Chihpoo 101: An Intro to the Chihuahua-Poodle Mix

Have you heard about the adorable Chihpoo? Although a rather new and rare Doodle, the Chihuahua-Poodle mix is well on its way of becoming one of the most sought-after pets thanks to its small size and hypoallergenic coat. So, if you’re interested in learning more about this toy-sized Dood, then keep on reading.

What Is A Chihpoo?

Chihpoo, a.k.a Chipoo, Chi-Poo, or Chipoodle is a hybrid cross between the Chihuahua and Toy Poodle. By combining these two toy-sized breeds, we get extremely small little Doods with big personalities. 

Just like any other Doodle, Chihpoos inherit their wonderful traits from both of their Poodle and Chihuahua parents. They’re certainly as feisty and adoring as the Chihuahua, and greatly benefit from the Poodle’s high levels of intelligence and hypoallergenic traits. 

Thanks to their small size, Chihpoos make excellent pets for almost anyone. They’ll thrive equally well in an apartment setting or, why not, a large house. And as they’re quite active little pals, you’ll never get bored with a Chihpoo. 

Although the Chihuahua Poodle mix has probably been around for decades, they’re currently not as well-known as some other tiny Doodle breeds, such as the Shoodle/Shihpoo, a cross between the Shih Tzu and Toy Poodle. However, we can expect to see the Chihpoo mix becoming more popular in the upcoming years.

Chihpoo Physical Appearance

Color

Chipoo puppies can inherit a variety of solid colors and patterns from their parents. After all, both Poodles and Chihuahuas come in a wide range of coat colors. So, as we’re combining two completely different purebred dogs, the outcome can vary quite a bit. The most common Chihpoo coat colors include brown, cream, black, blue, gray, white, apricot, brindle, merle, and fawn. 

Coat, Shedding, & Hypoallergenic Level

Just like the hypoallergenic Poodle, Chihpoos make great pets for people who suffer from allergies, since they don’t shed much hair. These pups usually shed very little, if any at all, as they generally don’t have undercoats.

On the other hand, not all Chihpoos shed as little as others. And here’s why. Like with other Poodle mixes, there’s no way to accurately predict how a Chihpoo puppy may turn out. They may inherit the low-shedding Poodle curls, take more after the Chihuahua parent, or get a wavy combination coat. 

What’s more, Chihuahuas come in two different coat types – they can have either short hair or long hair. Interestingly, long-haired Chihuahuas are single-coated, whereas short-haired Chihuahuas are double-coated, meaning that the short-haired Chihuahua can shed quite a bit! 

So, if the other parent is a short-haired, double-coated Chihuahua, a Chihpoo puppy may very well take after the Chihuahua parent. Still, even straight-coated Chihpoos shed much less than their purebred Chihuahua parents. 

Chihpoo Size

So, we know that Chihpoos are toy-sized dogs, but how big will a Chipoo get exactly? The best way to predict the size of a Chipoo puppy is by looking at its parents. After all, it’s the genetics that determine the outcome. 

As we briefly mentioned earlier, the Chihuahua Poodle mix typically uses a Toy Poodle as one of the parents. That’s because the Chihuahua is an extremely tiny pup that weighs only between 3 and 12 pounds as an adult.

Although the Poodle also comes in larger Miniature and Standard Poodle size categories, the Toy Poodle with its 4 to 12 pound weight range is the perfect fit. Nevertheless, as the Miniature Poodle weighs only 10 to 20 pounds, some breeders prefer to use this size instead. 

By the way, there are two sizes of Chihuahuas as well. The Apple Head Chihuahua is the smaller version that weighs up to 6 pounds. Meanwhile, the larger Deer Head Chihuahua usually weighs between 10 and 12 pounds once fully-grown. 

So, depending on the size of its parents, a Chipoo puppy can weigh somewhere around the 3 and 20 pound weight range with an average height of 5 to 15 inches. Typically, if the mix includes a Toy Poodle, we can expect the Chihpoo puppies to weigh around 3 to 12 pounds, whereas offspring of Miniature Poodles are likely going to weigh around 10 to 20 pounds. 

