Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix is a designer dog breed, a cross between the Jack Russell Terrier and Chihuahua. Also called Jack Chi, they are playful, energetic, and friendly and inherit the best qualities of their parent breeds. With modernization taking over our lives, Jack chi was bred to be a great family companion and fits the demands of fast-moving lifestyles. They love human company and are suited for families living in apartments. The Jack Russell Chihuahua developed in the United States a couple of decades ago, but not much-verified information is available.
The parent breed Jack Russell Terrier was developed in England around the 1800s and used to hunt foxes. They are lively, intelligent, clever, charming, and affectionate. A famous quote goes, “What a beautiful world it would be if people had hearts like Jack Russells.” The Chihuahua Parent breed is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua in the 1850s and is the world’s smallest dog. Chihuahuas are also the national dog of Mexico. Although a toy breed, they are aggressive and alert. They are also called “purse dogs.”
The AKC does not recognize Jack chis due to their designer dog tag. However, these bouncy little munchkins follow your every step all day, and they are a pure bundle of joy.
Table of Contents
Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Loyal, intelligent, and friendly
High exercise needs
Healthy and good life expectancy
Separation anxiety
Low maintenance and low shedding
Barks a lot
Good companion
Difficult to train
Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix Basic Information
Name: Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix
Height: 12 – 15 inches
Weight: 8- 18 pounds
Size: Small – medium
Coat: Dense and medium coat.
Color: Black, chocolate, fawn, golden, cream, white, or a mix of two or three colors.
Group: Mixed breed
Activities: Agility, walking, playing with sprinklers, puzzle games
Breed Recognition: ACHC = American Canine Hybrid Club, DDKC = Designer Dogs Kennel Club, DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc., IDCR = International Designer Canine Registry®.
Jack Russell Terrier and Chihuahua: A Comparison
Features
Jack Russell Terrier
Chihuahua
Image
Origin
England
Mexico
Height
10-15 inches
6 – 9 inches
Weight
13- 17 pounds
3 – 6 pounds
Size
small
Small
Group
Terrier Group
Companion dogs
Children Compatibility
High
High
Family Compatibility
High
High
Pets Compatibility
High
Low
Barking Level
High
Low to medium
Shedding Level
Medium
Low
Hypoallergenic
yes
No
Grooming Needs
Medium
High
Overall Health
High
Low
Energy
High
Medium
Exercise Needs
High
low
Trainability
Easy
Easy
Activities
Fetch, tug of war, chase, hide and seek, swimming, camping, traveling
Watchdogs, Companion dogs
Complication in breeding
no
No
Litter Size
8-10 Puppies
1-3 puppies
Lifespan
10-15 years
10-18 years
Other Names
Jack Russell, JRT, Jack
Nil
Jack Russell ChihuahuaPersonality
Jack Russell Chihuahuas are small to medium-sized dogs with a height of around 12 – 15 inches and a weight of 8-18 pounds. They have dense, medium coats with a straight texture. The coat is generally short to medium, shiny, and wiry. Though the coat is thick, Jack Chis need extra care with a doggy jacket in cold weather. The coat color is black, chocolate, fawn, golden, cream, and white. Sometimes they may be a mix of two or three colors. Jack Chis are hypoallergenic and shed low.
Jack Chis have a triangular-shaped head with large round eyes. The face is long and thin. The ears are either erect or floppy but consistently large, depending on the parent gene. Mostly, the tail curls up like the Chihuahua parent. However, the overall appearance depends on the gene game, and Jack chi puppy is one handsome hunk that never fails to steal one’s heart.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
High
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
High
Dog-friendly
High
Stranger-friendly
Medium to high
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
High
Good for new owners
Low
Sensitivity level
medium
Tolerates being alone
medium
Cold tolerance
low
Heat tolerance
High
Jack Russell Chihuahua Temperament
Jack Russell Chihuahuas are playful, energetic, and adorable low-maintenance companions. They are friendly and love to be around humans. They are great with kids but require supervision as children may not know how to handle small dogs. Jack Chis are always active and ready for play sessions. They are intelligent and outgoing. They love to boss around the house and make an excellent companion.
Jack Chis inherit Jack Russel Terrier’s hunting instincts and make efficient guard dogs. Their attentiveness, intelligence, courage, and barking nature alert you of the threats and strangers’ presence around your home.
Jack Russell Chihuahua Training
Jack Russell Chihuahuas are stubborn and require patience and consistency in training. Early socialization helps in behavioral corrections and to get along with strangers, kids, and other animals. They respond to positive reinforcement; treats and praises do wonders. They have a high prey drive and should be safe in a fenced area. Agility training helps in proper mental stimulation.
Trainability Overview
Easy to train
low
Intelligence
High
Prey drive
High
Mouthiness tendencies
Low
Barking and Howling tendencies
Low
Wanderlust tendencies
High
Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix Exercise Needs
Jack Russell Chihuahuas are energetic, active, and need thirty to sixty minutes of daily exercise. They are playful and love their play sessions. They also enjoy activities like walking, agility games, and hiking. This helps in proper mental stimulation and to burn energy. In addition, they enjoy puzzle games, playing with sprinklers, and visits to dog parks. Jack Chis are prone to obesity, demanding an active lifestyle and regular exercise for a healthy and happy life.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
High
Exercise needs
High
Intensity
High
Playfulness
High
Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix Grooming
Jack Russell Chihuahuas are low-maintenance dogs and shed less than the average dog. Therefore, they are easy to groom, and the coat needs to be brushed 2-3 times per week. Brushing helps remove clump hair and pull out the loose fur during shedding. One of the essential parts of grooming is bathing which keeps the dog clean. However, frequent bathing causes dry skin and itches. Bathing your dog using pH-balanced shampoos for dogs and pet wipes will keep your dog’s coat fresh, clean, and shiny. You can also bathe them once a week. However, daily brushing helps to keep the fur from knots and tangles.
