How Much Does a Chiweenie Cost? (2024 Price Guide) (2024)

The Chiweenie, the adorable mix of Chihuahua and Dachshund, is one of the most famous designer breeds in the canine community. But, does its popularity make it expensive? How much would it cost you to own a Chiweenie?

If you are keen to know the costs and expenses associated with owning a Chiweenie mix, I suggest that you keep on reading!

This guide comprehensively covers the Chiweenie puppy prices and the initial and annual expenses of owning one. Let’s start!

The Average Cost of a Chiweenie Puppy

The cost of Chiweenie puppies typically ranges between $400 and $1,000 depending on the puppy’s color, health condition, and bloodline. They are relatively more inexpensive compared to larger designer dog breeds.

In buying a Chiweenie, you should consider knowing the parent dogs of the litter. Chiweenie pups whose parents are conformation champions are tagged with higher prices.

On the other hand, ordinary Chihuahua Dachshund mixes are by far more affordable.

Chiweenies are not purebred dogs, unlike Chihuahuas and Dachshunds; that’s why they can’t be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and United Kennel Club (UKC).

Nevertheless, breeders can opt to register their Chiweenie hybrid to the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC) and International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).

To witness how cute the Chiweenie is, watch this video and decide if they are worth buying:

Despite the hybrid’s popularity, there aren’t many authorized breeders specializing in breeding them. This is why looking for a Chiweenie puppy for sale could indeed be challenging.

The scarcity of Chiweenie pups could be blamed on the controversies associated with the hybrid.

Even though the interest in crossbreeding has been growing since the start of the 21st century, many canine enthusiasts still see it as undesirable and unethical.

READ NEXT: How Much Does a Chihuahua Cost? (2023 Price Guide)

Factors Affecting the Cost of a Chiweenie Puppy

In pricing Chiweenie puppies, breeders don’t just think of a random value. They comprehensively consider various factors in pricing their Chiweenie puppies.

Here are some of the factors that affect the cost of Chiweenie puppies:

• Age: Chiweenie pups are more expensive than senior and adult ones because of high demand. Many owners would like to personally witness the growth of their pooch from puppyhood to adulthood.
• Popularity: The price of Chiweenie puppies is also affected by their popularity. If many people become interested in buying a Chiweenie in a particular area, the high volume of demand will pump up the price for this hybrid.
• Color: Chiweenies can exhibit the coat colors of both of their parent breeds. Some of the common Chiweenie colors include black, tan, and white. Nonetheless, Chiweenies with rare colorations similar to a merle Chihuahua and dapple Dachshund are more expensive than those with standard coat colors.
• Health Guarantees: Puppies with health guarantees are more expensive. These guarantees can be in the form of replacement rights or insurance. Typically, the health guarantees provided by breeders last for a year.
• Bloodline: Bloodline is one of the primary factors that significantly affect the prices of Chiweenies. Puppies that come from champion bloodlines are more expensive because it is assumed that they inherited the quality traits of their champion parents.
• Breeder’s Reputation: You might be wondering why some breeders have higher puppy prices, especially those who’ve been in the industry for a long time. To put it simply, their puppy prices include the breeder’s expertise and experience. If you buy from reputable breeders, you have the assurance that your puppy is raised and bred carefully and ethically.

Aside from the listed factors above, you should also be mindful of shipping fees. If you live far away from the breeder, you will also be responsible for the transportation fees of your puppy.

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Chiweenie From a Rescue?

Chiweenies in rescue centers are considerably more affordable. The adoption cost for rescued Chiweenies typically ranges between $100 and $400, depending on the dog’s age and health condition.

Rescued Chiweenies are given shelter, medical care, and behavioral modification upon being rescued.

Most of them are already neutered/spayed and vaccinated before being cleared for adoption. This assures you that they can still make good pets.

However, you should know that most dogs in rescue centers are seniors and adult ones. They rarely have Chiweenie puppies in their care.

READ NEXT: The Ultimate Guide to Dog Adoption: Process, What to Ask and Tips to Get Approved

Initial Cost of Chiweenie Ownership

Aside from the price of the Chihuahua Dachshund mix puppy itself, you should also be mindful of the initial expenses associated with owning one.

Most of the items included in the initial expenses are necessary for the smooth and comfortable transition of your Chiweenie puppy to its new home.

