Chiweenie (The Chihuahua Dachshund Mix): Complete Guide The Mexican Hot Dog

The Chiweenie dog breed or the Chihuahua Dachshund designer dog may be the perfect dog you’ve been looking for to add some canine spice to your home. Their funny nicknames, like German Tacos or Mexican hotdogs, fit their hilarious and quirky personalities.

True to their Chi and Doxie lineage, you’ll get a small dog with a big personality with this mix. The dog is a result of breeding a Chihuahua and a standard or mini Dachshund to get the small but mighty crossbreed.

It’s best to research these dogs thoroughly before looking for “Chiweenie Puppies for sale near me” on Google. What to know includes their health, temperament, and maintenance, which we get into in depth in this article.

Other names for the Chiweenie include:

• Choxie
• The Mexican Hot Dog
• Dachuahua
• Weeniehuahua
• The German Taco
• Chihiweenie
• Doxichi
• Chiwee
• Doxiwawa

History of the Chiweenie Or Dachshund Chihuahua Cross

Chiweenies are recent developments alongside other mixed breeds like Chug, Corgi Chihuahuas, and Jack-Chis. They’re only a few decades old and became a designer breed when people sought smaller versions of popular dogs, like a mini Doxie in this case. The first Chiweenie was probably an accident, bu there are records dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. A more detailed look into their origins explores their parents’ histories. 

Dachshunds, affectionately referred to as “Doxies” and “Weiner” or “sausage dogs,” are centuries old from Germany. Don’t let their short legs deceive you because these tireless hounds were bred to work by hunting badgers some 600 years ago. 

Everything about their physiques was suited to digging into badger dens. From their short, long bodies to travel underground to their loud barks (that they maintain today) to inform the hunter of their location, they are made to hunt. Their name, “Dachshund,” captures their careers as it means “badger dog” in German. The AKC recognized them in 1885, and they gained nearly immediate popularity as pets today.

Chihuahuas are a Mexican and ancient dog believed to have come from the extinct Techichis. No matter how loud and yappy your Chihuahua is, believe it or not, they descended from a mute dog, Techichis. The Toltecs are believed to have first owned these Chi ancestors. 

Later, the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs along with their dogs and refined them into the lighter, feisty Chi we know and love. They didn’t receive American fancy until the 1800s, but their fame has never looked back ever since. 

Chiweenies are more common than other Chi-mixes like Chi-Danes and Chi-Huskies. All Chi mixes are 100% good boys and girls, no matter their size and parent breeds. The mixes don’t have AKC recognition because they’re not purebred, but they do have designer dog registries.

How big is the Chiweenie?

A full grown Chihuahua Dachshund mix size depends on how big the Dachshund parent is, as they can come from either a miniature or standard Doxie. In general, their size is:

The smallest Chiweenies are sometimes called teacup Chiweenies.

What Does The Chiweenie Look Like?

The most distinct Chiweenie look is their short legs on a disproportionately long body like Dachshunds. Of course, their bodies are shorter than a purebred Dachshund’s. Their faces may remind you of a Chihuahua with their apple-shaped heads and dark eyes that slightly bulge out of the head. However, they usually have a longer nose than a Doxie.

They can be really tiny if a Chihuahua and a miniature Dachshund are used (below 10 pounds). However, they get significantly larger in height and weight if a standard Doxie is used ( about 16 pounds). 

Their long, short-set bodies explain why people affectionately refer to Dachshunds as “weiner dogs” or “sausage dogs” and “hot dogs.” They can have long, floppy, Doxie ears or short and upright ears like Chis, and they have deep chests. 

They mostly take after the Chihuahua’s famous small size, although they’re somewhat larger. Chiweenies mostly have short, glossy coats, but they can be medium-length with long-haired parents. They may even have a wire coat if their Dachshund parent was a wire-haired Doxie.

Chiweenies may be almost color, including but not limited:

• Black
• Black and tan
• Chocolate or chocolate and tan
• Red or blue merle
• White
• Cream
• Brindle
• Wheaton
• Red piebald dapple

General Care For a Chiweenie 

• Shedding: Low to moderate, with heavier seasonal shedding
• Exercise: 30 to 60 minutes of exercise 
• Temperament: Confident, spunky, fun, affectionate, loyal, and outgoing
• Trainability: Moderately easy to train because they’re quite intelligent

Energy levels

Chiweenies have a lot of energy crammed into those little bodies. However, their size allows you to easily meet their exercise and energy with a short daily walk. Though they possess impressive energy levels, they can lounge around with you too, making the perfect lapdog. 

Housing needs

Chiweenies do fine in an apartment or small space where they can be as close to you as possible. A yard would be great because it allows them to stretch their short legs and get their daily dose of zoomies, like after a bath. 

