Chi Chi Care

The Chi Chi, as a hybrid of a Chihuahua and a Chinese Crested, is a tiny crossbreed with a huge personality. These little dogs are loyal, energetic, friendly, and pretty low-maintenance, but need a lot of attention--and they can be stubborn and fussy as well. Overall Chi Chi care and maintenance won't take too much work, but will need to include a bit of daily exercise--along with plenty of TLC!

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Chi Chi, with info about puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition (including a Chi Chi size guide), and more. Get answers to your questions about raising a Chi Chi in the following sections!

These hybrids are very active and energetic--but they're also very small, so Chi Chi exercise requirements aren't too high. These little dogs will fulfill much of their daily activity needs just running around being their friendly selves, but they'll still benefit from a short walk or two and a period of play each day.

Adult Chi Chis, depending on their age and overall activity levels, will need 30-45 minutes of dedicated exercise per day. You can start exercising your Chi Chi puppy when it's 2½ months old by taking it on very short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Chi Chi exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're seven months old
• A leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Prone to separation anxiety; exercises should be done with people
• Will get cold easily; don't exercise in freezing temps

It's important to exercise your Chi Chi every day. Though they're friendly and social, without consistent activity these little hybrids can be very fussy and disobedient. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! Some exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out; use the dog's favorite toy
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Chi Chis enjoy the company of other dogs
• Laser Pointer: Your Chi Chi will go nuts chasing that "little red dot"

When indoors, giving your Chi Chi access to balls or toys will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

In terms of overall maintenance, these hybrids don't need much care. Depending on the dog's coat type, Chi Chi shedding is minimal to moderate; drooling isn't an issue.

Because both parent breeds have some coat variety, Chi Chis also have variations in their coats--from hairless to medium-length. The hairless coats obviously don't shed at all, and the longer coats only shed a fair amount. Owners can brush their longer-haired Chi Chis once or twice a week with a pin or slicker brush to minimize the shedding; hairless Chi Chis will only need a weekly wipe-down with a damp sponge. Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will only be required occasionally (or in the case of a hairless Chi Chi, not at all!).

And a Chi Chi rarely drools at all. If your Chi Chi is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Chi Chi diet will need to include animal proteins, healthy carbs, vitamins and minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Chi Chi dog food is premium dry kibble, as it contains balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients.

These hybrids do best with food formulated for toy breeds. Royal Canin and Nutro are recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium toy-breed food.

Adult Chi Chis will only need about a cup of dry food per day, divided into two meals. Chi Chi puppies will need a bit less: depending on age, about ¾ cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until five months of age.

For more info on feeding a Chi Chi, see this chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. If these hybrids are constantly overfed (and under-exercised) they can become overweight--and a fat Chi Chi will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Chi Chi's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Chi Chi is overweight, try this test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't easily feel ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!