Chihuahua Pitbull Mix

Are interested in owning a Chihuahua Pitbull mix breed? This is an infrequent crossbreed between a purebred Pitbull and a purebred Chihuahua. The mix is known for its friendly disposition as well as for being active and comical. And before you decide to take your puppy home, there are things you should know about this mixed breed. You will find this article very engaging and helpful.

What do you call a Chihuahua mixed with a Pitbull?

The Pitbull Chihuahua mix is known by several names by its fans, the most common ones being Chipit and Pithuahua. This designer dog is also known as a Chihuahua Pitbull.

History of the Breed

Unlike other mixed breeds, very little is known about the Chipit like what the breeders had in mind when creating the breed. The parents of the Chihuahua Pitbull are extremely different from one another. However, Pithuahuas are gradually becoming popular with a range of families due to their well-balanced temperaments.

The Chihuahua Pitbull mix is recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry (ICDR) and the Dog Registry of America, Inc.

Parents

To understand the Chihuahua Pitbull better, it is important that we take a brief look into their parent breeds.

The Chihuahua – Although the Chihuahua’s history dates back to the 11^th century, this dog breed caught the attention of people in the US by the 1800s. It originated from Mexico and is thought to have been bred with a Mexican hairless dog known as the Xoloitzcuintli.

Chihuahuas are loved for their small size, playful nature, friendliness, and low maintenance. They come in a range of colors and stand between 6 and 9 inches tall at the shoulders with a weight of between 3 and 10 pounds. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years.

The Chihuahua is bold and confident with an alert nature, affectionate, and suspicious of strangers which make it a terrific watchdog. And while the breed has no major health issues, they are prone to shivering, open fontanel, hydrocephalus, collapsed trachea, and heart murmurs. Other problems include patellar luxation and hypoglycemia.

Pitbull – Pitbull terriers originated from the United Kingdom and their history dates back to the early 1800s. They were bred from the Old English Bulldogs that were known for excellence in a brutal blood sport called bull baiting.

Pitbulls are known for their stubborn, clownish, brave, affectionate, friendly, loyal, intelligent, obedient, and strong-willed temperament. They come in a variety of colors and are single-coated. They stand 17 to 19 inches tall with a weight of between 30 and 85 pounds and boast a lifespan of 12 to 14 years.

Although generally healthy, Pitbulls are prone to bone diseases such as degenerative myopathy, hip dysplasia, and kneecap dislocation. Other possible health concerns include skin allergies, thyroid, and congenital heart defects.

Overview

Characteristic	Description
Weight	15 to 45 pounds
Height	12 to 18 inches
Child-friendly/ Pet-friendly	High, with training
Coat Type	Short-coated
Coat Color	black, white, tan, golden, brown, or differing shades of brindle
Shedding	Moderate
Temperament	Active, spunky, playful
Lifespan	10 to 13 years

Appearance

What does a Chihuahua Pitbull look like? The look and size of a Pitbull Chihuahua mix vary depending on which parents they inherit most genes. As such, some can be as large as Pitbulls and others small as Chihuahuas.

The Chipit can have a height of 30 inches at the shoulders with a weight of between 15 and 45 lbs. Typically, a Chihuahua Pitbull will be short, broad, and well-built with a short neck like that of the Pitbull parent. In many cases, however, most Chipits will have long ears, a narrow snout, and tiny paws like those of their Chihuahua parent.

It is hard to tell how big your Chihuahua Pitbull mix will be, but their coats can be a combination of black, white, gray, chocolate, golden, tan, and brown.

Temperament

The Chihuahua Pitbull has a lovely appearance and is full of character and appeal. They are energetic, loyal, friendly, and bold but can easily become spoilt if not well-trained. If you are looking for a cuddly canine friend that will protect you, the Chipit is a good choice.

While Chipits are friendly even to strangers, they can be vocal at first until they know that the newcomers mean them or their families no harm. They are extremely tolerant of small kids which makes them excellent for any family. Due to the Chihuahua parent’s overprotective nature, they need to be well-trained to get along with other pets.

Their small to medium size makes them ideal for apartment dwellers but would be better if there is access to a private yard somewhere.

Nutrition

The Pitbull Chihuahua mix will thrive well in a high-quality wet or kibble diet. Your Chipit should eat between 1.5 and 2 cups of food each day depending on his or her life stage. It is better if the food is divided and fed in smaller portions.

Make sure your doggie friend gets all the nutrients and vitamins they need for healthy living and lifestyle. Smaller kibbles should be great if your Chipit pup leans more towards the small-sized doggie and larger if in the medium size.

Training & Exercise

The Chipit is highly intelligent as both parents which makes this mix breed very easy to train. Make sure you follow and stick to positive reinforcement since they can be bossy. Being high-energy crossbreeds, it is recommended that you train them how to walk on a leash. After that, you can take them during your morning and evening walks comfortably.

Your Chihuahua Pitbull mix needs to walk on a schedule for 30 minutes every day to stay healthy and fit. Engage them in exercises that provide mental stimulation to prevent boredom as they can develop destructive habits like their Chihuahua parent when bored.

Health Issues

Although Chipits are healthier than any of their parents, they often inherit some of the health problems their parents have. These include pregnancy problems (heritable from their Chihuahua parents), open fontanels, patellar luxation, and hip dysplasia.

They are also susceptible to some minor health issues such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Make sure that you take your Chihuahua for checkups to your vet often to keep them healthy.

Life Expectancy

The Pitbull Chihuahua mix has a life expectancy of 10 to 13 years.

Grooming Needs

Chipits have a single short coat that sheds moderately making it very easy to maintain. You need to brush your canine buddy twice or thrice a week using a stiff-bristled brush. Baths should be infrequent to keep them healthy and smart.

If your Chipit pup inherits the Pitbull parent’s floppier ears, check them out and clean them regularly to maintain proper hygiene.

Cost and Maintenance

As mentioned earlier, the Pitbull Chihuahua Mix is a rare mix breed and is sold as such. Buying from a reputable breeder is recommended and a puppy costs between $200 and $500. So, you should expect to spend approx. $2,000 to bring a puppy home for vaccination, and a crate, among other requirements.

Where to Adopt

If you do not have enough money to buy this awesome Chihuahua Pitbull mix and still want to own one, you can adopt it from a rescue or shelter. You can check out with your state and workers at these places for detailed information concerning adoption.

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