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The Cheagle is a cross between a beagle and a chihuahua. If you’ve not seen a cheagle yet, then you don’t know what you are missing. These tiny little dogs are absolutely adorable. There is no question as to why people are begging for them. It’s a relatively new cross that is finding itself in high demand as people see them and want them. The desire to own a cheagle and we’ll tell you why.

First: The Chihuahua In the Cheagle

The chihuahua is a tiny breed from Mexico. The chihuahua is a 5-8 inch tall breed that shouldn’t weigh over 6 pounds. Some of the teacup varieties being bred especially for their tiny size are only 2 pounds as fully grown.

These little guys can live a very long time, some upward of 16 years.

chihuahua

The chihuahua has a history that goes back to pre-Columbian times, this makes it one of the oldest breeds in the American continents. They have a very apple-shaped head, which is a very specific trademark for them. The chihuahua is a smart, balanced breed with good alerting skills.

They may be small but they make excellent watch dogs. Don’t confuse watch dog with guard dog. A watchdog barks at intruders. A guard dog attacks intruders. Don’t expect your chihuahua to save you from an intruder. That said, his personality is such that he may try.

You see, the chihuahua thinks that he is a much bigger dog than he is. Sometimes, he will behave territorially with much bigger dogs and you may need to reign him in for his own safety around larger dogs who aren’t socialized to tolerate the antics of the tiny dictator.

He may be tiny but he does need training. This little guy is quite capable of taking over your home and ruling it. Don’t let your chihuahua pup get one over on you, seek training right from the beginning because they can be highly intelligent – enough to take control from you in your own home.

Chihuahuas can come in a huge variety of colors, virtually any color is normal for a chihuahua and many mixes of colors with different variations in markings. They also come in short-haired and long-haired varieties. The long-haired chihuahua is often mistaken for a papillion, however they are very different breeds with different backgrounds.

Chihuahuas don’t need a ton of exercise because they are small. They do well in an apartment and enjoy being in a lap. They adapt well to being held and sitting in laps. They even do very well at laying in purses and being taken into every place imaginable by their owners, barely being noticed in a purse or bag.

Chihuahuas are commonly being seen as an emotional therapy dog these days due to their adaptability and ability to be small and unseen. They are easily transported in the lap of their handler, whether in a wheelchair or in flight on an airline.

They love their families and are quite loyal and loving little dogs. A well-socialized chihuahua should be calm and quiet. Those who are overly barking and appear nervous have not been properly socialized to outings, most likely.

Second: The Beagle in the Cheagle

The beagle comes in a 13 inch size and a 15 inch size. The 13 inch beagle is to be 13 inches or under at the withers, or shoulders. The 15 inch beagle should be between 13 and 15 inches, with 15 being the maximum height.

The beagle is a scent hound, often used for trailing game, working in airports to detect contraband in baggage, working as emotional therapy dogs and more. They are loving, loyal, and excellent with children.

beagle

Beagles are typically very curious dogs. Their nose can lead them into things they shouldn’t be in, so they need supervision. They love to be a part of what is going on at any given moment but also enjoy a warm place to sleep and will sleep the day away until they hear the leash and then can go to 120 mph in seconds.

Beagles typically come in black tricolor patterns with black, white, and copper combined into various patterns such as the black saddle, with black on most of their back, white underneath and copper points. There is also a blue ticked beagle that has a lot of the same ticking pattern seen in Blue Tick Coonhounds.

They also come in a lemon color, with white highlights, as well as red and white. An all white beagle is not typical and would potentially be deaf or have vision issues, possibly both.

Typical hounds are friendly and lovable dogs. They can appear as quite lazy when indoors and not on a scent trail. They do have incredible stamina when they are on a scent trail and can run for amazing distances without stopping. They can be very hard to keep up with and they will trail deer, which can travel like gazelles, so the beagle is a fast little dog.

These dogs are pack hunters, meaning that they were bred to hunt in packs of other beagles. Due to this, they are typically very tolerant of other dogs and where one beagle goes, they all tend to follow, especially if they are after a bunny rabbit in the yard.

