As you may have guessed, the Australian shepherd chihuahua is a mix of Australian shepherd and chihuahua. It is a unique and diverse dog.
If you are looking to get one, we are here to help you with all the required information that will help you make an informed decision.
What is Australian shepherd chihuahua mix?
When you get a mixed breed pet dog, you need to know what you are getting. This dog is a mix of an Australian Shepherd and a classic Chihuahua.
Yes, you are right, it is a unique and diverse dog. This dog breed is so special that it might take more time than usual to decide if you should get this canine or not.
History
To your surprise, the Australian shepherd is believed to be of Spanish ancestry. Shepherds that were migrating to the United States through Australia brought the Spanish Shepherd dog with them. This unique dog breed got noticed in the nineteenth century.
The Chihuahua is native to Mexico. However, they gained popularity after making their way to different parts of the globe. People often find this breed cute.
Breeding these two breeds gave birth to the charming and active Australian Shepherd Chihuahua mix. This breed is known by different names like Aussie Huahua, Miniature Aussie Chi, Aussie Chihuahua and Aussie Chi.
Australian Shepherd
This dog breed is a medium-sized working dog that originated in the United States in the 19th century. They are often called Aussies and highly intelligent, energetic, active and excellent at canine sports.
This dog breed is widely used in the emergency service sectors like search and rescue, therapy and drugs & explosive detection.
This dog breed is common in the United States and the American Kennel Club ranks this breed as the 16th most famous breed of all. The rank and popularity reflect on the dog’s qualities.
The Australian Shepherd is loyal and gentle, making them excellent family dogs. They have a strong herding instinct that is channelled around kids. This breed is not ideal for novice pet owners as their energy, and strong will needs to be given a direction.
Chihuahua
This is the smallest dog breed in the world but has a huge personality. They are courageous, intelligent and loyal.
This dog breed is believed to originate from wild dogs domesticated by Toltecs. They gained popularity in Mexico and then in the United States.
They are a super popular companion dog, charming with bold characters and cute size. This dog breed comes in different coloured coat which is either long or smooth. It is simple to maintain the coat, all you need to do is brush often.
They are quick-leaners and training is not an issue as they are people-pleasers. The Chihuahua are not ideal for families with small children because they can get possessive and snappy.
They love to have company and do not like to be left alone. Since they are small in size, they do not require too much exercise. However, despite their size, they may have some health issues, thus it is important to get one from a good breeder that has done all their health tests.
Appearance
When it comes to appearance, this dog breed is taller than the Chihuahua but shorter than the Australian Shepherd.
It has a small face and big ears like that of a Chihuahua. The fluffy smooth coat of this breed is inherited from the Australian Shepherd. It either has bi-coloured or tri coloured coat.
The tricoloured court has any of the three colours – blue, black, white and red. The bi-coloured coat has any of the two colours mentioned above.
This dog breed also comes in a blue or red merle coat and if you are a dotted coat lover, this one is ideal for you.
This dog walks with a gait of Chihuahua and the alertness of an Australian Shepherd. The tail can either be droopy and bushy like the Shepherd or curled and erect like the Chihuahua.
Temperament
The temperament of the Aussie Chihuahua is mixed. It might be tough to know what is going on at first but you may understand after spending some time. It is a loving dog and wants to be a part of the family and have some fun, that’s it!
Their wish to be included may lead to indiscipline, which needs to be punished. They are quick learners and very intelligent. This means that you can provide them training without forcing them.
They are caring and playful and most of their frustrations arise from being too innocent. If this is the situation, we suggest you spend as much time as possible with them so that you know what is going around.
Thus, for novice owners, it can be difficult to understand the dog at first. However, they are interesting and curious and you will find them sniffing around.
If you wish to get a curious and engaging pet, this breed is an ideal choice.
Height, Weight & Size
The Australian Shepherd Chihuahua has a height of 10 to 16 inches. This sits in the middle of the Aussie Shepherd being 18 to 23 inches and cute Chihuahua being 6 to 9 inches.
The Australian Shepherd Chihuahua puppies weigh between 1 and 1.5 kgs. As it grows, it usually takes the weight of the dominant parent. If it leans towards the Aussie Shephard, it can weigh around 13 kgs and towards cute Huahua, it will usually weigh around 3.5 kgs.
Exercise & Training
This dog breed is super active. If you are planning to get one, make sure to provide lots of training and exercise.
The Aussie Chihuahua is very smart and you can indulge him/her in easy-to-complicated games. Since born to an Aussie Shepherd parent, it will want being in the outdoors.
If you go on hikes regularly, ensure to take your pet along. This will help them exercise and also socialize with new animals, scents and people.
The dog will always be in its best behavious until it can release its energy somewhere. Make sure to train the dog in early days to establish authority.
Diet
Food requirements for these types of cross breeds is tough because both the parents have different needs.
Make sure to see a vet for examination to check for food requirements. This will also help you know if your dog is facing any allergies, which will help you limit that kind of foods.
Make sure to look after the dog and spend as much time as possible. Also, look out for the dog after you feed him/her as per the diet plant set by the vet to ensure its working well for him/her.
If you are feeding your Aussie Chihuahua raw diet, include more proteins and heathy fats as it requires more strength and stamina.
Grooming
This dog shed year-round, especially during the spring season. Make sure to brush the coat regularly.
Invest in a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the hair lying around in your home. Also, bathe the dog once a week to clean it. Make sure not to use harsh soaps and shampoos as it may strip the natural oils from its skin.
Bathing the Aussie Chihuahua too often will leave his coat dry. Trim his/her nail too. Also, clean his ears and eyes for debris and dirt.
Life Expectancy
Since it is a mix, it is difficult to determine its life expectancy. The best way to come up for a number is to combine the lifespans of both the parents.
If the Aussie Shepherd is expected to live between 13 and 15 years and the Chihuahua has life expectancy of 12 to 20 years, so the life expectancy of this mix breed can be in the middle between 14 and 16 years.
If the dog takes more of the side of the Chihuahua, then it is expected to live more, which is long when compared to most other dog breeds.
Compatibility
The Aussie Shepherd Chihuahua dog breed is an ideal family dog. It is gentle and alert like the Australian Shepherd and brillant like the Chihuahua. He loves to explore and play games, which makes it great with kids.
This dog breed can live in the city or country side. They have small bodies and thus can fit into small apartments.
The Aussie Shepherd love to live in the countryside because it has plenty of open spaces and scenery to enjoy.
Conclusion
The Australian Shepherd Chihuahua is an ideal dog to adopt because it is gentle, alert, and friendly. Make sure to consider that this breed is super active, daily grooming required and needs training.
This dog breed can live in small apartments in the city or countryside and is an ideal family dog. Make sure to understand all the facts before adopting one.
We hope to have helped you get all the information necessary that will help you make the right decision.