuahuas understand that Chihuahuas are unique in their communication, complete with whines, whimpers, groans, growls, grunts, Weezing noises, etc. Added to this, is the chiweenie howl, and grown, and we have a highly expressive dog with a much bigger range of understandable emotion.
In my opinion A Chiweenie with more Chihuahua is ideal over an exact 50/50 split if the genetics and very specific breeding is done, but my Chloe is a phenomenal dog in her own right… confident as ever.
There is no such thing as a “purebred” chiweenie. They are a mixed breed, AKA mutt. And they can be wonderful dogs! But as a mix, their personalities cannot be predicted as much as their purebred counterparts, and because they are mixes, some of the tests used in purebreds to look for genetic disorders are not usable. It is also unlikely that “designer breeders” are doing health testing. If you want a cute mixed breed, shelters are a great place to look. No one should be shelling out hundreds or thousands of dollars for a mutt. If you want a well-bred, health-tested dog, go to a reputable heritage breeder who breeds purebreds to standard. If you want a cute pet and don’t care if it’s a purebred, look into rescue. Don’t encourage these “designer breeders” by paying them exhorbitant prices for their mutts.
I agree. We adopted 2 brothers at 10 weeks of age. One is the runt. The look similar “twins” looking deeper we see all their differences. We love them so much, they turned 3 months old a couple of days ago. They can already do simple commands but they want to argue with each other a lot. We are retired so we can spend lots of time with them. We have already taken them to the beach on vacation and they loved it (think they have “fish” in their DNA)
Adopted my little guy as a rescue at 8 weeks old. The first thing I thought was that he is the cutest dog I have ever seen! He has a red, long-haired coat. Yes, Dash is quite yappy and stubborn. Although intelligent, potty training was a challenge taking 9 months. But he is extremely loving and loyal giving tons of kisses. Dash has a favorite toy, a plush orange ball that he brings to bed. Dash does not like to take walks but does enjoy playing catch and being chased. He does love food rewards and is prone to weight gain. This little creature has captured my heart completely. Separation anxiety was an issue when he was younger but has improved over time. He has a really happy and sweet nature and is an easy to please dog. Dash has made me 100% sold on this breed. People stop us on the street when we are out for a walk to ask what his breed is.
awwwww
I got my chiweenie when she was 6 weeks at 1/12 lbs she is now 6 month at 7 lbs and the smartest dog I have ever had.
I taught her to sit in 5 minutes she will also lay come and rings a bell on the door to go potty. Potty training took about 4 months.
She LOVES everyone. I have 5 grandkids (ages 3 yrs to 12 yrs) and loves all of them. She travels well in our rv. And on road trips.
She is very curious and she does love to dig. She is a delight!
Can you recommend a breeder? I really want a chiweenie
angelarwashington@hotmail.com
Before I meet my “Chubby” I did not like dogs due to a bad experience I had when I was a child. When my sister brought him I was so upset and would really disliked him, but he was patient with me and made me fall in love with him. It’s being now 10 years and o love him to death, I could not imagine my life without him. He was the first family member I bought Christmas presents for. Chiweenies are definitely a wonderful bread as they are very lovable and it is true that they tend to gravitate towards a couple family members over others, for Chubby I am one of them.
How long does a chiweenie live until
They can live for about 12 to 15 years with good care
My Chiweenie, Shorty, turned 17yrs old in February. I rescued him in 2005 when he was a year old from Puerto Rico. When he was a young, people thought he was a puppy Rottweiler. I don’t want to jinx myself but all in all he is doing very well.He is going deaf but I think any dog his age would be. He has a little arthritis and has always dealt with hip and knee dysplasia, which he has pain medicine for (doggie Ibuprofen) but only needs it about once a month now.A couple years ago he needed it almost everyday. He sleeps a lot but still always wants to go outside for a walk. Sometimes he’ll just run around the apartment like he’s 4 yes old again. Lol He also has a very healthy appetite. He’s always been picky and never took to dry food)kibble.He’s always liked his Cesar ORIGINAL wet food.(Yes, he’ll only eat the original?)I do spoil him by adding chicken, roast beef or ham with his food. And he gets a few sips of “Night Night Milk” before bed-as long as he eats his dog food.He does go through times when he tires of his food (my vet told me to withhold food for a day or two and he’ll get over it and he always does.) He’s VERY picky when it comes to dog treats but he loves Milk Bone Good Morning Healthy Joint (which is basically a daily vitamin with Glucosamine. I think they might be the reason why he doesn’t need his pain meds as often.)They’re chewy, which is good because he does have some dental problems/tooth loss but at his age, it’s more dangerous to put him under anesthesia. He’s friendly, loyal. Most days he’s more daucshund, others more Chihuahua.He’s not much of a barker in the house. All in all he’s the best dog/friend I could ask for. He helped me a lot when my mom died, even though he was also grieving.Although I could never replace him, I’d get another Chiweenie in a heartbeat. Good luck with your Chiweenie. For those thinking about getting one, my advice is to make sure to train them when you get them. To this day, my little guy just needs to hear a serious “”Ah, ah, ah.” And he stops the unwanted behavior. And be sure to socialize early. I didn’t. And he could sense my nervousness so he would get nervous. Once I got over that (By watching Cesar Milan) things changed drastically.
