Breeds / Toy
Chipoo puppies
The Chipoo is a smart, affectionate and playful small dog that needs close companionship. They may be sassy and alert like a Chihuahua, active and social like a Poodle, or a mix of both.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- A cross of Chihuahua and Poodle
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 1.8 to 6.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 4 to 15 lb
- Adult height Not published
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short smooth to long curly
- Typical lifespan 10 to 18 years
- Good with children Not published
- Good with other dogs Not published
About the Chipoo
The Chipoo crosses the Chihuahua with a Toy or Miniature Poodle and is not recognised by the AKC. PetMD gives a grown Chipoo as 1.8 to 6.8 kg and expects them to live within the parents' ranges, 14 to 16 years for the Chihuahua and 10 to 18 for the Poodle. The coat can follow either parent, the Chihuahua's short to medium smooth coat or the Poodle's long, curly hair, or fall somewhere in between.
Although lap sized, Chipoos are not lap dogs by nature. Both parents are fairly high in energy, and the Poodle side in particular needs mental and physical exercise every day, which can happen indoors. Brush the coat at least twice a week. Very small children and very large dogs can hurt a dog this size, so supervise both. Keep a clever small dog like this busy and in company, because boredom and loneliness are when the excessive barking both parent breeds are known for starts.
A cross, not a breed. The Chipoo is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and puppies from one litter can differ. A Chipoo from a Miniature Poodle parent is likely to be larger than one from a Toy Poodle, so ask which was used.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Chipoo puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, graded on orthopaedic examination
- Tracheal collapse, suspected from a honking cough and confirmed by imaging
- Legg Calve Perthes disease, a breakdown of the head of the thigh bone that causes hind limb lameness in young dogs, diagnosed on x-ray
- Dental disease in the crowded small jaw, prevented by regular tooth brushing and found at dental checks
Your Chipoo puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Chipoo.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 1.8 to 6.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6.8 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other toy breeds
More on the Chipoo
Previous: Chinook · Next: Chiweenie
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- Health notes from Chipoo breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/chipoo. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for adult height, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.