Chipoo

The Chipoo is a cross between a purebred Chihuahua and a purebred Poodle. The common term for this is a designer dog, in which two purebreds are crossed to produce desirable traits from both. The Chihuahua, which originated from Mexico, is a small, short-haired dog with a big, charming personality. The Poodle, which originated from Germany, comes in three sizes (Standard, Miniature, and Toy) and is known for its curly coat, keen intelligence, and athleticism. When crossed together, these two dogs can produce puppies with a wide variety of different characteristics. But owners can usually expect a Chipoo to have smooth, curly, or coarse hair of varying lengths with a brown, blue, black, white, cream, fawn, or silvery gray color.

You may have heard this breed being referred to by some really cute names like Chipoodle, and Poochi! Some other fun names are Choodle and Poohuahua. These designer dog names are usually very interesting.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning A Chipoo

History Of The Breed

The Chipoo is thought to have originated in the United States in the 1970s, and while there isn’t much more known about their history, they come from two breeds that have been around for quite some time – the Poodle and the Chihuahua. The poodle originated in Germany in the Middle Ages, even though it is the national dog of France, and was intended as a hunting dog. The Chihuahua is believed to have originated in Mexico and is thought to descend from the Techichi, a small companion dog kept by the Toltec civilization as early as the 9th century.

Size And Weight

Just like its parents, a full-grown Chipoo is a small-sized dog with a thin frame. Some individuals are so small that they can quite literally fit inside a teacup. These so-called teacup dogs are fairly common among the Chihuahuas and Poodles as well. A teacup Poodle is more likely to produce a teacup Chipoo. There are also a few differences in the size and appearance of the males and females.

Common Health Issues

As a designer dog, the Chipoo may inherit some health issues from either parent, but it’s difficult to know ahead of time which ones these will be. In general, the most common problems are cancer, dry skin, digestive issues, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), luxating patellas (essentially, a loose knee cap), and some eye conditions (particularly glaucoma, which can lead to blindness). If the Chipoo can avoid some of the worst health problems, then it can live a relatively long life of about 12 to 15 years.

Temperament

The Chipoo is an intelligent, energetic, and fun-loving dog with a big, expressive personality. Since it will always want to be an essential part of the family, the Chipoo makes for a great companion and friend with a very loyal streak. Another appealing trait is that the Chipoo can adapt to a variety of different living situations and doesn’t necessarily need a big yard or open space to thrive, though ideally, it should have plenty of things to do and new challenges to overcome. If the Chipoo doesn’t get enough physical and mental stimulation, then it may turn to destructive or annoying behavior, such as howling and chewing.

How to Take Care of the Chipoo

The Chipoo is a low to medium-maintenance dog with some specific dietary and grooming requirements that will need your attention. If you purchase this dog as a puppy, it is a good idea to take it to the vet for an early health screening and then continue to visit the vet at least once a year after that as a full-grown adult.

The Best Dog Food For Chipoos

Since it’s prone to some digestive problems, the Chipoo does best with high-quality food specially formulated for small dogs. Ideally, the food should be divided into several smaller meals throughout the day to maintain a consistent blood sugar level. Calorie intake and food composition will probably vary with the dog’s age, size, activity level, and health. A full-grown adult Chipoo will need to be carefully monitored for any signs of weight gain. At an ideal weight, you should be able to feel but not see the dog’s ribs. But a growing juvenile Chipoo dog can be allowed to eat as much as it wants for the first several months of life. If you need some help coming up with ideas for the dog’s diet, then you should consult with your veterinarian.

Since Chipoos can get hypoglycemia, try to be consistent about feeding your Chipoo a solid meal ninety minutes or more before exercise, because it needs adequate blood sugar to sustain the activity. Also, due to Chipoos’ stomach sensitivities, try dog food designed to be easily digestible.

Maintenance And Grooming

The Chipoo does not shed very much at all (which makes it a good choice for people with allergies), but depending on the length and the consistency of the coat, it still needs to be brushed at least two or three times a week and sometimes as often as every single day. In addition, the fur will need to be trimmed several times a year to prevent it from tangling. If you don’t want to do it yourself, then you can take it to a grooming professional, who can even give your dog a unique hairstyle. The dog will also need its ears cleaned and nails trimmed whenever necessary, and its teeth should be brushed daily to maintain good oral hygiene.

Training

The Chipoo needs to be trained as early as possible in its life to prevent it from exhibiting possessive behavior, house-training problems, and other undesirable behavioral issues. Fortunately, this mix is bright and intelligent and takes very well to training. Although it has a bit of a stubborn streak, the owner should remain calm and patient at all times. The Chipoo responds best to positive reinforcement methods such as food and encouragement. Do not raise your voice or make threatening gestures toward it, since that will just discourage your dog. It’s also a good idea to vary the training routine to prevent it from becoming bored. If you don’t have the time or inclination to train the dog yourself, then you can enroll your dog in a professional training program.

Exercise

Although the Chipoo has a lot of pent-up energy, it doesn’t take much exercise to get this dog tired out. This highly adaptable dog enjoys all kinds of activities, including leashed walks, games, tricks, and playtime. These activities should be done in short intervals of about 10 to 30 minutes at a time.

Puppies

Like just about any type of dog, it is always recommended to buy your puppies from a reputable breeder who screens for early health problems. Unfortunately, there are no rescue groups dedicated specifically to the Chipoo, but you may be able to find one at a Chihuahua or Poodle breed-specific rescue program that also cares for mixes. Regular rescue shelters are less likely to have one.

Chipoos And Children

The Chipoo is friendly and gentle around children of all ages. However, since the Chipoo is very fragile and sensitive, you should be careful about introducing this dog to smaller children. Always closely supervise any interactions between them. This is done as much to protect the dog from a child who may not understand how to handle one.

Dogs Similar To The Chipoos

If you are a fan of the Chipoo, then you should definitely check out its two parent breeds, the Chihuahua and the Poodle. There are several other types of dogs with obvious similarities. Here is a list of them:

• Labradoodle: Bred from a mixture of the Labrador and the Poodle, the Labradoodle is one of the most popular designer dogs in the world. Sporting a long, shaggy, hypoallergenic coat, it is kind, loving, obedient, and playful. The Labradoodle also responds very well to training. It’s been used as a service dog, a therapy dog, and a general companion.
• Cockapoo: Originally bred in the 1960s, this designer dog is a mix between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. It has many appealing qualities, including keen intelligence, a big and affectionate personality, and a relatively good hypoallergenic coat that doesn’t shed a lot.
• Yorkshire Terrier: Bred in northern England as a vermin hunter, the Yorkshire terrier is a small, energetic breed with a long, silky coat of elegant hair that should be okay for people with allergies. It is loyal, affectionate, brave, and protective of its owner. In fact, the rather bossy personality far outstrips its small size.