American new squeeze of designer dog breed that is coming from Chihuahua Pitbull to create a playful and adorable mixed breed dog is fast becoming very popular in recent years.
And, if you are a pet lover, owning this cute hybrid dog breed is a no brainer. But most of you are wondering and asking questions about Pitbull mixed with Chihuahua. The size of Chihuahua mixed with Pitbull is the popular one…
So, how big will a chihuahua pitbull mix get?
A Pitbull Chihuahua Mix can get as big as 15 to 20 inches tall, and with that height, they can easily weigh anywhere between 15 and 35 pounds.
Now, I know that imperial and metric measures are not for everyone, so if 15-16 pounds does not make sense, a mixed Pitbull and Chihuahua can get as big as just over6.5 to 16 kg if you are not familiar with pounds in weight.
The bull mixed with the Chihuahua is also gaining a lot of popularity, the hybrid is of medium size and is a crossbreed of American Pitbull Terrier and the Chihuahua, and is also known as Chipit or Pithuahua.
So in this article, you will find out ever you need to know about this strange-looking hybrid. You will learn about:
- The origin of the pitbull mixed with the Chihuahua
- The appearance of the Pitbull and Chihuahua hybrid dog breed
- Temperament/ Characteristics of the Pitbull mixed with the Chihuahua
- Feeding requirements of the hybrid
- Health Concerns
- The lifespan of the Pitbull Chihuahua hybrid
- Exercise needs
- The behavior of the Pithuahua with other animals and children
- Grooming requirements
The origin of the pitbull mixed with the Chihuahua
The Pitbull terrier can be traced back to England, and these were mostly bred for herding or hunting purposes. The breed was then made known in America in 1898, and that’s when they became known as the “American Pitbull Terrier”.
As for the Chihuahua, it is the smallest breed of dogs that has origins in Mexico and was named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
And there are two varieties of the Chihuahua, the long coat (long haired) and the smooth coat (short haired). The height of this breed ranges between 15 to 23 cm.
Both breeds are known to be loyal, playful, loving, sensitive, all these traits are inherited by the hybrid.
The appearance of the hybrid
The hybrid inherited its physical appearance from both its parents, especially when it comes to how big they grow to become. They have a broad and muscular built, and this they inherited from the pitbull side of the family.
The male hybrid tends to have a height ranging from 14 inches to 18 inches and weighs 9 to 15 kg. As for the female hybrid, they tend to stand at 12 to 16 inches and weigh 6 to 13 kg.
The hybrid’s cost can either be long or short and may have colors such as white, black, brown, gray, chocolate, brindle, and golden.
Temperament/ Characteristics of the pitbull mixed with the Chihuahua
This crossbreed may seem to very unusual but may consist of incredible characteristics if raised and trained well at a younger age.
The hybrid consists of the following taits:
- They are loving and affectionate
- They are loyal
- They are attention seekers
- They are confident and very intelligent
Feeding requirements of the hybrid
The hybrid does not require a particular type of food, as long as it is healthy and provides all the vitamins and minerals it needs, then it’s perfectly reasonable.
Below we have listed some foods to consider for your Pithuahua:
1. Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Adult Turkey and Oatmeal:
This meal is awesome for your Pithuahua, as it contains real deboned turkey, probiotics for healthy digestion, and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.
2. Annamaet Ultra Dry Dog Food
This meal is fantastic for both puppies and adults, and it contains all the healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals your dog needs.
3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult Chicken Recipe
Thus dry food for your dog is very affordable, contains proper amounts of antioxidants for your dog’s healthy immune system, features deboned chicken, and also contains the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
Health Concerns of the Hybrid
It’s essential that you know if the parents of the hybrid you decide to buy were healthy and cleared of any genetic issues so that your puppy may not inherit such from the parents. Below we have listed some of the health concerns that your Pitbull mixed with the Chihuahua may have to deal with:
1. Hypothyroidism
This is a pervasive health problem that affects all breeds of dogs, but it is often found in golden retrievers, Doberman pinschers, Irish setters, dachshunds, boxers, and cocker spaniels.
It usually happens in middle-aged dogs (ages 4 to 10) of medium to large breeds. Neutered males and spayed females also have a higher risk, but vets are unsure why.
It is thought that in some cases of hypothyroidism, your dog’s immune system attacks his thyroid. Other causes are the shrinking of his thyroid and, although rare, a tumor of the thyroid gland.
No matter the cause, symptoms and treatments are the same. The signs of hypothyroidism include hair loss, usually on your dog’s trunk, back of the rear legs, and tail.
His coat will be dull and thin, his skin flaky, but not itchy or red (which is usually tied to fleas or an allergic reaction). He may also have black patches of skin.
This is followed by weight gain (despite decreased appetite), muscle loss, sluggishness, a slowed heart rate, toenail and ear infections, and intolerance to cold.
2. Open fontanel
Open fontanelles are holes in the skull that result from incomplete closures of the skull’s soft spots during normal growth in puppies.
While for many dogs these soft spots close completely by 9 to 12 weeks of age, various smaller breeds of dogs, including the Chihuahua retain these holes past puppyhood.
For Chihuahuas, the open fontanelles are considered a breed standard and are called moleras. For other dogs, they can be a symptom of a serious problem.
So the hybrid puppy may inherit this condition from the Chihuahua side of the family.
3. Patellar luxation
This health condition occurs when the dog’s kneecap (patella) is dislocated from its normal anatomic position in the groove of the thigh bone (femur).
When the kneecap is dislocated from the groove of the thigh bone, it can only be returned to its normal position once the quadriceps muscles in the hind legs of the animal relax and lengthen.
It is for this reason that most dogs with the condition will hold up their hind legs for a few minutes.
This health condition is common in all dogs and is usually caused by a genetic malformation or trauma.
4. Hypoglycemia
This is a condition of having low blood sugar, which results in symptoms that mostly relate to an affected dog’s energy level. It can be caused by underlying conditions or exposure to certain substances.
When it becomes severe, it can cause pain, seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death in canines.
The condition is common in all breeds and once symptoms are noticed, the dog should receive treatment as Soon as possible.
This hybrid may also have to deal with other health issues such as the Collapsed trachea, Hip dysplasia, Skin allergies, Asthma, Molera (soft spots on the skull) and Pregnancy complications.
Occasional tests of the eye, hip, and blood, as well as spine x-rays and a physical examination, should be done on your Chihuahua Pitbull as he ages and matures.
The lifespan of the hybrid
Chihuahuas are normally referred to as the breed with the longest lifespan. They average 15-20 years and are one of the smallest dog breeds.
The oldest Chihuahua on record2, Megabyte, died at the age of 20 years and 265 days. So this is also sort of a train the hybrid inherited as it had a lifespan of 10 to 13 years.
Exercise needs
This hybrid is known for being active and agile and therefore, enjoys being taken on walks. So it will require at least a 30 minutes walk every day and you should also play some games with them such as tug of wall and frisbee, in order to keep it healthy and happy.
These exercises will also ensure that your Pithuahua expends all its pent-up energy and, therefore, won’t get bored and use your shoes or furniture as chew toys.
The behavior of the Pithuahua with other animals and children
Both parents of this breed have a history of being aggressive, so the hybrid needs to be well trained and socialized at a young age to avoid it being aggressive too.
If that is done, the Pitbull mixed with Chihuahua, also known as the Pithuahua dog breed will get along very well with other animals at home and in the neighborhood.
If not trained and socialized well at a young age, they may have a prey drive that will cause them to see smaller animals as prey, and this trait comes from the Chihuahua’s side of the family.
When it comes to children, they are very excellent, they are friendly, loving and protective too. This makes them to be very awesome family dogs.
Pitbull Mixed With Chihuahua Dog Breed Grooming requirements
The Pitbull mixed with Chihuahua hybrid(Pithuahua) has a smooth coat and hence does not require much of the taking care of like other designer dog mixed breeds.
Generally, Pitbull mixed with Chihuahua hybrid dogs will approximately just take you 5 to 10 minutes to brush their cost, which is done at least twice a week.
But if it happens that your Pithuahua inherited the long hair from the Chihuahua, the hair should be brushed at least four times a week, this will keep them healthy and also prevents too much shedding.
The Pithuahua should be bathed at least twice a month in order to avoid removing the essential oils it excretes, nails can be trimmed at least once a month when necessary. The mouth must be brushed daily, ears can be cleaned once a month. And that’s all.
Unlike Pitbull mixed with German Sheppard dog breed, Pithuahua hybrids are also tolerant of heatwave and cold weather too.