The popularity of designer dogs is rising and there is a fairly new crossbreed that has got the attention Chihuahua golden retriever mix or Golden chi.
As the name suggests, the Chihuahua golden retriever mix is a crossbreed of a very popular large dog ‘Golden retriever’ and small but big personality dog ‘Chihuahua’. They are also called as Golden chi.
Golden retriever dogs are large, sweet-natured, intelligent, and easy to train. They are quite popular in the USA as family dogs.
In contrast, Chihuahua are quite small dogs with personality bigger than the large dogs. They can become demanding and obstinate.
Let us have a detailed look at their crossbreed.
Chihuahua golden retriever mix at a glance
| Size | 10 to 16 inches |
| Weight | 15 to 30 pounds |
| Temperament | Gentle and energetic |
| Lifespan | 10 to 15 years |
| Price | $2000 – $3500 |
| Purpose | Companion dogs |
| Popularity | Low |
| Grooming | High |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
How is Chihuahua golden retriever mix bred?
When you first look at both the breeds, you will think it is just not possible. And you are right, both dogs can’t mate and produce offsprings naturally.
You would need to take the help of science and use the IVF (In vitro fertilization) technology.
For a Golden Chi, it is always Chihuahua who is the daddy and golden retriever is the mother.
As Chihuahua mother will die giving birth to the large Gold chi puppies.
The appearance of the Golden Chi
Like any other designer crossbreed, a Chihuahua golden retriever mix appearance will be based on which parent has more dominant genes.
Typically, they tend to be medium-sized dogs. They take the coat traits from a golden retriever and most often have a double coat.
Their face is lean and typically have floppy ears of a golden retriever.
Size of Chihuahua golden retriever mix: Depending on the dominant genes, the Chihuahua golden retriever mix can grow to a height of 10 to 16 inches and weigh approximately 15 to 30 pounds.
This is a wide range and where any Golden chi would fit will be based on which parent genes are more dominant. If it is the golden retriever, he would be large but if it is Chihuahua, he would tend to be smaller.
Lifespan: They typically have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
The temperament of Chihuahua golden retriever mix
Chihuahua and golden retriever mix are exact opposite when it comes to their personality.
The golden retriever is a large size dog with a gentle, sweet-natured attitude. On the other hand, Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed but has a very big personality. They can be aggressive and stubborn.
It is thus difficult to predict the temperament of Golden chi and that would depend on whose genes are more dominant.
Typically Chihuahua golden retriever mix will be relatively gentle than chihuahua and more energetic than a golden retriever.
It is important to train this dog especially if you have younger than six children at home as he can be aggressive sometimes due to the genes of the chihuahua.
Chihuahua golden retriever mixes are companion dogs who would love to keep the attention towards them.
Care
Nutrition
It is recommended to give Chihuahua golden retriever mix 1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food divided into two meals in a day.
You would need to adjust the diet based on the size, age, and activity level of the dog. More energetic the Golden chi, more food he earns.
Dogs need at least 18 % of the protein in their diet for healthy muscles. Meat should be the number one source of protein.
We would recommend Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food.
If you do make up your mind for this, we would recommend you to start slow and mix some portion in your existing dog’s food before completely replacing it so that you can be sure that your pooch is not allergic to the ingredients of this.
Grooming your golden chi
Chihuahua golden retriever mix tends to have a double coat of golden retriever. The bad news is that they will shed and the good news is that they will not shed a lot like a golden retriever.
It is great if you can brush them every day and have a thorough brushing once a week. This would help to build a bonding between you and the golden chi and also keeping their coat clean and magnificent.
We would recommend Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush for just doing the job and its amazing self-cleaning feature. It has got good reviews on amazon from lots of dog owners.
Chihuahua golden retriever mix would need occasional bathing once in approximately six weeks or when you feel he is dirty or smelly.
You should avoid frequent bathing as this may lead to dry skin and other skin related issues. Choose a natural oatmeal based shampoo. We would recommend Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo.
You should also need to clip his nails once a month. This would help to avoid nail splitting which could be very painful to the dog.
Exercise
Chihuahua golden retriever mixes are active dogs but not highly energetic. Half-hour daily walk with some playtime should be good enough.
Training
Chihuahuas are considered aggressive dogs. When a medium-size dog like golden chi gets his traits, it is recommended to start the training since puppy age.
Chihuahua golden retriever mixes are intelligent and obstinate. Positive reinforcement training in short sessions would help.
They should also be socialized early with other dogs, pets, and humans so that they can become a well-rounded dog.
Health
Golden chi is a new dog crossbreed and not much has been studied on them. They might be susceptible to the health issues of their parents. So it is wise that you are aware of them.
Hip dysplasia
This is a genetic disease in which thigh bone doesn’t fit properly into the hip joints. This can be painful in various degrees in different dogs but finally leads to Arthritis in the old age.