For your convenience, here are some of the items included in the initial expenses of owning a Chiweenie puppy:

• Food and Treats: Chiweenies are energetic and active dogs that need high-quality dog food. You should opt for a kibble packed with high-nutritional value intended for active small breeds. For obedience training, treats help reinforce positive behavior. A bag of high-quality dog food and treats costs around $50 to $80.
• Food and Water Bowls: A nice and durable feeding bowl will keep your dog’s mealtime mess-free. You can find a wide variety of feeding bowls online but make sure to choose one that is durable and has an appropriate size for a Chiweenie. Food and water dishes cost around $10 to $25.
• Bed: A quality bed with good cushioning can help in preventing joint-related problems on your Chiweenie. A quality and spacious bed can cost around $30 to $150, depending on its size.
• Crate: You will need a sturdy crate for an energetic dog like the Chiweenie. Aside from serving as a containment area, a quality crate can also be a safe space for your Chiweenie to rest, especially when it is stressed. Dog crates are usually priced between $30 and $200.
• Leashes and Collars: These items are essential for the obedience training of your Chiweenie pup. In buying a collar for your pup, make sure that it is not too tight or loose. It should fit comfortably around its neck. A leash and collar set will set you back for $15 to $50.
• Toys: Chiweenie puppies need to chew toys, especially in their teething stage. Toys also help in releasing the pent-up stress of your pup. In purchasing chew toys, make sure to pick the ones that are safe and top-quality. You might need to cash out around $20 to $30 for toys.
• Grooming Essentials: Chiweenies are easy to groom and maintain. For its grooming essentials, you need to buy a quality hairbrush, pet-safe shampoo, and a nail clipper. These items will set you back around $30 to $150.
• Deworming, Flea, and Tick Medications: If your Chiweenie hasn’t been dewormed or treated for fleas, you should consider including these preventive medications on the initial expenses. These treatments will likely cost you around $50 to $200.
• Initial Vet Visits: During the first month of your Chiweenie pup, you will need to take it to the vet for initial health screening for genetic disorders and common canine illnesses. Depending on the administered medical procedures, a vet visit can run you between $100 and $300.
• Initial Vaccine Shots: Puppies should be vaccinated with core canine shots to protect them against common canine illnesses such as distemper, influenza, and parvovirus. Initial vaccine shots can cost you around $75 to $200.
• Neutering or Spaying: If you don’t plan to breed your Chihuahua Dachshund mix, you might want to consider having it neutered or spayed. Neutering and spaying make dogs less prone to acquire certain reproductive-related illnesses. These one-time procedures cost around $50 to $500.
• Dog License: Finding your Chiweenie will be easier with a dog license in case it gets lost. This document serves as the identification of your pup. Upon availing yourself of a dog license, an identification number along with a dog tag that contains your contact number will be provided to you. This will cost you between $10 and $20.
• Microchip: Microchipping is also another way of ensuring that your pup can easily be found in case of an emergency. A veterinarian will implant a microchip under your dog’s skin in a harmless manner. The microchip contains all of the necessary information about the dog, including the owner’s contact information. This will cost you between $40 and $60.
• Miscellaneous Supplies: The miscellaneous expense covers maintenance supplies for cleaning such as urine cleaner, poop scooper, poop bags, and supplements. These supplies will set you back for $15 to $30.

Here is the summary of the initial expenses of owning a Chiweenie puppy:

You must already have purchased the items listed above long before you take your Chiweenie puppy home.

The total expenses may seem financially challenging, but you don’t need to worry much. You only need to spend once a year on most of the essentials listed above, like the dog bed, crate, food bowls, and toys.

Annual Cost of Owning a Chiweenie

You should know that owning a Chiweenie is a lifetime commitment. You will need to provide for all of your puppy’s needs as it grows and develops.

Before you take home a Chiweenie puppy, make sure you can afford the yearly expenses of caring for and maintaining one.

Here is a summary of the yearly expenses of owning a Chiweenie:

As you have noticed, you need to cash out around $1,405 to $3,010 yearly for your Chiweenie pup’s needs.

The annual sum of expenses may seem daunting, but it’s actually not that much when broken down into monthly costs.

The average monthly cost of owning a Chiweenie is not that bad compared to the expenses of owning large breed dogs. You should expect to spend between $117 and $251 monthly for your Chiweenie.

A large part of the total expenditure goes to recurring expenses such as food supplies and grooming essentials.

You should also prepare for your Chiweenie pup’s medical expenses, as routine vet checkups can cost you between $200 and $400 annually.

Although pet insurance may hurt your pocket, it’s actually a good investment. If you have pet insurance, you won’t have to worry much about medical bills during emergencies.

Most pet insurance plans cover medical procedures such as injuries, checkups, medications, and surgeries. Depending on its coverage, a pet insurance plan can cost you between $500 and $600 yearly.

Keep in mind that these estimates may vary depending on your location. You can also cut down these expenses by following the money-saving tips listed in a section below!

Other Potential Expenses

Aside from the essential items listed on the initial expenses, you should also set aside a budget for potential expenditures that you might encounter at some point.

These potential expenses may include pet boarding services, training fees, pet walking services, grooming, and emergency fees.

Here is a list of other potential expenses for a Chiweenie:

• Pet Boarding Services: There might be times when you’ll be out of town, and you can’t bring your Chiweenie with you. Since you can’t just leave it alone in your house, you may want to board your Chiweenie at a pet daycare. Usually, pet boarding services cost around $20 to $30 per day.
• Pet Walking Services: Busy fur-parents may find themselves unable to take their pets for a walk. This is when pet walking services come in handy. An hour of pet walking service may set you back around $20 to $60.
• Grooming Services: Let’s be honest. Not everyone has the skills needed to groom their pets. Hence, some take their Chiweenies to a professional pet groomer. A grooming session may cost you $30 to $60.
• Pet Accessories: Pet accessories may include designer pet clothes, collars, pet bags, and dog shoes. Although they are not essential for your pet’s survival, they might add comfort to its life. These will likely cost you around $50 to $100.
• Emergency Medical Expenses: Accidents can happen to your Chiweenie anytime. Depending on the severity of the injury or illness and the medical procedures required, you might need to spend $100 to $1,000 for medical bills. Nevertheless, you won’t need to worry about this one if you have pet insurance.

