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When a Chihuahua and Poodle Mix: Dealing with the Chipoo Temperament

The Chipoo temperament is energetic and loving. Chipoos, a cross-breed of Chihuahua and a Poodle, are easygoing dogs who love to be active almost as much as they love their owners.

There are a ton of names out there for this Chihuahua-Poodle mix, including the Choodle and Chipoodle, as well as the Poochi, or Poohuahua, in addition to the Chipoo. No matter what you call her, she’ll jump at the chance to be your new best friend.

The Chipoo Temperament and Personality

Friendly

The Chipoo temperament is sweet and friendly, yet they can be very independent creatures. This independence can cause them to act bossy at times, but early and consistent training can help them work through these issues.

Protective and Suspicious

The Chipoo is very protective of her owners. This means that she can be very suspicious of new people, but as long as she understands from you that they’re safe, she’ll come around eventually.

Affectionate

A hallmark trait of the Chipoo temperament is her love of snuggling with her humans. She is always happy just to be with them. When she’s tired out after a long day of play, there’s nothing she loves more than to curl up in her owner’s lap and drift off to dreamland.

Possessive

Chipoos can also act possessively when it comes to their toys. It's hard to get them to share. Again, training can help with this, which includes early socialization with other dogs.

Devoted

Chipoos tend to fall in love with one person – it's the Chihuahua in them.

Intelligent

She’s a clever dog, which makes her a joy to watch. You never know just what she’s going to do next – including the ways in which she figures her way out of a jam.

She also has a great memory.

Stubborn

The Chipoo’s intelligence and great memory means that she’ll remember what you’re trying to teach her. However, it may also be tough to get her to break bad habits.

She’ll think “What?” “This is the way I’ve always done it.”

And you’ll have to keep reminding her, “yes, but your way was incorrect.”

Young Children

As we noted Chipoos are clever little bundles of fun who love sitting in your lap. They can also be rather entertaining to watch.

However, because they are tiny, they aren’t well-suited for families with young children.

She’s a Barker

The Chipoo loves the sound of her own voice. This means that she loves to bark, especially when she’s playing.

When people walk by her, she loves to call out to them and say hi.

Protective of her owners, the Chipoo’s temperament also causes her to bark at anything she dislikes or doesn’t trust.

She’s not yappy, though. She does know when to quiet down, even if she’s not entirely happy about it.

If barking is something you’d rather not have to deal with, early training is a good workaround to minimize the noise.

How Big Does a Chipoo Get?


The Chipoo is a tiny dog comprising the best parts of the Chihuahua and Poodle.

They average between 5 and 15 inches high and weigh anywhere from 3 to 20 lbs. in weight. (That's right – it is possible to have a 3-lb. dog!)

The size of your Chipoo depends on the sizes of her parents and the traits she has inherited from them.

For instance, Poodles are mid-size dogs, so if she takes after her Poodle parent, then she will probably be larger in stature.

Chipoos' ears can either stand up straight, or the tips can fold down. Either way, they are nothing short of adorable.

Because of their size, Chipoos are perfectly suited to apartment living.

Give them a little room to run around and play, and they will be happy. Of course, a house with a yard is ideal, too.

A Little History for a Little Dog

A Chipoo is a hybrid dog and came about from the mating of a Chihuahua with a Toy Miniature Poodle. This designer dog breed originated from the desire to create a Poodle mix that would retain the best characteristics of each breed.

While mixed breeds are a fairly new concept, you can learn more about a Chipoo by researching a bit about her parents. For instance, breeders created the Poodle as a hunter of waterfowl. While the Poodle originated in Germany, French breeders were actually the ones responsible for bringing him to the U.S.

As for the Chihuahua, she was the dog-of-choice for the Aztecs back in the day. They believed she had magic powers and was able to heal the sick. Unfortunately, she was also often a source of food.

Helpful Chipoo Training

For help with training your Chipoo, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.

Grooming

One of the best qualities of this crossbreed is that it’s a hypoallergenic dog. Known for almost no shedding, people with allergies are thrilled to finally be able to own a dog with the Chipoo.

This isn’t to say that your Chipoo’s coat doesn’t need regular brushing. In fact, they love it! Brushing them not only stimulates their skin, it also prevents their coats from matting. Try using a soft bristle brush, rather than one with metal teeth, as it is easier on her skin.

Of course, during shedding season, you can expect to brush her more, probably a few times per week. You also may need to trim her curls occasionally to help her maintain the shape of her coat.

A good practice is to brush your Chipoo before and after her bath to remove any loose hair. I recommend giving her a bath at least every 4 to 8 weeks or so.

Chipoo Colors

As for colors, the Chipoo is a straight-up rainbow. Thanks to her parents, she can come in any of the following colors:

  • Black
  • White
  • Fawn
  • Chocolate, or brown
  • Gray or silver
  • Tricolor
  • Brindle
  • Spotted
  • Merle
  • Blue
  • Café-au-lait
  • Apricot, or
  • Cream

Staying Healthy: Chipoo Health Issues

Your Chipoo can live anywhere from 12 to 15 years, and she can inherit any disease her parents are prone to getting. However, the thought is that by crossbreeding the Chihuahua and the Poodle, the Chipoo will get the best immune system possible by inheriting the strongest traits of each dog.

