Dog crossbreeds come in a variety of combinations and characteristics. If you’re interested in this subject, you might be wondering what a Chihuahua and a Jack Russell Terrier look like when they’re mixed, as well as how to care for this mix.
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What Does a Chihuahua and Jack Russell Terrier Mix Dog Look Like?
The Chihuahua and Jack Russell Terrier mix (or Jack Chi) can look like their Jack parent. This, however, depends on each dog’s genetics and how strong they are. A Jack Chi may look like a Chihuahua if its parent possesses Chihuahua genes that outnumber Jack’s
However, this would be a very unusual case since the genes of Russell Terriers are quite dominant, causing their pups to have a similar physical appearance. Despite this, their color and coat can vary a lot, making the puppy have either short and brown hair or a short white and brown coat.
When it comes to their height, the Jack Chi doesn’t grow larger than fifteen inches long, making it five to six inches taller than the average Chihuahua. Lastly, their ears can vary too; it could either inherit Jack’s pointy and firm ears, or the Chihuahua’s floppy ones.
Jack Chi’s Characteristics
Just like Russells, Jack Chis are very energetic and fun-loving dogs. They love to run, play, and express their energy in different ways. Therefore, they are dogs that require a lot of attention and affection. If they don’t get it, they can become anxious, leading to misbehavior.
This is due to their Jack and Chihuahua parents who share quite similar personality traits. They both have a strong desire for physical contact, affection, and quality time, whether with a human, or another dog. Therefore, they can also get along quite well with extroverted dogs.
All this makes it quite suitable for large families who want an active dog that behaves well around children. However, this can also be a drawback since, if they are neglected, they can become depressed, which can make them sick. Therefore, Jack Chis require quality time with their owners.
Behavior Around Dogs
This breed can be a little bit aggressive towards other dogs if they are untrained and unsocialized. Knowing what a Jack and Chihuahua mix looks like will make you understand this. After all, small dogs like this one have a bad reputation for being too fierce.
However, although Chihuahuas can be very over-the-top when they see an unknown dog, this myth only applies to unsocialized dogs. If you expose your Jack Chi to other dogs from an early age, they will get accustomed to them, and learn how to behave.
On top of that, you can also train your dog to behave and be as correct as possible around others.
Intelligence
Although Chihuahuas are ranked 128th out of 138 breeds in overall intelligence, Jacks are positioned 84th. Therefore, the Jack Chi can be a fairly smart dog that can easily learn tricks and commands. This can be very convenient for families who search for a fun dog to play with.
However, genetics also play a part in this. The puppies could inherit Chihuahua’s intelligence over Jack’s, which could lead to a stubborn and hard-to-teach dog. Though this doesn’t mean they won’t be able to learn anything, they will just take a longer time to remember the patterns.
Coat Length and Color
To know for sure what is the appearance of a Chihuahua and Jack mix you must know how long their hair is along with its color. As I mentioned, this breed tends to have a very short coat of wired hair. On top of that, they can have white, brown, and white spots.
Although Jack Chis tend mostly white, they can inherit Chihuahua’s black or brown color, which can end up in a tri-colored coat. However, this is impossible to predict, after all, it all comes down to genetics.
Your Jack Chi could have the following combinations
- White, short, and wired hair with brown spots
- White, short, and wired hair with black, and brown spots
- Unicolor with really short hair (brown, black or white)
- Unicolor, really short hair, and either black or brown spots.
Related Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Chihuahua and Jack Russell Terrier crossbreeds.
What Is the Lifespan of a Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix?
The lifespan of the Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix can vary from 13 to 18 years old. For your Jack Chi to stay healthy and longevous, you need to feed them nutritious food, exercise them, and play with them. On top of that, you need to give them a lot of love and affection.
Do Jack Russell Chihuahuas Mix Shed?
Yes, the crossbreed between Jack Russells and Chihuahuas shed. However, due to their short hair, they do not shed as much as other dogs. This is why you don’t need to broom them more than two times a week.
Conclusion
When it comes to crossbreeds, many characteristics, behaviors, and features get combined. In this case, the Jack Chi is a great mix for big families who want a loveful companion who will always want to play.