Chipin
Chipin dog is a mixed breed cross between the Miniature Pinscher and Chihuahua breeds. Miniature Pinscher and Chihuahua mix dogs are happy, fast learners, and compact in size. Chihuahua and Miniature Pinscher cross dogs have inherited some of the best qualities from their parents (Chihuahua and Miniature Pinscher). Miniature Pinscher and Chihuahua cross dogs are also known as Minchi.
Chipins go by a few names, including Minchi, Chi Pin and Pinhuahua. Although Chihuahua Mini Pinscher dogs tend to be yappy, these adorable pups are great apartment dogs for families and active urban dwellers. Do you want an energetic and spirited dog who will alert you to any potential dangers, love you unconditionally, and keep you on your toes? Well, then Chipin could be your new best friend.
Chipins are compact, small dogs that weigh 5 to 11 pounds. Miniature Pinscher Chihuahua cross dogs have an overall deer-shaped or apple-shaped head shape with little pointed faces. Their bat-like ears are characteristically large and stand atop while their eyes are round and may or may not protrude just like the Chihuahuas. The typically short, low maintenance coat comes in a plethora of colors, with the most popular being tan and black which resembles the Miniature Pinscher.
These little dogs that are very adorable make great companions in apartments and small condos for active families and other active dwellers in urban settings. Chipins love playing and having fun, but they do have moments when they become incredibly affectionate and cuddly.
What is the life expectancy of Min Pin Chihuahua? Chipin lifespan is from 14 to 16 years with some Chipins living even longer.
Chipin dogs are intelligent but it's not that easy to train these little dogs. Consistency and frequent repetitions are key and most importantly, Chipins should not be treated like babies, but pets, lest they could develop the dreaded Small Dog Syndrome. Minchi is best trained with positive motivation techniques that may include praise and small bits of healthy dog treats.
Chipins are alert watchdogs that bark at the approach of strangers. Friendly at heart and social, Chihuahua Miniature Pinscher dogs will eventually warm up to new people in their life. This mixed breed is best for well behaved, older children. Chipins are active both in the yard and indoors. Due to their small stature, they are easily exercised, which makes them a great choice for people who live in apartments and want a small pet with a big personality.
Members of this crossbreed include small sized dogs that perfectly fit into an apartment lifestyle. The Min Pin Chihuahua mixes weigh 5 to 11 pounds but, your potential pet's size or the best predictor is the parents' size. Chipin dogs at times have weight issues and can be at either end of the spectrum. Some Chihuahua Miniature Pinscher dogs easily become obese while others have a hard time keeping the weight on. Both scenarios make this mixed dog breed susceptible to great risks for health problems so ensure to feed your Minchi dog as directed by your veterinarian or by the breeder.
Physical Traits of the Chipin
The Chipin is a cute and tiny dog breed with a smooth, hard and short coat that comes in a variety of colors as initially described. With a pointed, tiny muzzle and round, small head, Chipins somehow resembles Miniature Pinschers. They have a small body that has perfectly defined legs with small feet. Their faces also resemble that of the Miniature Pinscher.
Chipins have dark brown eyes that display some form of intelligence. They often have a curious expression that makes them seem like they are always up to something.
How do Chipin dogs look? The Chipin is available in a combination of colors that include cream, tan, white, golden black, brown, black and tan.
Chipin Variations
First-generation crosses (F1s) of Chipins vary a bit from one puppy to the next. In fact, within the same litter, some appear more similar to Miniature Pinscher while other pups display more traits of Chihuahua, and there can be puppies that clearly display mixture of the two breeds.
While most crossbreeds of Chipins are short-haired, they have the potential of having a longer coat. There exist both long-haired and short-haired Chihuahuas. If therefore, your potential pet happens to be a Min Pin plus Long Hair Chihuahua mix, they frequently inherit the longer coat. This is usually easy to predict when you have your puppy's parents' information.
History of the Chipin
While the Chipin dog breed could have naturally existed over several years, the designer breeding through the mixing of the Miniature Pinschers with the Chihuahuas started in North America during the early 2000s. The Miniature Pinscher parent was originated in Germany while the Chihuahua breed was created in Mexico. The purpose of crossing these two breeds is not very well known. It's, however, assumed they were brought together to create a healthier breed with less hereditary health problems of their parent breeds as well as improve or merge the good traits from both breeds. Surprisingly, the Chihuahua Miniature Pinscher mix came with superb traits of being alert, intelligent and happy watchdogs. Although the Chipin is yet to be recognized as an official breed, breeders have continued creating this breed as a result of increased demand for hybrid designer dogs. Although there were positive benefits of this crossbreeding, there was also an unfortunate side associated with inherited health risks from the parent breeds.
