How long does a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix live?

A typical lifespan is 10–13 years, the midpoint of the German Shepherd (7–10 years) and the Chihuahua (14–16 years).

Is a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix easy to train?

Trainability is low to very high, based on how both parent breeds respond to training. Start early and keep sessions short.

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German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix

A German Shepherd Chihuahua mix is a cross between a German Shepherd and a Chihuahua. Most grow into medium-sized dogs of 25–50 lb and live 10–13 years.

German Shepherd, a purebred dog — German ShepherdPhoto: Erick Drumss Hernández, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Chihuahua, a purebred dog — ChihuahuaPhoto: Caterinarufo, Public domain, source

Photos show the purebred parents. There is no single look for a mix: puppies in one litter can resemble either side.

Weight25–50 lbcan be 3–90 lb

Height14–17 inat the shoulder

Lifespan10–13 years

SizeMedium-sized

How big does a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix get?

German Shepherd50–90 lb

The mix25–50 lb

Chihuahua3–6 lb

Pounds. The dark band is where most German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix dogs end up; the light band is the full range between the smallest and largest parent.

Height runs 14–17 inches at the shoulder, against 22–26 in for the German Shepherd and 5–8 in for the Chihuahua. The parents differ a lot in size, so litters vary more than usual. Breeders normally use the larger breed as the mother to keep whelping safe.

Coat, energy and training

Shedding

Low to high

Neither parent has a low-shedding coat, so expect dog hair around the house and seasonal heavy shedding.

Energy

Moderate

Daily walks and some play are enough for most of these dogs.

Trainability

Low to very high

The German Shepherd rates very high and the Chihuahua low; a puppy may lean either way.

Grooming

Low

A weekly brush and the odd bath keep the coat in shape.

Temperament

The German Shepherd is usually described as confident, courageous, smart. The Chihuahua as charming, graceful, sassy. A mix can take after either parent or land in between. If you can, meet both parents of a puppy before you choose.

German Shepherd vs Chihuahua vs the mix

Trait	German Shepherd	German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix	Chihuahua
Weight	50–90 lb	25–50 lb	3–6 lb
Height	22–26 in	14–17 in	5–8 in
Lifespan	7–10 yr	10–13 yr	14–16 yr
Shedding	high	low to high	low
Energy	moderate	moderate	moderate
Group	Herding	mixed	Toy

Questions about the German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix

How big does a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix get?: Most grow to 25–50 pounds and 14–17 inches at the shoulder. Because puppies can take after either parent, the full possible range is 3–90 pounds.
How long does a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix live?: A typical lifespan is 10–13 years, the midpoint of the German Shepherd (7–10 years) and the Chihuahua (14–16 years).
Does a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix shed?: Shedding is low to high. Neither parent has a low-shedding coat, so expect dog hair around the house and seasonal heavy shedding.
Is a German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix easy to train?: Trainability is low to very high, based on how both parent breeds respond to training. Start early and keep sessions short.

Other German Shepherd mixes

Other Chihuahua mixes

Figures are calculated from each parent breed's standard height, weight and life expectancy. How we calculate.