Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix: Your Complete Guide
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes have a unique combination. Also known as the rat-cha, rat-chi, or rat Chihuahua, rat terrier Chihuahua mixes have many traits that make them ideal companions for a wide range of individuals, couples, and families.
They are affectionate little dogs that bond strongly with their owners and often act as one-person dogs, attaching to one particular family member more than others to call their special human. They are also fairly easy to care for, with minimal grooming and moderate exercise needs. With these alone, the rat terrier Chihuahua mix is an ideal companion for many.
However, as with any other dog breed, there’s much more to learn about the rat terrier Chihuahua mixes. In fact, proper research is critical to ensuring you set realistic expectations about adding a rat terrier Chihuahua mix to your life, as the traits of these vary like other mixed breed dogs. Read on to get your complete guide to rat terrier Chihuahua mixes as we cover everything from their temperament and size to grooming and health.
A Quick Look at the Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix
Below is a quick glance at the rat terrier Chihuahua mixes in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 10-15 pounds / 10-16 inches |
| Coat Type | Short, smooth coat |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Affectionate, friendly, active, sassy |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train |  |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 13-16 years |
What Is the History of Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes?
Since rat terrier Chihuahua mixes aren’t purebred, there isn’t a history we can track to know when a Chihuahua and rat terrier were first mixed to have one of these dogs. There surely have been many rat terrier Chihuahua mixes throughout the time both parent dog breeds existed, but they mainly gained traction in the 1980s. Although rare, especially compared to popular dogs like the goldendoodle or labradoodle, rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are gaining popularity as companions.
As for their purebred parents, rat terriers, as their name suggests, were terriers bred to hunt rats on farms. This made them a common farm dog in the US in the early 1900s. In addition to their role as rat exterminators throughout, rat terriers also worked alongside their families as hunting dogs, watchdogs, henhouse guardians, and beloved family pets that keep children active.
The Chihuahua, on the other hand, is a dog breed originating in Mexico, with possibly a long history dating back to the Aztecs. They are local to the Chihuahua State in Mexico, where they were commonly kept as companions and got their name as we know it today.
What Do Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Look Like?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are small dogs with big, erect ears like the rat terrier parent and have the graceful eyes of the Chihuahua. While these give them a distinct appearance, they also have a wide range of coat color combinations, including white, black, brown, fawn, red, and a combination of these colors.
What Size Is a Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are small dogs that weigh 10 to 15 pounds. However, they are taller than most dog breeds in the same weight class, standing anywhere between 10 and 16 inches tall at the withers.
This proportion gives the rat terrier Chihuahua mix an athletic appearance, and true to their looks, they are fit dogs with a sturdy build capable of many physical tasks. We will cover more about their energy levels in the coming parts, but know that many of these dogs aren’t the type that shy away from physical exercise. In fact, they love it and live for it.
What Is a Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix’s Coat Type and Length?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes, like both parents, have a short, smooth coat. Since they have fairly thin undercoats, they require winter clothing in colder months of the year, especially in states with harsh winters. They are also prone to sunburn, so keeping a rat terrier Chihuahua away from direct sunlight during peak heat hours is essential to prevent issues.
What Is a Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix’s Temperament?
Rat terriers have a unique temperament due to rat terriers and Chihuahuas being completely the opposite of each other in many regards. For instance, rat terriers are friendly dogs that welcome everyone with open arms, whether strange dogs or humans. Chihuahuas, on the other hand, are reserved around unfamiliar people and take a long while to get used to the presence of strangers.
With this and many other traits that conflict with each other when looking at the two breeds, the rat terrier Chihuahua mix has a temperament that requires careful consideration. Below, we will cover everything you need to know about the personality traits of these dogs, going over their family life, aggression, barking tendencies, and more.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Good With Kids?
One major opposing trait between rat terriers and Chihuahuas is their relationship with children. While Chihuahuas typically don’t get along well with children and tend to get jealous if kids in the family get more attention than them, rat terriers are completely the opposite; they bond strongly with kids and enjoy their presence.
