Irish Wolfhound vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Irish Wolfhound vs Chiweenie - Breed ComparisonIrish Wolfhound is originated from Ireland but Chiweenie is originated from United States. Irish Wolfhound may grow 51 cm / 21 inches higher than Chiweenie. Irish Wolfhound may weigh 43 kg / 95 pounds more than Chiweenie. Irish Wolfhound may live 5 years less than Chiweenie. Both Irish Wolfhound and Chiweenie has almost same litter size. Irish Wolfhound requires Moderate maintenance. But Chiweenie requires High maintenance

History

irish wolfhound - historyIt is believed that the Irish Wolfhound is an ancient breed and that it was brought to Ireland as early as 7000 BC.

These dogs were bred as hunting dogs as well as guard dogs. There was a time when these huge canines were only allowed to be owned by the nobility. The breed died out somewhat, but Scotsman Captain George Augustus Graham made efforts to restore the breed’s numbers.

Captain Graham devoted his life to making sure the Irish Wolfhound’s numbers were built up, and the breeding program included Great Danes, Borzois, English Mastiffs and Scottish Deerhounds.

chiweenie - historyThe Chiweenie is a small dog developed in the 1960’s as a hybrid/cross between the Dachshund and the Chihuahua. Due to their small size and big personalities, they are an extremely popular designer breed. They are easy to care for and their personality and activity level is much like the Chihuahua side of the hybrid. The Chiweenie can look like either of its parents if it is first generation. If it is second or third generation it is likely to resemble the parents more as they already look like one of the two breeds. The second and third generations will look like the mix more than either of the originators.

The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world and they originated in Mexico. The Daschund is a hunting dog from Germany with a long body and short legs. The Chiweenie is a nice looking cross breed that loves people and is very affectionate. They were developed in the United States.

Description

irish wolfhound puppy - descriptionThe tallest of the sighthounds, the Irish Wolfhound looks like a large Greyhound, only he has a rough, wiry type of coat.

He is also gracefully built and known as a gentle giant. The double coat which can be fawn, red, white, grey, black or brindle is straight to wavy.

He stands at about 81 to 86cm and weighs roughly 48 to 54kg. This is one of the few dog breeds that you can’t really call social. He loves his own human family, and becomes unhappy and ‘down-in-the-dumps’ when separated from his family members for too long. He is a quiet dog who tends to be somewhat introverted and reserved, while being highly intelligent.

He will require being trained and socialized to make him obedient as he is an independent dog. He takes his role as family protector seriously and even though he is quiet, he is ready to take on anyone who threatens his property.

Temperament:

The Irish Wolfhound is a gentle, quiet, soft-natured, easy-going dog and even though it is such a large dog, it doesn’t throw it’s weight around but is calm and patient around the elderly and children in the home. It can tend to be aggressive with animals he isn’t familiar with.

He is an intelligent dog, but even so he may be quite resistant to training as he is strong-willed and determined to have his own way. These dogs need to be trained and socialized otherwise they just do their own thing.

chiweenie puppy - descriptionA first-generation Chiweenie can look like either of the breeds they are crossed with. However, the second and third generations will have the hybrid look for the most part. No two will look exactly alike however. They have a thin snout that is long on a small, domed head. They can have floppy or pointed ears, eyes that are large and expressive, a moderate tail and small feet. They can vary substantially in their appearances.

Characteristics

irish wolfhound dog - characteristicsThe most notable aspect of the Irish Wolfhound is his amazing height. The legs are long, the body narrow. He is gentle and easy-going but because he is a sighthound he loves to give chase after animals.

He is capable of living in the city or countryside, but your home will need to cater to his size. He isn’t particularly energetic, enjoying a quiet life but he will absolutely need to be exercised.

Provide your gentle giant with everything needed to make him content, and you’ll have a faithful, loving friend for about 10 years.

chiweenie dog - characteristicsThis is an extremely popular hybrid or designer dog because they are so friendly, gentle, loving lapdogs. In addition, they love to play and cuddle. They are great for single or older people. If they live with a family it should be with older kids because younger kids might hurt them. Be careful how rough you play. They are small and can be hurt easily.

The Chiweenie is dedicated to their people and extremely loyal. They are also very cautious and can be nervous. They are always watching what else is happening in their environment and they will bark to alert you if they think there is something or someone out of place. They are not quiet dogs. They are great with other small dogs that they are raised with or used to but not with larger dogs, cats or other animals. They are jealous and protective. Train them out of or to avoid resource guarding. They can be stubborn about these things.

They will play constantly if you let them and they are great travel companions, although noises and activity around them does often annoy them. They are also courageous, clever, lovable and happy. Like most toy or small dog breeds you might have a difficult time housebreaking them and crate training is recommended.

Health Problems

irish wolfhound puppies - health problemsOne wonders why breeders seem so bent on breeding such large dogs when they have health issues and they don't live particularly long. Not only do they cost a fortune to feed, but large dogs like this are more prone to illnesses and won’t live as long as small dog breeds. This big dog can live up to 10 years of age or so.

For starters, just because he is a deep chested dog, bloat or gastric torsion can be a threat. Other illnesses to look out for are dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle where the enlarged heart won’t function properly. The upper- and lower chambers of the heart are enlarged and the heart isn’t able to pump blood out properly. When the heart’s ventricle doesn’t pump enough blood into the lungs, fluid accumulates in the lungs and this ultimately leads to congestive heart failure.