Feeding the Chipin
The recommended diet for a Chipin needs to have a formulation of a small dog breed that has high energy bursts. Endeavor not to leave food outside during day time and stick to a feeding schedule that is regular, as these little dogs tend to gain weight fast if they are overfed.
Just as it's a norm with all dogs, the dietary needs of a Chipin will change regularly and gradually from when the dog is a puppy to when it matures to an adult dog. Ensure to consult with your vet about the recommended dietary needs of your Chipin, as there are vast variations among several individual dogs. Such variations may include energy, weight, and a dog's health.
Generally, a Chipin will need dry dog food at a quantity of 1/2 a cup to 1 cup on a daily basis. Due to its small jaw, Chipins enjoy consuming kibbles in small bites. To maintain your Chipin's good health, ensure you provide it with a mixed diet containing vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, and many other essential minerals.
Caution of Chipins with Children and Other Pets
When children are overly excited while playing around, they can easily injure these sensitive dogs and you need to take precaution and supervision in regard to this. For this reason, Chipins naturally prefer the company of older children or adults who can gently play with them. The Chipins also make active, great companions for households with single people.
When introduced calmly or slowly, early socialization of your Chipin with other pets with be smooth for you. Chipin dogs are likely to come along well with cats. But you need to be cautious when socializing them with other smaller animals, as they tend to be aggressive to even other strange dogs. They are also likely to threaten or eat birds or any other tiny animals. While it's always recommended you socialize your Chipin pup early on, these little dogs always enjoy when they are the only pets of any particular household.
Exercise Needs of a Chipin
To ensure your Chipin remains mentally and physically active, your dog will need a lot of outdoor activities and long walks. You will need to exhaust their high energy bursts by exposing them to much exercise. If the Chipins' energy isn't properly spent, you will end up with a running and restless dog that will bark enthusiastically and actively. It may even hurt other pets in the house or become destructive.
A yard or garden would be an ideal environment for these little dogs to run around. Their parent breeds somehow have escaping instincts and you need to be careful about these by making sure your yard is well fenced.
Chipins basically need a minimum of 45 minutes of exercise on a daily basis. They enjoy walking, running and hiking. Being a breed that is good at agility training, you can push them into it. It's very good training for these kinds of active dogs.
The Chipins should always be kept mentally active through playing several games including discipline and fetch training. If you fail to sufficiently engage your Chipin in several activities, it's likely to develop several behavioral issues such as chewing, jumping, barking excessively, and digging among others.
Chipin health problems
Although this breed was created to evade the health conditions of the parent breeds, there's also a slight possibility of inheriting some of the poor traits in regard to health from their parents. Some common health issues among Chipins may include Subluxing Patella, Poor dental health, and weight maintenance issues.
Depending on the kind of poor genes that have been passed on to the Offspring, typical health issues you ought to watch out for are just like the ones that usually affect the Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers. Always ensure you maintain regular vet checkups for your Chipin as a strategy for maintaining good health care for your dogs.
Although your Chipin can seamlessly go through its entire lifespan without contracting any major health issue, below are some of the health problems that are likely to affect Chipin designer crossbreeds:
Heart problems
Hip dysplasia
Eye problems
Low blood pressure
Cataracts
Epilepsy
Patellar luxation
Collapsed trachea
Shivering
Hypothyroidism
Open fontanel
Hypoglycemia
Legg-calve-perches
Hydrocephalus
Chipin pros and cons
Potential Chipin owners need to be aware of some of the cons and pros of Miniature Pinscher Chihuahua cross breed. As with any breed, there are some positives and negatives associated with this mixed dog breed. Some of the pros of the mixed breed include Chipin's ability to be a good watchdog. Other positives of owning a Chipin include the dog's energetic and attention-loving personality. Chipins make wonderful companion pets for single people and for seniors who have plenty of love and time to give to a family pet. Chipins are also low maintenance when it comes to grooming and that's another advantage. Chipins can live comfortably with other pets in a household as long as they are socialized early in life. This mixed breed is known to have exercise needs that are easily met. Chihuahua Min Pin mix dogs are known to be social and friendly after getting used to a new person in their life. For people who live in an apartment, Chipins make good pets because of their small size that makes Min Pin Chihuahua mix a perfect apartment dog.
