Also known as the beagle Chi, chi-bea and chibeagle, the cheagle is a lively and fun-loving crossbreed which can be an excellent family pet. These dogs vary in both personality and physical characteristics due to their mixed parentage but all tend to be small and loud!
Which group is the cheagle in?
Breed group: none – crossbreed not recognised by the Kennel Club
Cheagle breed history
In the late 1990s, breeders in America began crossing beagles with Chihuahuas. The resulting dogs inherited an unpredictable combination of traits from the parent dogs. Most cheagles tend to look like beagles but are much smaller. These dogs are recognised by The Dog Registry of America, The American Canine Hybrid Club and the International Canine Registry but not by the Kennel Club.
Cheagle breed characteristics
Cheagles can exhibit a variety of characteristics as their mixed genes produce diverse dogs. However, most have short, shiny coats in combinations of brown, black, white, and cream. These dogs tend to look like small beagles but may have more tapered muzzles due to their chihuahua parentage. They are fun loving pooches with plenty of energy which like the sound of the own voices, courtesy of their beagle genes. They are good watchdogs and some have high prey drives. Cheagles can be difficult to train and so might prove to be a little too much for inexperienced owners.
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Height: up to 30cm
- Weight: up to 17kg
- Short coats
- Combinations of brown, black, white, and cream
- Energetic
- Friendly
- Tend to bark
- May have a strong prey drive
- Good watchdogs
- Difficult to train
Health issues with Cheagle
The cheagle is a relatively new crossbreed. The short history of the breed makes assessing this dog’s health difficult but it is known to be prone to the following conditions:
- Obesity
- Thyroid issues
What is the Cheagle bred for?
The cheagle is a so-called designer dog which has been bred to produce small, friendly pooches which are great family pets.
What sort of owners does the Cheagle suit?
Cheagles can be feisty and hard to train and so are not good choices for first time owners. They are, however, friendly and low-maintenance which makes them suitable for many households. Cheagles are highly energetic and loud. Their ideal owners would be singles, coupled or families with older children who lead active lives. These dogs could live happily pretty much anywhere but are not suitable for apartment living due to their tendency to bark – a lot!