42 Knock Out

The beagle chihuahua mix, sometimes called a “Cheagle,” is a very brave and dignified dog. Like a Chihuahua, he believes he can take on anything, and sometimes behaves like he is ready to knock down a bulldog! Jealous and protective around his loved ones, he loves and requires a lot of attention. These dogs tend to be great barkers. The quality of his bark will depend upon whether he inherited the Chi’s yap or the Beagle’s bay. They are small and can be fragile like the Chi or more sturdy. Expect them to be loving, obstinate and willful. Chihuahuas are intolerant of teasing, so they are not good companions for kids; Beagles are calm and much more tolerant. Cheagles may inherit either characteristic or a mix, so it is safe to assume they are not kid-friendly until proven otherwise.

They tend to be small, although not as small as the Chi, obviously. Expect the dog to grow to between 9 and 20 pounds.

Like Beagles, Cheagles enjoy daily walks and exercise and are fond of running. Their portable size makes them reliable travel companions. Hope that your animal inherits the Chihuahua’s intelligence; Beagles are extremely sweet, but they have hound brains, all hunt and smelling things out, and not much thinking. If your Cheagle gets the Chi brain, she or he will be much easier to train.

Care: They need you to provide them their basic needs, firm discipline, and affection, in that order.

Ï Care for a Cheagle as you would a Chihuahua in terms of keeping him or her warm. Always choose good quality food (read the labels, not just the brand name or price), and provide clean water. Do the vaccinations, the boosters, and the flea and worm control. Cross-breeding usually weeds out the genetic weaknesses to which purebreds are prone. Since both of these breeds show a higher than normal incidence of glaucoma, epilepsy, tracheal collapse and patella problems, watch for these.

Ï Train them gently, firmly, early, and constantly. Do not let them develop annoying habits; they won’t understand later when people don’t want to spend time with them. Let them know what you expect, and keep enforcing the rules and rewarding good behavior. Just like a child, a dog wants to be secure in knowing what will happen and what they are supposed to do and not do.

Ï They love love. They will burrow under the covers, sleep on your lap, and follow you around the house. Don’t get this pet if you are out of the house without them for 5 or 6 long days a week. They want company, attention and interaction, and they will find ways of amusing themselves if no one else is available to play…

Many people report that their Cheagle has the loving personality and aggressive loyalty that the breeds share. Be careful in supervising your dog when guests come visiting, especially children, or when introducing other animals. Like any dog, the Cheagle is happiest when he or she spends lots of time with his or her people.