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The Chihuahua and Beagle mix is a distinct type of designer dog breed. This hybrid doggo is often named as Cheagles or Bhihuahuas in some of the places around the world. Crossbreeding a Beagle and a Chihuahua will give you these magnificent creatures.
Cheagles are gradually making their way up to the list of dog lover favorites. Unfortunately, the AKC hasn’t accepted them yet. It is the pleasing nature and the loyalty of these dogs towards their masters that make them so lovable.
They can be great companions only if you know how to take care of them properly. Read further to know how and make sure to keep notes.
The Background of Cheagles
It’s hard to predict the exact origin and time of the naturally bred Cheagles. Those may have existed for years around us but the designer Cheagles were first detected in North America, during the late 1990s.
It is a first generation crossbreed with very interesting purebred parents. The individual backgrounds of Chihuahua and beagles may give you some ideas about a Cheagles origin.
The Origin of the Beagles
Beagles are dogs from prior to 55 B.C. Their sharp smelling and hunting sense make them perfect sighthounds. In addition, they are popular hunters who can roam around with their hunters on foot for a long time.
The American hunters made Beagles their rabbit and hare hunting partners mostly after the civil war. The AKC recognized them in 1885 and since then they are winning the hearts of many as they rank number 5 on AKC’s most popular dog breeds.
The Origin of the Chihuahuas
Unlike Beagles, Chihuahuas are ancient dogs with a very old background. They are considered to be the ancestors of the ancient Techichi breed who come from the age-old Mexican civilization called Aztec. Back then, carrying tinier dogs represented royalty. This made the breed Techichi more popular and they gradually evolved into Chihuahuas .
With time, they became a part of Mexican dog favorites and were named after the region called “Chihuahua” where they are mostly found. Presently, these dogs are ranked number 30th on AKC’s most popular breeds.
Cheagle’s Personality
Cheagles are energetic, loyal and most of all, bark out loud dogs! These cute little lap dogs will crave a lot of your constant attention. If you’re an energetic being who prefers playing fetch over cuddling sessions on a lazy afternoon, Cheagles are the kind of dogs you need.
However, you need to patiently invest a long time to train these dogs. Mind that their barking habits can be useful if you’re looking for watch dogs. It’s up to you how you channelize them. Moreover, they’re excellent companions for people living single in apartments.
If you’re a family person and have kids, our suggestion would be to adopt an already trained Cheagle raised amongst kids before because If it possesses the quality of the purebred Chihuahua more, the chances are they won’t be as comfortable around kids as you expect. So, it’s better to be sure.
Cheagle’s Appearance
The shape, size and color coat of the Cheagles may vary depending on their pure-breed parents. You may get a 12 pounds weighing Cheagle from cross breeding a small sized Chihuahua to a medium sized Beagle.
Based on their parents’ dominant traits, Cheagles may have long, floppy ears like a Beagle or a snout like a Chihuahua.
Their tails are mostly curled up. More like a sickle-shaped structure that they can straighten-up when they get excited.
Their coats vary in color from white to black and even tan. You may also notice black or white markings or spots on their bodies. Sometimes, freckles on their tiny legs. These again depend on their parents.
Cheagles usually have shorter coats since both their parent breeds Chihuahua and Beagles generally have smaller coats themselves. Short coats as you know are easier to groom and maintain. They are low to moderate shedders.
Cheagle’s Health Conditions
The life-span of Cheagles are considered to be 10-15 years. Being a designer breed, the Cheagles can be inclined to many health conditions just like their purebred parents.. Hence, an early vet checkup is recommended. This reduces the risk of future health issues.
Learn about the health risks a Cheagles parent breeds are susceptible to. Start from the Beagle parent. Beagles are prone to diseases like epilepsy, cherry eye etc. Some of their health conditions like obesity, Hypothyroidism may transfer into Cheagles later on.
Chihuahuas on the other hand, transfer health conditions like- Hip Dysplasia, Valve diseases, eye infections, epilepsy etc. So, checking on if the purebred had such symptoms may help prevent potential threats in the future.
How to Train a Cheagle?
House-training a Cheagle can be tough to be honest but if the owner is determined and knows how to handle it with care, it’s no big deal.
If we consider the two purebreds Beagle and Chihuahua, you’ll see that they are completely different in nature. While one is a hunting hound where the other one is an alert dog. So, crossbreeding them can result in an unpredictable tempered Cheagle.
Cheagles are better to be trained up from an early stage of life. This will help them in socializing from the beginning since Chihuahuas struggle a bit during their puppyhood with this. Plus, you never really know which parent breed’s trait is more dominant.
