The Chiweenie

One of my rescue pups is a chiweenie, and they have easily turned into one of my favorite breeds, so I want to discuss my experiences so far. I was skeptical of the name myself until Google confirmed this is in fact a name given to a canine a couple of years ago. The most common name for this dog is chiweenie. They are also referred to with numerous other names including the Mexican hot dog, German taco, Choxie, Doxihuahua, and the Cheewie.

A chiweenie is not a purebred pup, but more designer. They are an iconic cross-breed between a chihuahua and dachshund, coming in all shapes and sizes. They have grown in popularity these past 10 years and were first bred in the 1990s. One particular chiweenie has made the breed flourish in popularity, TunaMeltsMyHeart and Penny wants to be besties with Tuna since she’s like the Taylor Swift of doggos.

The mighty chiweenie and powers of the mexican hot dog german taco

Appearance

Many chiweenies are small with longer bodies. Their weights can vary, especially depending on if the dachshund parent was a mini or not. They tend to have long tails, so they shake and wiggle their adorable bodies when wagging their tail. Their ears can vary from floppy dachshund ears to the cute little ears that chihuahuas have. They are typically more than one color and can be tan (or copper as I like to say for my pup Penny, pictured in this post.) They can also be brown, white, or black. No matter what color, shape, or size your chiweenie is, one thing is for sure–they have mighty and huge personalities!

Chiweenie Behaviors

Chiweenies love to run around and play, but what they love even more is being your shadow and lapdog. I leave a room, Penny comes with me. I bend down to pick something up, Penny is right there trying to get an extra ear scratch in. She demands attention more than any pup I have ever met! Penny is sweet and gentle, but also has a habit to be protective when other dogs try to come up to me. I think she wants to make sure that I am giving her 100% of the attention.The mighty chiweenie and powers of the mexican hot dog german taco

Per genetics, both the chihuahua and dachshund are smart dogs, so your chiweenie is likely to carry these intelligent traits. And you would think if they are so smart, they should be easily trainable, right? Wrong. Just because this breed knows what they should be doing does not mean they are going to do it. They can be stubborn, and I think it’s just because they want to be (same, Penny. Same.)

Chiweenie and Health

Chiweenies are fairly healthy pups that tend to live 12-15 years, but there are definitely a few potential issues to be aware of that tend to affect smaller breeds.

Patellar Luxation

This is a condition in which the patella (or kneecap) moves out of its location. They are ranked from Grade 1 (lowest) to Grade 4 (most severe.) My chiweenie has definitely had patella issues in both of her hind legs, so I have to be conscious of her weight and making sure she has joint and fish supplements.

Intervertebral Disc Disease

This condition (also referred to as a herniated disc) causes the discs between the vertebrae of their spine to move and bulge into the spinal cord space. Dachshunds suffer from this problem, so it is important to limit your chiweenie’s activities that could be strenuous on their spines. I use pet ramps for the car outings and dog steps (like these on Chewy.com) for my pup to get on and off the bed and couch.

Allergies

My chiweenie pup has seasonal and skin allergies, so I make sure to check in with my veterinarian when I see excessive chewing and licking (particularly her paws!)

Rescue a Chiweenie Resources

Here are a few sites to check out if you are looking for that perfect chiweenie match: