Cheagle

The Cheagle is a hybrid dog, a cross between the Chihuahua, a tiny companion dog, and the Beagle, a small tracking dog. The Beagle is a rabbit tracking dog that has been a popular animal both as a hunting companion and a family dog for several centuries, and it has been noted by name frequently in writings from the 15th century on. There have been a few changes in the Beagle breed since they first became popular, however, including a period of time in which a tiny version of the Beagle known as a “Pocket” Beagle was bred. The breed standards were set in the late 1800s, around the same time that The Beagle Club of England and the National Beagle Club in the United States were being formed and was recognized in the Hound category by the American Kennel Club in 1885. The modern Chihuahua’s full history is unknown, and DNA testing of the breed indicates ties to the ancient Techichi that was native to Mexico and kept as pets and religious sacrifices by the indigenous Aztec people. What is clear is that some of the earliest dogs that could be identified as Chihuahuas were found in Mexico in the mid 1800’s, although at the time this tiny breed didn’t have an official name. Merchants in Mexico, largely from the state of Chihuahua, began selling these portable and companionable animals to visitors from  other countries. In 1904, the first Chihuahuas were recognized by the American Kennel Club and just thirty were registered by 1913. Today they are listed the 30th most popular breed in the United States with well over 40,000 Chihuahuas registered with the AKC in 2012, and also enjoy great popularity in many other countries around the world, including the UK, the Philippines, and Australia. The Cheagle is a slightly larger and more outgoing canine than the Chihuahua while retaining its protective and loyal nature.