Mixed-breed dogs aren’t anything new in the 21st century. Today, you have crossbreeds of a Bulldog and a Shih Tzu, or a Husky and a Pomeranian. However, some hybrids tend to surprise even the biggest science fiction lovers.
One of those is the Great Dane – Chihuahua mix. Yes, you’ve read that correctly.
When you think of a huge Great Dane and a tiny Chihuahua, you certainly can’t imagine a crossbreed of the two. However, this has been done, and the so-called Chi-Dane-Dane exists.
If this fascinates you, then you’re in the right spot. Here are some fun facts about this mixed breed.
1. Is It Just A Myth?
Chi-Dane-Dane dogs are a hybrid species – also known as designer dogs – made by crossbreeding a Great Dane with a Chihuahua. Some dog breeders also use the name “The Great Mexican” for these mixed-breed dogs.
People don’t create crossbreeds just for aesthetic reasons. Many are ‘designed’ to overcome the health problems of their parent’s races. This has led to many weird breed mixes – but a Great Dane – Chihuahua mix takes the lead as the most unexpected one.
In order to understand the mix a bit better, let’s have a look at the parent breeds.
Great Danes are among the tallest dog breeds. They are well-known for being gentle giants, and massive, yet loveable pooches. The species has existed since the 1600s, making it one of the oldest breeds out there.
Germans bred them to be guard dogs and took them boar hunting. Great Danes have an average height of 28 to 34 inches and weigh between 100 and 175 lbs. Some Danes can even reach 200 lbs! They are calm, loyal dogs that don’t deal well with strangers.
Opposite of that, we have Chihuahuas. This is the smallest dog breed that rarely reaches a height of over 10 inches, and its average weight is between 3.5 and 7.5 lbs.
They are active dogs that love being close to their owners all the time. Despite their size, Chihuahuas are an energetic and brave breed. We can even say they are a big dog in a tiny pup’s body.
However, with such a size difference, it is hard to imagine two species breeding. Yet, a crossbreed exists.
2. How to Breed A Great Dane Chihuahua Mix
Getting a crossbreed of a massive Great Dane and a tiny Chihuahua isn’t easy. There are many hindrances to creating a healthy hybrid, but some breeders have managed to do it.
Of course, the natural breeding process is out of the question. Anything other than that would be animal abuse. Whether it’s a tiny male Chihuahua attempting to mount a huge Great Dane or the other way around, this would be potentially dangerous.
The only way to breed a Chi-Dane-Dane is via artificial insemination. However, there are many problems with this process as well.
First off, a female Chihuahua shouldn’t get pregnant by a male Great Dane. If she does, she wouldn’t be able to give birth to such big puppies. Even a C-section isn’t possible on ordinary occasions.
Because of this, the usual way of crossbreeding is artificial insemination of a female Great Dane. Still, even this has its own set of issues. Typically, the Great Dane can carry such puppies without any problems.
The babies are smaller than regular Great Dane puppies, so there is more than enough space in the womb. This makes the birthing of a Chi-Dane-Dane pup easier than that of a standard puppy.
However, the problem arises with nursing these babies. As they are much smaller than Great Dane puppies, their mouths may be too little for their mother’s breasts, which can make breastfeeding impossible.
3. Is a Chi-Dane-Dane a Good Pet?
Looking at its ancestry, the Great Dane – Chihuahua crossbreed seems predisposed to being a good, loyal pet. Both the Great Danes and the Chihuahuas are affectionate and protective dogs, so their mix is likewise. This designer dog will love to cuddle with his owner all the time!
However, both breeds are wary of strangers. This might be an issue if you didn’t socialize your pooch properly. Chi-Dane-Danes have a fierce personality.
They are incredibly stubborn when they don’t get things the way they want. Also, they are fearless when needed; therefore, they will make a good guard dog.
Even the smallest Chi-Dane-Dane will still do everything it can to protect its ‘pack leader’. Dog lovers will be excited to see such a small dog with a Great Dane personality.
It’s essential that you don’t skip early socialization, including obedience training. Don’t let their small size fool you – their mother is a Dane, after all.
4. Is This Mix Easy To Take Care Of?
Despite the issues with their creation, Chi-Dane-Danes are low-maintenance designer dogs. Neither the Great Dane nor the Chihuahua is a breed that sheds a lot, so you won’t have to worry about hair.
Simultaneously, they don’t require a lot of exercise, but be sure to give them a daily run in the doggy park. This will ensure that your Chi-Dane-Dane pup is healthy.
As there isn’t a standard look for the breed, you’ll have to experiment a bit with the nutrition. Since Great Danes are prone to joint problems, we would recommend adding some supplements that can improve bone health. These include fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Also, this means that you shouldn’t overfeed this breed. The heavier they are, the higher their chances of illnesses are.
5. Health Issues
As we’ve already mentioned, crossbreeding is meant to eliminate most health issues that parent breeds have. However, this is easier said than done. For example, Chi-Dane-Danes aren’t free of their mother’s joint problems. This also makes them prone to hip and elbow dysplasia.
Other than this, the breed doesn’t seem to be prone to many other genetic issues. Of course, be mindful that this is a fairly new breed, and only time will tell whether they have predispositions for some illnesses.
Because of this, it’s also challenging to determine how long they will live. However, they have a life expectancy somewhere between their parent’s average lifespan. While Great Danes usually live up to ten years, purebred Chihuahuas can live twice as long, and occasionally reach more than 20 years of age.
A prolonged life expectancy is yet another advantage of mixed breeds.