Do you want to adopt a German Shepherd Chihuahua mix dog? This post talks about personality traits, exercise needs, grooming needs, etc. of this crossbreed.
There are different cross-breed variants you will find with German Shepherd or Chihuahua. Here we are going to talk about the German Shepherd and Chihuahua mix breed.
Adopting a crossbreed dog has its own pros and cons. Some advantages of mixed breed dogs are genetic diversity, balanced characteristics, and unique look. Talking about disadvantages, mixed breed dogs are of unpredictable size & temperaments. Besides this, they are also more prone to genetic issues.
German Shepherds
German Shepherds are intelligent, loyal, alert, and watchful dogs. The breed is smart and friendly as well. It can get along well with families and kids.
One of the most attractive characteristics of German Shepherds is their intelligence level. This is what makes them easy to train. Using the right methods, training a German Shepherd would be easy.
This is a working dog breed and its energy level is high. To control prey drive and discourage negative behavior, GSDs need regular exercise.
Chihuahuas
Chihuahua is a popular small dog with a huge personality. Chihuahuas come in different coat types & colors, and they have pointy ears.
The amazing feature of this dog breed is friendliness. The breed is affectionate and it can be a great companion for families and senior kids. If you have young children in your family, it is not advisable to get a Chihuahua.
The good thing about Chihuahuas is their higher intelligence level. Due to their higher intelligence level, they are easy to train. This dog breed will be responsive and alert to training when positive methods are used.
The exercise needs aren’t extensive. Regular walks and other simple physical activities will be enough.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix
The German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix is a crossbreed of the German Shepherd and the Chihuahua. Both are popular dog breeds. German Shepherds are medium to large dogs, while Chihuahuas are tiny dogs.
This crossbreed is quite rare. German Shepherd Chihuahua mix puppy is possible only when a male Chihuahua breed a female German Shepherd. Due to their size differences, the other way around is not possible.
Though German Shepherd and Chihuahua are the most popular dog breeds in the world, the Chihuahua German Shepherd mix is a quite new mixed breed.
As GSDs are medium-large dogs, while Chihuahuas are small dogs, no two GSD Chihuahua mixes will look the same. They will vary in their height, weight, physical appearance, temperaments, etc.
Temperaments
Before adopting any dog, it’s imperative to know about the breed’s temperaments. It helps you to figure out whether the dog will be right based on your lifestyle or not.
Both breeds have different temperaments. GSDs are loyal, intelligent, and territorial, while Chihuahuas are bossy, curious, and fun-loving.
When a German Shepherd mixed with a Chihuahua, the best temperaments you can expect are high intelligence level, loyalty, easy training, and friendliness.
Due to unpredictable genetics, the temperaments can vary in the crossbreed. The worst you can expect from a German Shepherd and Chihuahua mix is excess barking, aggressiveness with people & other dogs, and not accepting strangers.
Physical Appearance
The physical appearance of different German Shepherd Chihuahua mix dogs won’t be the same. This mix breed will be larger than Chihuahua and smaller than the German Shepherd.
The height of a German Shepherd Chihuahua mix can range somewhere between 7 to 45 inches and the weight can range between 8 to 60 lbs.
In most cases, this mix breed is likely to resemble a German Shepherd with a brown/black coat. Chihuahuas are of two coat types – smooth and long. The coat type of this crossbreed will be based on the Chihuahua parent.
Depending on the Chihuahua parent, it may have a single coat or double coat.
Training
Getting a dog is not enough. To live with a dog without hassle, it’s significant to pay proper attention to training. The intelligence level of the dog tells a lot about whether it’s easy to train or not.
Though German Shepherd Chihuahua mixes are intelligent, they can also be stubborn. To get the best out of training, early socialization is so important. It is necessary because this mixed breed can be unsure of strangers.
The German Shepherd and Chihuahua are fun-loving and affectionate dog breeds. Both breeds require a lot of attention from their owners.
Hence, make sure you devote enough time training this mixed breed. If you have a busy lifestyle, this breed isn’t for you.
Exercise Needs
The exercise needs of any dog breed are based on its energy levels. Higher the energy levels, the more exercise the dog will need to burn off its excess energy.
German Shepherds have higher exercise requirements, while Chihuahuas’ exercise needs are limited. Now the question is, what are the exercise needs of German Shepherd Chihuahua mixes?
This mixed breed has a lot of exercise needs, however, the breed isn’t as energetic as a full-bred German Shepherd. To keep this crossbreed physically stimulated, regular medium-length walks and outdoor play sessions would be enough.
Food
As we have seen, the weight of this mixed breed ranges between 8 to 60 lbs. When feeding the food, your dog’s weight is something you must consider.
It’s important because some GSD and Chihuahua mixes are smaller like Chihuahuas and some are larger like GSDs.
Apart from food quantity, you need to pay attention to its quality as well. This mixed breed is prone to obesity. Feeding too much and not providing regular exercise can result in obesity.
Health
Mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier than purebreds. The reason is genetic diversity. However, it doesn’t mean this hybrid dog will not have any disease.
The breed may inherit several health issues from its German Shepherd and/or Chihuahua parent. German Shepherds are prone to health issues like obesity, hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and bloat, while Chihuahuas are prone to health issues like luxating patella.
Depending on the German Shepherd Chihuahua mix parents, it may inherit health condition(s) from one or both parents.
Price
Cost is another significant factor owners should consider before getting any dog. One of the reasons why people choose crossbred dogs over purebred dogs is budget-friendliness.
Crossbred dogs are often cheaper than purebred dogs. However, it all comes down to demand and supply. A rare mixed breed dog with high demand in the market can be expensive.
The price of full-bred German Shepherds ranges between $800 to $2500. And the price of full-bred Chihuahuas ranges between $500 to $3000.
Talking about German Shepherd Chihuahua mixes, the price is hard to determine. The reason is, there aren’t many breeders producing this mixed breed purposely.
You can contact multiple breeders to know which one is selling this mixed breed. But make sure you get this dog from a reputable breeder.
Are German Shepherd Chihuahua Mixes Good Family Dogs?
To know about this, let’s understand the characteristics of German Shepherds and Chihuahuas. German Shepherds are friendly and loyal toward their members. Talking about Chihuahuas, they are bossy and can be aggressive toward children.
A German Shepherd Chihuahua mix can obtain any of these characteristics. The best characteristics you can expect from this mixed breed are loyalty, affection, attentiveness, and a higher intelligence level. In the worst case, this mixed breed can inherit aggression, bark excessively, and attack anyone.
A German Shepherd Chihuahua mix dog can be ideal for your family. However, if you have small children in your family, I don’t recommend adopting this mixed breed.
Final Thoughts
German Shepherd Chihuahua mix dogs are rare and difficult to find. It’s not because they are in high demand. It’s because there aren’t many breeders producing this breed.
Chihuahuas are little dogs, while GSDs are medium-large dogs. Due to size differentiation, the mating process requires human assistance. That’s the reason why this mixed breed is rare.
German Shepherd and Chihuahua are the most popular dog breeds in the world. To give you an idea about whether this crossbred is ideal for you or not, here I have talked about its temperaments, physical needs, appearance, training requirements, food requirements, health problems, and cost.
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