A Chih-A-Pap puppy can be the perfect choice for small households who want a big personality.
With a lot of cheek and spunk, the Chih-A-Pap is a designer breed with a distinct personality best suited to individuals or smaller families. As a combination of two toy breeds, the Chihuahua and Papillion, their small size makes them ideal for city life, but be warned that they have a tendency to be very vocal so you’ll have to get used to a lot of yapping. Noise aside, these are loyal, playful and alert little dogs who can be quite effective watchdogs despite their small stature. Their extraordinary devotion to their owner can lead to territorial behavior but overall they are wonderful companion dogs. They stand between 5 and 11 inches tall and weigh from 4 to 11 pounds. They come in a variety of colors including white, fawn, cream, golden dark brown and black.
History
Chih-A-Paps, also known as Chions, have been in existence for years but it wasn’t until the late 1990s in North America that breeders began intentionally mixing Chihuahuas and Papillions. The intent was to create a new, small breed that maintained the unique feathery coat of the Papillion. Today they are considered a designer breed and are more widely available for adoption.
Temperament
Though the Chih-A-Pap is a small breed, in their own mind and heart they are a big dog! They were specifically bred to be companion dogs and will happily curl up on your lap but at the same time they are extremely loyal and can become very protective of their owners. Despite their size they won’t hesitate to bark at the slightest noise and will not immediately back down from a challenge. That said, they can be extremely loyal and loving and will be happy to be at your side at all times.
Environment
Their small stature makes the Chih-A-Pap specifically well suited to apartment life. They don’t need a huge amount of room to be comfortable and are generally much happier in a smaller household, with an individual owner or a small family. Their tendency to bark can be a challenge when living in close quarters but with the proper early training this can be easily controlled. Because they are a small breed they can be easily hurt by younger children eager to play, so they prefer to be in homes with adults or older children.
Exercise
Chih-A-Paps tend to be high energy dogs, requiring at least one good half hour to hour long walk per day as well as a few active play sessions or shorter walks mixed in. They can be stubborn and difficult to housetrain but with the right approach and plenty of patience they will usually come around as they are also eager to please.
Grooming
The Chih-A-Pap has a short to medium length smooth coat with the unique, wispy butterfly shaped ears of the Papillion. There can also be longer coated versions, who will be less allergy friendly. Both lengths of coat are relatively easy to groom, usually only requiring one good brushing per week. They are not very well suited to weather extremes, meaning they’ll probably need a coat during the winter months and sunscreen on areas with less fur during the summer months.
