Click Below to Skip Ahead
An active little dog with a big personality, the Chimation was developed by intentionally breeding a Dalmatian with a Chihuahua. Sassy and spunky, the Chimation brings together the high energy of the Dalmatian with the spirited personality of the Chihuahua to create a fantastic canine companion for just about anyone.
Breed Overview
Height:
10 – 12inches
Weight:
20 – 35 pounds
Lifespan:
12 – 15 years
Colors:
Black, Brown, Golden, White
Suitable for:
Active families with or without older children, Experienced owners
Temperament:
Smart, Easy to train, Loyal and loving, Active, Protective
If you’re wondering if this lively little designer dog is right for you, read the rest of our in-depth guide to Chimation ownership!
Chimation Puppies
The Chimation is an adventurous hybrid dog with endless amounts of energy. As such, this dog is not well suited to live in an apartment. He needs tons of space to explore, run, and play. A suburban house with a big backyard is ideal for the Chimation. As a designer dog, the Chimation differs from a mutt in that his two parent dog breeds were purposefully bred to create a delightful dog that embodies the best traits of each parent. He’s a first-generation cross-breed that comes from two purebred dogs.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Chimation
A deeply devoted dog, the Chimation can become overprotective of his family and cautious around strangers. Early socialization is essential to ensure your Chimation is confident and calm around new faces. Super active, the Chimation needs plenty of physical exercise to keep him happy and healthy. This dog isn’t well suited for apartment living. He much prefers a large house with a sprawling backyard.
Highly intelligent, the Chimation is easy to train. However, he can have a stubborn streak and needs firm and consistent training sessions. Without ongoing training, the Chimation can become rather bossy and will try to establish himself as the alpha of the household.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
The Chimation does best in a home with older or no children. Due to his small size, a young child can accidentally injure the Chimation. Since he is a high-energy dog, the Chimation will do best with an active owner who loves to hike, jog, and walk. Since this breed is prone to separation anxiety, the Chimation should never be left alone for long periods of time.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Yes! The Chimation is great with other dogs and even cats. Whenever your Chimation is interacting with larger canines, be sure to keep a close eye on him to ensure everyone is safe and plays nicely.
Things to Know When Owning a Chimation:
In order to provide your new Chimation with the best life possible, it is important to thoroughly understand his care requirements. Here is everything you need to know about feeding, training, grooming, and exercising your new Chimation.
Food & Diet Requirements
The Chimation is a smaller dog that can eat up to two cups of kibble split into two meals per day. This will cost between $30 and $40 per month. Since the Chimation is prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs), avoid giving him food that contains high levels of purine. Always buy food that lists “meat” as the first ingredient. Make sure your dog has constant access to clean, fresh water.
Exercise
Both of your Chimation’s parent breeds are active, energetic dogs. As such, the Chimation needs tons of exercise to keep him mentally stimulated and physically fit. Your Chimation needs at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. Aim to walk him about 11 miles every week.
Training
An extremely intelligent designer dog, the Chimation can easily learn basic commands and more complicated tricks. Sometimes stubborn and willful, the Chimation needs consistent training from a patient yet firm handler. Positive reinforcement training techniques work best for this breed.
Grooming ✂️
A distinctive-looking dog, the Chimation can inherit his Dalmatian parent breed’s unique spotting. He has a short, soft coat that requires one to two brushing sessions each week. Use a slicker brush to remove loose or dead hair. Trim your dog’s nails as needed, clean his ears and eyes, and brush his teeth daily.
Health and Conditions
- Cataracts
- Bladder stones
- Corneal dystrophy
- Hypothyroidism
- Hydrocephalus
- Hip dysplasia
- Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
- Urinary tract infections
To ensure your Chimation is happy and healthy, take him to the vet every year for a routine wellness check. He may need occasional eye exams and radiographs to catch potential problems before they become more serious conditions.
Male vs Female
The male Chimation will be a tad larger than the female. Males can also be more aggressive.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Chimation
1. Dalmatians are Born Spotless
Those iconic spots that Dalmatians are known for aren’t present when they’re first born. Instead, the spots will start to slowly appear when the puppy is about three weeks old. By the time a Dalmatian is four weeks old, all of his black spots will be fully visible.
2. Don’t Poke a Chihuahua’s Head
Just like newborn babies, the Chihuahua has a soft spot atop his head called a molera. But unlike babies, this soft spot never hardens.
3. Chimations Are a Recognized Hybrid Breed
Despite not being recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Chimation is recognized by the Dog Registry of America, Inc., the Designer Dog Kennel Club, the American Canine Hybrid Club, and the International Designer Canine Registry.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the market for a unique little dog, the Chimation could be great for you. An active breed, the Chimation needs at least an hour of exercise every day. He’d do best in a household with older children and a large backyard. Not an ideal dog for first-time owners, the Chimation needs firm and consistent training in order to be well-behaved and social around strangers.
If you are thinking about adding a Chimation to your family, this petite pup will provide you with unconditional love and loyalty for years to come!
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Left – Pixabay | Right – Mirko Kaminski, Pixabay