Chipit Dog Breed

Although the American Kennel Group (AKC) categorizes one of the parents under the Toy Dog Group but doesn't recognize the other dog, there is no classification for the Chipit. It is unknown why two very different dogs were brought together to make such a mix. The Chihuahua / American Pit Bull Terrier can be excellent companions if you are ready, willing and able to dedicate the resources to train, socialize and exercise them.

PROS

• Very friendly
• Extremely playful
• Highly intelligent
• Loves agility play
• Tends to be healthy
• Loyal to the family
• Can be easy to train
• Barks rarely if at all
• Relatively easy grooming
• Fine in hot weather and climates
• Great pet for highly active people / families
• Short-haired coat makes them fairly easy to groom

CONS

• Not hypoallergenic
• Needs a lot of daily exercise
• Doesn't tolerate cold very well
• Diet must be carefully monitored
• May be intolerant of being handled
• Shouldn't be left alone long or much
• Has a somewhat high tendency to wander
• Can grow to be much larger than expected
• Possesses a moderate possibility of obesity
• Needs very early socialization and training
• Rather expensive dogs to acquire and maintain
• May single out one family member to be attached to
• May be aggressive with other pets including larger dogs
• Can easily develop separation anxiety or even depression
• Grooming may be easy but must be done daily or housecleaning may be messy
• While they tend to be healthy, there is a somewhat lengthy list of conditions that may occur

The Chipit is a bizarre dog borne of cross-breeding a Chihuahua with an American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). Although you and your kids will certainly find these dogs cute, these mixed breeds are not always easy to maintain.

Chipits are rather intelligent dogs despite the hyperactivity they may acquire from their Terrier and require a lot of patience on your part as well as seemingly endless exercise and agility play. As they will be constantly on the move, their restlessness may drive you a bit batty at times. To help them settle down, you'll want to exercise them daily and a lot. This may include taking them to the dog park, which will breed a whole new crop of problems. With Chihuahuas, their well-known arrogance toward other dogs is cute because Chihuahuas are so small; when that attitude is bred into a larger and hyperactive dog like an APBT, the potential for problems multiplies significantly.

By no means is a Chipit lazy; if yours is lethargic, get him to a vet ASAP. These hybrid dogs are sure to keep you amused and then some, and you will want to make sure you always have a decent supply of toys on hand lest the jumping and chewing start. You should also realize that the strength of the APBT coupled with the Chihuahua's eternal desire to dominate will need to be kept in check too.

Due to the incongruent breeds brought together to produce a Chipit, the health complications are many and a bit unusual. The not-so-odd problems are

• joint dysplasia
• slipped knees
• skin allergies
• asthma
• heart conditions
• thyroid concerns
• less common issues are soft spots in the skull, shivering, low blood sugar, throat problems and difficulty with birthing litters.

Despite the list of strange ailments, most Chipits have a life expectancy around 10-13 years.