diff --git a/chex/_src/dataclass.py b/chex/_src/dataclass.py
index ea11125..206222d 100644
--- a/chex/_src/dataclass.py
+++ b/chex/_src/dataclass.py
@@ -79,14 +79,31 @@ def new_init(self, *orig_args, **orig_kwargs):
   cls.__init__ = new_init
 
   # Update base class to derive from Mapping
-  dct = dict(cls.__dict__)
-  if "__dict__" in dct:
-    dct.pop("__dict__")  # Avoid self-references.
-
-  # Remove object from the sequence of base classes. Deriving from both Mapping
-  # and object will cause a failure to create a MRO for the updated class
-  bases = tuple(b for b in cls.__bases__ if b != object)
-  cls = type(cls.__name__, bases + (collections.abc.Mapping,), dct)
+  # Update base class to derive from Mapping
+  # We register the class as a virtual subclass of Mapping instead of inheriting
+  # directly. This avoids creating a new class via type(), which would break
+  # the __class__ closure required for super() calls in methods.
+  collections.abc.Mapping.register(cls)
+
+  # Since we are not strictly inheriting from Mapping, we need to provide
+  # the mixin methods that Mapping usually provides for free.
+  if not hasattr(cls, "get"):
+    def get(self, key, default=None):
+      try:
+        return self[key]
+      except KeyError:
+        return default
+    setattr(cls, "get", get)
+
+  if not hasattr(cls, "__contains__"):
+    def __contains__(self, key):
+      try:
+        self[key]
+        return True
+      except KeyError:
+        return False
+    setattr(cls, "__contains__", __contains__)
+
   return cls