Chiweenie

Whether a Chiweenie’s coat is short or longer, the grooming routine doesn’t change much, and most pet parents can take care of grooming at home.

• Bathing: Give your dog a bath about once a month, unless you notice that your dog becomes especially dirty or stinky before their usual bath day. Always use a gentle, dog-friendly shampoo.
• Brushing: It’s a good idea to regularly brush your dog’s coat to distribute oils, promote shine, and reduce shedding. But how often you need to brush depends on what kind of coat your Chiweenie has.
  • For Chiweenies with short, smooth coats, you can usually brush your dog once or twice a week with a soft bristle brush like the Bass Brushes Shine & Condition Brush.
  • For a medium or longhaired Chiweenie, brush them daily (or at least a few times each week) to prevent mats and catch loose hairs. Use a slicker brush like the Safari Brush. Give special attention to longer feathering, since those areas can become tangled more easily.
• Dental care: Like other small dogs, Chiweenies can be prone to dental disease. So, make it a habit to brush your dog’s teeth every day. Use a dog-safe toothpaste and toothbrush.
  • While they’re not a replacement for a tooth-brushing routine, you can also use dental treats or water additives, like VETRADENT’s Water Additive, to help slow the buildup of plaque and tartar on your Chiweenie’s teeth.
• Ear care: Regularly check your Chiweenie’s ears for signs of an ear infection, like discharge, redness, or odor. It’s especially important if your Chiweenie has folded ears, which can harbor moisture and hide a developing infection. If those symptoms develop, contact your veterinarian. They may recommend regular ear-cleaning.
• Nail care: Your Chiweenie will need a regular nail trim. You can do this at home, or enlist the help of a dog groomer or your vet. 

A Chiweenie might be tiny, but these dogs are often tenacious, Levy says. That means obedience training should start early and stay consistent throughout your dog’s life.

Otherwise, a Chiweenie is likely to be strong-willed or exhibit selective listening skills when it comes to basic commands like sit, come, and stay. Those tendencies can be a challenge for a first-time dog parent, but anyone can have success training a Chiweenie as long as they stick with a regular routine.

Positive reinforcement and short but frequent training sessions will help your Chiweenie learn to listen and associate obedience with rewards like praise, special treats, and favorite toys.

“For some small breed dogs and personalities, food is their currency, while for others, human affection and attention is their currency,” says Erin Koballa, DVM, veterinarian at Charlotte Companion Animal Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Find out what your dog considers a high-value reward and use that as a motivator.

Don’t overlook the importance of socialization as you train your Chiweenie dog. Early and frequent introductions to other dogs and unfamiliar people—including kids—will help a Chiweenie learn how to be relaxed and friendly when meeting new friends.

Without good socialization, Chiweenies might exhibit fearful tendencies or even develop dog aggression.

For good health and longevity, feed your Chiweenie a balanced, high-quality small-breed dog food. Look for a dog food formula that meets AAFCO standards, which means the formula contains all the essential nutrients for your pet’s life stage. 

For Chiweenie puppies, choose a puppy food formula and then switch over to an adult diet when your dog is about 12 months old.

Dr. Koballa suggests a twice-daily meal schedule—breakfast and dinner—to keep your Chiweenie’s metabolism steady and ward off hunger spikes. However, she adds that very petite Chiweenies and puppies sometimes have low blood sugar. In that case, bumping their meals up to three times per day can help.

Whichever feeding schedule you choose, keep a close watch on your Chiweenie’s portions and don’t overfeed your pet. Dr. Koballa says Chiweenies are prone to obesity, which raises the risk of back problems and orthopedic issues.

If you have questions about how much or how often to feed your Chiweenie, ask your veterinarian.

A Chiweenie’s small size means you won’t need to make endless laps around the block. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking exercise is optional, either. These dogs might be fun-size but, like all dogs, a Chiweenie needs daily exercise. 

Expect to give a Chiweenie 30–60 minutes of exercise every day. A few short walks, plus some backyard or indoor playtime, will give your Chiweenie enough opportunity to expend energy.

Because Chiweenies have strong sniffers, these dogs especially love scent work, says Levy. To put your dog’s nose to the test and provide them with mental enrichment, plant treats around the house for a game of hide-and-seek, or consider more formal training for organized scent work competitions. 

But as you plan fun activities for your Chiweenie, be mindful of the limitations of the breed’s short legs and long back.

“Because of their back structure, it’s smart to avoid high-impact activities like repetitive jumping off furniture, climbing lots of stairs, or agility courses with obstacles that put stress on the spine,” says Dr. Koballa. Instead, she suggests focusing on low-impact exercise.

The ideal home for a Chiweenie offers close companionship … and a bit of privacy. Chiweenies tend to be big barkers, so apartment living might not be the best fit for these vocal dogs, despite their small size. If you do live somewhere with shared walls, put lots of time into teaching your dog to not bark.

When it comes to sharing space with other pets, a well-socialized Chiweenie will usually be happy as part of a pack—as long as the other dogs are well-mannered.

“Chiweenies tend to be social with other similarly sized dogs, or dogs who are respectful of their space and body language if they are not in the mood to play,” Levy says.

Their Dachshund genes might tempt some Chiweenies to chase after smaller animals like cats, but most live well alongside kitties and other types of pets, too. Just make sure cat-and-dog introductions are done smoothly and slowly.

The social nature of this mix means they shouldn’t be alone for long stretches, so someone who’s often home is a great match. Because a Chiweenie usually has a playful personality, these dogs are good companions for children, but it’s important that young ones are taught how to treat a small dog with respect, and supervision is always recommended.