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In This Article You Will Read About
You must have heard about Rottweilers and Chihuahuas as they are very common dog breeds, but have you heard about the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix? If you haven’t, this article will tell you all about the hybrid.
What is a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix? This is the product of a cross between the Rottweiler and Chihuahua dog breeds. You probably didn’t know that the two dogs could mate together, but the fact is that they can and produce a hybrid that takes after them.
We’ll look at the features and characteristics of the Rottweiler and the Chihuahua to understand the traits that the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix gets from them.
Features of the Rottweiler and Chihuahua
Rottweiler
Rottweilers are large and powerful dogs that weigh as much as 80 pounds to 135 pounds. These can grow as tall as 22 inches to 27 inches as adults, and the males are usually taller and weigh more than the females. Rotties have a muscular build and a loud bark, underneath which lies the most amazing personalities.
Rottweilers have a mix of different personalities, including devotedness, confidence, intelligence, goofiness, playfulness, protectiveness, and obedience. These traits make them good for families, even ones with children, although not little children. Rotties adore kids and will always want to play with little kids. However, it is advised that you do not allow that unless you are around to supervise.
This is because, while the dog may not mean any harm to a small kid, a Rottie is a large dog and in the process of playing, might accidentally knock down the child and cause injuries. Older children who are familiar with and know how to treat dogs are better suited to Rotties.
In the looks aspect, these dogs have characteristic black furs with tan markings. The coat is short, dense, and moderately sheds, and so the dog does not require serious grooming. You can brush your dog two times weekly to get rid of shed hair.
Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are among the smallest dog breeds that exist today. According to the American Kennel Club, ‘the Chihuahua is a tiny dog with a huge personality. A national symbol of Mexico, these alert and amusing “purse dogs” stand among the oldest breeds of the Americas, with a lineage going back to the ancient kingdoms of pre-Columbian times.’
These dogs usually have erect ears, and a variety of different coat colors, among which are white, black, gray, fawn, brindle, Merle, spotted, and others. There are two types of coat types in Chihuahuas, which are the long and smooth coat types.
The long-coated dog has a slightly curly and soft coat, while the smooth-coated dog has a short and shiny fur with the hair on its neck being thicker than that on its body.
Regarding personality, Chihuahuas are known as confident, lively, alert, sassy, energetic, and loyal dogs. They are prone to having serious separation anxiety since they love receiving a lot of attention. These dogs weigh a mere 3 pounds to 6 pounds and grow as tall as 6 inches to 9 inches at the shoulders.
Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix
This mix is a very interesting one as the parents of this dog have drastically different looks. In fact, many people do not know that it is possible for Rottweilers to mate with Chihuahuas, because of the huge difference in size, but they sure can, and the product of that union is the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix.
The hybrid mostly favors the Rottweiler in terms of coat color, although this is not always the case. In terms of size, the hybrid could favor either parent and be on the small or large side, or will even be medium-sized. This is because both parents have great height and weight differences.
Coat length also varies, depending on which parent gene is dominant. Therefore, you could have dogs with short or fluffy hair, depending on which parent the dogs take after. The lifespan of the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix should be an average of that of the Rottie and the Chihuahua. Ear shape in this hybrid will either be floppy, upright, or in between.
Temperament of the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix
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It is impossible to say what the exact temperaments of this hybrid are going to be, especially as they are not very common. Based on the temperaments of the Rottweiler and the Chihuahua, though, the hybrid is likely to have a mix of any of the following traits:
Affection: Both Rotties and Chihuahuas are very affectionate dogs that love to spend time with family members. These dogs consider themselves a part of the family and will not want to be left out of any activity, neither will they want to be left alone without companionship for long periods.
The hybrid will surely inherit this trait and will make a great dog for you if you are looking for a dog to keep you company.
Boldness: For all their tiny sizes, Chihuahuas are very bold and confident dogs. The same goes for Rottweilers. You can expect your Rottweiler Chihuahua mix to be just as confident as both parents.
