Chion Dog Breed Information

Group

Unrecognized

Weight

3.2 kg

Height

20 cm

Lifespan

10-15 years

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About the Chion

Reviewed by:

Dr. Charlotte Francesca Stiles

Veterinarian

The Chion is an adorable little canine companion that would be a wonderful addition to your household.

Read on to add everything you need to know about Chions to your canine education, from their origin throughout history to their temperament and suitability for your household.

What is the history & origin of the Chion?

The origins of the parent breeds (the Papillon and Chihuahua) of the Chion are as follows. The Chihuahua is thought to date back to 11th-century Mexico, brought there by Spanish traders from China. Throughout the centuries, they were bred with various native dogs and in the late 1800s, in the Mexican town of Chihuahua, the modern Chihuahua came to exist.

The first appearance of the Papillon in art dates back to the 1500s when it appeared in various portraits of wealthy Europeans; they even rose the social ranks to appear alongside Louis XIV! They are thought to have been originally bred as a faithful lap dog for noblewomen of the age.

The Chion first came to be in the late 1980s.

What is a Chion breed?

A Chion is a Papillon Chihuahua mix, also affectionately known as a Papihuahua, Pap Chi, or Pap-Wa. Both the chihuahua and the papillon are known for their small size.

Papillon Chihuahua mixes will inevitably be intelligent, loyal, and protective dogs.

The Chion falls under the toy breeds category of canine; toy dogs are bred for the sole purpose of providing companionship for their human owners.

Who is a Chion best for?

Chions are smart, friendly, and attentive dogs, they share many of these characteristics with their papillon forebears who were bred as a companion for European nobles. They also share alertness and mistrust of strangers with their Chihuahua parents; this leads them to be more suited to house environments over apartments, where they won’t encounter strangers often.

They are playful by nature and get along very well with children and other pets. However, they are very delicate and small dogs, not always suited to mix with younger children who may accidentally hurt the miniature pooches. As a result, it may be more suitable for them to exist in households with older children who are more gentle with the Chion.

All that being said, with the right training, love, and attention, a Chion can fit into any household. They are incredibly loyal and protective canines, who will love their family for their entire lives.

Chion Grooming & Shedding

You’ll be pleased to hear that Chions are relatively low-maintenance dogs. As average shedders, a twice or thrice weekly brushing should be more than enough to keep their fur in check. Their coats can get quite long and are generally solid colours, however, it is not unknown for them to have a spot or two of another colour.

Don’t forget to keep their teeth in tip-top shape with regular brushing, and your dog’s nails in peak condition with occasional trimming or filing if necessary.

Do Chions bark a lot?

These energetic dogs have a strong tendency to bark at strangers and have strong reactions to sudden loud or unexpected noises. While this does make for the paw-fect miniature watchdogs, it can be disconcerting for those who are looking for a quiet canine companion.

As you can imagine, this makes Chions unsuitable for an apartment building. In an environment where there is a constant stream of potentially unfamiliar people walking past the front door or making noise in adjacent apartments, Chions can struggle.

What is the average weight & height of a Chion dog?

As is the case with their chihuahua and papillon ancestors, Chions tend to be on the smaller side. They average around 20cm tall and only weigh around 3.2 kg when fully grown.

Are Chions easy to train?

These dogs are a fiercely intelligent breed, yet as other Chion owners would attest, they can be particularly stubborn. If you can start training your Chion from a young age you are more likely to be able to teach them effectively.

Crate training can be especially important, both with Chions specifically as well as other dogs. Getting your dog as comfortable as possible with being in a crate can make your life a lot easier going forward.

How do Chions behave? A look at their temperament and personality

This breed has a playful personality, similar to its papillon parent. They have a very active inclination and have the ability to get on with most other pets.

They can also be seriously loyal and very protective. They will stand up for a family member with passion and can be very loud when they perceive a threat to the security of their home. Don’t be surprised if your Chion tends to bark excessively, they’re just doing their best to protect you!

Does the Chion have any common health issues?

Crossbreeds such as the Chion tend to have fewer inherent health issues in comparison to a purebred dog.That isn’t to say that there is no chance of having any health issues, which either develop or are inherited from their parents.

Their Chihuahua parent is known to have joint problems and this isn’t uncommon to find in Chions either. Their erect ears can be very sensitive too, it’s essential to keep a close eye on them; ensure the ears stay clean to avoid infection.

Smaller dogs often have dental issues due to the smaller size of their mouths, keep an eye on your pup’s teeth!

Other potential health problems include:

Addison’s Disease: This condition affects hormone production and can lead to various health complications.
Corneal Ulceration: Due to their bulging eyes, Chions are more susceptible to eye issues like corneal ulcers.
Hypoglycemia: Younger toy breed puppies may be at risk for low blood sugar due to low glycogen storage.
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease: This condition involves the decay of the thigh bone and is more common in small breeds.

The physical health of your dog is very important! Veterinrians reccomed you take your dog for yearly checkups, vaccinate them and treat them against parasites.

What is the lifespan of a Chion?

There is no hard and fast rule for the expected lifespan of a dog. There are countless different factors that affect how long a dog may live, many of which are simply in the hands of mother nature.

The life expectancy of Chions can range from 10 to 15 years, but some have been known to live longer.

How much does a Chion need to be fed?

Chion puppies need feeding three to four times a day, smaller meals more often are much easier for the mini pups to digest. At around the six-month mark, you can switch to feeding them twice daily.

A poultry-based diet is an absolute win for this Papillon Chihuahua mix. Small breeds tend to have dental issues later in life, so drier foods and treats are certainly the way to go. If you have your Chion from a young age, it would be a good idea to include teeth brushing into their training routine. Younger Chions are much more susceptible to trained behaviour.

A balanced diet of vitamins and minerals is vital to maintaining any healthy breed and the same remains true for your Chion.

How much can you expect to pay for a Chion in Australia?

Chions are a relatively rare designer breed, and as such you are unlikely to find one in an animal rescue shelter.

If you’re looking to acquire this pooch for your home, the price of a Chion puppy can vary from $350 up to around $1000! It’s a big commitment adding one of these pups to your household, but their affectionate love and staunch loyalty make it well worthwhile.

Make sure you support a reputable breeder, don’t purchase your pooch from anywhere that may have bought their pups from puppy mills.

Chion FAQs

Do Chion dog breeds suffer from separation anxiety?

Any dog can be susceptible to separation anxiety. Becoming distressed when you leave, chewing things that may carry your scent, and scratching at doors when you leave are all signs of a pooch suffering from separation anxiety.

Follow this link for tips on how to train them to deal with separation anxiety.

Are Chion dogs ideal for first-time dog owners?

Due to their innate stubbornness, a Chion could prove to be a challenging dog to a first-time owner. If you are planning on acquiring one as your first dog, it is recommended to get one that is still in its early stages of life or one that is already house-trained.

Other than that they will be wonderfully loving and loyal pups.

Are Chions as smart as other dogs?

Both male and female Chions are known to be exceptionally smart, just as is the case with their toy dog ancestors. They’ll fit right into an active and vibrant household.

Are Chions good with other people and pets?

Chions can get very attached to their owners. While this makes for a great companion dog, it does mean they can get quite jealous and possessive when strangers are around.

As a result of this, it may take some time for them to warm up to new people or pets, but once they become accustomed to them, they’ll get on with them just fine.