Chiweenie vs Carpatin - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The Carpatin, known also as the Carpathian Shepherd Dog or Romanian Shepherd, is a large breed dog known for his guarding- and watch-dog abilities. Information about these dogs dates back to the 1800s, and much later, in March 1998, fans of the dog founded the Carpathian Shepherd Dogs Club.

It is believed that the different Carpathian Shepherd Dog breeds are descendants from dogs that were developed thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia. Documentation of the origins of the dog are rare but it is thought that they are probable descendants of Lupomolossoids. However in 2005, it was finally recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, and in 2006, it was recognized by the United Kennel Club. However, it is still a rare breed outside Romania.

The Chiweenie is a small dog developed in the 1960’s as a hybrid/cross between the Dachshund and the Chihuahua. Due to their small size and big personalities, they are an extremely popular designer breed. They are easy to care for and their personality and activity level is much like the Chihuahua side of the hybrid. The Chiweenie can look like either of its parents if it is first generation. If it is second or third generation it is likely to resemble the parents more as they already look like one of the two breeds. The second and third generations will look like the mix more than either of the originators.

The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world and they originated in Mexico. The Daschund is a hunting dog from Germany with a long body and short legs. The Chiweenie is a nice looking cross breed that loves people and is very affectionate. They were developed in the United States.

Looks:

The Carpatin is a large breed dog, standing at 65 to 73cm in height and weighing between 32- and 80kg. The skull of the dog is wide and domed, the ears medium set and floppy. The neck is strong and muscled, the legs strong and straight, the chest deep.

The tail of the Carpatin is long, bushy and high set and his coat is double layered, medium length and pale fawn in color with light grey to black shades being seen as well.

Temperament:

The Carpatin is patient, loving and protective. This is a strong-willed dog who is independent and fairly easy to train as he is intelligent.

It is a good idea to have him trained and socialized as this brings out the best in him. He is a patient and affectionate dog and he’ll get on well with children and tolerate other pets in the home.

They are wary of strangers and become vocal, barking and growling and taking their guard dog role seriously with strangers around.

A first-generation Chiweenie can look like either of the breeds they are crossed with. However, the second and third generations will have the hybrid look for the most part. No two will look exactly alike however. They have a thin snout that is long on a small, domed head. They can have floppy or pointed ears, eyes that are large and expressive, a moderate tail and small feet. They can vary substantially in their appearances.

The Carpatin is a big, independent dog who loves his human family. He will guard them too and has all the intelligence and skills to be instinctively alert to danger. Territorial, he makes an excellent watchdog.

He isn’t too social around strangers, but with training and socialization he becomes more relaxed and amicable. He responds well to training, especially when he has a firm, strong handler and owner.

Used to being a herding- and working dog, he is happiest when kept busy and isn’t a dog to use essentially for guarding only as he can become aloof and aggressive. Treat him well and have him trained and socialized and you’ll have a wonderful guardian and companion.

This is an extremely popular hybrid or designer dog because they are so friendly, gentle, loving lapdogs. In addition, they love to play and cuddle. They are great for single or older people. If they live with a family it should be with older kids because younger kids might hurt them. Be careful how rough you play. They are small and can be hurt easily.

The Chiweenie is dedicated to their people and extremely loyal. They are also very cautious and can be nervous. They are always watching what else is happening in their environment and they will bark to alert you if they think there is something or someone out of place. They are not quiet dogs. They are great with other small dogs that they are raised with or used to but not with larger dogs, cats or other animals. They are jealous and protective. Train them out of or to avoid resource guarding. They can be stubborn about these things.

They will play constantly if you let them and they are great travel companions, although noises and activity around them does often annoy them. They are also courageous, clever, lovable and happy. Like most toy or small dog breeds you might have a difficult time housebreaking them and crate training is recommended.

The beautiful Carpatin dog can live to be a healthy 12-14 years if you feed him nutritious foods, provide him with clean water every day, exercise him, give him a dry, warm bed and give him loads of love, attention and care.

However every dog can become ill and with the Carpathian Shepherd Dog you certainly want to be aware of ear and eye infections, hip dysplasia and skin disorders.

Chiweenies are a pretty healthy crossbreed with their most prominent issue being allergies. At the same time this hybrid might inherit any of the problems of either of their two parental breeds. These conditions might include:

Hypothyroidism

This is an issue with an overactive thyroid and can be controlled by medication.

• Dental Issues
• Hydrocephalus

The tendency for this would come from the Chihuahua parental genes and can result in brain damage but normally is not that bad.

Degenerative Disc Disease

The tendency for this would come from the Dachshund parental genes and if your Chiweenie has a long back you will need to be careful of jump and overzealous playing.

Grooming:

Despite his longish coat, the Carpatin is a low to moderate maintenance dog. To avoid tangles and matting, you’ll need to brush his hair at least twice a week. He won’t however require professional grooming.

Dogs with floppy ears will need to have the ears checked to ensure they remain fee of moisture and wax buid-up. The ears can be easily infected when left uncleaned. The nails and teeth should also be checked. Canine toothpaste and brush can help to prevent plaque build-up which can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Not only that, dental disease can lead to other health issues in other parts of the body.

Exercise:

The Carpatin is a medium- to high energy level breed dog and he will therefore need a good amount of exercise to keep him healthy and content. Rope him in to your activities whether you go jogging or cycling. Put him on a leash and take him with – he’ll love it. Dogs who are allowed to be active and part of the family are simply better dogs.

Diet:

Your Carpatin’s weight, age and activity levels will guide you as to what food is best for him. He needs nutritious food and if you’re unsure how to choose, your veterinarian can advise you on what to look for.

Apart from proteins, your dog needs fats, fiber, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. As your dog ages, he or she will go through different life stages, and you want to be sure of ensuring your dog is getting everything he needs to ward of disease and stay happy and healthy.

Make sure your 4-legged canine friend always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.

Feeding

Chiweenies regulate their own food intake, even as puppies. They should be fed twice a day and they are prone to dental issues. Dry food is absolutely recommended.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above, the Chiweenie might inherit the issues that affect small dogs most often. This includes:

• Diabetes
• Some may become insulin dependent.
• Seizures
• There is medication to help control these if they occur. Hypoglycemia can cause these.
• Hypoglycemia

A sudden drop in blood sugar levels. This can happen if the dog has diabetes and it is unregulated or stress and poor nutrition can also cause it.

• And Luxating Patellas
• Floating kneecaps can cause arthritis and lameness.
• Ear infections are common.

Exercise and games

These are little dogs with a lot of energy and they burn up a lot of energy. They need to walk every day or have a full-blown play session in the house. They don’t need much space to play in.