Playfulness and goofiness: If the hybrid inherits the playful nature of the Rottweiler, you can depend on the dog to keep you and your family occupied with its silly antics and playful nature.
Protectiveness: Rotties are very protective of family members, and Chihuahuas are wary of strangers. These two traits will make the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix a dog that is protective of family members.
Energetic nature: Chihuahuas, as small as they are, are active dogs that love to run around chasing squirrels and playing with family members. The Rottie is also an active dog breed, and it follows that their offspring would be the same.
Undesirable traits of the hybrid based on those of the parents include:
Unfriendliness towards strangers and other dogs if not properly socialized: All dogs require socialization, especially when they are still very young. This means that you should get your pooch familiar with, and expose the dog to other people, sounds, animals, etc so that the animal can get used to them.
The parents of the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix can be unfriendly towards strangers if not socialized early, and the hybrid will likely inherit this trait. It is best to socialize your dog if you do not want this and if you are planning to have other pets.
Disobedience: The Rottweiler can be a willful animal, and so also can the Chihuahua. If you get the offspring of these animals, chances are that the dog will also have this trait. Obedience training at an early age will help to curb this behavior and should not be taken for granted if you want a well-behaved dog.
Separation anxiety: Both parents of this hybrid, especially the Chihuahua, love receiving a lot of attention and enjoy being around family members and participating in activities a great deal. The hybrid also loves attention and like its parents, may be prone to separation anxiety from being left alone for long periods.
This is why the dog is best suited to people who are not always busy or those who have people who can spend time with the dog.
Aggressiveness: Chihuahuas are well known for being aggressive. The hybrid may inherit this trait, although training at an early age should help curb this behavior.
Health Issues, Exercise Requirements, and Grooming Requirements of the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix
Health issues
Both the Rottweiler and the Chihuahua have certain health problems that they may be susceptible to, and so, the hybrid, although generally healthier than both parents, may be susceptible to any of the diseases plaguing them too.
It is best to always be on the lookout and immediately report any strange illness or condition to the vet. On the side of the Rottweiler, the hybrid may be susceptible to the following health conditions:
- Heart problems
- Hip dysplasia
- Cancer
- Elbow dysplasia
- Osteochondritis disease and some other health challenges.
On the side of the Chihuahua, the hybrid may be susceptible to the following health conditions:
- Hypoglycemia
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Collapsed trachea
- Shivering
- Hydrocephalus
- Open fontanel and some other health conditions.
Exercise requirements
Rottweilers are an active dog breed, and despite having small sizes, Chihuahuas are active, too. Therefore it is recommended that you help your dog avoid boredom by allowing the animal to exercise. This exercise would usually be in the form of daily walks, playing mental and physical games, and other activities.
Failure to exercise your dog will lead to the animal becoming bored and acting out, and you will not like the consequences. A bored dog, especially one like this hybrid, will become destructive and will do things like chew furniture, rip off curtains, chew shoes, defecate where it is not supposed to, and bark more than usual, among other annoying behaviors.
Grooming
Depending on the type of fur that your dog has, the animal will require moderate to serious grooming. If your pooch takes after the Rottie and has a short coat, then you do not need to groom seriously and can brush the animal’s hair twice a week.
On the other hand, if your dog has curly fur like that of the Chihuahua, then you will need to do more serious grooming and even trim the hair, if necessary to prevent matting.
Bath your dog as often as necessary. Bathing your dog too often strips off the essential oils on its skin and dries it out, so you shouldn’t carry out this activity too often. Also, to avoid bad breath, ensure you brush your dog’s teeth.
Clipping of the nails is necessary too. You can do this with a nail clipper, or better yet, a nail grinder, as grinders are a safer alternative to nail clippers.
Conclusion
The Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix has many of the qualities that endear people to dogs. With the animal’s playful, affectionate, loyal, and loving nature, you will find the dog a suitable addition to your family should you decide to get one.
However, you should be prepared to do the work that you need to do for the animal to turn out well. This work includes adequate training right from when you bring the dog into your home, adequate feeding, exercising, sheltering, and all other things the dog needs to thrive and live a long, healthy life.
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