Chiweenie vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Chiweenie vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium but Chiweenie is originated from United States. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may grow 31 cm / 13 inches higher than Chiweenie. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may weigh 19 kg / 42 pounds more than Chiweenie. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Chiweenie has almost same life span. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may have more litter size than Chiweenie. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Chiweenie requires High Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
undefined
Belgium
United States
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
15 - 35 cm
5 - 14 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
13 - 33 cm
5 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
4 - 11 kg
8 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
4 - 9 kg
8 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
2 - 6
Size:
Large
Toy
Other Names:
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Chiwee and Mexican Hotdog,, Chiweeni or Chiweeny
Colors Available:
Black
Black, black and tan , brown
Coat:
Dense double coat
Medium, short, silky
Shedding:
Constant, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Protective, Stubborn
Grooming:
High Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

belgian shepherd dog groenendaelLooking much like a pitch black German Shepherd dog, the Belgian Shepherd is a beautiful looking dog. Their roots go back to the 1800s to Groenendael, Belgium. This is where they were bred by a certain Nicolas Rose in 1910. The Groenendael is one of four different Belgian Sheepdog varieties but the Groenendael is sometimes treated as a distinct breed.

They have always been used for their intelligence, serving for instance in the police force and being message carriers in war situations. Originally, Belgian Shepherds were used to herd livestock. It was in 1911 that the Groenendael was registered in the United States, and not much later the first Belgian Sheepdog Club of America formed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912.

chiweenieThe 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.

Description

Large, Strong and Well Proportioned

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppy - descriptionWith his alert, bright brown eyes, the Groenendael, referred to often as the Belgian Sheepdog, has erect ears with a long, feathered tail. The straight, strong legs are also feathered. He is well proportioned, athletic and strong. He has a dense double coat, and this working dog’s coat is black, but you sometimes find some small white markings around his paws and muzzle. The size of the Groenendael is roughly 60-66cm at the withers with the females sometimes being slightly smaller. The weight of the dog is roughly 25–30 kilograms.

He’s a Social Dog who Craves Companionship

The Groenendael is an active, intelligent breed and training and socializing will be necessary to ensure he knows how to behave around his human family. He is a big, social dog and won’t do well when left alone day after day in the back yard. In fact he may even show signs of separation anxiety if you leave him indefinitely. He makes for an excellent family dog, just loving their companionship and he becomes very protective of them.

An Intelligent, Alert Breed

He is used to making use of his intelligence and therefore he will need mental stimulation as opposed to lying around all day. He gets on well with adults, children and other pets, but he needs to grow up with children and not be put among children when he is already an adult. He is loyal and loving to his human family, forming a deep bond, especially with just one member of the family.

chiweenie puppy - descriptionA 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.

Characteristics

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dog - characteristicsYour Belgian Shepherd is an intelligent, active, loyal companion for you. He is highly intelligent too, and will need the right owner who can meet his energetic needs. He therefore wouldn’t do well with in a small place where the owners are couch potatoes. He is a working dog and will require being kept busy.

Provide him with good food, look after that thick, lustrous coat of his, provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep and plenty of exercise, love and attention and he will turn out to be the wonderful pet that makes him such a popular breed.

chiweenie dog - characteristicsThis 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.

Health Problems

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Groenendael is a healthy, strong breed with no major health problems and with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.

As with every dog breed, there will be some health issues to be aware of. Skin allergies, epilepsy, eye problems and hip- and joint dysplasia are some areas to look out for

Dental disease for instance, is a common problem with pets, and your Belgian Shepherd can have serious problems with their teeth. Tartar build-up on the teeth ca take you down a trail of infections and gum disease. If you don’t want to make use of a special canine toothbrush and toothpaste, your vet will do it for you.

Your Groenendael will also be susceptible to ticks, fleas and bacterial and viral infections. As a puppy of 6 – 8 weeks, vaccinations for parvo, rabies, and distemper will be necessary. You’ll also need to be generally watching your pet’s health and to get him to the vet when he shows signs of being run-down and ill.

chiweenie puppies - health problemsChiweenies 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.

Caring The Pet

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dogs - caringThe Groenendael has a double coat and because it is also fairly long, his black coat may well be high maintenance and brushing every 2nd day will be necessary to keep the coat unmatted and to also get rid of those loose hairs. In fact, heavy shedding is part of this breed’s life and while heavy shedding happens twice a year, light shedding continues throughout the year. Sometimes is may be necessary to send him to a dog grooming parlour to snip his hair and to wash it.

Other care routines to watch for -

A healthy, quality diet it absolutely imperative. Speak to your vet about the best kind of wet- or dry food suited to an energetic breed like this and appropriate to his age. You need to include raw meat into your pets diet every day now and then to avoid skin problems. Always ensure a bowl of clean, cool water is available, The bowl will need to be washed out every other day.

make sure his ears are cleaned. Once again you have to be careful when prodding in a dog’s ear and your veterinarian will show you how.

keep him well exercised with long walks and ball games.

Feeding

chiweenie dogs - caringChiweenies 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Chiweenie vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Chiweenie vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Chiweenie vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Chiweenie vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Chiweenie vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Chiweenie vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Chiweenie vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Chiweenie vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Chiweenie vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Chiweenie vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Chiweenie vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Chiweenie vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Chiweenie vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Chiweenie vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Chiweenie vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Chiweenie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Chiweenie vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Chiweenie vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Chiweenie vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Chiweenie vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Chiweenie vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Chiweenie vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Chiweenie vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Chiweenie vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Chiweenie vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison