Are you looking for a smart, spunky little dog that’s well-suited to just about any type of owner and living arrangement? The Chipoo might be right up your alley! Keep reading to learn more about this fascinating breed mix.
Chipoo Overview
What is a Chipoo dog? The Chi-Poo is one of the more recent offerings when it comes to designer dogs – a cross between a Toy Poodle and a Chihuahua or a Teacup Poodle and a Chihuahua. A word of caution if you’re considering this particular mix – you will be far better off if the Poodle half of the equation is of the toy variety. Teacup dogs are actually freaks – they’re bred to be abnormally small, and often have health problems. In fact, many veterinarians will not perform surgery on teacup dogs because of the size of the organs.
With that out of the way, a Chipoo bred from normal-size parents can be a very pleasing dog. Typically, Chipoos inherit the best of both breeds. These little dogs are extremely versatile, doing well with people who enjoy active lifestyles, and equally well with apartment-dwellers. They’re happy to exercise with you, but don’t really require a lot of physical activity. Because of their size, they don’t really make good protection dogs, but they’ll definitely let you know if anyone is coming around.
Although Chipoos are typically good with kids, it’s important to keep in mind that they’re not big dogs, and could be easily injured by rambunctious toddlers. If you have kids, and you’re not sure that they can treat a little guy gently, it might be best to wait until they’re older before considering a Chipoo.
History
Chipoos have probably existed for a while, but haven’t really become popular until recent years. Before the mix became desirable, most Chipoos were probably bred by accident. Presumably, somewhere along the line, some people thought “Hey, this isn’t actually such a bad thing!” They
would have observed that crossing a Toy Poodle with a Chihuahua resulted in a low-maintenance, highly trainable dog with few health issues, and would have proceeded accordingly. Today, Chipoos are in demand. However, since a Chipoo is a mix, not a breed, it is not recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club).
Personality
Chipoos are typically smart and playful, quick learners and very trainable. They make great companions, too – usually, a mixed breed of dog will take on most of the characteristics of the parent breeds. Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles are both known to dislike being alone, and even to be prone to separation anxiety. Oddly enough, the Chipoo usually is just fine if you need to be away for prolonged periods, not prone to anxiety or destructive habits when left alone. As long as they have food, water and toys, they can usually keep themselves entertained until you get home, at which point they will greet you enthusiastically.
Health
Much of the time, mixed breeds are less prone to many of the illnesses and health conditions that affect the parent breeds. This isn’t always the case, though. Chipoos can be prone to luxatingpatellas, overactive tear glands and hypoglycemia. Actually, that’s not a huge amount of issues compared with other breeds and cross-breeds, and there’s no guarantee that your Chipoo will ever develop any of these issues. It’s just something to keep in mind. Of course regular veterinary checkups are important in order to identify and treat these conditions if they do arise.
Another thing to watch for with your Chipoo is digestive issues. Rather than feeding a big meal once or twice a day, you should offer your Chipoo several small meals throughout the course of the day. A high-protein food, formulated especially for small dogs, is best. Dietary needs can vary a fair bit from one dog to another, though, so if you’re in doubt, consult your veterinarian about how much, and how often, to feed.
Kids and Other Pets
As previously mentioned, Chipoos are small, and can be fragile, so it’s just as important to train your children as it is to train your Chipoo. Teach young kids to be gentle with the dog, and if you have any doubt that they’ll be able to do that, wait until they’re older before adopting a Chipoo. Chipoos typically love kids, but they don’t love being manhandled. For that matter, no dog is fond of that sort of treatment. Of course you should never leave a child unattended with a dog of any size or breed, simply for the safety of both the child and the dog.
When it comes to other pets, Chipoos don’t usually present a problem. They do well with other dogs, and with cats. Because they have a typically low prey drive, they’re also good with small animals like guinea pigs and birds. It’s always best, though, to approach the introduction gradually and carefully, and to supervise any interactions. As is the case with pretty much all dogs, it’s usually best to introduce a puppy to an adult rather than the other way around.
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Chipoo Puppies
What you need to know about Chipoo puppies is really no different than what you need to know about any other breed or breed mix. Early training is important, and best started as soon as you bring your Chipoo puppy home. Make it fun, with lots of praise and treats, and teach your Chipoo puppy how to sit, stay, lie down, come when called, and so on. If you’re not sure you can handle it on your own, enroll in a class where you and your puppy can learn together. This will also help with socialization, which is another very important factor in raising a good dog.
Socialization is actually the easiest thing you can do. All it involves is exposing your Chipoo puppy to all kinds of different people, places and experiences. You’ll probably find that you’ll have lots of friends, and even total strangers, who will be more than happy to help you with socialization. Take your puppy to meet your friends and relatives, and once his shots are up to date, take him on walks around the neighborhood, and visit the dog park. As he grows, take him to the animal hospital to be weighed – they won’t charge you anything for this, and it will be a great opportunity for him to meet other people and animals (and to learn that the vet is not someone to be feared).
Chipoo for Sale
So, you’ve got your heart set on a Chipoo, and you start looking around online. You Google “Chipoo for sale,” and wow, look at that! There are tons of Chipoos, just waiting for you to snap them up!
Pull back and regroup.
Many of these ads are scams. The supposed breeders of the supposed puppies will ask for money sent by Western Union transfer. You’ll send the money, and you’ll never hear from them again.
Okay, that’s the worst case scenario, and I’m not saying that all sites offering a Chipoo for sale are operated by scam artists. I’m just saying that you have to be very careful.
Chipoo Puppies for Adoption
This is another area where you have to be careful. If you Google “Chipoo Puppies for Adoption,” you’re also going to encounter any number of scammers – people who represent themselves in dire straits, for one. You’ll find the soldier on active duty in Afghanistan who just wants to get his dog to safety, but needs money to do it. He’ll pay you back once he’s stateside. But does the US military allow pet dogs in combat zones? No. It’s a scam.
Another scam is the one that goes something like this: “I’m so scared, both for myself and my dog. My ex says he’s going to kill my dog, and I believe he’ll really do it! I have to get my dog to a safe place, and I can tell from your Facebook profile that you love dogs. I hate having to reach out to a stranger like this, but I just feel like we have a connection and I can trust you. Please, will you take my dog? I can’t pay right now to have him shipped to you, but my Mom is sending me money, and if you can cover the shipping, I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I get the money my Mom is sending me! I really hate to ask, but I’m desperate…” and so on. Then you send money, and the supposed dog owner falls off the radar. Scam.
You might also come across sites offering Chipoo puppies for rescue. Some sites are legitimate. Others, not so much. Read the reviews, and do your research.
Chipoo Breeders
The unfortunate thing when it comes to designer dogs is that as soon as a breed mix becomes popular, bad people want to get in on the act. These are puppy mill operators, and they don’t care at all about the health and well-being of the puppies, or what kind of people they sell to. All they care about is taking your money and unloading a puppy so that they can breed an already over-bred bitch in horrible conditions, to produce more puppies to sell to just anyone.
Good Chipoo breeders are very different. Of course they will take your money – in fact, they’ll probably demand a non-refundable deposit up front. But they will also ask you a lot of questions about your home, whether you have children, if you have a regular veterinarian, whether you plan to take your Chipoo puppy to obedience classes, and more. That’s because they care about where their puppies end up, and what kind of life they’re going to have.
If you’re investigating Chipoo breeders, please don’t be offended when they grill you. They just want what’s best for their puppies. Worry when you’re not quizzed, not when you are.
Chipoo Grooming
Chipoos typically have beautiful coats, in colors like brown, cream, silver, brindle, blue, fawn, grey, white or black, or mixes of all those colors. The coats are generally medium-length, although soeChipoos might be short-coated or long-coated. Either way, Chipoos are usually easy to groom, with a weekly brushing generally being enough to do the job.
When grooming your Chipoo, check his coat and ears for fleas and debris. Make sure to trim his nails regularly, too, unless he typically walks on pavement or other surfaces that will work to naturally shorten them. A weekly tooth-brushing is also advisable, as many small breeds and mixes can be prone to dental issues.
Chipoo Hypoallergenic
Chihuahuas don’t shed much, and neither do Poodles. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, since all dogs shed to some degree, but if you suffer from allergies, there are definitely worse choices than the low-shedding Chipoo.
Common Questions
1. How much does a Chipoo cost?
As of the time of this writing (January 2020), the price for a Chipoo is anywhere from $500 to $950.
2. How big will a Chipoo get?
Given the breed mix, Chipoos are typically small dogs, averaging around 20 pounds and standing about 15 inches. This assumes that the Poodle in the mix is a toy, not a teacup. A mix that contains teacup, of either breed, will be abnormally small.
3. How long do Chi Poos live?
A Chipoo will usually live anywhere from 12 to 15 years.
4. What do you call a Chihuahua and poodle mix?
Although the most common term is Chipoo, these little dogs also sometimesgo by Poohuahua, Choodle, Poochi and Chipoodle.
So, what do you think? Is the Chipoo the right breed mix for you? Many people swear by these adorable little dogs, and certainly there’s much to love. Smart, loyal, generally healthy, and great with people of all ages, Chipoos certainly have much to recommend them. Of course you could consider other small mixes, but from where I’m sitting, I think I’d give strong consideration to the Chipoo.
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Sources:--
“https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/chi-poo#/“
“https://simplyfordogs.com/puppy-mills/5-reasons-puppy-mills-must-stopped/“