Brush their teeth daily to prevent plaque and other dental problems. Never brush the teeth with a stiff brush as it will harm the gums and teeth. Also, make sure to use dog-friendly toothpaste.
Trim their nails. Their toenails need to be checked once a week as longer nails may harm and injure the dog. You can trim the toenails with a commercial dog nail trimmer or with the help of a vet or professional groomer.
Jackchis are healthy dogs and may not develop any health concerns. But it always helps to know when to take your pup to the vet.
General health
Medium
Weight gain tendencies
Medium to high
Size
small
Patellar Luxation: It is also known as “slipped stifles,” a common problem in small dog breeds that is caused when the patella, which has three parts-the femur (thigh bone), patella (knee cap), and tibia (calf) — is not correctly bounded. This leads to lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, like a hop or a skip. This condition is caused by birth, although the misalignment or luxation does not always occur much later. In addition, the rubbing caused by patellar luxation leads to arthritis. There are four patellar luxation grades, ranging from phase I, an occasional luxation causing unstable lameness in the joint, to grade IV, where the turning of the tibia is heavy, and you cannot realign the patella manually. This gives your dog a bow-legged appearance. Uphill grades of patellar luxation may require surgery.
Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia is a disorder that can affect several tiny dog breeds, including Chihuahuas and their mixed breeds. When a dog’s blood sugar level drops too low, hypoglycemia occurs. This occurs most frequently after an exercise session, when the dog skips a meal, or when the dog witnesses an exciting occurrence. If you suspect your dog is suffering from hypoglycemia, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Allergies: Few dogs suffer from various allergies, differing from contact allergies to food allergies. Allergies in dogs are similar to those in humans. If your Jack Chi is scratching, licking at their paws, or rubbing their face a lot, suspect that they have an allergy and take them to the vet.
Dental Disease: It affects 80% of pets within two years. It causes tartar build-up on the teeth, infection of the gums and roots, and in extreme cases, loss of teeth and damage to the kidneys.
Eye Diseases: Jack Chis can be prone to the following eye diseases and disorders:
Corneal damage
Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Eyelid mass
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Cherry eye
Entropion
Heart Disease: Heart Diseases might cause abnormal heart murmurs and heart rhythm. You can diagnose this condition through an X-ray, an ECG, or an echocardiogram. Treatment depends on the cause and ranges from medication, dental care, and weight control.
Spay or Neuter: In spay, the ovaries or uterus in females is removed, and in the neuter, the testicles of the male dogs are removed. It eliminates the possibility of pregnancy or fathering unwanted puppies and decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancer.
Legg-Calve Perthes Disease: The blood supply of the femur is decreased, due to which the pelvis begins to disintegrate, and the hip becomes gradually weakened. Symptoms include limping and atrophies of the leg muscle. The diseased femur can be corrected with surgery.
Collapsed Trachea: A canine’s windpipe or trachea is a muscular tube supported by delicate cartilage rings. The trachea moves through the dog’s neck on its passage to the lungs. When they pull hard on a choke chain or collar, it can collapse the trachea.
Recommended Test for Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix
Cardiac Exam
Ophthalmological Exam
Patella Evaluation
Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix Diet and Nutrition
Jack Russell Chihuahuas require high-quality nutritional food formulated for small-sized dogs. Puppies need 3-4 meals per day, while adult dogs need to be fed twice daily. Jack chi dogs can be given dry food, wet food, or both. Never hesitate to consult a vet to meet your Jack Chi’s dietary requirements to keep them happy and healthy.
Jack Russell Chihuahuas are playful, cheeky, and adaptable dogs. They can live in an apartment with urban settings and play and romp around in a big country yard. They love to be with caring families and require regular exercise to keep them happy and healthy. Jack chis develop strong bonds with their owners and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone, which may result in excessive yapping and barking. However, early socialization and proper training can make him a well-behaved pet.
Jack Chis are not tolerant of cold weather and require a jacket. However, they are well suited for apartments and need to be engaged with interactive toys to avoid boredom.
Adding a Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix to Your Family
Things to remember before adding a Jack Russell Chihuahua Mix to your family
It is best to get a Jack Russell chihuahua puppy from a reputable breeder to prevent unavoidable circumstances like health disorders and provide you with vaccination certificates. It is best to check with the puppy’s parents to ensure his health and happiness. Always remember the following red flags to avoid backyard breeders and puppy mills.
Puppies are available around the year.
You can choose from a variety of litter that is always available.
We recommend you visit the puppy and his parents and get health clearance and vaccination certificates, to avoid purchasing a weaker puppy.
The cost of a Jack Russell Chihuahua Puppy
Jack Russell chihuahua puppy cost ranges from $150 to $1500.
