The German Shepherd Chihuahua mix is a very interesting dog breed that most people find hard to believe it actually exists. This mixed breed is made up of a German Shepherd and a Chihuahua.
This mixed breed doesn’t usually produce naturally rather by a skilled breeder that acquires the sperm of a male Chihuahua and puts it inside a female German Shepherd.
The Chihuahua German Shepherd can range from a small dog breed to a medium sized one. The size will ultimately depend on the size of the female German Shepherd.
Still interested and what to learn more about this super unique dog breed, keep reading on where I will cover more on this mixed breed’s health, temperament, and nutritional requirements.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix History
No one knows exactly when this hybrid breed was first created so if you want to learn more about the history of this mixed breed you will have to learn about the parent breeds.
German Shepherd
As you may already know, the German Shepherd dog breed hails from Germany, where it was used to herd sheep back in the 1800s. The dog breed was not like it was today. There is one person who is credited with making the German Shepherd what it is today.
Max von Stephanitz purchased a winning German Shepherd from a dog show and decided to breed it with other dogs to create the German Shepherd that we know now.
Not only did this dog breed help farmers, but it also excelled at various jobs such as protection for owners and even therapy.
Eventually, the German Shepherd was brought to other countries around the world. The American Kennel Club accepted this dog breed in 1908.
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua has a very fascinating history, and this dog breed is connected to one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. The Techichi dog is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, and it is said that the Chihuahua is an ancestor of this dog breed.
Aztec people believed that this dog breed was very lucky, and they would even bury the dog with the owner when it died.
Today you will see a lot of Chihuahuas in Mexico as it is still one of the most popular dog breeds there. You can find Chihuahuas in a variety of different sizes, from very tiny to small.
The breed made its way to American and became recognized by the Kennel Club in the early 1900s.
Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix Appearance
The Appearance of this mixed breed will truly all depend on which traits your dog acquires. Likely your dog will be larger than a traditional Chihuahua but smaller than a German Shepherd.
Likely the dog will have shorter hair, much like the Chihuahua, and they will shed moderately will a larger shedding season in the fall and spring.
The Chihuahuas German Shepherd mix can come in a few different color combinations. Your new dog can take on one color or even multiple colors in its coat. You can see the color options for your new dog below.
The German Shepherd Chihuahua mix’s ears will likely stand up straight, just like the German Shepherd parent. The mix will also have very muscular legs.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix Temperament
It can be difficult to pin-point the temperament of a mixed breed dog because you truly never know what you are going to get. You will want to evaluate the traits of both the German Shepherd and the Chihuahua, and you will likely receive a great mix of both.
You will most likely receive a German Shepherd Chihuahua mix that is very intelligent and able to follow training commands easily. Also, a dog that will be loyal to you and the rest of your family.
This mix could get a little yappy at times, but you can usually curb that bad behavior with proper exercise. If raised to be friendly with children from birth, you can have a very loving dog that will play and keep the kids occupied for hours.
Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix Coat
Your mixed-breed dog can have a multiple-layer coat like the German Shepherd dog. This coat will shed moderately and will have bigger shedding sessions in the spring and fall.
The coat of this mix will most likely be short but it can be medium in length too. Your dog will need to be brushed often to remove loose dead hairs and to keep the coat looking shiny and healthy.
What Colors Do They Come In?
Below are some of the common colors your German Shepherd Chihuahua mix will likely have:
- Brown
- Black
- Tan
- Sable
- Red hues but this is rarer.
Your dog will sport the traditional black nose and can wither have brown to black eyes.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix Size
This mixed breed dog can be quite small, taking after the Chihuahua parent, or it can be larger about medium dog breed size. It will still be smaller than the German Shepherd parent.
There is no way we can pinpoint a definite size and weight of this mixed breed because every puppy will be different based on the parent dogs.
Chihuahuas can weigh between 4 to 10 pounds, and a German Shepherd can weigh between 75 to 90 pounds. So your dog can be small or larger depending on the weight.
Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix Health Problems
Hybrid designer dog breeds are typically healthier than the purebred breeds. You may be shocked to hear that a mixed breed is healthier. This is due to the parent’s genetic makeup, and over time they can develop health conditions.
When you combine two purebred breeds together, it can breed out some of these health conditions.
Even though you have a healthy mixed breed dog, it is important to still be aware of certain health conditions that your dog could possibly get.
Hip Dysplasia – This is extremely common in a lot of dog breeds. This is a condition in which the hip bone and the legs do not correctly join together, causing it to slip in and out of place. Older dogs can have a challenging time with this as it can cause pain.
Congenital Heart Defect – This is a series of heart issues that a dog can be born with. It comes from the German Shepherd’s parent, and not all dogs will inherit it, but it is possible, and you should be aware of it.
Bloat – Bloat is another common condition in which the dog eats its food too quickly, and the stomach twists and turns causing bloat. Bloat is a life-threatening condition that can kill your dog if not taken care of properly. It is important to feed your dog small meals throughout the day to prevent this.
