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A Chihuahua Terrier mix dog has one Chihuahua parent and one parent from one of the Terrier group. often this will be a Yorkie, Pitbull, Rat Terrier, Fox Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier or Bull Terrier. Chihuahuas are the small dog with a big reputation, first bred for companionship in Mexico and now popular all over the world. Terriers are a group of breeds with working roots, hunting game or vermin. Combining the two can have a variety of potential outcomes in terms of health, temperament and pet suitability.

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Today I’ll look at all the possible Chihuahua Terrier combinations you can find. I’ll help you to match up with the right Terrier Chihuahua cross for your family and lifestyle. And give you tips for adopting or buying a healthy, friendly mixed breed puppy.

Chihuahua Terrier Mix Size

There’s no such thing as a typical Chihuahua Terrier dog. Part of deciding to get a Chihuahua cross terrier is working out which terrier breed you want to be included. And why you think that mix puppy will be a good fit for your family.

Usually a puppy’s full grown size is somewhere in between the sizes of their parents. Statistically it’s most likely to be somewhere in the middle. But there will always be outliers who fall at the largest and smallest ends of the scale.

The smallest Chihuahua terrier mix is the teeny Chihuahua Yorkshire terrier mix, which could be a scant 4lb. The biggest is the Chihuahua Bull Terrier, which could be ten times that.

Are Chihuahua Terrier Mixes Friendly?

With all these terrier breeds to pick from, is it possible to make general predictions about a Chihuahua terrier’s temperament? A little! They will all likely have high prey drive, a bold attitude and a very affectionate bond with their owners.

However, personality varies a lot between dogs, and some Terriers are different to others. A Chihuahua terrier’s temperament depends on upon the personality of their parents. And how well they are socialized and trained they are as young dogs.

When a Chihuahua and a terrier mate, their puppies could inherit all the virtues of their parents, or all the vices. Their Chihuahua and terrier traits could complement one another, or they could produce a more surprising combination!

Chihuahua Terrier Mix Health

For many pedigree dogs a small gene pool has caused health issues. Some of these will be reduced by having a mixed breed dog. But other inherited conditions could still be passed on from either parent. When choosing a Chihuahua x terrier puppy, you’ll need to consider all the health conditions linked to their lines.

The following issues are common to many of the Chihuahua Terrier mixes.

• luxating patella
• heart disease
• tracheal collapse
• eye problems

Luxating patellas

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. This can cause lameness and arthritis, and might ultimately require surgery to fix.

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.

Heart disease

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.

Any 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.

Tracheal collapse

This is a progressive disease where the cartilaginous rings which support a dog’s windpipe begin to degenerate. It is most common in middle aged, small breed dogs, including Chihuahuas.

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. Always ask your breeder if there is any history of tracheal collapse in the Chihuahua side of a puppy’s family tree.

Lens luxation

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. When it occurs it is very painful, and prompt surgery is necessary to mend it. 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.

How Long Do Chihuahua Terrier Mixes Live?

As a rule of thumb, smaller dog breeds tend to live longer than their medium- and large-sized cousins. It’s not uncommon for terriers and Chihuahuas to make it well into their teens. A healthy Chihuahua cross terrier could easily hope to reach their thirteenth birthday.

Most of the time, longevity is all in the genes. Ask your breeder how much information they have about the lifespan of other dogs in your Chihuahua terrier’s family tree.

Popular Chihuahua Terrier Mixes

Chihuahuas have been riding high in the dog breed popularity stakes for a long time. Meanwhile, some terriers are better known than others, and some have better reputations as family pets. Unsurprisingly, the most popular Chihuahua and terrier combinations are those which feature the most popular terrier breeds:

• Rat Terrier Chihuahua mix
• Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua mix
• Fox terrier Chihuahua mix
• Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua mix
• Bull Terrier Chihuahua mix

Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix – Rat Cha

Rat terriers are the all-American small working dog. 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 exuberant and energetic pets, and they still possess the stamina which made them sought after working dogs. 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 typically more confident and easier to socialize than Chihuahuas, making them better pets for households with with children. However there’s no guarantee whether a Rat-Cha puppy will inherit this quality or not.

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. For this reason, their puppies pretty much look as you’d expect. Petite and smart, with large round eyes and outsized ears.

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.

Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua Mix – Jack Chi

Jack Russell terriers owe their existence (and their name) to Reverend John Russell, a British fox hunting enthusiast in the 19th century. They wanted the perfect dog to drive foxes from their burrows. Like Rat terriers, Jack Russell terriers were considered a type rather than a breed until just recently.

Jack Russell terriers still have a strong drive to chase prey and dig for quarry. Their single-mindedness, combined with the fact they never seem to get tired, means that training them is not for the faint-hearted or short of patience. But every Chihuahua and Jack Russell terrier is unique, and when the right two meet, their puppies could be a perfect blend of the Chihuahua’s charm and the Jack Russell’s hearty robustness.

Jack Russell terriers are one size up from a Chihuahua. So their offspring are likely be a bit larger than your average Chihuahua, and a bit smaller than your average Jack Russell. Like Chihuahuas, which can have long or short hair, Jack Russell terriers have more than one type of coat. Smooth, broken (some longer hairs among the short) and rough (lots of longer hairs). This can make for some unusual coats on Jack Chi puppies.

Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix – Chitoxy

Fox terriers are a very old English breed, and the smooth- and wire-haired varieties were among the first breeds to be registered by the AKC after its foundation.

More recently, the Toy Fox terrier was first registered in 2003, and it’s the Chihuahua and Toy Fox terrier mix which has gained popularity as Taco Terriers.

Fox terriers love to be part of a family, and like Chihuahuas the Toy Fox terrier tends to attach itself devotedly to one special person. They are bright and energetic, so a Fox terrier Chihuahua mix is not for you if you’re looking for a low-energy dog. Fox terriers come in three recognized strains, each with their quirks and foibles, so meeting them is the only really way to find out what kind of personality they’re going to pass on to their offspring.

Toy Fox terriers weigh roughly the same as Chihuahuas, so Taco Terriers really are dinky. They usually have short, single coats, which means that like Chihuahuas, they’re not fans of the cold.

Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua Mix – Chorkie

Chihuahua Yorkshire Terrier mix pups, a.k.a. Chorkies, are the last word in tiny adorableness. Yorkies are so ornamental and behave in such a regal fashion it’s hard to believe they were once working dogs.

Like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers rarely settle well in homes with small children, so Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua mix pups are best suited to adult households.

   

The Yorkie is another tiny dog, so Chorkies rarely weigh more than seven pounds. All Yorkshire terrier Chihuahua mix puppies have long hair which needs grooming every day. The exact color and thickness of their coat will depend on the appearance of their Chihuahua parent though.

Bull Terrier Chihuahua Mix

Also known as: Bullhuahuas. Bull terriers were originally bred from old breeds of bull dog and terrier in the early 19th century, and used for fighting. From unsavory beginnings they’ve made a successful transition into popular companion dogs. And these days a separate Miniature Bull terrier breed is recognized in addition to the standard Bull terrier.

Even the smallest Miniature Bull terrier is nearly twice the size of the biggest Chihuahua, which perhaps goes some way to explaining why it’s a less common crossbreed. Bull terriers and Chihuahuas couldn’t look more different if they tried. Combined with their difference in size, this means that predicting the appearance of their puppies is a real lottery.

Bull terriers unique and lovable, but they are not ideal for first time owners. Mischievous, energetic, and like Chihuahuas they are prone to stubborn disinterest in training. Bull terriers rarely get on well with other pets, and we don’t recommend getting a Bull terrier if you already have other dogs or cats living with you.

The worst case outcome of a Chihuahua x Bull terrier mating is a pup which turns out bigger than you expected, with inexhaustible reserves of energy and who terrorizes other pets. Always insist on meeting both parents and ask yourself if you’d get fed up or struggle with either.

Chihuahua Terrier Mix Breeders

Puppy farmers have been quick to fill the gap and meet the demand for designer dogs, and this means most of the Chihuahua terrier puppies advertized online have been born in puppy farms.

That isn’t to say that responsible Chihuahua terrier breeders don’t exist, you just need to be more vigilant about finding one. Our guide to recognizing puppy farms will help you pick the loving breeders from the profit-seekers.

Chihuahua Terrier Mix Puppies

Chihuahua terrier puppies should stay with their mom and siblings until they’re at least 8 weeks old. Many toy breeds need to be 12 weeks old before going to their new home. A very small Chorkie, for example, might need to stay with their mom a little longer still.