Older dogs battle more with this heart disease and it is also more common in some dog breeds of which the Irish Wolfhound is one. Your dog will have shortness of breath, coughing and abdominal distension. He will need to get to the vet for medical tests.

Bone Cancer:

Bone cancer can strike any dog, but you’ll find in more commonly with larger dog breeds. It can spread quickly and the long term prognosis isn’t good. It’s not easy to pick the disease up and it can mean joint pain for your pet and even lameness.

Your dog will be tired too. Your vet will do X-rays and other tests, but unfortunately the prognosis isn’t usually good. Big-dog breeders should take this into consideration.

chiweenie puppies - health problemsChiweenies are a pretty healthy crossbreed with their most prominent issue being allergies. At the same time this hybrid might inherit any of the problems of either of their two parental breeds. These conditions might include:

Hypothyroidism

This is an issue with an overactive thyroid and can be controlled by medication.

  • Dental Issues
  • Hydrocephalus

The tendency for this would come from the Chihuahua parental genes and can result in brain damage but normally is not that bad.

Degenerative Disc Disease

The tendency for this would come from the Dachshund parental genes and if your Chiweenie has a long back you will need to be careful of jump and overzealous playing.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

irish wolfhound dogs - caringThis isn’t a particularly energetic dog and he can tend to become lazy. Don’t allow this as becoming unfit and overweight can be very bad for such large dog. Being so large already puts stress on the dog’s body, and the dog is already susceptible to cardiac and skeletal problems. Allowing him to become lazy and overweight will be a death sentence for this large dog. It is imperative to make sure you take him on walks and play games with him.

Grooming:

The coat of your dog is thick and medium length and he will require being brushed at least twice a week. You may want to also trim the longer hair you find around his face and legs.

When it comes to his ears, you can moisten some cotton wool and wipe the inside of his ears to remove dirt and excess wax. Remember not to probe too deeply to avoid damaging the ear. If you’re uncertain how to do this, your vet can explain to you how its done.

Check his teeth regularly as dental disease can affect other areas of the body too. Don’t allow his nails to get too long as they can cause paw problems and the nails can hook onto things and cause injury.

Diet:

Because this is a giant breed, the puppy will grow for a long time. Speak to your vet about how to ensure you feed your puppy in such a way that he doesn’t grow too quickly.

If you feed your dog a commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the top quality brands. Include home-made cooked food such as chicken, rice and vegetables into his kibble from time to time, and also try to feed him some raw meat occasionally.

Fresh, cool water must be available to your Irish Wolfhound around the clock.

Feeding

chiweenie dogs - caringChiweenies regulate their own food intake, even as puppies. They should be fed twice a day and they are prone to dental issues. Dry food is absolutely recommended.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above, the Chiweenie might inherit the issues that affect small dogs most often. This includes:

  • Diabetes
  • Some may become insulin dependent.
  • Seizures
  • There is medication to help control these if they occur. Hypoglycemia can cause these.
  • Hypoglycemia

A sudden drop in blood sugar levels. This can happen if the dog has diabetes and it is unregulated or stress and poor nutrition can also cause it.

  • And Luxating Patellas
  • Floating kneecaps can cause arthritis and lameness.
  • Ear infections are common.

Exercise and games

These are little dogs with a lot of energy and they burn up a lot of energy. They need to walk every day or have a full-blown play session in the house. They don’t need much space to play in.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Toy dog
Origin:
Ireland
United States
Height Male:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
15 - 35 cm
5 - 14 inches
Height Female:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
13 - 33 cm
5 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
4 - 11 kg
8 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
4 - 9 kg
8 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
6 - 10 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 4
2 - 6
Size:
Giant dog
Toy dog
Other Names:
None
Chiwee and Mexican Hotdog,, Chiweeni or Chiweeny
Colors Available:
red, black or brindle, grey, white, Fawn
Black, black and tan , brown
Coat:
Medium length, straight to wavy and wiry
Medium, short, silky
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Protective, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Irish Wolfhound vs Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  2. Irish Wolfhound vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  3. Irish Wolfhound vs American Staghound - Breed Comparison
  4. Scottish Deerhound vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  5. Newfoundland Dog vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  6. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  7. Leonberger vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  8. Irish Wolfhound vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  9. Irish Wolfhound vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Irish Wolfhound vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  11. Irish Wolfhound vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  12. Irish Wolfhound vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  13. Irish Wolfhound vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  14. Irish Wolfhound vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  15. Irish Wolfhound vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  16. Irish Wolfhound vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  17. Irish Wolfhound vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  18. Irish Wolfhound vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  19. Irish Wolfhound vs Irish Mastiff Hound - Breed Comparison
  20. Irish Wolfhound vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  21. Irish Wolfhound vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  22. Irish Wolfhound vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  23. Morkie vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  24. Havanese vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  25. Chorkie vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  26. Pekingese vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  27. Chiweenie vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Chiweenie vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  29. Chiweenie vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. Chiweenie vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  31. Chiweenie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  32. Chiweenie vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  33. Chiweenie vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  34. Chiweenie vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  35. Chiweenie vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  36. Chug vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  37. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  38. Long Haired Chihuahua vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  39. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  40. Franzuskaya Bolonka vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  41. Phalene vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  42. Cockachon vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  43. Shih Tzu vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  44. Silky Terrier vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  45. Snorkie vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  46. Toy Bulldog vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  47. Toy Mi-Ki vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds