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.
Great Dane – Chihuahua Mix – 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.
Hybrid species aren’t anything new. The most famous designer dog is the Pomsky – a crossbreed of a Husky and a Pomeranian.
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.
As this is a fairly new mixed breed, there isn’t much history behind the race. There is also no documentation of when the breed was officially designed. However, 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.
Chihuahuas make excellent guard dogs and will protect their human companions with their life.
At first glance, we can see some similarities in the temperament of these two breeds. Both are incredibly loyal and overprotective, and they will guard their territory as well as they can.
However, with such a size difference, it is hard to imagine two species breeding. Yet, a crossbreed exists.
Getting a Great Dane – Chihuahua mix is exceptionally tricky. The main reason behind this is, of course, their different sizes. This is why most people don’t even realize that Chi-Dane-Danes exist. While they aren’t a usual sight, they are out there.
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.
Due to the size difference, the tiny Chihuahua wouldn’t be able to carry out this pregnancy. The big babies would stretch her body out and kill her before the pregnancy becomes full-term.
Such crossbreeding would usually end with both the mother and the babies dying. Even if they somehow survived, nursing the puppies would be next to impossible. Female Chihuahuas simply aren’t made for such giant pups.
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.
Photo from: @greatdanedoubled
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.
The breeder would have to hand-feed all the puppies from the litter. Not to mention that because the mother may not know how to deal with such small babies, she could easily hurt them by accident.
Still, this is probably the most successful method of creating a Great Dane – Chihuahua mix. Even so, most of the Chi-Dane-Dane puppies die very young or else are stillborn. Not to mention that artificial insemination is a very expensive process!
Due to this fact, most breeders will hesitate to create such a designer dog. Not only do some consider this to be an act against Mother Nature, but it also rarely pays off.
Does a Great Dane – Chihuahua Mix Look Like a German Shepherd or a Dachshund?
Despite the issues, a few crossbreeds exist and have reached adulthood. While there isn’t a distinctive look that a Chi-Dane-Dane has – something that happens with all hybrid breeds – most have some similar features.
While the height and weight can be challenging to predict, every Great Dane – Chihuahua mix is at least twice his Chihuahua father’s size. Most are the size of a Retriever or a Labrador.
This is yet more proof as to why a Chihuahua mother wouldn’t be able to give birth to such puppies. Still, the pups remain much smaller than a Great Dane. These dogs have short legs, and most have elongated bodies.
In fact, one could argue that a Chi-Dane-Dane doggie looks more like a Dachshund, Beagle, Greyhound, or even a Pitbull than like any of his parents.
There is a huge resemblance to a Corgi as well, except for the fur color. Genetics tend to be surprising, and this crossbreed is proof of that.
The coat color can be somewhat unpredictable, but it will usually be a mix of the parent’s fur patterns. This can give them patterns of a German Shepherd, a Dalmatian, or even a Mastiff, although they are usually smaller than all three breeds.
If the male Chihuahua has long fur, then the pup might have it as well. Such a mix can look like a Cocker Spaniel or a Poodle. Most Chi-Dane-Danes are short-haired, though.
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.
As they are mostly medium-sized dogs, they make good apartment pets. Still, it would be best if you keep in mind that they can be quite strong. If you haven’t trained them appropriately, adults could be challenging to deal with.
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.
Is a Great Dane – Chihuahua 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. It should depend on factors such as:
• Size
• Weight
• Age
• Activity level
• Overall health
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.
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.
Why Is There so Little Information on Chi-Dane-Danes?
A Chi-Dane-Dane is a rare breed. The American Kennel Club (AKC) doesn’t recognize it, and there isn’t a registered breeder out there.
While a few pups of this mixed breed exist, the task of reproducing them is expensive and challenging.
Sadly, this also means that there is very little literature and information on these designer dogs. Most of the stories you find on a Great Dane – Chihuahua mix are just myths, and there are very few reliable sources.
So far, a breeding method that is deemed entirely safe doesn’t exist. Birth by cesarean section has its own complications, without creating a crossbreed of two dogs with such size difference.
Breeders don’t actively work on getting Chi-Dane-Dane puppies, and they are tough to find.
In fact, it doesn’t seem that a single Chi-Dane-Dane breeder exists on the market. If you’re someone who is planning on making this designer dog your new best friend, then you should visit local kennels and rescue organizations.
Such places often have many purebreds as well as mixes. While finding a Great Dane – Chihuahua mix is difficult, it may be worth the shot.
Still, it doesn’t seem like breeders will dare make this a common breed any time soon. Creating a mix of two species with such huge differences is wildly problematic, even if we ignore the morals underlining it.
However, science is quickly advancing, and perhaps some new breeding method is just around the corner.
The Bottom Line Is…
Even though it seems like something from a fiction movie, the Great Dane – Chihuahua mix exists, and it’s adorable!
These pups are challenging to breed, and not many people will dare to attempt this task. Because of this, it’s very problematic to get exact breed information.
However, with technological advances, we are certain that Chi-Dane-Danes will become a regular addition to a list of hybrid breeds at some point in time.
It goes without saying that you should not, under any circumstances, attempt to breed a Great Dane with a Chihuahua. Such a task should be left to professional breeders and licensed veterinarians.
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