Appearance of the Chestie
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| The Chestie is a small-breed dog that is considered quite slender. These hybrids tend to have dark, round eyes that may be slightly domed as seen in the Chihuahua parent, and short to medium-length muzzles with black or brown noses. They often stand no more than 25 centimeters tall, and will have short legs that may be small or a little stockier like the Westie parent. Depending on dominant parental genes, Chesties can have medium to long coats that will be fawn, cream, white, black or brown. Ears are often straight with a rounded tip, although Chesties will sometimes have slightly folded ears. Generally, you can find feathering of the fur spread over the muzzle area, ears and chest. The tail can be straight or hanging and will not be too thick. |
Temperament of the Chestie
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| The Chestie is a fairly active dog, quite devoted and loyal to its owners. Your Chestie may tend to be clingy and demanding, following you wherever you go. The downside of this characteristic is that Chesties don't like to be left alone, so separation anxiety can be common. If you're someone who isn't home often, or who works outside the home all day, you may want to store around for a different kind of hybrid. Dog daycare is an option as long as your dog is socialized early in life. A solitary dog can develop the habit of excessive barking, a common trait seen in this hybrid. When it comes to children and other pets, Chesties are often quite friendly and playful, however, they can nip if a child is too hard on them. |
Needs and activities of the Chestie
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| As the Chestie is a small hybrid, it doesn't need much exercise, but will be happiest if you take it for a walk two or three times a day. These can be short walks, just a quick stroll around the block to see what's going on in the neighborhood. Obedience training, playing with toys, going to small dog playgroups and visiting the dog park are other options he'll enjoy. However, it's important to be careful when visiting dog parks, as Chesties can get injured playing with larger dog breeds. Your hybrid will be at home in any environment as long as it has your company. |
Maintenance of the Chestie
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| Chesties are low-maintenance dogs because they are fairly small and don't have excessively long hair. A weekly brushing with a pin brush should be enough to keep this pretty hybrid's coat crisp and clean. If its coat is short and smooth, the smooth brush will also do a good job. In general, he's a clean little dog and shouldn't need to bathe often, unless he tends to like rolling around in the mud. Always use a vet-approved shampoo when he needs cleaning. His nails will need trimming every few weeks, and as he's small and has small teeth, there could be teething problems or tartar build-up. Daily brushing is recommended whenever possible. |
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