Before getting a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix, it’s pertinent that you understand this breed better to provide the right care, as all responsible or first-time Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix dog owners should embrace.
Also known as the Chiweiler, while not a purebred doggie, this Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix possesses some fine attributes you want in a furry companion. The Chiweiler has desirable elements of both Chihuahuas and Rottweilers while still offering unique advantages only cross-breeding makes possible.
In this complete Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix breed guide, I will address concerns like the average lifespan for your Chiweiler. You will also learn whether your doggie sheds and by how much, as well as the recommended grooming routines and general best care practises. We will cover the common Chiweiler’s temperaments, when to expect your pooch to calm down, and the best dietary measures to adopt. Let’s first talk about how big your favorite Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix could grow to.
How Big Does A Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix Get?
Your Rottweiler Chihuahua puppy has the composite genes of its parents, including those responsible for physical growth. It is impossible therefore to foretell how big a given puppy will become.
So how big does this mixed breed get? A Rottie Chi Mix puppy often grows into a small to medium-sized dog, with the huge physique of a Rottweiler cancelling out the nimbleness of a Chihuahua.
Though rare, however, and given the presence of both genes in the offspring, it is not uncommon for a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix doggie to be as small as a Chihuahua. This is because the size of a cross-breed dog may sometimes favor one parent over the other.
A mature Chihuahua grows to about 6 to 9 inches at the shoulder, the highest point, and weighs between 3.5 and 7.5 lbs. On the contrary, Rottweilers are big, muscular canines that range between 22 and 27 inches high at their shoulder, while measuring about 77 and 130 lbs.
What Does a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix Look Like?
Do you wonder what your Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix will look like? Well, the ‘Rottuahua’ takes after the parent breed’s appearance, just as in size. Your furry friend will have either a long-hair or short-hair coat with either one solid color or various combinations of different rust color markings.
The Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix offspring usually inherits either the more dominant or a combination of the parents’ attributes. Your four-legged furry friend can have the short coat and solid color of a Rottie, or the long, furry coat and varied colors like the Chihuahua.
How Long Do Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes Live?
I’m often asked how long a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix lives. The life expectancy of a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix is about 12 to 16 years, benefiting from the longer lifespan of its Chihuahua parent to live longer than a pure-bred Rottweiler.
Indeed, a pure-bred Rottie lives for 6 to 8 years, whereas a Chihuahua lives for 12 to 20 years. Your Rottie Chi hybrid fido therefore spends more time with you than a Rottweiler pooch does.
Common Health Issues
Like most doggie breeds, the Rottuahua mix is prone to several health concerns, including disorders inherited from either or both parents. The most prevalent Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix health issues include:
Subaortic Stenosis
A heart disorder which causes a narrowed aorta, increasing blood flow resistance that eventually becomes fatal.
Von Willebrand Disease
This is a hereditary excessive bleeding disorder due to the doggie’s diminished blood-clotting ability because of deficient blood proteins.
Hypothyroidism
This condition is a form of canine disease arising from deficiency in thyroid hormones, causing coat changes, increased doggie weaknesses, and obesity.
Luxating Patella
This hereditary disorder can cause dislocated kneecaps in your Rottie Chihuahua mix puppy. Extreme instances of this disorder may be corrected through surgery.
Hypoglycemia
This condition is a disorder of low blood sugar, usually found in Chihuahuas, that causes increased weaknesses, dizziness and loss of consciousness. It can be a symptom of other diseases such as diabetes or liver disease.
Tooth And Gum Disease
Periodontal diseases are prevalent in smaller dog breeds, especially those with smaller mouths overcrowding with teeth. This is because their teeth are much harder to clean and brush, and harbor much more bacteria, thereby becoming a breeding ground for rapid bacterial growth.
How To Take Care Of Your Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix?
Better care for your canine companion is done ideally through regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Diet
We recommend 2 to 3 meals per day for your adult Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix. The daily food intake should be between 2 to 3% of the expected adult body mass per day, typically 2 to 3 lbs of high-quality, multi-nutritional dog food.
This food should be high on proteins and multivitamins, with less salt and grain to reduce exposure to heart or kidney problems and obesity. Include plenty of fish oil in the diet, alongside glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to help your pooch fight hip and elbow dysplasia that is prominent in mixed-breed dogs.
