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Chussel Hybrid Description

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Hybrid Description

The Chussel is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Chihuahua and the Brussels Griffon. The best way to determine the temperment of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross. It is possible you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. Not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generational crosses. Please review individual breeds for potential health issues.

Chihuahua Breed Description - Cross #1

Chihuahuas are very small dogs, and are the smallest breed recognized by some kennel clubs. Chihuahuas come in virtually any color combination, from solid to marked or splashed, allowing for colors from solid black to solid white, spotted, sabled, or a variety of other colors and patterns. Colors and patterns can combine and affect each other, resulting in a very high degree of variation. Common colors are fawn, red, cream, chocolate, brown, mixed, white, and black. The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom and the American Kennel Club in the United States recognize only two varieties of Chihuahua: the long-coat, and the smooth-coat, also referred to as short-haired. Chihuahuas do not breed true for size, and puppies from the same litter can mature drastically different sizes from one another. Typically, the breed standard for both the long and short coat chihuahua will be identical except for the description of the coat. Chihuahuas have large, round eyes and large, erect ears, set in a high, dramatically rounded skull.

Behavior

Stout, quite hardy, bold, and very lively, the Chihuahua is fairly independent, courageous, proud, and strong-willed. He is very attached to his owner, even possessive. He is not very good with children. Quite vocal and sometimes aggressive toward strangers, he makes a good watchdog. He needs firm training. Chihuahuas that are their human's pack leader tend to be fairly dog-aggressive. An owner who realizes this and treats the Chihuahua no differently than they would a large breed, becoming a clear pack leader, will get a different, more appealing temperament out of this wonderful little dog, finding it to be a good little child companion.

He is an apartment dog who needs daily walks. He is sensitive to cold. His eyes need regular attention, and his teeth should be checked regularly for tartar build-up. He needs regular brushing.

Health

Collapsing trachea. heart problems, hydrocephallic, and patellar luxation. Other health concerns include eye problems and hypoglycemia. Chihuahuas are very fragile dogs whose bones can break easily.

The Chihuahua has some predisposition to several neurological diseases, among them atlantoaxial instability, ceroid lipofuscinosis, congenital deafness, congenital hydrocephalus, muscular dystrophy, necrotizing meningoencephalitis, and neuroaxonal dystrophy.



Brussels Griffon Breed Description - Cross #2

The Brussels Griffon is typically a small breed with a sturdy frame. The average adult Griffon stands from 9 to 11 inches (230–280 mm) tall, and weighs 8 to 10 pounds (4–5 kg). They have domed heads, short noses, and an underbite. Their human-like facial features were the inspiration for the Ewok.

The Griffon comes in two coat variants, wiry/rough and smooth coat. Their hair (not fur) can be red, black and tan, or black and reddish in color. The short hair Griffon requires little grooming while the wiry/rough coat Griffon requires weekly grooming attention.

Generally, breeders will dock tails and crop ears on puppies for sale. This practice is illegal in most of Europe and increasingly frowned on in the United States, but still practiced in some places.

Behavior

Brussels Griffon: Tough, energetic, lively, and merry, this dog is very attached to his owner. He rarely barks, but his vigilance makes him a good little watchdog.- Brussels Griffon: This lively, merry, even-tempered dog is quite tough and vigorous and makes a very good pet. Vigilant and vocal, he makes a good watchdog. He is also a good eliminator of pests.- Small Brabant: This very confident, lively, strong-willed dog is quite intelligent and makes a good pet.These dogs need firm training.

The Brussels Griffon is well-suited to apartment life but does not like being left alone. This very clean dog requires regular brushing and must be groomed every three months to maintain his handsome appearance. He does not tolerate heat well. His eyes must be checked regularly. The Brussels Griffon can live in an apartment, as long as he gets regular walks. He requires daily brushing and regular grooming. His eyes and the folds on his face must be checked regularly. The Small Brabant is a very clean city dog. Regular brushing is enough to maintain his wiry coat.

Health

Griffons have relatively few inherited health problems, but should still be tested for congenital defects, the most serious of which are Syringomyelia (SM) and Chiari-like malformation (CM). The typical life span of a Griffon is somewhere in the range of 10 to 15 years.

Birthing
Griffons usually have no trouble whelping on their own, but sometimes complications can necessitate a Caesarean section. The size of a litter is anything from 1-10 puppies. The size of the litter often determines the extent of these complications. When they are born, the puppies only weigh a few ounces (about 100 grams) and are small enough to fit in the palm of an adult's hand.

Cleft palate
One issue that is typically fatal for the puppies is having a cleft palate. It results in the puppy not receiving nourishment from the mother and eventually starvation. It is uncommon but, depending on the size of the cleft, it is possible for the puppy to survive. When it becomes older surgery can be done to close the hole.

Eyes

  • Most have large eyes that may require rechecks from a veterinarian.
  • Lacerations are a common issue amongst the breed. Because the Griffons have such large eyes and a short snout, there is very little there to protect their vision from foreign bodies. If a laceration is left untreated it can result in blindness.
  • As with most breeds, cataracts are a common problem as the dog ages. For many breeders it is a disappointment that the cataracts typically develop long after the dog has already been bred.
  • Lens luxations can be fairly common in the breed and result in secondary glaucoma
  • Glaucoma can also be a common issue amongst Griffons owing to the breed's facial features and eye size.
  • Although Griffons have a shortened snout, heat stroke is not a major concern for them as it is with other flat-faced breeds. The breed's shortened muzzle may cause respiratory problems in extreme heat, but overall they tolerate both hot and cold weather well. As with any breed, owners must use common sense and not leave them outdoors without protection from the elements or subject them to rigorous exercise during extreme temperatures, so let them in your house for cool air and some water.

    Syringomyelia (SM) is a condition affecting the brain and spine, causing symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain and partial paralysis. Syringomyelia is characterised by fluid filled cavities within the spinal cord. SM occurs secondary to obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) especially if that obstruction is at the foramen magnum. Not all dogs with SM have clinical signs. The presence of signs is correlated to the width of the syrinx and extent of spinal cord dorsal horn damage. Syrinxes can progressively expand and a dog which is asymptomatic in early life may eventually experience pain.


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