The Chipoo is a product of the crossbreeding of the Poodle and Chihuahua dog breeds. The different source breeds have distinct features, which the Poodle Chihuahua combines gracefully.
As expected, a Chipoo gets its small size from the Chihuahua, which has the honor of being the smallest dog breed in existence. The Poodle grants this crossbreed its unique hairstyle and longevity. Many more distinct traits combine to give you a designer dog. Unsurprisingly, children and senior citizens love to have this dog in their company. Poodles are children-friendly.
Like all other dog breeds, the uniqueness of the Poohuahua requires that owners treat them as such. In this light, we know you’ve got lots of questions. Thankfully, this post will answer all and many more so that you can enjoy the company of your poochie.
Are Chipoos Good Dogs?
Chipoos are some of the most pleasant dogs you can have. Generally, people want a doggie that is easy to train, energetic, and not too aggressive. But what makes a good dog depends on who is asking and the questions being asked.
What Age Does A Chipoo Stop Growing?
The Poo-Chi’s growth curve reaches its peak at seven months. After this, there isn’t much to notice about a change in physicality.
After the seven-month peak period, the height stabilizes. Meanwhile, it can still gain some weight depending on diet and activities.
How Big Do Chipoos Get?
Typically, Poochis can’t go beyond the 15-inch mark in height. At the same time, they weigh between 3 and 20 lbs.
Chipoos are small enough to fit into a standard teacup. Consequently, people fondly refer to them as teacup dogs. That tells you much about their size.
What Is The Appearance Of A Chipoo?
Choodles can look like either of their parents. Chihuahuas usually go for the fathering, while the Poodles are often the dam. The trait of either of the parents could be dominant.
More commonly, their small height and tiny feet are their ever-present features. Their ears can stand straight up or be droopy. You would find their tails to be either short or long.
Also, they are hairy and possess either a brown or black eye coloration. Overall, they are so cute that you would want to cuddle on the sighting.
How Long Do Chipoos Live?
Chipoos can live for as long as 15 years. Long life is one of the characteristic traits of small dogs. A few years over a decade may not seem like much, but its appreciation comes after getting to know the life expectancy of dogs other than a Chipoo.
However, several factors would determine if they would live that long. Chipoos are susceptible to several health challenges. Let’s get to know some.
Genetic Health Challenges
A piece of common knowledge is that genetic hybrids tend to have some health problems. If the breeding process is by any means wrong, there is a chance of the offspring having a genetic complication too. You must be wary of these conditions in your furry buddy.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a common health issue in many dog breeds, including Chipoos. In this case, the hip socket of the dog does not align fully with the upper thigh. A dog with this condition would stagger a lot while walking. You may need to replace the affected hip if you notice this disorder in your Pooch.
Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction is the main cause of frequent watering and reddening of the eyes of your Chipoo. A handkerchief would be handy for wiping the eyes regularly if your furry friend has this condition.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is the term used to describe the health situation whereby the blood sugar level of your dog falls below the acceptable limit. This ailment is fairly common in this dog breed. Proper diet and adequate rest are essential to avert this condition.
Luxating Patella
Luxating patella is yet another genetic disease that often affects Chipoos. The main difference between this case and hip dysplasia is that it affects the knees and their mobility.
Other Congenital Conditions
You should also be wary of health issues such as glaucoma, dry skin, dental complications, and depression. Glaucoma can lead to blindness, while dry skin makes it difficult for your dog to absorb treatments.
Non-Genetic Infections
Microbial Infections
Like any other dog breed, Chipoos are susceptible to a host of viral, fungal, and bacterial infections. These microbial infections can be fatal. Nevertheless, you can prevent most of them by vaccinating your pet early.
Parasites
Your furry buddy can also pick up parasites, such as mites, fleas, and ticks, when exposed to infected pooches. Washing her regularly with the help of a high-quality shampoo, like the Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner, will go a long way in staving off these parasites.
You can also minimize the possibility of endoparasites like Giardia, tapeworm, coccidia, hookworms and whipworms entering your beloved Chi-Poo’s system if you are careful about what she eats.
How To Take Care Of Chipoos?
Chipoos are a unique breed, and taking care of them requires some knowledge. Besides, that’s the only way to let them remain their cheerful and playful self.
To effectively take care of your furry canine, certain aspects require your attention.
Diet
Chipoos require high-protein, grain-free food that is carefully tailored for small dogs to consume. You can get the best of such food from Pet Plate. You must note that a wrong ratio can cause Chipoos to suffer from digestive issues.
