The smallest dog in the world crossed with the most talented dog in the world and the most well-known. Mystical watcher, guarding Aztec temples, meets noble first-responder, who gives the “bark alert” standing over the crying child, buried in smoking rubble. How is this even physically possible? Often, artificial insemination.
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Appearance
The parents have few physical similarities. Both have longer bodies than they are tall, so that is likely. It is probably going to be small to medium-sized with erect ears. The coat may well be brown and black with attractive and distinctive, symmetrical markings, especially on its head and legs.
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Weight & Height
The Chihuahua German Shepherd mix will have a large range for its possible weight and height, but will generally be a small to medium-sized dog. It will weigh from 8 pounds (3.6 kg) to 60 pounds (27.22 kg), and be from 7 inches (17.8 cm) to 45 inches (114.3 cm) tall.
Gait
The Chihuahua Shepherd has a gait that is driven from the rear. Its gait is swift, with good reach, and with sturdy action. It carries its head and tail high, with its longish tail curled over the back like a sickle.
Coat Color
The Chihuahua German Shepherd mix can have a coat of any solid color like black, fawn, chocolate or tan with gray, blue, silver and liver markings. Strong, rich colors are preferred in the breed standards for the parent breeds, so rich colors should be preferred in the mix as well.
Coat Length & Thickness
This mix can have a single or double-layered coat, depending on whether the Chihuahua parent had short or long hair. Its undercoat will be soft, and its flat outer coat will be slightly wavy and short. Its ears might be fringed and there should feathering on its rear legs.
Temperament
The parents of this mix are mostly opposites, with the German Shepherd parent needing to work and the Chihuahua parent happy to hang out and be petted all day. They share some traits, and your mix will likely be very alert, independent, loyal, and protective of family and their territory.
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Does Not Like Being Alone
The Chihuahua German Shepherd mix tends to become distressed when it is left alone for several hours at a time, so you will need to train your puppy from the beginning. It will also be helpful to exercise it well and tire it out before you leave it alone.
Highly Sensitive & Territorial
Your mix will be a highly sensitive dog. It will be emotional and stress easily, craving being with you and being reassured with your loving nuances. It will also be highly territorial, mistrusting of strangers and loyally protecting you and its family.
Will Bark, Dig or Chew If Bored
Like most dogs, your Chihuahua Shepherd will become noisy and destructive if it is bored. Giving it plenty of exercise and keeping it mentally stimulated with toys and training will help fight its destructive tendencies. If its German Shepherd parent genes dominate, your little workaholic will need even more activity.
Can be Unruly or Aggressive If Untrained
This mix can be aggressive if it is not trained and socialized, or if it is mistreated. Its natural level of aggressive is going to depend heavily on which parental genes dominate. The Chihuahua is the most overrepresented breed in many shelters, and one of the most euthanized dogs.
Preferred Climate Is Temperate (Warm Summers & Mild Winters)
This mix is more likely to have a double than a single coat which will protect it from getting cold. But if it inherits the Chihuahua’s inexplicable shivering habit, you will want to keep a jacket around. The Chihuahua, with its tiny body mass, often starts shivering for no apparent reason, and no one has been able to explain it.
Companion or Suitability Factor
The Chihuahua Shepherd is a confident dog and will likely be stubborn but very attached to its owners. It may end up either being independent or cooperative, depending on which parental genes dominate. It will crave to be by your side, both as a companion and a guard dog.
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Not Recommended for Kids
This mix is not recommended for families with children. Both the German Shepherd and the Chihuahua parents have been known to be aggressive with children. Also, if your mix ends up being small, it can be more easily be accidentally injured by children during playtime.
Is Apartment Friendly
The Chihuahua German Shepherd mix can work well in an apartment if it is well trained, well socialized, well cared for, well exercised and has companionship. If not, it may end up being destructive or barking too much and aggravating the other apartment dwellers.
Is a Perfect Watchdog
Your mix is naturally distrusting of strangers and will make an excellent guard dog. It will remain aggressive until you indicate that all is well. Both parents are frequent barkers, and are in the top 10 loudest dogs. A German Shepherd placed second for the loudest bark ever recorded.
Could Be Suitable for Senior Citizens
If the owner is active enough to provide the Chihuahua Shepherd enough exercise, or can hire someone to do it, then they would likely be a good match for an older dog who has already been trained. They would also need to have time to spend with it.
Great Therapy or Emotional Support Dog
This mix could easily be trained to be a service dog, including a therapy or an emotional support dog. The Chihuahua Shepherd is a lap dog that enjoys being pet and handled, with half of its genes from one of the top three best service dog breeds, the German Shepherd.
Tends to Get Along with Other Pets If Trained & Socialized Properly
This mix will naturally be suspicious of other pets, so carefully introduce them on neutral ground. Socialize your mix early and note that your mix will react differently to different pets. For example, a feisty young kitten will be a problem, but a lazy older cat will likely be fine.