Be a little patient with them and channelize their smelling and tracking sense in a positive way. Don’t pressurize if they aren’t obedient in the beginning. Try following a proper schedule and remember to give them treats as positive reinforcements.
Exercising
Cheagles are popularly known as active and cheerful dogs. Due to this energetic nature, they crave for regular exercises. You can not just own a Cheagle and leave them all on their own. They need your affection and attention to be trained and overall to stay fit.
Running around with them in your backyard or taking them to a dog park for a 30 minutes walk should be enough. Play fetch, tug-wars, chase or other activity boosting games but remember to keep them in leash while you do so. Otherwise, their excitement may lead them to chasing a stranger randomly in the middle of a park.
Regular exercises are also beneficial to control their unexpected barking and aggressive nature.
Read More: Beagle Pitbull Mix – Is This Cross Right for You?
Grooming and Caring
As you know by now, Most Cheagles have smaller coats depending on their dominant parent traits. So, generally they are moderate shedders. It’s okay if you don’t brush their hair everyday. Once or twice in a week should be more than enough.
Sometimes, Cheagles get some dominant traits from their long coated Chihuahua parents. In that case, their hair can get tangled if you don’t brush them frequently.
Keep an eye on their nail growth because they have the tendency to scratch their nails against the floor. Trim your dog’s nails at least twice a month. Take them to a groomer if you want professional help.
One of the prominent Cheagle traits is probably their “Chihuahua” jaw packed with a bunch of overcrowding teeth. Their tiny mouth usually contains 42 adult and sharp teeth which can lead to many dental problems if not taken care of properly.
So, it’s mandatory that you brush their teeth on a daily basis. Do some research at home or go to a vet for expert opinion on how to brush their teeth appropriately.
Lastly, don’t forget their floppy ears. Check those from time to time to prevent harmful wax build-up inside. Clean the ears regularly to avoid any kind of infections.
Feeding a Cheagle
An ideal Cheagle food chart usually contains dry foods rich in proteins, vitamins and fibers. Usually, a cup to one and a half cup of dry food or kibbles should do but it’s best if you can consult a vet or a dietician before you make that chart.
Try to incorporate foods like peanut butter, oranges, broccoli, fish, chicken, turkey, apples, yoghurt etc.
A dog’s food intake varies according to its weight, activity and energy. So, consulting a vet before feeding them in abundance will be a wise decision.
Cheagles have the tendency to eat a lot. Thus, in order to keep their weight in check, make sure not to overfeed them.
Common FAQs
Cheagles related most of the information has been mentioned above. In case you have more questions regarding this adorable dog in your mind, here are some common FAQs you may want to check out.
1. How much will a Cheagle cost You?
There are mainly two ways you can adopt a Cheagle. You can either go for a professional breeder or rescue dogs. A Chegale bred by a breeder will cost you anywhere from $500 to $1000 depending on the quality.
Whereas, rescue dogs will cost you the adoption fees which varies from $50 to $100.
2. Should you go for a breeder or rescue dogs?
It actually depends. Professional breeders may cost you a hefty amount but you’ll ultimately get an early health screening assurance as well as a certificate.
On the other hand, it’s hard to find breed specific rescue dogs. If you’re lucky enough to have one, you may not get any guarantee or certificate. However, it’s cheaper and sometimes covers the initial vet fees. So, it’s up to you which way you’ll adopt.
3. How well-behaved are they around kids?
Cheagles as we mentioned are very active canines. It’s true that they are more comfortable around adults and older children but that doesn’t mean they hate kids.
You can obviously go for a Cheagle if you can handle it well. Early training and socializing work wonders. Plus, if you allow your kids to play gently with your small-sized Cheagle, there shouldn’t be a problem raising both of them together.
4. What foods are Cheagles allergic to?
While feeding a Cheagle, it’s a must to avoid almonds, mushrooms, corn, soy, tomatoes, raisins, breads etc. If you see your dog coughing, vomiting after taking a certain type of food, immediately consult a vet for further advice.
Conclusion
Cheagles are the best companions if you’re an energetic and passionate pet lover. They are amicable creatures who are extremely loyal to their owners if only you can train them well.
So, make up your mind and set some flexible working hours for yourself. Do not let your Cheagle be alone for too long. Most importantly, spend quality time with it.
Trust us when we say, You’ll have the best time of your life in return of bestowing pure affection and unconditional love upon your Cheagle.
Best of luck!
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