Chihuahuas and Pitbulls are both affectionate dog breeds and even share the tendency of wanting to crawl into your lap for an afternoon nap.
They are both energetic and intelligent dogs despite their size differences and require proper training to prevent bad habits like excessive barking from manifesting.
Although nature may not have produced any by itself, when you cross the Chihuahua and Pitbull a lovey-dovey showstopper with an out-of-this-world personality is the result.
They will be large enough to play harder than your normal Chihuahua and will require some effort during training to produce a top-notch family pet.
Keep reading to learn more about the Chihuahua, Pitbull, and their playful progeny – the Chipit. By the end of this article, you should understand the characteristics of each breed more and can hopefully make an informed choice if these breeds are the right fit for your lifestyle.
Table of Contents
Chihuahua, Chipit, and Pitbull Comparison Table
| Chihuahua | Chipit | Pitbull | |
| Height | 5-8 inches | 12-18 inches | 17-21 inches |
| Weight | Less than 6 pounds | 15-45 pounds | 30-60 pounds |
| Life Expectancy | 14-16 years | 10-13 years | 8-15 years |
| Colors | Black Chocolate Cream Gold Red and white Black sable silver Chocolate brindle fawn And a lot more | Black Gold Tan White Black and white Black and brown | Red Black Buckskin |
| Coat Type | Smooth with either short or medium length | Smooth with short length usually | Smooth with short length, single coat |
| Affection levels | Pretty affectionate | Very affectionate | Very affectionate |
| Shedding Level | Some shedding | Some shedding | Average shedding |
| Temperament | Pretty playful Pretty protective | Pretty playful Pretty protective | Pretty playful Average protectiveness |
| Health Issues | Heart problems Eye diseases Patellar luxation Idiopathic epilepsy potential | Hip dysplasia Patellar luxation Moleras/fontanels of the skull | Hip dysplasia Degenerative myelopathy Patellar dislocation Mange and skin allergies |
| Trainability | Average trainability | Average trainability | Pretty easy to train |
| Exercise | High amounts of exercise | High amounts of exercise | High amounts of exercise |
| Friendliness to People | Alright with strangers | Alright with strangers | Pretty good with strangers |
| Friendliness to Dogs | Alright with other dogs | Alright with other dogs | Alright with other dogs |
| Drooling Levels | Little to no drooling | Little to average drooling | Average drooling |
| Mental Stimulation | Average mental stimulation required | Average mental stimulation required | Average mental stimulation required |
| Barking Level | Lots of barking | Lots of barking | Some barking |
About Chihuahuas
There probably isn’t a single person in the world that doesn’t know what Chihuahuas are. Tiny dogs with disproportionately sized personalities and enough barking to speak for three dogs.
It’s no wonder why, however, these mischievous little dogs have snuck their way into the hearts and homes of many people across the world, despite originating from and being a national symbol for Mexico.
Being small and highly adaptable, they can live in just about any indoor accommodation and are very manageable with a little training and daily exercise.
Chihuahuas are ideal lap dogs after burning some energy but with enough training, they have proven themselves to be intelligent albeit stubborn little dogs.
Even appearing on the silver screen in several blockbuster movies, Chihuahuas stand out as natural-born performers for the adoration of avid toy breed fans.
About Pitbulls
Pitbulls and Pitbull-like breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier are widely known across the United States for their negative reputation as dangerous breeds.
The American Kennel Club does not recognize the vast majority of these dogs since they have enough variety and cannot be limited to a single specific breed.
And although it has been studied time and again, and will keep being studied, some people believe that certain breeds pose a greater threat to man than others.
There is simply no evidence that supports the idea that some breeds are more dangerous than others due to genetic factors or otherwise though.
While pitbulls may be the current era’s scapegoat for horrifying dog bite incidents, the reality is that perceptions of dangerous dog breeds have shifted from decade to decade.
In the not-so-distant past, pitbulls were praised for their patience and caring nature as “nanny dogs” even around small children.
About The Chipit Dog Mix
Also known as Pihuahuas, Chipits typically strike a balance between their Chihuahua and Pitbull parents, being much larger than the average Chihuahua but noticeably smaller than most Pitbulls.
Their appearance can, however, depend a lot on which of the two parents they inherit key characteristics from. For example, just like how there are long-haired and short-haired variants of Chihuahuas, so too are the possibilities for Chipit offspring.
The color of their coat can be like any potential color of the parent breeds as well with a variety of markings stemming more from the Pitbull lineage.
Are Chipits aggressive?
Like with any dog breed, aggression toward other dogs or even humans is a possibility if the proper training and care are not given to the dog.
They are not inherently more dangerous than other Chihuahua mixes just because they have Pitbull blood in their veins.
What temperament do Chipits have?
Just like how the Pitbull is a very affectionate breed with its human family, and how the Chihuahua loves to spend time in their favorite person’s lap, Chipits are family-oriented dogs that will want to be with you as much as possible.
This does mean they can suffer separation anxiety at times being away from the pack for extended periods. They do well in families with older children but will need some training at an early age to ensure that they don’t pick a fight with any other family pets.
Why does my Chipit have a soft spot on its head?
Chipits can inherit a particularly common trait from their Chihuahua parent where there is a soft spot on the dog’s head.
This soft spot is known as a molera or fontanel and naturally occurs in most mammals during the gestation (pregnancy) period of development and into infancy.
However, unlike most mammals, this molera in Chihuahuas and Chipits does not go away as the dog matures and the skull formation finalizes during the expansion of the bones. Instead, it remains a softer, fibrous structure that covers the gap between skull bones.
The theory is that Chihuahuas and their offspring often have disproportionately large brains for their small skulls and so, to accommodate the growing and developing brain, there is stretching and growth of skull bones in such a way that leads to a persistent molera.
If your Chipit has molera, it isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. There isn’t any evidence linking moleras to any significant health problems and many dogs with permanent molera go on to live happy and long lives.
That being said, owners should take some caution so that there are no unnecessary blows to the soft and, therefore, less protected part of the skull to avoid any blunt force trauma injuries.
This is particularly true during exercise and playtimes when the head could bump against any number of things.
Conclusion:
Chipits are not inherently aggressive or dangerous dogs but quite the opposite. They are eager to please and will put on a show to express their love for their family.
They are energetic little furballs and can be particularly willful so care must be taken during training sessions to prevent the owner from becoming the owner.