“Chihuahua Yorkie Mix”
The Chorkie has caught the fancy of many dog lovers as a loveable and adorable pet that many renowned blonde celebrities carry around in their small expensive purses.
The Chorkie is a cross breed of the Chihuahua and the Yorkshire terrier – hence, the name.
It is recognized as one of the cutest designer dogs around. It is a fairly new breed, having been created only in the early part of the 1990s. However, it has become quite popular, especially among modern dog aficionados.
Parents
The Chorkie has an impressive ancestry. Both the Yorkshire terrier and the Chihuahua have been popular among dog lovers for centuries. Like his parents, the Chorkie is a small, cute toy dog that makes an excellent indoor pet.
Appearance
The Chorkie may look like either or both the Yorkshire terrier and the Chihuahua. Puppies can differ in their looks from one pup to the other.
Generally, the typical Chorkie has a small, fine-boned, and light body. It weighs around 8 to 10 pounds and measures about 6 to 9 inches in height.
It has a cute, adorable little face with a small, tapering muzzle, clear, bright, and expressive dark brown or black eyes, a tiny black nose, and strong teeth that may have an obvious under bite. Its head may have the typical apple shape that shows its Chihuahua parentage. The ears of some Chorkies may be droopy, although most Chorkies take after the generally erect ears of the Chihuahua.
The Chorkie has its Yorkshire terrier genes to thank for its long, fine, soft and silky hair. However, unlike the Yorkshire terrier, which is generally black, grey, or tan in color, Chorkies take after the Chihuahua and can come in a wide range of colors.
Some Chorkies may have one predominant color. Others, however, may have a coat that looks mottled, grizzled, or salt-and-pepper (with several colors mixed in), showing the Chorkie’s Yorkshire terrier genes.
The Chorkie has small, fine-boned limbs and compact feet with strong nails.
Life Expectancy
In general, small breed dogs have a longer life expectancy compared to large breed dogs.
Yorkshire terriers and Chihuahuas count among dog breeds that live relatively long lives. Life expectancy is between 14 and 18 years.
The Chorkie’s life expectancy depends on his genes, as well as on his general health. On the average, the Chorkie can live for about 15 years.
Behavior
The Chorkie is an energetic, bright, and bubbly dog. He is lively, confident, and assertive. He can also be quite excitable and aggressive – which may be quite a challenge to people who are not used to strong-willed dogs. He can also require some getting used to for families with small kids who may play too roughly with the Chorkie and bring out his snappy side.
The Chorkie is quite loving and loyal. He is intelligent, goofy, and smart, with a great eagerness to please his owner. He makes for an excellent guard dog. If you take your Chorkie out for walks in public places, it is prudent to keep him in a leash; he can become quite aggressive, especially with strangers.
The Chorkie gets along famously with other small dogs. However, he may be “size-blind” and become quite insistent or aggressive with unfamiliar large dogs. He needs to be supervised when he is in the company of bigger dogs as he may not be able to handle the disagreements he tends to initiate.
The Chorkie makes a fun, entertaining, and loyal companion for adults, especially if he is given adequate training, discipline, and opportunities for socialization.
Food and Diet
The Chorkie is a small dog; he remains small even as he matures. Because of this, he is not likely to demand much food to remain healthy. He needs only about 400 calories a day.
Feed your Chorkie high-quality dog food. Choose dog food that is especially formulated for the activity level and size of small breeds. Quality kibble for small-dog breeds has all the nutrition your pet needs.
Being small, your Chorkie does not need too much food to feel full. The serving size that dog food manufacturers recommend is enough to give your pet the nutrition that he requires.
Avoid free-feeding your pet. Even if he is small, he may have a voracious appetite. This may lead him to over-eat if you leave him without supervision. A Chorkie gains weight fast – which his small frame may not tolerate well. Don’t allow your pet to eat too much if you want to avoid health issues.
Be consistent about feedings. Measure the food that you give your pet. However, this does not mean that you can’t give your pet a delicious treat every now and then.
Exercise Requirements
The Chorkie is quite energetic and active. Because he is small, he can get all the exercise he needs by simply running around in even a small condo or apartment.
It is also a good idea for you to take your Chorkie in nice brisk evening walks every now and then. A half hour walk will do both of you a lot of good. Just because you can fit your pet into your purse doesn’t mean that you should keep him there all the time.
