Jack Chi - The Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix Breed

The Jack Chi is a companion dog with a turbocharger. Jack Russells and Chihuahuas are both very popular pets, so it was only a matter of time before this mix rose to popularity too. Read on to find out what you can expect from a Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua mix, as well as their personality traits, how to look after them, and some excellent training resources.

The Chihuahua Jack Russell Terrier will usually be a little smaller than a typical Jack Russell purebred. It's not uncommon for a Jack Russell Chihuahua to be shorter than 10 inches (at the shoulders). Ears can either have the Chihuahua stiff pointiness or the Jack Russell curl-over. The Chihuahua has a thinner muzzle than the JRT, so this trait can also show up in the Chihuahua Jack Russell mix.

As with other Jack Russell mix breeds, expect the personality to show some common JRT traits:

• high stamina
• excitability
• independence
• strong hunting instinct
• impressive physical strength
• affectionate
• sense of humor

With a blend of some or all of these Chihuahua characteristics:

• laidback
• easygoing
• prominent eyes and forehead
• thin muzzle
• disproportionately large head
• great variety of coat colors
• sometimes, territoriality
• sometimes don't get along with other breeds

Also there can be a difference in shedding between the different coat types of Chihuahua, so find out what coat type the Chihuahua parent dog has. A combination of a Chihuahua with short hair with a Jack Russell with short hair could lead to Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix puppies that need a fair bit of grooming.

If you find that many of these traits show up in your dog and are leading to problem behaviors, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by learning about Jack Russell training.

Jack Russell Chiuhuahuas generally have short hair so they shouldn't need any more grooming than a typical smooth-coated Jack Russell. They also require a little less in the way of exercise than a purebred JRT because they are smaller and don't tend to have the same stamina.

You need to have a lot of spare time to spend on a dog like this. Jack Russells tend to be very affectionate toward their owners - Chihuahuas are especially so. Be prepared for the time and patience needed to train a Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua mix. Without proper training and socialization from early in life there's a chance they will develop problems of spatial aggression and separation anxiety. If you're already facing these problems with your dog, my Jack Russell training ebook offers the solutions.

They tend to get very attached to one person, so they are probably not the most ideal family dog. For a family, the 6-years-and-up rule for children applies, same as with purebred Jack Russells.

Also be aware that problem barking can be common in both dogs, so with a Jack Chi you will want to counteract this as soon as possible with early training. If you own or want to own a Jack Russell Chihuahua, my free special report on Jack Russell Training will help you avoid the major mistakes people commonly make with JRTs and Jack Russell mixes. My ebook also contains a chapter on JRT mix breeds.

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