History
Chi Chi Dog is a hybrid dog crossed between the Chihuahua and the Chinese Crested. Not many details are known about how, why, who and when these two purebreds were first bred, but it is assumed that it was created to develop an intelligent guard dog similar to its parents but small in size.
Interesting Facts
- In 2007, Elwood, a Chi Chi dog, was the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Competition and its owner got the prize money of $1000.
Temperament and Personality
The Chi Chi is friendly and playful and is compatible with every single member of the family, but tends to develop a strong bond with only one person who spends more time with it. However, they also do well with children but should be under strict supervision to avoid the rough and harsh behavior. Their bold and indifferent nature towards strangers and other animals make them excellent watchdogs, but they can be noisy sometimes. Hairless variety should be given particular attention because they can be injured very quickly. Some dogs may inherit the stubborn streak from its parents and are not suitable for extreme weather conditions.
Care
Exercise
The dog requires a moderate amount of activity and is relatively active like other small dogs. They need regular work out like taking for a long walk daily or playing indoors to keep them fit mentally and physically. It tends to jump and play when they should not, so special care should be taken of its back legs.
Grooming
The grooming session of the breed depends on the type of hair it has. For example, if it has short fur, brushing once a week is preferred; if it has long hair, it requires daily brushing and if it is hairless, its coat needs should regularly wash with a damp rag and sun lotions should be applied to prevent sunburn. Cleans its eyes frequently as they have tears quite often and brush its teeth three times a week to avoid tooth infection. Other sessions include trimming of nails and checking of its ears on a regular basis.
Health Problems
Some of the health issues that the dog might get are eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, lens luxation and dry eye syndrome. Other concerns that it can inherit are dental problems, heart problem, hypoglycemia and patellar luxation.
Training
This dog is known for its intelligence and smart nature which makes preparation easy and quick. However, their stubborn nature may interrupt the teaching period. The trainer must be fir and consistent and reinforce positive methods like praises, treats and plays and even cuddling. Teach them to be obedient and socialize them with other pets from their puppyhood.
Feeding
Serve the dog with ½ to 1 cup of high-quality dry dog food every day split into at least two meals. Since they love to eat, avoid overeating, which causes obesity.