You may also want to play games with your Chorkie. Playtime provides a lot of benefits. It gives you and your pooch the opportunity to strengthen your bond. It gives your pet the chance to get some physical exercise. It also gives you the chance to mentally stimulate your pet’s mind.
Fetch is a good game to play with your Chorkie. It is a simple satisfying game you can play even if you have limited space in your home. All you need is a dog-safe ball that you can get from any pet shop in your area.
Seeing your Chorkie wag his cute little tail as he rushes off in his strong little legs to fetch and carry the ball to you is guaranteed to bring you a lot of pleasure.
House Training
The Chorkie is cuddly, adorable, spunky, and feisty, especially when he is still a puppy. Don’t let his cuteness fool you. Start house training him as soon as possible.
The Chorkie can be sassy, strong-willed, and stubborn at times. This may make training a bit of a challenge, especially at the beginning.
However, Chorkies are recognized for their keen minds. They are an alert and intelligent breed. Show patience and understanding. Try not to get too easily frustrated. Maintain a positive attitude.
Give a lot of positive reinforcements (verbal praise, dog treats, cute, funny toys, and belly rubs should do the trick) during your training sessions. Do all these and you will be able to house train your Chorkie in no time at all.
Start house training your Chorkie as soon as you can. Timely training, behavior correction, and socialization will guarantee that you have a faithful, energetic, eager-to-please, and well-behaved pet.
Grooming
The Chorkie is generally a light shedder, so it doesn’t require much in terms of grooming and coat care.
Brush and detangle his hair every other day to keep it smooth and silky. If your pet has a short coat, brushing it once or twice a week will suffice.
Give your pet a bath weekly or every other week to keep him clean and fresh-smelling.
If your pet has a longer coat, trim it every couple of months to keep it in tip-top condition. Trim his nails once a month. Give his ears special attention so that the hair inside will not grow excessively and cause ear infections.
Some Chorkies allow their owners to trim their nails or cut their hair. Some Chorkies dislike the procedures and may make it difficult for you to do it at home. You may go to a grooming parlor or a pet clinic to have these procedures done professionally.
Dental care is essential. Chorkies can suffer from periodontitis and the resulting tooth loss as early as 3 years of age.
Introduce the tooth brush to your puppy at the earliest time possible. Make brushing teeth part of your pet’s daily routine.
Health Concerns
The Chorkie is generally healthy; it is not prone to a lot of serious health conditions. Like all dogs, however, your Chorkie needs proper health care to keep down the risk of health issues.
Some of the health concerns that a Chorkie may have include the following:
- Skin problems
A Chorkie is prone to suffer from skin rashes and other allergic reactions. For example, heat, grime, and other similar environmental conditions or genetic predispositions may make him a candidate for atopic dermatitis, a form of allergy-related skin problem.
- Hypoglycaemia
Low blood glucose or hypoglycaemia is a condition that Chorkie puppies, particularly weaning pups, are liable to suffer from. Chorkie puppies that have this condition are likely to become cold and lethargic; they may even have seizures. Veterinarians usually recommend force feeding your Chorkie puppy until he is big and strong enough to fend for himself.
- Eye problems
Many terrier breeds are prone to eye problems. Lens luxation is a condition characterized by the weakening of the fibres around the lens of the eye, which may cause the lens to slide from its normal location, leading to loss of vision.
Progressive retinal atrophy is a degenerative condition that may affect the eyes of adult Chorkies.
- Dental issues
The Chorkie has fine jaws. These jaws may fail to align properly causing lack of adequate space for teeth to grow normally. Overcrowding may lead to bacterial infection and tartar build-up.
Where to get a Chorkie
Browse the Internet to find Chorkie puppies for sale or adoption. Dog breeders are likely to also include detailed descriptions and photos of these dogs.
You can also look into the possibility of getting your pet from your area. Ask acquaintances and friends who may know breeders. Check your local dog rescue centers. Go over your local directory.
Conclusion
A Chorkie makes for a small, cuddly pet you can take around with you. It may require training, attention, and socialization, especially as a puppy. Once the puppy understands what you want from him, however, the Chorkie can be a fun, lovable, sassy, and loyal member of your family.