Cheagle Dog Breed

Below are the details and characteristics of the cheagle dog breed.

The size of the cheagle is mostly dependent upon the size of the parents. Small chihuahuas and small beagles will produce smaller cheagle offspring, while larger parents will often have larger puppies. Since the beagle is larger than the chihuahua it is likely that the majority of cheagles will be larger than purebred chihuahuas. On average the cheagle is 9-14 inches tall (from ground to shoulder) and weighs 9-20 pounds. This size makes the cheagle an excellent companion dog as they can easily be transported without hassle.

The cheagle's behavior will include characteristics of both the chihuahua and the beagle. Behavioral traits shared between both parent breeds will be most common, while the traits specific to only one parent breed may not be inherited in all the offspring. Generally, cheagles are outgoing, playful, and loving dogs that can become excited easily. They can be a bit aggressive towards other pets, but early socialization can prevent this from becoming an issue. The breed does well with children, but the cheagle's small size can put them at risk of being accidentally injured when playing with excited children.

The cheagle's coat is short, but can be longer if bred with long haired chihuahuas, and should be brushed regularly to keep loose hairs from accumulating in the breed's undercoat. The breed is active and requires daily exercise, but due to their small size their exercise needs can be met with 20-30 minutes of walking or the equivalent time of playing.

The variations of Cheagle generations should be no different than any other hybrid dog — providing the breeders maintain records of the parents.

An F1 individual is produced from crossbreeding a Chihuahua and a Beagle, which makes it 50% of each breed and somewhat unstable in the way each Cheagle's fur, personality, etc., will turn out — even if they come from the same litter.

An F1B Cheagle happens when a Cheagle is bred back to either a Chihuahua or a Beagle.

An F2 Cheagle comes from two F1 Cheagles and an F3 comes from either an F1 crossed with an F2 or two F2s crossbred.

There are also multi-generational Cheagles that come from breeding F2s with F3s, F3s with other F3s, and so on — although there seems to be few, if any, breeders, crossbreeding beyond the F1 Chihuahua Beagle mix.

Cute but excitable, Cheagles are very playful dogs that require a lot of early, patient and persistent training to help them curb behaviors that could become problematic. They are very good dogs for people who want just one dog, have mature children and/or have relatively small apartments but like to get out frequently.

Your Cheagle will be very protective (which can prompt barking), may not get along well with other dogs and will love to be at your side or in your lap all the time. Then again, he may get along well with other dogs if he has more Beagle personality, as Beagles are well-known pack dogs. He can get easily over-excited, however, which is why early socialization and training is mandatory so that he doesn't get to nipping and jumping up when you or others play with him.

The ideal home will have a very securely fenced yard in which your Cheagle can run and play. Although they do not do well in cold weather, they do love to be outdoors — but be aware that their Beagle side may dominate, and your Cheagle can be prompted to run off to chase a scent if not restrained by a fence or leash. While all this sounds like a lot of responsibility — and it is! — your Cheagle's loyalty will make up for it.

Below are health issues and concerns most common in Cheagles