Exercise needs

Chiweenies need about 20 to 45 minutes of daily walking to maintain health and mental and emotional well-being. Remember to keep the exercises low-impact because their long backs can develop issues if subjected to too much pressure. Earthdog trials, like in the video below, are a great activity to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.

Food & Diet Requirements

Chiweenies need relatively normal dog food for small to medium-sized dogs. They need a balanced diet with quality animal protein (at least 25 %) and ample vitamins, carbs, and minerals. Depending on their size, they should have 1 to 1 ½ cups of dry dog food daily.

Some people supplement their Chiweenies with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and hip mobility chewies for joint health. Most don’t have complicated dietary needs like teacup breeds, such as teacup Pomskies.

Your vet will factor in medical conditions affecting this dog’s diet, like thyroid and liver problems. They can inherit hypoglycemia since their Chi parent burns calories faster than average, so increase their meals to 2 to 3 per day but be careful not to let them become overweight.

Grooming needs

Chiweenies, especially the short-coated ones, are easy to groom, needing a swift coat brush at least twice a week. Long-haired varieties may need more regular brushing to keep tangles and matting away. A monthly bath with quality dog shampoo should suffice. 

They need regular teeth brushing 2 to 3 times a week, alternating with frequent mouthwashes. Nail trims with dog clippers and cleaning their ears, especially long and droopy ones, keep infection away. 

The Health of a Chihuahua Dachshund Mix

Chiweenies are impressively robust dogs, but they still suffer from some medical conditions prevalent in their parent breeds. Still, they benefit from “hybrid vigor,” where mixed breeds are typically healthier than purebreds.

A notable risk is back issues like IVDD (intervertebral Disc Disease) because of their particularly long but short-set backs. Here, the vertebrae weaken and perhaps protrude into their spinal cords. Other musculoskeletal conditions include hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. 

They can pile on pounds and become obese, putting even more pressure on their joints and increasing musculoskeletal issues and risks. Keep them from jumping on sofas or off the furniture to keep their movements low intensity for their backs.

Health risks in the parent breeds can also affect these dogs, including:

Severe Medical Risks For Chiweenies

• Back problems like Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) 
• Hip dysplasia 
• Neurological issues like Lefora Disease 
• Cushing’s Disease 
• A study found the risk of cancers like mast cell tumors and squamous cell carcinoma 
• Cardiac issues like DMVD (degenerative mitral valve disease) 
• Eye issues like glaucoma and cataracts 
• Collapsed trachea 
• Hydrocephalus 
• Hypoglycemia

Mild to Moderate health problems

• Allergies 
• Ear margin keratosis, which includes greasy scabs at the end of the ears
• Ear infections
• Skin issues like yeast infections and Bacterial Dermatitis 
• Dental problems like halitosis and periodontitis 
• Food sensitivities 
• Obesity 

Occasional Risks

• Epilepsy 
• Blindness due to bulgy eyes 

Chiweenie Temperament and Trainability

Chiweenies may be small, but their personalities are huge, and they’re not scared of letting you know what they want. They are courageous, loyal, confident, lively, and affectionate, with a hint of mischievousness.

They mostly bond most deeply with that one special human, although they love other people they get to know too. They can be suspicious of strangers and make excellent watchdogs. Chiweenies can get too courageous to the point of rashness, taking on much larger opponents. They are world-class barkers, so your apartment neighbors may not be too thrilled.

Chiweenies can be stubborn during training, true to their terrier heritage. This may make training slightly more challenging, but treats and praise will get them to listen. Early training and socialization are crucial, as these dogs can go up against bigger animals.

Sociability with Children and Other Animals

Chiweenies can be good with older children, although their Chihuahua side can make them a little less tolerant, sometimes making them a bit snappy. They should never be left alone with small children to avoid unnecessary accidents and they do best in homes without small children.

They may chase smaller animals like hamsters or harass cats, but they can get along fine in multi-dog households. Early training and socialization improve their chances of peace with kids and animals.

Ideal Home For A Chiweenie

1. People who live in smaller spaces
2. Non-allergic homes as the Chiweenie is not hypoallergenic
3. People who go for daily walks but who do not want to exercise excessively
4. Regular schedules where you can spend time with them as these dogs don’t like being left alone too long.
5. Families with older children or adult-only homes

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts 

Chiweenies are great family dogs that are as energetic as they are loving. They are great for first-time owners because they’re easy to train, and their moderate exercise requirements make them easy to exercise. 

They must always have adult supervision around kids to avoid injury, especially those on the smaller side. A mini or standard Dachshund can be used in breeding, influencing the resulting dog’s size. 

Tamsin De La Harpe

Author

Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions.

Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs.

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