![]() Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua Mix – Jack Chi Overall, they might tend more towards looking like a Chihuahua, or more like a Rat terrier, and often you can even see both extremes in one litter. Petite and smart, with large round eyes and outsized ears. For this reason, their puppies pretty much look as you’d expect. Rat terriers are slightly larger than Chihuahuas – the smallest Rat terrier is about the size of the largest Chihuahua – but their proportions and shape are remarkably similar. However there’s no guarantee whether a Rat-Cha puppy will inherit this quality or not. Rat terriers are typically more confident and easier to socialize than Chihuahuas, making them better pets for households with with children. Even if their Chihuahua inheritance means a Rat-Cha doesn’t need the same amount of physical exercise, expect them to need stacks of mental stimulation. Rat terriers are exuberant and energetic pets, and they still possess the stamina which made them sought after working dogs. ![]() Originally bred for hunting vermin and small game, their friendly nature and eagerness to please easily earned them a place in our homes as companion pets too. Rat terriers are the all-American small working dog. Unsurprisingly, the most popular Chihuahua and terrier combinations are those which feature the most popular terrier breeds: Meanwhile, some terriers are better known than others, and some have better reputations as family pets. Ask your breeder how much information they have about the lifespan of other dogs in your Chihuahua terrier’s family tree.Ĭhihuahuas have been riding high in the dog breed popularity stakes for a long time. Most of the time, longevity is all in the genes. A healthy Chihuahua cross terrier could easily hope to reach their thirteenth birthday. It’s not uncommon for terriers and Chihuahuas to make it well into their teens. How Long Do Chihuahua Terrier Mixes Live?Īs a rule of thumb, smaller dog breeds tend to live longer than their medium- and large-sized cousins. ![]() DNA testing for the genes which cause lens luxation is available, and terriers should be tested for faulty gene before they are allowed to breed. ![]() When it occurs it is very painful, and prompt surgery is necessary to mend it. Hereditary lens luxation – when the lens in a dog’s eye comes loose from the fibers which hold it in place – is a common problem of terrier breeds. Always ask your breeder if there is any history of tracheal collapse in the Chihuahua side of a puppy’s family tree. The causes of tracheal collapse are complicated and not fully understood, but they are likely to include a genetic component, which means puppies of Chihuahuas are at risk too. It is most common in middle aged, small breed dogs, including Chihuahuas. This is a progressive disease where the cartilaginous rings which support a dog’s windpipe begin to degenerate. Purebred dogs in general are more prone to heart disease than their mongrel counterparts, and Chihuahuas in particular have and increased risk of being born with structural heart defects.Īny Chihuahua being considered for breeding should be examined for symptoms of heart defects before the mating goes ahead, as should Rat terriers and Bull terriers. It’s an issue for Chihuahuas and all breeds of terrier, so both parents should have a document to confirm their knees have been recently examined by a vet and found clear of problems. This can cause lameness and arthritis, and might ultimately require surgery to fix. Luxating patella is the medical term to describe a kneecap slipping in and out of its joint because the top of the thigh bone is not properly formed. The following issues are common to many of the Chihuahua Terrier mixes. When choosing a Chihuahua x terrier puppy, you’ll need to consider all the health conditions linked to their lines. But other inherited conditions could still be passed on from either parent. Some of these will be reduced by having a mixed breed dog. For many pedigree dogs a small gene pool has caused health issues.
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