Chipoo Variations & Generations

With hybrid breeds, there’s also the matter of generations. Doodle generations help us understand how the puppies were bred, and roughly estimate the percentage of both parental breeds in their genetic makeup. Based on this information, we can estimate the puppies’ coat types, size, shedding levels, and other traits.

Today, Chihpoos are most commonly bred as first-generation pups. However, we can expect to see more variations of this hybrid breed in the future. Here are all the possible Chihpoo generations and what each of them represents:

	1st Parent	2nd Parent	% Chihuahua*	% Poodle*
F1 Chipoo (first-generation)	Chihuahua	Poodle	50%	50%
F1B Chipoo (first-generation backcross)	F1 Chipoo	Poodle	25%	75%
F1BB Chipoo (first-generation backcross backcross)	F1B Chipoo	Poodle	12.5%	87.5%
F2 Chipoo (second-generation)	F1 Chipoo	F1 Chipoo	50%	50%
F2B Chipoo (second-generation backcross)	F1 Chipoo	F1B Chipoo	37.5%	62.5%
F2B Chipoo (alternate cross)	F2 Chipoo	Poodle	25%	75%
F3 / Multigen Chipoo	F1B Chipoo or higher	F1B Chipoo or higher	Varies	Varies

Chihpoo Temperament & Personality

If you’re considering adopting a Chihpoo, you’re probably wanting to know more about their temperament. Do Chihpoos make great family pets? Are Chihpoos aggressive? How vocal are they? Asking these questions and doing your research is crucial when you’re trying to find the perfect pet. 

And we have to say, the Chihpoo would make a wonderful companion for almost anyone. Even though they’re such tiny little creatures, Chihpoos have big personalities. They’re very outgoing and lively pups with a happy-go-lucky attitude. They equally enjoy their playtime, and after a long day they love nothing more than to cuddle up with their humans. 

Thanks to the highly intelligent Poodle parent, Chihpoos are generally smart dogs and they easily pick up new tricks and commands. But that’s not all! Chihpoos are also known to be extremely confident and courageous, even feisty. They’re also quite active, so regular playtime, exercise, and mental stimulation are a must for them. Above all, you don’t want your pup to get bored, as it can lead to undesired and destructive behaviors. 

Additionally, Chihpoos may become wary of strangers if they’re not properly socialized from an early age. They’re also known to be somewhat yappy, and they’ll definitely let you know when someone’s at the door. 

Chipoo Health & Lifespan

You might be wondering, do Chihpoos have health problems? And how long do these adorable Doods live? Fortunately, thanks to their mixed breed heritage, Chihpoos are generally healthy dogs. They’re often even considered healthier than their purebred parents thanks to something called hybrid vigor. 

Basically, hybrid breeds tend to be healthier than their purebred parents, as they have a more varied genetic pool. As a result, they’re at a smaller risk of inheriting certain conditions that are most common in their purebred parental breeds. 

However, there are still certain health conditions that Chihpoos may struggle with. Like many other toy-sized breeds, they’re prone to joint problems like elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation. They’re also at risk of eye conditions like glaucoma, but also hypoglycemia, skin problems, ear infections, and digestive issues. 

In addition to that, as the Chipoo is such a small dog, they’re also extremely fragile and can get easily hurt. For instance, when playing with excitable young children. For this reason, Chihpoos might be better suited for families with slightly older kids. 

In terms of their lifespan, Chihpoos have a life expectancy of around 12 to 15 years. Of course, the key to a long and healthy life lies in a balanced diet, regular exercise, healthy body weight, and a stress-free life. 

Chihpoo Exercise & Training

As we mentioned earlier, Chihpoos are energetic dogs and they definitely need to get their exercise in. They love to run around, play, and spend all that energy that’s bubbling inside. 

On the other hand, as they’re so tiny, they’ll get tired much faster than larger dogs. So, although a Chihpoo will gladly do all sorts of activities with you, they won’t be able to keep up with you on long hikes or jogs. For the Chipoo, two 30-minute walks a day should be more than enough.