Intelligence & Training
The Chihuahua German Shepherd mix is likely to be a reasonably intelligent dog, with a large attitude. If your mix takes after its Chihuahua parent, it will also be a master manipulator, which some people think is charming. It will be critical that this mix is trained and socialized correctly.
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Reasonably Intelligent
Your mix will likely have reasonable intelligence, but could inherit the high or low intelligence of either of its parents. Stanley Coren, dog intelligence guru, ranks the German Shepherd parent highly in 3rd place, and the Chihuahua low at 67th (last place being 79 although 138 breeds were studied).
Training Could Be Challenging
You should start socialization and obedience training as soon as possible, especially if it seems snappy or has a tendency to nip. It will excel at obedience, agility and jumping. It will likely pick up on training easily, but will only follow your commands when it wants to. Have patience.
Physical Needs
This mix, especially if it is on the small size of the range, can get into danger easily. An adventurous, small dog can escape through small holes or spaces. Outside, it can be overwhelmed by a sudden flood. You will need to keep it safe and well-exercised.
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How Much Does It Eat?
Your Chihuahua German Shepherd mix should eat the best dry dog food you can afford, which should likely include fish oil, chondroitin and glucosamine. Exactly how much it will eat will depend on the ideal weight for your specific dog, including its build and exercise routine.
Needs At Least 45 Minutes Exercise Per Day
This mix tends to be feisty and needs exercise at least twice per day, with additional outside playtime. Its exercises and training should be stimulating, challenging and fun. This mix generally has a lifespan of 12 to 18 years, but can in the 9 to 20 range as well.
Shedding & Bathing
This mix sheds lightly all year. You will need a grooming mitt and a bristle, as well as a pin brush. Brush 3 times a week. Check its ears for wax build-up and dry skin. Use a cotton ball and canine ear cleaning solution to clean its ears.
Background & Pricing for a Puppy
The Chihuahua is the smallest dog alive. In 1520, Hernando Cortex conquered Mexico, and hairless little dogs brought by Spanish traders were bred with local dogs to create Chihuahuas. They were taken to America where a long-haired version was created, and registered by the American Kennel Club in 1904.
The German Shepherd was first bred by Captain Max von Stephanitz in 1899, and named Horand von Grafrath. He was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1931. The German Shepherd is one of the top 5 most popular dog, and is a popular military and police working dog.
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Background
This mix was likely bred to create an intelligent, healthy, “apartment sized” family dog with only light shedding. You can contact your veterinarian or breeders of the parent dogs to find a specific breeder. This mix goes by the names Chihuahua Shepherd, German Shehauhau, Chihuepherd, and German Chihau-herd.
Price for a Puppy
For this mix, breeding is often complicated. It usually requires artificial insemination and might even require a Caesarian Section if the mother is carrying two or more pups, or if her birth canal is too narrow for a safe delivery. You might pay between US$2,000 to US$4,000 for your puppy.
Health Issues
Crossbreeds generally are healthier dogs because of this ability to selectively breed and because they have a larger gene pool. Try to see the parents and obtain their health certificates. This mix could suffer from the health issues of either parental bloodline. Here are some of them.
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Hip Dysplasia
It happens in large and small dogs when the femur does not fit into the pelvic socket snugly. If it is mild, it will show up as arthritis between 4 to 6 years old, and can be managed with medication. It can be severe, causing great pain and requiring surgery.
You should insist on the results of both parents’ hip joint examinations. If there be potential problems, much can be done to slow the development of the disease or even avoid it entirely. This involves, for example, diet, nutrition, additives, and not allowing your young puppy to play too roughly.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia means a sudden, severe drop in blood sugar concentration. The symptoms are loss of appetite, listlessness, and unusual behavior. The dog can become wobbly and starts shivering and trembling. It mostly happens in small animals and can often be misdiagnosed as viral hepatitis or encephalitis. See the veterinarian quickly.
This can be as serious as cancer, or as easily fixed as feeding less food more frequently. If your dog becomes very limp and confused, especially after excitedly racing around, call a veterinarian right away. After proper diagnosis, it can often be managed at home.
Obesity
Are you surprised that obesity can threaten your dog’s life? A German Shehuahua may be a “small” dog, but it has a very saucy, dominant and determined personality with the charm, loyal, and warm feel of the protective German Shepherd. It will train you to “over treat” it!
Obesity and dysplasia go hand-in-hand. Both parents are prone to hip, elbow and knee dysplasia. So, obesity is sentencing your dog to a painful life. Choose the breeder carefully, protect your dog from over-exertion while its bones are growing, give it healthy treats, and keep it at its ideal weight.
Brandon Miller has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a seasoned writer who has written over one hundred articles, which have been read by over 500,000 people. If you have any comments or concerns about this blog post, then please contact the Green Garage team here.