We recommend that you adopt the Pet Plate which provides a high-protein, grain-free beef recipe enriched with all the nutrients your furry companion needs, including multivitamins. Use a diet rich in vitamin A for cell growth and immunity, and vitamin B to boost red blood cells functionality that reduces von Willebrand’s disease.
Investing in high-quality dental water additives will also help improve your doggie’s oral hygiene.
Exercise
A Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix canine is just as active as its parents. Your four-legged furry friend has an abundance of physical energy that necessitates regular monitoring to reduce possible destruction.
I recommend you adopt a regular, less-rigorous exercise regime that will benefit the doggie physically and mentally, with guided outside activities 1 to 2 days per week the most productive.
If your doggie is less active, however, providing sufficient space within the house will offer the necessary exercise without the need for frequent intensive activities.
At What Age Does A Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix Calm Down? Temperaments Of Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes
Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix puppies are often very active due to high energy levels. Therefore, at what age does a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix calm down? Your Rottie Chi’s energy levels fall as the doggie grows older, and they usually calm down at about 3 to 4 years.
Temperaments Of Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes
Rottuahuas have a robust personality bordering on agility, courage, and willfulness. They however become more engaged when active, displaying high intelligence levels.
The overarching Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix temperament is a combination of:
- Aggressive
- Intelligent
- Willful
- Loyal
- Affectionate
- Courageous
- Protective
Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes can be stubborn and courageous, but also exhibit the loyalty of a Rottweiler. These furry friends therefore make protective companions through early socialization training in which they respond well to positive reinforcement. Their affectionate nature also means your dear fido will be lonely if left alone.
Are Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes Aggressive?
Your Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix doggie inherits natural aggression from both parent breeds. The puppies exhibit the Chihuahua aggression through snarling, snapping, and biting, as well as the enhanced aggression towards strangers of a Rottweiler.
This aggressive behavior manifests in different ways as per the dominant parent attributes, with Chihuahuas known to bark a lot while Rottweilers rarely do.
So, do Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes bark a lot? Your Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix fido may bark a lot, but not always. As we observed previously, most hybrid doggies may take after one parent’s attributes or combine it into a new combination. Despite knowing that Chihuahuas bark more than Rottweilers, your furry companion can follow either parent.
Do Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes Shed A Lot? Grooming Tips For Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes
How often Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes shed baffles most dog lovers, especially given the parent breeds have different shedding incidences.
So, do Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes shed a lot? Your Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix doggie will shed, but not a lot. Rottuahuas have a fluffy or smooth short coat depending on the dominant parental genes. Either way, your Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix dear fido is not a heavy shedder, as neither parent is.
We know Chihuahua doggies shed moderately, every day, with slightly more shedding seen during the warmer seasons. Similarly, a Rottweiler canine is a light shedder given their short and coarse double coat. Because of this sustained shedding, Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix dogs are not hypoallergenic.
Grooming Tips For Rottweiler Chihuahua Mixes
We advise that you adopt a grooming regime suited to your fido’s coat type, either fluffy or smooth.
While smooth coats need less brushing, you must brush regularly to manage shedding frequency, spread natural coat oils evenly, remove dirt, and prevent mating of hairs. Only use specialized, recommended grooming tools, such as the Furminator Undercoat Tool to de-shed the undercoat by removing any loose hairs.
We also recommend occasional baths for a fresh and moisturized coat that maintains its natural oils. Use high-quality, recommended products such as the Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner that relieves dry, itchy, and sensitive skin using natural ingredients such as aloe vera and baking soda.
If your doggie inherited the Rottie’s slobbery, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down the mouth regularly for better oral health.
Related Questions
How much does a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix cost? Your Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix puppy will cost between $400 and $1,000. The large price variation between breeders is because the Rottweiler Chihuahua mix is not a recognized dog breed and therefore harder to breed safely, with plenty of health requirements to be met.
Can a Chihuahua mate with a Rottweiler? A Rottweiler can mate with a Chihuahua, though such breeding practices are highly discouraged and regarded to be unethical due to the health complications between two dogs of different sizes. With some specialist help, a male Chihuahua can mate with a female Rottweiler, which helps avoid the pregnancy problems a female Chihuahua would potentially endure were the puppy to take after the Rottweiler’s size.
Can a Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix swim? A Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix can swim. However, your dear fido needs training and plenty of exercise in the water to be comfortable, since swimming is not their natural skill. Yet the higher Rottweiler-like body mass and the agility of Chihuahuas means your furry companion can become an adept swimmer.