This can be inherited and dogs having this medical condition should be neutered. Golden retriever dogs are prone to this disease.
Elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is a medical condition that involves multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow-joint in the dog. This is again an inheritable disease and golden retrievers are prone to this.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism occurs when the dog is not secreting enough of the thyroid hormones. Symptoms may include excessive shedding, dull hairs, and reduced activity. Golden retrievers are prone to this.
Injury
Chihuahuas are very small dogs with smaller bones that make them prone to injuries which may happen due to mishandling etc.
Golden chi mitigates this to some extent as the cross breed is a relatively larger dog.
Dental Issues
Chihuahuas are prone to dental issues (both gum and teeth) which they may pass on to Chihuahua golden retriever mix as well.
Hypoglycemia
Chihuahuas are prone to an abnormal dropping of blood sugar. This is known as Hypoglycemia. This may happen to them without a warning. Symptoms may include lethargy, weakness, restlessness, and shivering.
How to get a Chihuahua golden retriever mix puppy?
Golden chi needs a vet help to produce and it is not often that it is done. This makes them rare and expensive. So you may have difficulty finding a breeder for them. The price of a Chihuahua golden retriever mix can vary from $2,000 to $3,500.
They may be difficult to find at your local or nearby golden retriever/chihuahua rescue center but it is worth giving a shot and making the call.
You may have to most likely call the breeders of chihuahua and add the traveling cost in the budget to bring them to your home when you find one.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Intelligent | Can be stubborn and difficult to train |
| Energetic | Not recommended for family with small children |
| Needs time for grooming |
Origins – Details about parent breeds
The Chihuahua golden retriever mix is relatively a new crossbreed and we need to have a look at his parent breeds to understand more about them.
Chihuahua
Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world. They are like a small toy but have a BIG personality.
There are a couple of beliefs about how Chihuahua originated. One says that they come from Toltec civilization in the 9th century and were bred from a dog known as Techichi.
The other states that they were bred from hairless dogs from China which Spanish traders brought to Mexico.
Chihuahua, as we know today, was seen in the 1850’s in the Mexican state of Chihuahua from where he derives his name.
Their face looks like a rounded apple with big erect ears for which they are popular.
They may look small but are really big inside. They are bold and confident like terrier dogs.
Chihuahua should be avoided if you have younger than 8 children at home. This is not for child safety but the safety of Chihuahua.
They are very small dogs who would attract children to play along with them like a toy. And younger children may not know how prone Chihuahua is to injuries because of their small body and bones.
Chihuahua can grow to a height of 6 to 9 inches and weigh approximately up to 6 pounds. Their average life span is around 10 to 18 years.
Chihuahua ranks 33 in the 195 most popular dog list by AKC.
Golden Retriever
Golden retriever is the third most popular dog in USA as per American Kennel Club.
They are large dogs who are intelligent, social, friendly, and loyal which makes them quite popular as a family companion dog.
Golden retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for retrieving waterfowl birds from the water.
Slowly they transitioned to family companion dogs. They have an eager to please attitude and are patient with children.
The golden retriever is a muscular active dog. They have eyes having kind expression and floppy ears. They are known for their golden color dense double coat.
A golden retriever can grow to a size of 21 to 24 inches and weigh approximately 55 to 75 pounds. Their average life span is 10 to 12 years.
Final thoughts
Golden Retriever Chihuahua mix is a unique dog.
As Chihuahua and golden retriever are so different, so it is difficult to be certain of how he will shape up physically and in temperament. It is likely they would be medium-sized dogs and will fall in the range of 15 to 30 pounds.
So if you can live up to that uncertainty and are aware of the health challenges as stated above, you may find a rare dog with unique traits longing for your love.
If you own a Chihuahua golden retriever mix or know one, do let us know your experience in the comments below!
The second doggo picture of Tucky Boy is beautiful, surprised that anyone else knew about him, can confirm about everything here, especially some of the comments saying they are lovies, mine loves cuddles lol.
They are beautiful and lovely ready to give loads of affection.
Tucker the Lovie Little Retard is Tucker’s nickname, not all golden chis’ are smart most of them are though and also I found out that if you brush them everyday or how someone I know did to him every 4 hours, that it sort of scarred his skin a little but not much, so I would change or add that there just in case, and you are completely right about them being Lovie doggos, mine likes snuggles and pets, he is an absolute baby. In case you are wondering Tuckie is the second picture. I really hope this helps someone too!
Our Golden Chi is a rescue from Mexico. His name is Benito or Benny for short. He has a long golden coat and bushy tail and weights about 17lb. Everything you describe above he has or does including brushing which he can’t wait for. I take him on long walks and he lets me know when he has had enough and wants to be carried. Great watch dog, can hear anything and will bark till you tell him to stop. Love my Benny!