Are you among those who still don’t believe that the tiny Chihuahua and the Great Dane can be bred to form a designer breed?
It has happened!
Designer dog breeders couldn’t hesitate to try out this new “adventure.”
The Great Dane Chihuahua mix traces its parents to the Great Dane and Chihuahua pure breeds.
A question ringing in your mind is how these two pure breeds crossbred. This could be due to the varying size of each breed.
On one hand, the Chihuahua parent is quite tiny while the Great Dane is the opposite.
After several natural breeding attempts, the dog breeders tried out Artificial Insemination (AI).
It was this alternate attempt that led to the formation of the Great Dane Chihuahua mix breed.
Are you eager to know more about this new designer pooch?
Then, read on!!
Overview of The Great Dane Chihuahua Mix
This doggie is also called the “Great Mexican dog” or the “Chi-Dane-Dane.”
He is primarily obtained through artificial insemination.
The population of the Great Dane Chihuahua mix hasn’t grown much. This can be attributed to the tedious exercise of crossbreeding his parents.
Also, this pooch is yet to reach its second generation of breeding. The main setback is the different parent sizes and characteristics.
Because he is a designer breed, Chi-Dane-Dane’s origin cannot clearly get defined.
The only known thing is that the initial breeding attempts between his parents constantly failed.
The Great Dane female was either too large for a Chihuahua pup or vice-versa.
Persistence in breeding attempts led to the application of artificial insemination.
This technique was also a challenge because the female Chihuahua pup could not carry her pregnancy to term.
Even when the female Chihuahua underwent C-section, the puppies died shortly after delivery. The mother also followed days later.
These factors, therefore, indicate how hectic it is to breed the Great Dane Chihuahua mix pup.
Apart from that, if a puppy is successfully bred, feeding becomes a problem.
It is difficult for a small pup to latch on a huge mother pup.
Also, cases of genetic mutation may become evident. This may include congenital defects.
However, with the development of intensive breeding and nurturing techniques, the Great Dane Chihuahua mix crossbreed has successfully been developed.
Due to the breeding costs, the number of pups produced is still low.
Therefore, adopting one of the Great Mexican dogs isn’t easy. Their prices are also high.
Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Appearance
Sometimes, it’s hard to predict the exact appearance of this pup.
His parents are from both extremes hence may have unique characteristics.
Also, this breed is still new and only a few observations have been made.
The few observations show that the Great Mexican dog has a long body and short legs.
Also, this pooch has straight and pointed ears. His head greatly resembles that of his Great Dane parent.
The Great Dane Chihuahua mix has a short, smooth coat. He inherited this feature from both his Chihuahua and Great Dane parents.
The Size of an Adult Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Dog
The Chi-Dane-Dane doggie is twice the size of his Chihuahua parents.
However, he is slightly smaller compared to his Great Dane parents. This implies that the pup inherits a body size that is average that of both parents.
It is difficult to describe the possible average height of a Great Dane Chihuahua mix pup.
This factor entirely depends on the parent from whom he inherits the height genes.
Some doggies may be as large as their Great Dane parents. Others may be as small as their Chihuahua parents.
The Coat Colors for Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Pooch
The coat color that this pup inherits depends on that of both parents.
Therefore, the coat colors and patterns for this crossbreed shall vary considerably.
For example, if both parents are brown, most of the puppies are likely to be of similar color.
The main colors for this crossbreed include the following;
- Cream and White– this color is common to most pups. A typical Great Dane Chihuahua mix pup could either inherit one or both of these colors.
- Harlequin-speckled coats are common to both the Chihuahua and the Great Danes. The Great Dane Chihuahua mix doggie could have a harlequin coat if at least one of his parents had such genes.
Temperament for The Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Dog
To identify the exact temperament of this crossbreed, we shall first have to look at his parents.
The Great Dane is known as a joyful family pup. He is loyal and friendly.
Moreover, he socializes well with strangers. Despite that, he is also a great watchdog.
This can be attributed to his protectiveness.
The Great Dane doggie is also gentle. Therefore, having children around him isn’t a great concern.
When we look at the Chihuahua parent, he is always loving and lively. He is also considered a very curious doggie.
A Chihuahua pup can become very stubborn if he lacks regular exercise. Just like the Dachshunds, he also barks a lot.
This is unlike the Great Dane.
Based on this analysis of both parents, the Great Dane Chihuahua mix can make a good family pet.
If he inherits genes from his Great Dane parent, he is likely to be joyful and calm.
However, the Chihuahua parent genes can make him arrogant at times. This may also cause frequent barking.
The Chi-Dane-Dane pup is comfortable living in small homes. However, his calmness will depend on the body size he inherits from his parents.
This pup also demands regular exercise just like his Chihuahua parent.
Without exercise, he gets bored easily. He may even become destructive since he is very energetic.
Health Issues and Lifespan of the Great Dane Chihuahua Mix
This crossbreed entirely builds upon the health and lifespan of his parents.
The Great Dane parents are known for their short lifespan. This averages 6 to 8 years.
The Great Dane is also prone to health complications such as hip dysplasia, heart conditions, and specific types of cancer.
On the other hand, the Chihuahua parent has a long lifespan of 12 to 20 years.
He is also prone to health issues such as rheumatism, cold, and eye defects.
The Chi-Dane-Dane inherits most of these features. Therefore, his lifespan could be the average of the two.
Despite that, this argument is yet to be proven since he is still a new breed. He hasn’t reached his second generation.
However, observations made by some pet owners indicate that this pup only lives for a short duration like his Great Dane parent.
On the other hand, some individuals believe that these pups live for a long time. This is because they inherit the best traits from both parents.
Such claims are yet to get proven by science.
Which Is the Best Way to Care for Your Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Doggie?
