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Toxirn (Chihuahua & Carin Terrier Mix): Pictures, Guide, Info, Care & More!

Written by: Nicole Cosgrove

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Nicole Cosgrove

Toxirn (Chihuahua & Carin Terrier Mix): Pictures, Guide, Info, Care & More!

The Toxirn is a designer dog breed that brings together the feisty, loyal Chihuahua with the active, fun Cairn Terrier. Toxirns are devoted pets that do well in all living situations because of their small size and manageable energy requirements. The Toxirn is a relatively new hybrid breed, so it’s important to look at the parent breeds to help determine the nature of this designer dog.

Breed Overview

Height:

8-10 inches

Weight:

6-18 pounds

Lifespan:

12-15 years

Colors:

Brown, black, gray, white

Suitable for:

People looking for a companion dog, families with older kids, apartment dwellers

Temperament:

Loyal, loving, sensitive, protective, stubborn, some aggressive tendencies

The Cairn Terrier is short-legged but has a longer body and a wide head with powerful jaws. Cairn Terriers are brave, intelligent, stubborn, tough, and devoted to their owners. The Chihuahua is known for having a mixed temperament toward strangers and a protective streak with its owners. It has a small, compact body with a round head and expressive eyes.

Combining these two dogs creates a loyal, loving dog with dark eyes, pointy ears, and a sturdy body. The Toxirn is known to be overprotective and can be aggressive toward strangers because of its desire to protect its family. Proper training is needed to ensure that your new faithful companion doesn’t develop any aggression issues toward strangers or other animals.

Energy
+
High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
+
Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
+
Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
+
Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
+
Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

divider-dog pawToxirn Puppies

There are not many Toxirn breeders, so finding a puppy can be difficult. When you’re lucky enough to find a Toxirn, make sure to get all of the puppy supplies ready, such as food, a collar, a leash, a crate, a bed, and toys. Your puppy will also need all first-year vaccinations, deworming, checkups, flea prevention medication, microchipping, and be spayed/neutered.

Torixns are generally loving and very loyal to their owners but they can have aggressive behaviors. They require early socialization and training, but they tend to be stubborn dogs, so a lot of positive reinforcement, patience, and treats will be needed to train them.

Parent_breeds_Toxirn
Photo Credit: Pixabay

Temperament & Intelligence of the Toxirn

Toxirns are loving, loyal, fearless, and protective pets. They usually bond closely with one family member but enjoy the company of the rest of the family as well. They enjoy spending time on their owner’s lap cuddling and they don’t like to be left alone due to their sensitive nature. Toxirns are very playful, enjoy being active, and will require your attention often. Due to its chihuahua genes, it may display some aggression issues toward strangers and may snap because of its overprotective nature. Toxirns need to be properly socialized and trained from a young age to prevent any aggressive behaviors from developing over time.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

The Toxirn can be a good family dog if it receives proper socialization and training from a young age. Young children will need to be taught to be gentle with the Toxirn, so he doesn’t snap at them if it feels threatened. Training should be started early to ensure there are no aggression issues toward children and other animals.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Toxirns can get along well with other pets if they are properly trained. Their fearless nature can sometimes lead them to be overprotective and aggressive toward other pets if they feel their territory is being threatened. Training will be important to prevent them from challenging larger animals and potentially getting hurt. They also have hunting instincts from the terrier parent, so they may chase smaller animals and training will be important to prevent this issue.

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Things to Know When Owning a Toxirn:

Food & Diet Requirements

The Toxirn will need a good-quality kibble that meets the nutritional requirements of a small and active dog. Follow the feeding directions for your dog’s weight on the package and don’t overfeed your dog to avoid issues that develop from obesity. You may have to try a couple of different foods for your new puppy as they sometimes develop digestive upset if their food is changed. If you’re uncertain what kind of food to feed your puppy, ask the breeder what brand they have been feeding the dog. If your Toxirn experiences digestive upset, a visit to your vet may be needed to address the issue.

Exercise

Toxirns are high energy and require at least 30 minutes of activity a day to keep them happy and healthy. A daily walk is encouraged to maintain their weight and keep them fit. They also enjoy playtime with toys every day and a day at the dog park to play with other dogs is a welcome treat. Toxirns will enjoy having a yard to play in, but they also do well in apartment settings due to their size and manageable energy level.

Training

Most Toxirns are people pleasers and do well in training courses as they want to make their owner happy. They are intelligent dogs and training will engage their minds, as well as teach them important social skills. Some are stubborn and it will require a bit more effort to train but working with a personal trainer will help address the issue. Training will be very important for these small dogs as they can be protective over their owners and may be aggressive toward strangers. They can also be territorial, snapping at other animals to protect what they deem to be their own. Proper training from a young age will address any of those issues before they get out of hand. Positive rewards, such as treats, will go far with Toxirns as they enjoy love and praise from their owners.

Grooming ✂️

Toxirns have a coat that rarely grows, sheds, or tangles, so they are fairly easy in terms of grooming maintenance. A good brushing once a week will keep your Toxirns coat looking healthy. Baths are needed once or twice a month to get rid of any doggy body odor. Nails should be clipped once a month to keep them at a healthy length. The ears should also be cleaned once a month to clean out any accumulated ear debris. Brushing their teeth once or twice a week will prevent plaque buildup, stave off bad doggy breath, and will help prevent gum disease later in life.

Health and Conditions

The Toxirn is a relatively new hybrid dog, so it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what health issues it may experience as it grows older. It will be important to look at the Chihuahua and Cairn Terrier parent breeds to determine what potential issues may be awaiting your puppy as it ages. Always discuss the health of the breeding parents with your breeder before you make a puppy purchase, so you have an idea of what potential health issues to expect.

Minor Conditions
  • Obesity
Serious Conditions
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Congenital heart problems
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Liver issues
  • Eye issues
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Craniomandibular Osteopathy

Male vs Female

There are no discernable differences between male and female Toxirns. Both are protective and loving toward their owners and enjoy a good cuddle session to wind down at the end of the day. Male and female Toxirns are loyal and hate to be separated from their owners. Choosing a male or female puppy will come down to the new owner’s personal preference for a male or female dog.

divider-dog paw3 Little-Known Facts About the Toxirn

1. Toxirns can play dog sports, such as agility and flyball


2. The dog that played Toto in the original The Wizard of Oz film was a Cairn Terrier


3. Gidget was the name of the chihuahua that appeared in mid-1990s Taco Bell commercials

divider-dog pawConclusion

The Toxirn is a loving, protective dog that wants to spend all its time with its owners. It does well in all types of dwellings due to its small size and manageable energy level. They require minimal grooming, need good-quality kibble, and require roughly 30 minutes of activity a day to stay fit and healthy. Training is encouraged from a young age to properly socialize and train it to avoid any potential aggression issues that may stem from its territorial and protective instincts. The Toxirn has a feisty, loyal personality and you’ll have a friend for life if you choose to bring home this distinctive hybrid dog.


Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

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