Luxating Patella – This is a condition that can be inherited from the Chihuahua parent. The occurs went the kneecap slides in and out of place. If you notice your dog limping or even walking only on three legs, then you may have this issue on your hands. Always check with a veterinarian as they will be able to tell you if your dog has this.
Life Expectancy of a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix
Life span is based on of course on your individual dog and what sort of health conditions your dog has. If your dog is healthy it will likely live a long life spanning between 10 to 18 years.
Chihuahuas typically live between 10-18 years, and German Shepherds live between 10 to 14 years.
Keep your dog happy, healthy by feeding your dog high-quality food, and plenty of exercise to keep your dog active.
Living Conditions
If you are a highly active person, then you will absolutely love this dog breed. It likes to play outside with toys and its owner to get all of its hyper-activeness out.
This dog breed can be a handful if you do not take the time to go outside and play with your dog. The good thing is this is a small to medium-sized dog that will do well in apartments or even condos.
Preferably a house with a yard would be ideal, but it shouldn’t be a problem for this dog if you live in a smaller space.
Children would also be ideal for this dog breed as it can spend a lot of time and get plenty of exercise playing with children.
Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix Exercise
No matter if your Chihuahua German Shepherd mix is a small dog or a medium-sized dog, it will need quite a lot of exercise. Your dog will need between thirty and sixty minutes of exercise each day.
You can break up this exercise requirement into smaller increments throughout the day. There are a lot of fun activities you can do outside with your dog.
This mixed dog breed likes to play outside with lots of toys. You can purchase chew toys or even a frisbee to use as a tool to give your dog some exercise.
If this mixed breed doesn’t get the proper exercise, it can exhibit bad behavior. It is very important that you don’t leave the German Shepherd Chihuahua mix alone for long periods of time. This can cause your dog to have too much pent-up bad behavior causing the dog to be destructive in your home.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix Feeding
Since this mixed dog breed can either be a small breed to medium breed size, it is important to feed your dog based on its weight.
If your dog is still a puppy, it should be fed a puppy formulated food. As your dog enters the adult stage, it show be switched over to adult dog food.
Depending on your dog’s size, it will likely need between 1 and 1/2 cups to 2 and 1/2 cups of quality dog food. If you are still unsure of the amount of food to feed your German Shepherd Chihuahua mix, then you can consult your veterinarian.
Natural Balance is a great high-quality food brand that we recommended. The food is made from whole ingredients and provides complete nutrition to adult dogs as well as puppies.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix Grooming
Whether your mix is a short-haired dog or medium length haired dog, you will need to invest in some grooming tools. Every dog needs to be brushed; this will reduce the amount of hair that will fall all over your house.
Since this mix will be part German Shepherd, it means it will shed quite a lot. A de-shedding brush or a typical pin brush will work perfectly to groom your dog ad trap loose hairs inside of it.
The dog will not need to be bathed too often, only when it is very dirty. Remember to check into your dog’s ear for redness or irritation. This will be a serious indicator to you if your dog has an ear infection.
Also, make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed down. This should be done naturally from your dog going outside, but if it doesn’t, then you will need a groomer to do the job, or you will have to.
Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix Training
As you may already know the German Shepherd is very easy to train and can potentially be one of the best-trained dogs. The Chihuahua also sports a lot of intelligence making it easy to train from an alpha leader.
When you mix both of these breeds together, you should get an intelligent dog that is eager to learn. With proper and constant training, you can teach your dog just about anything.
Start training your dog when you get it from a puppy and slowly build onto your dog’s skills, teaching it new and exciting things.
Remember to praise your dog with lots of yummy dog treats when training. If you are afraid of your dog eating too many treats, you can always use Cheerios when training.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix Puppies
If you are sure that you want to get a German Shepherd Chihuahua mix, then the next step will be to start our search. Remember to avoid stores like puppy mills or pet stores that sell designer mixed breed dogs.
The practices are usually not healthy, and your dog will come with some genetic conditions. Find a reputable breeder that can give you a happy and healthy puppy.
It is quite rare to find a breeder that is selling the German Shepherd Chihuahua mixed breed because this breed can’ produce together naturally.
The Chihuahua male will definitely need some help, and the breeder may have to create the puppies on their own with the Chihuahua’s sperm.
This may also increase this mixed dog breed’s price because it is so rare and difficult to breed both of these breeds together.
I cannot give you an exact price that you will pay because every breeder is different.
German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix Litter Size
Litter size can be difficult to determine in mixed breed dogs since you typically won’t know what you will get.
German Shepherds can have between eight to fifteen puppies in a single litter. Chihuahuas can have between three to five puppies in a litter, but some Chihuahuas can have up to ten puppies.
Your mixed breed can have between four and eight puppies in a single litter. This will vary for each dog.
Close relatives of the German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix
Here are some other dog breeds that you can check out. These breeds are very similar to the German Shepherd Chihuahua mix.
- German Shepherd
- Chihuahua
- Chihuahua Husky Mix
- Corgi Chihuahua Mix
- Shollie
- German Shepherd Husky Mix