What are some of the cons of owning a Chipin? Chihuahua Miniature Pinscher mix is not suitable for families with little children. Small and fragile Chihuahua Miniature Pinscher cross dogs may be vulnerable around babies or small kids that may not realize how easy it is to accidentally hurt a small pet. Unlike some other small dog breeds, Chipins are not hypoallergenic and shed regularly. Many Chipins suffer separation anxiety if left alone frequently and for long periods of time. Potential owners need to have the ability to spend plenty of time with the family pet. This dog mix is not meant to live outdoors and Chipins need to live indoors with their family. Although Chipins make wonderful watchdogs, Chihuahua Mini Pinscher mix dogs can't be used as guard dogs as they are too small to pose a threat to any intruder.
Chipin grooming
Chipins are easy to groom due to their small size and coat that is relatively easy to care for. Regular brushing helps to remove any dead hair and to keep the dog's coat healthy. If your Chipin happens to have a longer coat that may be inherited from a long haired Chihuahua, owners may need to brush the dog's coat more frequently to manage any tangles that tend to form around the dog's ears.
As with any dog breed, Chi Pins need regular dental care that includes daily teeth brushing with a canine toothpaste. Toenails need to be trimmed to keep Pinhuahua comfortable.
Being mixes of the Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers, they will most definitely mix the color coats of their parents, the main ones being chocolate, cream, golden, and black among others as described earlier. The Chipins rarely have solid colors. They usually appear in two colors, but can also mix a variety of the parent colors to form very cute Chipin coats.
The Chipins coats are straight, short and easy to groom. This makes them unsuitable for extreme weather conditions. During the winter season, you will most likely need a special artificial coat for your Chipin to protect it from extreme cold. During the summer months, sunscreen will need to be applied to the nose, ears, and other sensitive areas that have less coverage of fur.
To give your Chipin a bath, you require the following essentials:
Bathtub of any form
Recommended dog Shampoo
Plastic jug or bowl
Dog's washing cloth
Fluffy, large towel
Unlike other crossbreed dogs, the Chipins demand less grooming requirements. You can use a Stiff Bristle brush to brush their hair just a few times every week. Only bathe your Chipin when necessary using recommended mild dog shampoo. Remember that excess bathing and shampoo could remove the important oils that keep your dog's skin healthy. For the Chipins that have skin problems, special kinds of Shampoo such as the Moosh Shampoo can be used to reduce irritation and itching as well as offer relief as it restores the skin of your dog to balanced health.
Ensure to check your Chipin's ears once or twice a week for wax, mites, dirt build-up, or redness. By using a mild cleanser that your veterinarian has recommended, clean them as often as you can.
You can clip their toenails whenever necessary. Check to see if they are clicking on the floor as your Chipin walks. You also need to ensure you brush their teeth frequently to protect your dog from any dental health issues and enhance fresh breath as well.
Special Clothes for Chipins during extreme winter are surely cute. These clothes can either be used for keeping your furry Chipin warm or making her cuter. Apart from protecting your Chipin from cold weather, the clothes also protect your little dogs from sunburn. The clothes can range from fancy dress outfits such as Rubie's Pet Costume to the big dog clothing like the "Uncle Sam Big Dog Botique Costume".
Chipin temperament
Chipin hybrid characteristics vary depending on the parent it takes after the most; they will perhaps be spunky and courageous like the Miniature Pinscher or charming but sassy like the Chihuahua. These little Chipin dogs are social, energetic, and playful. They still crave daily to plenty of human interaction, but they are not as needy as the Chihuahua.
Chipin dogs love to play and having a small dog toy designed for a miniature dog breeds is a great way to keep your pet happy and entertained. Try a variety of dog toys to find out which toys your pet prefers. While some Chipins like to play with squeaky toys, others enjoy dog toys designed for chewing. Treat dispensers for small dogs also make a wonderful dog toy choice that helps to keep your small pet busy and out of trouble.
Miniature Pinscher Chihuahua mix dogs are alert, can be cautious of unfamiliar visitors and have a tendency to bark at strangers. However, Chipins always desire to be social and warm up to a visitor after a while. If socialized early enough, most Chipins do fine with other pets and the presence of another person limits separation anxiety they could experience in your absence.
