Dog Breeds: Chiweenie Dachshund

Half dachshund, half Chihuahua, Hopper the Chiweenie was our only pet until we got Polly, the Dachshund in August 2010.

Today, these two a wreaking havoc together (Polly much more than Hopper) but the point is both dog are having a great time and Hopper has a fun doggy companion with play with.

We were hopping for a balanced home life by pairing a female pup with our existing male, but she took over right away. Hopper is still the dominant one, but Polly puts up quite a fight when she wants too. Living with a new dog forced Hopper to grow up and mature a unique way.

*All doggie photos were taken by me.

We got our first dog Hopper when we were living in the city. Due to frequently burglaries and high crime rates we thought a watchdog would make a great companion in the city. After a few months, we felt that to give the dog the best experience, we should really be living in the country. So that's what we did. Hopper went from an inner-city dog to a country dog ready to chase any cow that comes his way.

Getting out on a walk, even a short, one is one of the most rewarding this to do with our dogs. I've never taken a walk a regretted walking out of the door.

We also love playing frisbee, ball and other games in the yard. Hopper doesn't like fetching, but Polly loves to run for toys long distance and for more fun.

Hiding biscuits for the dog is really fun for them and it's also really entertaining to watch. Once you've trained your dog to stay, you can hide treats anywhere in the house and call them to go find the treats. Polly isn't good at staying yet, so we have to lock them in a room for a few seconds while we hide the treats.

Obedience exercises are fun and rewarding. For owners, practicing and proofing techniques ensures you're dog is under control and knows what to do at all times. For dogs, obedience exercise and tricks means having a purpose. Dogs want to please if you give them a chance.

Playing, sleeping and eating are three of the best things in a dog's life. When it comes to playing, Hopper and Polly LOVE squeaky mini tennis balls, Frisbee of any shape or size and toys with realistic animals figures. You'll also find the dogs go wild over regular old sticks and tree branches.

If you separate either of my dogs from their beds and sleeping bags, there's going to be trouble. Hopper loves getting cozy in his sleeping bag or under the quilt. He always dig's himself a place under the covers no matter what we do.

Waiting for handouts while general cooking is going on is the bomb. Hopper and Polly also love treats from the bank, pharmacy and other drive up windows. Hopper will ever bark for them because he thinks he cute. Give them a milk bone and they'll be happy.

We actually got both of our dog through Craigslist ads several l years apart. Going to get a pet is always a memorable experience, so in many ways Craigslist ads give pet owners a traditional "going to get a new puppy" experience.

Hopper's name is pretty self-explanatory. Although some people think he's named after Dennis Hopper, Hopper got his name because he actually hops! It's really cute. Nowadays, he doesn't it mostly when he's excited and ready to chase something.

Polly got her name from my husband. I wanted to call her Polly-Anna for long, but Polly is easier everyday. It's nice to have pretty female name for the girl dog instead of a traditional dog name for a change.

Hopper uses a sleeping bag! Click here to learn more about doggie sleeping bags and what breeds benefit most.

Just like people, dog are really unique individuals with distinct talents and interests. After adding a second dog, it really have me an amazing understanding on the dog's personality and how all dogs are really unique and special. I'll be adding a general breed comparisons, so you can see the similarities and differences between dachshunds and chihuahuas.