Known for their big, brown eyes and the bark that is known as a beagle bray, they can be loud but they typically only bark when excited and/or smell game. Otherwise, the beagle is known for being a fairly relaxed and easy-going breed of dog.

Beagles have a musky smell that requires you to bathe them every 4-6 weeks if they will be house pets. If they are going to be house pets, then they will also be furniture dogs. The beagle loves to be comfortable, so they’ll find the softest, most comfortable pillows that you have and take them over.

Beagles also don’t especially like being cold so they like to burrow under blankets. If you let them sleep in the bed with you at night, chances are that they will teach you how to lift the blanket so that they can crawl underneath and snore softly.

The beagle was referred to as ‘foot hound’ by early hunters because it was said he could be trailed on foot, unlike the longer legged fox hound which required that the hunter be mounted on horseback. Poorer people who didn’t own horses could have beagles.

No one knows the exact origin of the beagle, or the name. It is sometimes thought to be of French descent but no one is entirely sure. They are a bit of a mystery in that department. There have been rumoured accounts of small foot hounds in Europe before the Romans arrived in 55 B.C.E. That would mean if the beagle’s origins are from this dog, then they could be nearly a three-thousand-year-old breed.

Combining the Beagle with the Chihuahua

When two breeds of any dogs are combined, it is typically because the breeder is hoping to bring some qualities that are outstanding from each dog to make a dog that is more well-rounded or better sized.

In the case of the cheagle, you can have a dog that is virtually any color and pattern because there are so many possible variations of the beagle and chihuahua both. The size of the cheagle will vary between 9 inches and 14 inches at the withers and they will weigh between 9 and 20 pounds.

As you can see, there is a lot of room for variation because of the size differences between both breeds. Typically, you end-up with a dog smaller than a beagle and possibly as small as a larger chihuahua.

They are generally an active little dog with a friendly personality. They enjoy all members of the family and they make great dogs for those who live in small spaces like apartments and condos but will also thrive on the family farm.

Normally, the cheagle with have the floppy ears of the beagle, the markings of the beagle, but come in a smaller package with a head that may be shaped a bit more like the chihuahua. If you have been seeking a fun-loving but compact little dog that can go everywhere with you, the cheagle may be worth looking into.

They are one of the newest ‘designer breeds’ available, which simply means that they are a cross between two breeds, by design.  Other famous designer breeds include the labradoodle and the chi-poo. Many people are now opting for designer breeds as they have traits of two breeds that appeal to a broader audience.

Designer breeds are not going to be cheaper than a purebred dog but they may be a bit healthier. Since they have a more diverse gene pool from which to draw upon, the likelihood of genetic defects tend to be less.

Caring for Your Cheagle

This little dogs will need some training so it is highly advisable that you take some classes and socialize your cheagle well. This means getting them out of the house and around other people, children, and dogs as much as possible, particularly when they are in their early formative months of age.

The more you socialize a dog before the age of six months the better. Their brain is still developing and maturing so what they learn early typically sticks with them for life.

Neither of the parent breeds are hard to maintain. The coat of the cheagle will not be long, nor will it have a double coat. They require a brushing every few days to stay clean and looking nice. They will shed, mostly in spring. Using pet wipes designed to reduce shedding can help and a good bath and blow will help remove dead hair and get rid of that spring shed more quickly.

Feed them a good quality food. If unsure, ask your veterinarian what they recommend, or speak with the breeder from whom you get your puppy. The breeder is often the best source for information regarding food and care. You should ask them a lot of questions to make sure you are ready for your little one when he comes home.

Be prepared with a crate, toys, food, and make sure that you get your new puppy to the veterinarian right away for shots and his first exam. This is very important as they need to build immunity before you can take them to dog classes or a puppy play group.

Be careful of where you take your puppy for the first several weeks. You don’t want to risk exposing them to parvovirus or other easily transmitted diseases until all of their shots have taken hold. This can take until they are 4 months of age, so be patient and see the vet.