Most of these expenses are optional except for the emergency medical fees. However, it is still recommended that you set aside a budget for these as you will never know when you need them.

Places to Find Chiweenie Puppies for Sale and Adoption

Unlike other purebred dogs, finding a reputable Chiweenie breeder could be quite challenging.

Although this hybrid is popular, there aren’t many authorized breeders specializing in breeding Chiweenie puppies. Nevertheless, you can still try looking for Chiweenie puppies for sale in some of the places listed below.

Here are some of the reputable places where you can find Chiweenie puppies for sale:

• Petango – This online pet database has an extensive network of breeders across the United States, and it lists over hundreds of small mixed-breed dogs, including Chiweenies. Their website is convenient as it allows users to filter results by location, breed, age, and gender.
• Puppies.com – PuppyFind is one of the leading online pet platforms in the country that advertise purebred and small designer dogs like the Chiweenie mix. They have a comprehensive profile for each dog in their listings to help users find the perfect match for them.
• PuppySpot – Like the other online puppy market, PuppySpot has numerous designer dogs in their listings, including the Chiweenie, Shepadoodle, and Goldendoodle. They also provide essential information about a puppy’s age, color, gender, and personality.

Before dealing with breeders, you should check out our guide on how to buy a puppy online safely. This will help you be aware of puppy mills and backyard breeders that advertise their sickly pups online.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Chihuahua Breeders (2023): Our Top 10 Picks!

Meanwhile, if you are not after puppies, you can also opt to adopt adult Chiweenies from local animal shelters.

Here are some of the rescue centers where you can find Chiweenies available for adoption.

• So Cal Chiweenie Rescue (SCCR) – This non-profit organization is dedicated solely to saving Chiweenies in high-kill shelters. They also aim to promote the Chiweenie mix and educate people about responsible ownership. One of their goals is to make the Chiweenie mix a recognized AKC breed soon.
• Chihuahua Rescue and Transport (CRT) – For over 25 years, CRT has committed itself to rescuing and rehoming purebred Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes across the northern, mid, and southern regions of the country. They occasionally have Chiweenie mixes in their care ready for adoption.
• Dachshund Adoption, Rescue, and Education (DARE) – Based in Florida, DARE eagerly pursues its mission of rehabilitating displaced and abandoned Dachshunds and Dachshund mixes. They provide medical care, food, and behavioral training to rescued Doxies.

If you are new to dog adoption, you should check out our ultimate dog adoption guide. It contains helpful adoption tips which can help you ace your application.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Dachshund Rescues for Adoption (2023): Our Top 10 Picks!

Money-Saving Tips for Chihuahua Dachshund Mix Owners

Owning a Chiweenie is a lifetime financial commitment. You need to tend to its needs while it grows and develops.

Luckily, there are many ways you can cut the expenditures down without cheapening out on your dog. All you need to do is be creative and resourceful!

Here are some of the money-saving tips for Chiweenie owners:

• Learn to groom your Chiweenie. A single session with a professional groomer can cost you around $30 to $60. However, you can save this amount for other essential things if you know how to groom your Chiweenie. You should try learning basic dog bathing, nail clipping, and hair brushing.
• Buy in bulk. Buying supplies in bulk can help you save a few bucks. Some pet stores also offer discounts to their loyal customers who buy bulk supplies from them.
• Make homemade treats. Steamed or fresh veggies and fruits are good alternatives for commercial dog treats. However, be careful in feeding your dog veggies and fruits, as some of these natural treats are harmful to dogs.
• Watch DIY tutorials. You can find a lot of DIY video tutorials on YouTube about crate-making, sewing dog clothes, and making homemade collars which you can try.
• Keep your dog healthy. Prevention is always better than cure. Regularly visit the vet for health screening. Although visiting the vet may cost you a few hundred bucks, it’ll surely save you thousands by preventing serious diseases from developing.

You can also try asking advice from other Chiweenie owners as they surely have money-saving tips up their sleeves.

Final Thoughts

The Chiweenie is indeed a dog worth owning. Aside from their adorable appearances and good personalities, Chihuahua Dachshund mixes are more affordable than mixed breeds.

However, the annual and lifetime expenses of owning a Chiweenie dog could prove to be a daunting financial responsibility.

If you are really determined to take home a Chiweenie, make sure that you can afford not only the cost of a Chiweenie puppy but also the lifetime expenses of owning and maintaining one.

John Carter

My name is John Carter and I absolutely love pets, especially cats and dogs. I've got a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and have several years’ experience working in animal shelters and rescues. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property.