I just love my baby she was found walking the street this was in 2015 she was 1 1/2 then. She’s my world6
I just got a female. I’ve had a lot of dogs in my life and this breed is completely different from your typical dog. Clever and Inquisitive with a strong desire to just lay on top of you. Very cute dogs. I’ve never had trouble with potty training a dog but this breed is difficult to train. She does bark a bit. Very sweet dogs. Very gentle but extremely playful. She loves to throw her toys up in the air and catch them. I’m really enjoying her. She gets along well with her brother, a Border Collie.
Can you recommend a breeder? I really want a chiweenie
angelarwashington@hotmail.com
I have a Chiweenie his name is Charlie. He is very sweet and cuddly but he does bark a lot. He loves little kids and babies. He loves to go under the blankets in bed. He is 2 years old and still is not potty trained if anybody has any tips on potty training please let me know. He knows how to sit and shake and we are working on lay. He is the sweetest dog I have ever met!!
Can you recommend a breeder? I really want a chiweenie
angelarwashington@hotmail.com
Did you find a chidweenie?
My little Piper is the most loving dog I’ve ever had. She is a rescue. She hardly ever barks. She is very good with my grandchildren. We love each other very much.
My Stella came from another home when she was a little under a year old on March of 2018.
Stella was the best friend I have ever had, she was playful, full of love, smart, and most of all CUDDLY!
She got along with the entire family and was exceptionally great around children.
Unfortunately, as of 10/2/21 @ 5am in the morning went to heaven.
It was very unexpected, she had perfect bill of health and had been acting totally fine earlier in the night. She did not get into anything so I know for a fact she did not consume anything, she was always picky like that.
Anyway she simply stopped breathing in her sleep and that was the end of it. The ER Vet told me sudden death was more common than I know and recommend I not get a necropsy done. I wish I did bc I am still at a loss as to what happened.
My advice, chiweenies are 100% worth it even after the pain we went through with Stella. There is currently an opening in my household for the right one.
Not active dogs? I got my little girl because I wanted a lazy dog because of how active my job is. Definitely not the case, we hike 3 to 6 miles a day when I get off work. She can go up to 10 miles before asking to be picked up. I would not recommend this hybrid for someone who is lazy.
I have a female that is 13 years old she is absolutely the most awesome dog I could ask for. She s a rider she has helped me get through so much especially the loss of my grandmother I couldn’t have done it with out her she is the reason I wake up every morning I don’t even wanna imagine life without her she’s an angel. I love her more than words could say.
I have a 6 year old male chewie he’s black and brown and a bit larger then most of the breeds standards for sizing. His name is Stitch. Stitch is a very difficult dog, but his environments haven’t been the best causing quite a bit of temperament issues. Stitch is very aggressive. He is the best dog to me his single owner and is cuddles and sweetest boy ever behind closed door when it’s just him and I. We got a puppy who Stitch adored but due to a house fire lost her when she was only 3 and Stitch has never been the same. His little sister was a tiny chihuahua who he adored. He was always protective but since the fire he’s way over protective and doesn’t allow anyone near me ( also do to an abusive relationship where Stitch had to come to my rescue). He will bite people and draw blood he’s viciously attacked other dogs for playing with his toys. He can be quite a handful and barks at everyone very aggressively. But still the sweetest boy to his owner. He cuddles and plays and sleeps under the blankets. He’s rece tly gained some weight due to his d3pression from losing his sister I’d guess and hasn’t wanted to be as playful as before. My best advice is to always keep this bred in as neutral non-dramatic environments because what Stitch has been through has made him into the difficult dog he is. He has been through a lot and it’s really not his fault. But just wanted to keep it real that these dogs adapt to their environments good and bad