As such, we advise that you don’t give them a bulky ration at once. Two cups per serving twice a day should suffice.
Additionally, Poodle Chihuahuas of any age require supplements and vitamins to prevent some undesirable sicknesses like arthritis. Also, it helps to boost their immune system to resist the common illness that assails them.
Oral Hygiene
A way to show that you care about your Chipoo is to take its oral hygiene seriously. One such way is getting them dental water additives. Doing this helps to reduce bacteria habitation in their mouth.
Mouth bacteria can cause swollen gums, plaque build-up, and teeth coloring.
Exercise
Chipoos require daily exercise. However, activities must not be too exerting because this breed is fragile. An evening stroll is enough.
Lack of exercise can make Poochies gain more weight than they need. Besides, they have some other ways of expanding their pent-up energy. These include incessant barking, chewing at your furniture, digging in your garden, and other things you won’t like.
Are Chipoos Aggressive? Temperaments Of Poodle Chihuahua Mixes
A dog’s temperament can be stable, aggressive, and playful, but the third perfectly describes Chipoos. Chipoos are not aggressive.
They are naturally friendly and would not attack unprovoked. You can let these darlings play with your kids without harboring any fear.
Do Chipoos Get Along With Other Pets?
Poochies can get along with other pets as long as their socialization process is gradual. Moreover, early socialization is crucial to imbibe tolerance for other animals.
Do Chipoos Bark A Lot?
Chipoos bark a lot, especially when they have reasons to do so. They are fun-seeking and tend to bark when they are excited.
You may find it hard to believe, but the Poodle Chihuahua mixes are effective guard dogs too. Although they don’t have the fighting energy, they bark to alert owners of impending danger or intruders.
How Do You Train A Chipoo?
Training a Chipoo would not prove much of a task as they naturally love to play. Besides, these small dogs are super intelligent and respond well to basic commands.
You would get a quicker result by using positive reinforcements like treats and praises. A trained Chipoo will find its way to the toilet, stick to its owners while strolling, be alert to possible danger, and much more.
Can Chipoos Be Left Alone?
You can let Chipoos be on their own. Surprisingly, their parents, Chihuahuas and Poodles can’t stand such an act. Meanwhile, it would be wise to check on it regularly lest it begins entertaining itself in some mischievous ways.
Are Chipoos Hypoallergenic? Grooming Tips For Poodle Chihuahua Mixes
Owing to their low shedding, Chipoos are hypoallergenic. That’s a choice trait gotten from the Poodle breed.
They also allow you to brush their hair and treat them to a bath. Grooming a Chipoo entails some actions.
Moreover, you need to take proper care of them by grooming them. Grooming involves bathing, trimming your Chipoo’s nails, and brushing and styling her hair. Here’s how best to go about it.
Brushing And Combing
You should brush and comb your pet at least three times a week to detangle its coats. This process also helps in removing loose hair from the undercoat and topcoat. A perfect tool for this is the FURminator Undercoat Tool. It helps to remove any loose hair without hurting the dog.
Bathing
Bathing should be done every two or three months. That is not to say that you can’t do so if the need arises before then.
To bathe your Poochi, we advise using dog cosmetics like the Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner. Apply the shampoo uniformly on your doggie’s body with a gentle massage. After this, rinse thoroughly before using the conditioner. Brush the hair again and allow it to air dry after toweling.
Nail Trimming
Trim your Fido’s nails once a month. Cut only the white part of the nail to avoid hurting the toes, and then file the nails with caution.
Hairstyling
Ensure you put a comb over the dog’s clipper. Run it through the coat in the natural direction of its furs. You can consult a stylist for the lady Poochi.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Chipoo Cost? The price of a Chipoo varies between $500 and $950. Several factors affect the pricing, such as the age, size, and level of training received by the dog. For example, a potty-trained dog will cost you more than one that has not received any training. Another factor is the after-sales service. Puppies without an after-sale service will cost less than those that have it. We must consider the extra costs we accrue after purchase. The total amount would be close to $1,000 per annum for maintenance.
Can Chipoos Swim? Chipoos are good swimmers. Like Poodles, they have natural swimming ability and love to make a splash now and then. You can make this one of their routine exercises. Swimming is also a great way of getting your Chipoo to socialize with other dogs.
Do Chihuahuas Get Along With Toy Poodles? Chihuahuas do get along with Toy Poodles due to their amicable nature. The breed loves to play with other small dogs. They are not intimidated and share a lot in common with them. Maybe this has something to do with their shared likeness in size.