Chihuahua Min Pin mix dogs need to be trained early in order to correct any bad behaviors to prevent the Small Dog Syndrome, which could manifest as nuisance behaviors such as yapping, going potty in the house, destroying furniture and so on. Chipins are energetic, intelligent and easily distracted. It takes patience, consistency, firmness, and plenty of treats and praise to correct the bad behaviors.
Chipin Personality
Described as big dogs in tiny packages, Chipins are well known to be agile, alert, curious, and full of spirit. They are full of energy and are fiercely protective of those people they love. Since they are easy to train, they can be used as excellent watchdogs. Due to their territorial character, they will always announce when they see visitors. Chipins thrive well on physical and mental simulations, which makes them well suited for agility classes.
Chipins are also perfect partners to travel with thanks to their curious nature. Being fearless and affectionate, these wonderful companions will always be by your side, making them awesome dogs in your home. However, these pups will absolutely need a lot of dedication in regard to the energy and time they need from you. They could also require a dog walker or pet sitter during the day as isolation does not suit them.
Thankfully, due to their small size and adorability, you could easily make your Chipin the office mascot. Your Chipin would for sure charm-off the socks of your fellow workers. Additionally, they also have a tendency of latching onto one family member but they could also get along well with others. As such, they are well suited to live in one-person homes or families with fewer people since they really need much attention.
Chihuahua Miniature Pinscher potty training
There are many ways of creating indoor toilets for your Chipin dog. It can just be as simple as using an area covered with potty pads or newspapers. But the most hygienic and cleanest solution is a litter box. You can buy doggie litter boxes with artificial turf at the top. Ensure the box has shallow sides to make your dog feel comfortable when stepping in and out. On one of the sides, you can cut a small doorway to help smaller puppies.
Line the box with artificial grass, potty pads, newspaper, or cat litter. Since some puppies chew on anything, ensure safety in whatever is used in case your dog decides to eat it while considering hygiene. The box liner should either be easily washed or disposable. Puppies also form preferences and you need to change the surface if it seems uncomfortable using one surface.
After first introducing your Chipin puppy to the litter box, concentrate on helping the dog become comfortable when stepping in and out. Lure the Chipin dog with rewards and treats to enhance interaction. Once the dog is happily going in and out, start using the box as a potty. Keep supervising your dog and limit her freedom until she shows reliability.
For your dog's privacy, as well as your convenience, place your dog's litter box in a low-traffic area as most dogs prefer some peace and silence when doing their business. Once your Chipin puppy becomes older and can hold it a bit longer, it's ready to transition the dog to do her business outside. You can consider taking some litter box liners to the outdoor spot. This helps the dog to understand what is expected. You can use a potty cue such as "Go Potty" or "Hurry Up," or you can also tell her what you would like. To avoid confusion, teach the dog one location and then the other, rather than expecting her to learn both places simultaneously.
Chipins need a patient and firm trainer who can carefully handle them. It is essential to impart obedience and socialization training to Chipin puppies for them to develop a pleasing personality. To keep their territorial and protective nature under control, to be groomed well enough. If behavioral training is done properly, it helps Chipins to check on their uncontrolled barking, more so when they are excited.
Trainers need to utilize the dog's intelligence and teach new tricks and tactics. It is crucial to teach your pet housebreaking techniques. Rather than being commanding and harsh, introduce reinforcement techniques that are positive in the form of rewards and praises so the dog is more responsive to training. House rules need to be established as soon as the Miniature Pinscher Chihuahua cross dog is brought home. For example, if you intend to have a pet that doesn't beg for food while the family is having a dinner, then have an agreement with all family members about not giving the Chipin any food from the table during dinner time from the very start. It is much easier to establish rules from the very beginning and follow through rather than correct bad dog behavior once the habit is established. If you find home training to be a hassle, you can seek professional assistance.
Chipin Fun Facts
With a unique gait from the Miniature Pinscher, this makes the Chipin display a high-step method of walking that is almost prancing and helps to showcase their confidence.
A regal bearing plus their small bodies have earned the Chipins "King of Toys" nickname.
Thanks to the Chihuahua, the Chipins have among the biggest brain compared to other dogs of their size.
Some of the devotees of the Chipin include Marilyn Monroe, Britney Spears, Madonna, Reese Witherspoon, and Mickey Rourke.
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