This means that your rat terrier Chihuahua mix can be like either parent or somewhere in the middle. It all comes down to individual temperament when both dog parents have opposing traits. Therefore, puppy selection plays a crucial role in bringing home a rat terrier Chihuahua mix with the traits you want.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Good With Other Animals?
When it comes to dogs in the family, rat terrier Chihuahua mixes generally don’t pose a challenge. As long as your existing dogs are socialized properly, you won’t have anything to worry about adding a rat terrier Chihuahua mix to the pack. During daily walks, they act playful around friendly dogs and are happy to socialize.
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes typically get along well with cats as they are about as big as one. However, they aren’t the best dogs to be around for prey animals like hamsters or guinea pigs. Rat terrier and Chihuahua mixes have an extremely high prey drive that may make them instinctively chase after small animals, often for the kill. Due to this, reconsider the terrier Chihuahua mix if you’re keeping prey animals.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Aggressive?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes aren’t inherently aggressive. However, they are more prone to aggression than many other dog breeds due to the part of their temperament that mainly comes from the Chihuahua. They are considered sassy dogs that don’t tolerate acts that they don’t like. For instance, if someone gets too close to their food while eating, they may snap or growl without hesitation.
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes have intense socialization and training needs, especially early on, to prevent such behavioral issues. Whether you’re adopting a puppy or an adult rat terrier Chihuahua mix, invest heavily in socialization and training. When socialized properly, aggression won’t be an issue.
Do Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Bark?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes tend to be barkers. Although barking ultimately comes down to individual temperament in dogs, most rat terrier Chihuahuas are vocal dogs that use their bark for various reasons. They may bark to alert their owner, express their feelings, or get the attention of someone.
Regardless of the reason, expect a rat terrier Chihuahua mix to bark frequently. These dogs aren’t too loud, but their barking tendencies can lead to conflicts with neighbors, especially if living in an apartment with noise restrictions. Luckily, they are fairly trainable dogs that can leave their barking habits. Use positive reinforcement training to teach your dog not to bark for the best results.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Affectionate?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are among the most affectionate combinations when it comes to mixed dog breeds. After all, both purebred dog parents bond strongly with their owners and can’t get enough of the attention they receive from their family members.
This affectionate nature can also act similarly towards strangers, including unfamiliar dogs and people. However, whether or not your rat terrier Chihuahua mix will quickly warm up to strangers or take their time depends on individual temperament, like many other traits of these dogs.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Intelligent?
Rat terriers are fairly intelligent dogs. They keep an alert eye over their surroundings and are curious dogs that will go after anything that catches their interest. Since the rat terrier parent was utilized as ratters for many generations, many of their mixes have great problem-solving abilities.
However, don’t expect a rat terrier Chihuahua mix to be as highly intelligent and driven as a border collie, German shepherd, or other highly regarded working dog breeds. They are smart in their own ways, but their intelligence surely has its limits.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Energetic?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are medium-to-high-energy dogs. They require daily walks and playtime to stay healthy and happy, in addition to lots of mental stimulation to keep their minds sharp. While they might be small, rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are athletic dogs that can endure a great deal of physical exercise. These dogs love exploring new sights, so they make excellent hiking buddies for those looking for a small dog.
Because of their energetic nature, providing your rat terrier Chihuahua mix adequate exercise is critical for their well-being. Otherwise, they may develop behavioral issues that require long training sessions to address, which brings us to our next point on rat terrier Chihuahua mixes.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Easy to Train?
Both the rat terrier and Chihuahua are eager to please their owners and are fairly intelligent dogs. Therefore, the mixes of these dog breeds are easy to train. You can train them for basic obedience tasks without much sweat and get them involved in more advanced training types like agility training or scent work.