Speaking of exercise, mental stimulation is just as important for these dogs. Due to their high levels of intelligence, Chihpoos may get easily bored, which can ultimately lead to destructive behaviors. Luckily, with a few interactive games, puzzle toys, and consistent training, you’ll keep your pup happy and grounded. 

And since these pups are relatively smart, you’ll have a much easier time training them. But due to their feisty nature, some Chihpoos may show their stubborn side from time to time. The key is to start socializing and training your puppy from an early age. Although Chihpoos are fast learners, they’ll do much better when you start early on. 

If you’re not sure where to start, be sure to check out the Online Puppy School by Baxter & Bella. We’ve tried it, tested it, and absolutely love it. It’s got everything you need for successfully raising a puppy into a well-rounded adult, including tons of videos, classes, articles, checklists, and much more. 

Chipoo Coat & Grooming

Are Chihpoos high maintenance and do Chihpoos shed? Chihpoos are generally low-shedding dogs. However, the downside of this is that Chihpoos also require frequent beauty appointments, daily brushing, and regular hair trims.

Like other Doodles, Chihpoos are prone to matting, especially the curly-haired pups. Not only does matted hair look unkempt and dull, it can lead to severe skin and coat problems. 

The best way to combat this is by brushing your Chipoo every day to get rid of any knots and tangles. And if your pup needs some extra pampering to make up for those few missing sessions, the line brushing technique will come to the rescue. 

You’ll also want to consider the length of your Dood’s hair. As a general rule of thumb, the longer the hair, the more you’ll have to spend time on it. Most Chihpoo owners either have their dog professionally groomed or groom their Dood at home every 4 to 8 weeks, latter being a more affordable solution. 

That’s also the ideal timeframe for bathing. However, some pups may need to be washed more frequently, some less, depending on your dog’s activity levels, lifestyle, and skin conditions. 

Moreover, make sure you trim your dog’s nails every week or every other week. You’ll also want to establish a good oral hygiene routine to prevent any dental issues. And finally, clean and dry your Chihpoo’s ears regularly to prevent ear infections. 

Where Can You Get Chihpoo Puppies?

If you’re keen on adopting a Chihpoo puppy, you probably want to know where you can find Chihpoo breeders and how much does a Chihpoo cost? 

As the Chihuahua-Poodle mix is relatively new and rare, there aren’t many breeders who currently specialize in this breed. If you’re lucky enough to find one, you can expect to pay between $1500 and $4000 for a Chihpoo puppy in the US. 

If you’ve decided to adopt a Chihpoo, make sure you check out our Chipoo Breeders Directory, where you’ll find ethical Doodle breeders all across the US. 

Chihpoo 101: Frequently Asked Questions

How Big Will A Chihuahua-Poodle Mix Get?

The Chihpoo can weigh between 3 and 20 pounds with an average height of 5 to 15 inches, depending on the size of its parents. Most commonly, breeders use the Toy Poodle in the mix, which results in a smaller Chihpoo. However, some breeders also cross the Chihuahua with the slightly larger Miniature Poodle. 

How Many Years Does A Chihuahua Live?

Chihuahuas have a surprisingly long life expectancy of around 12 to 18 years, some pups even reaching 20. Usually, small and toy-sized breeds live considerably longer than larger dogs. Thanks to the long life expectancy of the Chihuahua and also the Poodle, Chihpoos have an average life expectancy of around 12 to 15 years, even more for some very lucky Doods. 

Are Chipoos Yappy?

Indeed, Chihpoos can be quite yappy, a trait they’ve inherited from their Chihuahua parent. Most commonly, Chihpoos like to express their emotions during exciting moments like playtime, or when they encounter a stranger. Thanks to their yappy nature, Chipoos make great alert dogs. 

Of course, some pups may also be excessively vocal because they lack necessary social skills and manners. Luckily, these two problems can be solved with the help of a professional dog trainer or the Online Puppy School by Baxter & Bella. 

Chihpoo 101: Final Thoughts

The Chihuahua-Poodle mix is one of the newest Doodle breeds that we expect to see trending in the next couple of years. They’re lively and loving dogs that can thrive equally well in small apartments and big houses. And you’ll never get bored when having this Dood by your side! Intelligent, active, feisty, and affectionate – the Chipoo has it all.