Cheke-A-Pom

Just when you’d got your head around hybrid dogs being a mix of two pedigree breeds, along comes the Cheke-A-Pom. This fluffy bundle of cuteness is the product of not two, but three breeds. In fact, the Cheke-A-Pom is half Chihuahua, and a quarter each of Pomeranian and Pekingese. In other words, one parent is full Chihuahua, whilst the other is part Pom and part Peke.

The Cheke-A-Pom is a small dog that makes an ideal companion dog. They have a reputation for being playful, sweet-natured, and loving with a touch of cheekiness. Their coat is soft and silky, with longer feathering on the ears, leg and tail.

About & History

The Cheke-A-Pom is a newcomer and an usual hybrid. Therefore the history of the Cheke-A-Pom is that of their parent breeds.

The Chihuahua

The Chihuahua breed arose from Mexico, with their roots in the ancient Toltec civilization. Indeed, fragments of pottery and figurines exist which show a dog similar in stature to the modern Chihuahua. The dog we recognise today became popular in the 1800s, in the Mexican state after which they are named.

The Pekingese

The Pekingese’ roots go back even further and China of 2,000 years ago. Legend has it the first dogs resulted from the marriage of a miniature lion and a marmoset monkey. Whatever their true origin, these were undoubtedly stunning dogs and as such only Chinese nobility were allowed to keep them. The breed was so closely guarded that dogs only found their way into Europe in the late 19th century.

The Pomeranian

Last but not least, the Pomeranian’s ancestors were larger Spitz-type dogs, such as the Samoyed, Siberian Husky, and Alaskan Malamute. The breed’s name originates from the region of Pomerania (an area on the Baltic coast overlapping Germany and Poland.)

Appearance

The appearance of the Cheke-A-Pom varies widely, with some examples looking like a stretch-Chihuahua and others a bandy-legged fluff ball with a flat face. This is because as a hybrid dog, the pups may inherit any characteristics from any of their three parents.

If there was such a thing as a typical Cheke-A-Pom, the dog would be small with somewhat heavy bones, often with bowed front legs. Their snout is likely to be flattish, but with a round face and folded, triangular ears. Their body may be elongated, and usually topped off with a long tail festooned with feathering.

Character & Temperament

Each Cheke-A-Pom will have a unique temperament. The parent breeds each have their own characteristics, of which the Chihuahua is the most spikey and reactive. At the other extreme is the Pekingese, which is a dog born to cuddle and be cuddled.

Whilst the Papillon is a somewhat willful dog that is loving on their terms and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Mix this combination together and, in theory, a Cheke-A-Pom should be loving and loyal, but may be intolerant of inconsiderate or rough handling.

Trainability

The Cheke-A-Pom can be hard to train, not least because many owners don’t perceive the need for obedience from a small dog. However, the sharper Chihuahua and Pomeranian aspect to their character means training is advisable.

The Cheke-A-Pom does not lack intelligence, so the key to successful obedience training is motivation. This is achieved through a combination of finding a reward the dog will work for and then having regular training sessions where the dog thinks they are playing rather than learning.

Health

As a hybrid dog there is not yet enough data about health problems specific to the Cheke-A-Pom. To get a better picture of the possible issues they may suffer from requires examination of the parent breeds.

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

The flat-face of the Pekingese comes with a raft of problems that make it difficult to breathe. This includes narrow nostrils, overly large tongue, long soft palate, and large tonsils, all of which adds up to the dog struggling to get air into their lungs.

Sadly, if a dog has BOAS there is no cure, and in some cases, their breathing difficulties are so severe that corrective surgery is required. This is a specialist procedure and expensive, and even those that do well afterwards they may struggle to pant and keep cool in hot weather.

Patellar Luxation

Patellar luxation, or wobbly kneecaps, is common in all the parent breeds. This is a condition where the kneecap pops out of position, locking the knee in bent when it needs to be straight. The owner may notice this as the dog skipping steps on a back leg.

Mild cases can be managed with pain relief. Moderate to severe cases may have difficulty walking and are prone to early arthritis, in which case corrective surgery is advisable.

Dental Disease

Many smaller breeds tend to have crowded mouths, as they have the same number of teeth as larger breeds but squeezed into a smaller space. This creates a lot of nooks and crannies for food to accumulate, leading to plaque and tartar formation. Left untreated, this causes gum recession, tooth root abscesses, and loose teeth.

An owner can go some way to slowing up the progression of dental disease by undertaking regular (preferably daily) tooth brushing. This is best started in puppyhood, to get the dog used to the toothbrush and pet toothpaste.

Obesity

It’s easy to fall for the cute looks of a Cheke-A-Pom and indulge them with treats and titbits. Unfortunately, this is at odds with their small size and low energy levels, which mean they are prone to weight gain. Sadly, this isn’t without consequences as carrying too much weight has health implications, such as predisposing the pet to diabetes.

Exercise and Activity Levels

The Cheke-A-Pom is a moderately active dog, perhaps requiring more by way of mental exercise than physical. They should get out and about for a potter and for sniffs, at least twice a day. The more active examples love to run and play fetch, but little legs mean they tire easily.

Grooming

The Cheke-A-Pom is a moderate shedder. Their soft, long coat requires regular combing to remove tangles before they clump together as a mat. For preference this should be done after every walk, to remove twigs and leaves from the coat, or at least twice every week. As with any dog, daily tooth brushing is advised in order to reduce the risk of dental disease.