Since rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are fairly trainable, start training as soon as you get them to ensure some of their sassy side from the Chihuahua doesn’t become difficult to control. Cover all your dog’s training needs using Dog Academy’s online lessons on basic obedience, puppy training, trick training, fixing behavioral issues, and many more.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Good Watchdogs?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are great watchdogs with their tendency to bark to alert. Whether your dog is more like the rat terrier or Chihuahua parent, they will keep an eye on their territory and let you know if anything suspicious happens.
While they make good watchdogs, note that rat terriers can’t uphold any actual protection work. Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes will simply alert you of someone suspicious, and their job will end there. They don’t have the capability to protect due to their small size.
Are Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Good Service Dogs?
Rat terrier chihuahuas don’t make good service dogs. This has many reasons, with their high prey drive being the most obvious, along with their small size, difficulties in training for advanced commands, and vocal personalities. Since service dogs must stay on task at all times to assist their handler with a disability, they are a difficult breed for service animal work.
Nonetheless, rat terrier Chihuahuas can make superb emotional support animals for people in need of a comforting dog’s presence. With some training, they can also become well-rounded therapy dogs that spread joy to everyone.
How to Care for a Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix?
Rat terriers are fairly high-maintenance dogs with their exercise, socialization, and training needs. They require an involved owner who can provide the care these dogs deserve. These include daily walks, playtime, and lots of affection.
While these must come first, there are also other care needs of rat terrier Chihuahua mixes specific to these mixed breed dogs. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for one of these dogs, covering grooming, health, and more.
Do You Need to Groom a Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are demanding with their energy levels and need for close attention, but they are pretty low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Brushing these dogs only once a week is enough to maintain their coats. They also don’t need professional grooming, so you won’t need to worry about trimming their coats.
Additionally, rat terrier Chihuahuas have standard grooming needs like all dogs. Nail trimming, dental care, and ear cleaning must be an essential part of their grooming routine. Dental care is particularly important with these dogs as they suffer from a variety of dental problems, so it is recommended to brush their teeth daily.
Do Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Shed?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes shed very minimally, as these dogs don’t have thick undercoats. Still, it doesn’t mean that they are hypoallergenic dogs. Although they may not produce a lot of dander compared to other dogs, their presence likely will trigger allergic reactions if you have pet allergies.
What Health Problems Do Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Have?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are generally healthy dogs, but they may develop certain health issues, particularly those that this breed is prone to developing. These health concerns include atopy, elbow and hip dysplasia, collapsed trachea, luxating patella, and cataracts.
If buying a rat terrier Chihuahua mix from a breeder, make sure that the breeder is reputable and screens the health of their breeding stock. If adopting a rat terrier Chihuahua mix, learn as much as you can about the health of the dog as well as the parents to be prepared for any health problems your dog might develop later in life.
How Long Do Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mixes Live?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes have a long lifespan, with both purebred parents being long-lived. On average, these dogs live between 13 and 16 years, but environmental factors, genetics, diet, and many other components go into lifespan that might affect how long your rat terrier Chihuahua mix lives.
What Should a Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix Eat?
A rat terrier Chihuahua mix should eat high-quality dog food formulated for their age, size, and activity levels. If your rat terrier Chihuahua suffers from specific conditions, like a sensitive stomach, you will also find many options.
Check dog food reviews to find the best dog food for your rat terrier Chihuahua mix and ask for recommendations from your veterinarian. They can point you to the best diet for your dog after examining their health.
Is a Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix the Right Dog for Me?
Rat terrier Chihuahua mixes are affectionate and devoted dogs with hearts much bigger than their size for their owners. They make great companions for individuals, couples, and large households with older children.
Although some rat terrier Chihuahua mixes get along exceptionally well with young children, it is a risk that most prospective owners shouldn’t take. Since they also tend to be one-person dogs like the Chihuahua parent, they usually do best in households without other pets.
Considering all these, adoption centers, rescues, and shelters are great places to look for adopting one if you’ve decided that the rat terrier Chihuahua mix is the right dog for you. You can also work with a reputable breeder in your area to purchase a rat terrier Chihuahua puppy.