There doesn’t exist a uniform technique to care for this pup.
This gets attributed to his varying size. This size depends on genes inherited from either of the parents.
Despite that, you can adopt techniques used to care for other pooch breeds.
Seeking guidance from veterinary officers could also help in determining the appropriate care.
Since this designer breed is still new, the approved techniques for their care are still few.
However, here are some tips that could greatly help you. That is if you intend to own a Great Dane Chihuahua mix canine.
Nutritional Guidance
Because of the varying sizes, it is not possible to accurately predict the meal size for this new designer pup.
However, if we assume that he is medium-sized, he could consume between 25 to 30 calories per pound on a normal day.
This helps him maintain a good weight. Excess feeding isn’t required since it may lead to obesity.
The best approach in this scenario would be taking your pup to the vet.
Here, you will receive the necessary guidance on how to plan for his diet.
Grooming Your Pup
The Great Dane Chihuahua mix breed doesn’t pose a great challenge during cleaning and grooming.
Their maintenance costs are also moderate. This gets attributed to their less complex body fur.
The only practice you need to follow is brushing their hair daily. Also, you need to bathe them when the need arises.
Other basic hygiene practices such as nail trimming, and brushing their teeth should not get overlooked.
Exercise Requirements
For this breed, the exercise to get incorporated will also vary based on dog size and personality.
As a result, the time spent on daily exercise should be put under regular checking.
It should extensively depend on pup size.
For the small and medium-sized Great Dane Chihuahua mix breed, a daily exercise of 20 to 30 minutes is enough.
Also, going out for a walk twice a day helps this pooch stay fit.
What Are the Training Requirements for This Pup?
Training the Great Dane Chihuahua pup isn’t difficult.
Due to the inherited Great Dane genes, this pup is calm during training. He is patient and cheerful.
However, if the pup inherits specific genes from his Chihuahua parent, he is likely to display some stubbornness.
Despite his small stature, the Chihuahua breed is quite stubborn. This gets attributed to his huge personality traits.
He always wants to be viewed as energetic and capable of matching the standards of other huge dogs.
Wellness Visits for Your Pup
This designer breed is still new.
Therefore, most of the health concerns associated with it have not gotten defined yet.
You need to make regular visits to the vet with your doggie.
Here, various health tests shall get carried out i.e. cardiac exam, hip evaluation, and ophthalmologist assessment.
Vaccination is also important for your pup if you wish to make him less prone to infections.
Controversies Behind the Creation of New Designer Dogs Such as The Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Breed
Ethically, some individuals do not support the issue of creating designer dogs. They believe that dogs should be adopted naturally.
They believe that activities such as artificial insemination aren’t right.
Also, forcing different pure breeds to mate like was the case with the Great Dane and Chihuahua is not tolerated by some individuals.
These varying beliefs usually create great controversies when a new breed is being developed.
Most breeding practices do not support the idea of forcing dogs to mate with the main objective of just creating rare breeds.
Some animal rights activists believe that we should be satisfied with the existing breeds.
Pros and Cons of Adopting the Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Doggie
Before adopting this designer pup, you need to know the necessary pros and cons.
A clear understanding of the canine’s strengths and weaknesses helps you in making the right decision.
You shouldn’t rush into owning a pup that will give you a hard time maintaining.
This typically relates to the training requirements and diet.
Therefore, understanding the following pros and cons is essential.
Pros
- Since this pup is rare, he will stand out from other breeds. This will give you a sense of pride as a dog owner.
- This pooch makes a good family pet. He has a calm temperament inherited from his Great Dane parent.
- This pup is also a good companion. He’s comfortable being around any family member.
- He also requires little maintenance—his short and neat coat sheds less often.
Cons
- This crossbreed is still scarce. Finding a pup to adopt is always a challenge.
- He is also expensive since crossbreeding takes place through artificial insemination.
- He may also be prone to health complications. This is because extensive analysis hasn’t been made on his genes.
Pups Similar to The Great Dane Chihuahua Mix
If owning a Chi-Dane-Dane becomes difficult, there exist some alternatives.
This includes the following pooch breeds.
- The German Pinscher
- The Catahoula Leopard Dog
- The Dachshund
- And The American Bull Dane
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Concerning A Chi-Dane-Dane Pup
Does The Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Shed?
Since this pup is single-coated, he sheds less often.
They also have short and smooth hair. As a result, their grooming requirements are low.
Sometimes this doggie may leave some hair on your furniture.
This shouldn’t be a matter of great concern. You can easily clean that.
Is This Canine Hypoallergenic?
Like many doggies, the Chi-Dane-Danes are not hypoallergenic.
However, if there exists any, cases of allergies are minimal.
Individuals with very mild allergies can tolerate this pooch.
However, this dog can pose serious health risks to those allergic to pups in general.
Is The Great Dane Chihuahua Mix Difficult to Train?
Since this pup is from the extremes, training will heavily rely on the genes inherited.
This is because the Great Dane and Chihuahua personalities vary.
If the Great Dane Chihuahua mix canine inherits genes from his Great Dane parent, training him won’t be a problem.
He will always be calm and obedient.
The only challenge is when he inherits the Chihuahua parent genes. You will have to tolerate his stubbornness during training.
However, with great persistence, you can successfully train this pup into a mature adult.
Final Remark
Adopting the Great Dane Chihuahua mix pup is not easy.
Because of the long process of artificial insemination and C-section delivery, expect to spend a lot to own a Chi-Dane-Dane pup.
Also, to find a genuine dealer, luck needs to be on your way. The reason is that this designer pup is still new in the market.
The best of luck as you strive to own your dream dog!
Image credit:
Featured image chihuahua and great dane from Pexels and Pixabay
In-post image 2 from Pexels
In-post image 1 from Pexels
In-post image 3 from Pixabay