In any event, you should still keep an eye out for some of the conditions most likely to affect the Chipoo, which include:

  • Patellar luxation
  • Glaucoma
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Overactive tear glands (leading to tear staining)
  • Dry skin

I also highly recommend regular brushing of her teeth, as Chipoos have a tendency toward getting gum disease.

Just as you do with her gums, check her ears regularly and keep them clean to avoid infection.

They’re also prone to wheeze or snore and can suffer from both respiratory issues and ear infections.

If you live in a colder climate, be sure to put a sweater on her to prevent her from developing any respiratory illnesses.

Note: Don't let the many issues above scare you. The best way to approach health problems is to prevent them in the first place. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is a great place to start. Get a copy to keep at home. It will help you prevent the painful health issues that can plague your lovely Chipoo pet from expressing his winning personality and maximizing his life expectancy.

Exercise

The Chipoo loves her long walks, roughhousing, and activities with the family. She comes from two highly intelligent parents so, as a result, she can become bored quickly if you’re not challenging her.

Keep her on her toes by spending a lot of time playing with her each day. You can use a variety of toys to keep her mentally stimulated, from balls and chew toys to rags to pull on.

If you don’t occupy her wisely, she will resort to mischief. This means chewing, howling – all those undesirable behavioral traits that – trust me – you do not want to have to deal with.

Sure, you can maybe train her out of, but who would want to? Just keep her active instead.

Something to note (She's a Chaser)

Your Chipoo does have a penchant for chasing after animals smaller than her, like squirrels.

For this reason, you will either want to keep her on a leash when you’re outside with her or invest in a fence to keep her hemmed in.

Thankfully, because she’s small, all you probably need is a 4-footer to keep her from getting out.

Finding the Perfect Chipoo

If you’re looking to add a Chipoo puppy to your family, you’re probably wondering what the best method is to do so.

You can find a Chipoo for sale either from a Chipoo breeder or perhaps at your local rescue or adoption agencies.

Chipoo Puppies for Sale

On average, you should expect to pay around $500 for a Chipoo. This being the average price means that you can pay less or more for a Chipoo, depending on the pedigree of her parents – but prices tend to almost always be higher.

For instance, it is not unheard of for a Chipoo breeder to charge anywhere from $1,200 to a maximum of $4,800 or even more!

This is why it is ever-so-important that you make sure you’re dealing with a reputable breeder.

Chipoo Adoption and Rescue

If you are planning to add a Chipoo to your family, adoption is a great first step! Adoption is a great way to help an animal in need – and enjoy the reward of a new best friend in the process.

However, if you’re looking for a Chipoo puppy, I must tell you that the majority of Chipoos available through adoption agencies are adults. However, adopting an adult Chipoo certainly comes with its fair share of perks.

For one thing, older dogs have prior training, so you don’t have to worry about her peeing on the rug. Plus, adult Chipoos are calmer dogs, and they have typically moved beyond the chewing stage. (This can kick back in, though, if you leave her alone for a long period of time.)

To adopt a Chipoo, visit with your local animal shelters and humane societies. Talk with the staff and let them know you are interested in adopting a Chipoo. Ask if you can leave your name and number on a waiting list if they don’t have any available at present.

You can also let them know if there are any other breeds you may be considering, like a Poodle or Chihuahua. It may not be your first choice, but you’ll still end up with a dog who’s just as happy to have a home as you are to bring her to it.

Chipoo Breeders

While you must always be careful with the breeder you choose to deal with, this is especially true for mixed breed dogs. If you end up with a dog who is not First Generation, you can spend thousands of dollars for a dog with behavioral and perhaps even health problems.

For the record, “First Generation” for a Chipoo means that she is only a blend of Chihuahua and Poodle. She is not a Chipoo whom a breeder has mated with other Chipoos to get Chipoo, Jr. – if that makes any sense.

Make sure the breeder can provide you with the proper health clearances and documentation proving the parentage of the pup you are interested in. Be sure to visit the breeder’s premises and inspect it for dirty or dangerous conditions.

It’s also a good idea to meet with the pup’s parents. The apple truly doesn’t fall too far from the tree, so by meeting them, you can be pretty sure of what you’re in for if you bring home their offspring.

And don’t forget to check those online reviews! You can learn a lot from other people’s bad experiences. You can also sense when something’s amiss if a breeder has too many positive reviews with no negative ones – no one is that good.


Ready to Make a Chipoo Your BFF?

You may just find that the wonderful Chipoo temperament makes for a perfect match for you and your family because she loves being the center of attention. Loving, energetic and playful, the Chipoo will be your loyal friend all her life.

She’s a protective, loyal dog because nothing means more to her than her family. And she may be a barker, but you can control this with early, regular training.

Chipoos are as hypoallergenic as a dog can be, and they absolutely love getting brushed. And while all dogs need their teeth brushed, the Chipoo perhaps needs it even more because she is prone to gum disease.

All in, you should be able to expect a wonderful 12 to 15 years with this sprightly creature.