Breeds / Small
Chiweenie puppies
The Chiweenie is a small, alert companion that combines the Chihuahua's loyalty and wariness of strangers with the Dachshund's independent, willful streak and prey drive. They are often vocal and benefit from early socialisation.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Chihuahua and Dachshund
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 2.3 to 5.4 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 5 to 12 lb
- Adult height 15 to 25 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short to long smooth
- Typical lifespan 12 to 16 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Chiweenie
The Chiweenie is a Chihuahua crossed with a Dachshund, first bred in North America in the late 1990s. Adults are 2.3 to 5.4 kg and 15 to 25 cm, with coats that can be short, long or wiry depending on which Dachshund type sits behind them. The temperament mixes Chihuahua loyalty and suspicion of strangers with Dachshund independence and a working nose, so most are alert, vocal and very sure of themselves.
Exercise needs are modest and socialisation needs are not. Introduce visitors, traffic and other dogs early, or the wariness hardens into something harder to live with. Grooming is light. The thing that matters most is the back: a puppy built long like the Dachshund carries the same disc disease risk, so keep them lean, walk them in a harness rather than a collar, and discourage jumping off sofas and beds.
A cross, not a breed. The Chiweenie is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, body shape and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and a first cross of two purebred parents is less predictable than a later generation bred back to one side. Back length is the trait that matters most: a puppy built like the Dachshund carries the same disc disease risk, so keep them lean and discourage jumping off furniture.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Chiweenie 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 small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. 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.
- Intervertebral disc disease from the Dachshund side, suspected from back pain, wobbliness or weakness and confirmed by MRI or CT
- Patellar luxation, observed on gait and confirmed on physical examination
- Periodontal disease in the crowded small jaw, found at annual veterinary dental examination
- Collapsing trachea, recognised by a goose honking cough and confirmed on radiographs
- Hereditary eye disease including cataracts, glaucoma and progressive retinal atrophy, found on veterinary eye examination and screened by breeders
- Obesity, tracked by annual weighing and body condition scoring, because extra weight loads a long back
Your Chiweenie puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Chiweenie.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 2.3 to 5.4 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 22 inch (22 x 14 x 16 in, 56 x 36 x 41 cm) for an adult of up to 5.4 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 small breeds
More on the Chiweenie
Previous: Chipoo · Next: Chorkie
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- purina.co.uk for adult weight and height, life expectancy and coat type
- petmd.com for energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and health notes
- Health notes from Chiweenie breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/dachshund. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Audie3187, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.