Are you interested in a small, adorable dog? The Chorkie is a hybrid dog that is a mix between a purebred Chihuahua and a purebred Yorkshire Terrier.
Despite his small size, this dog has a huge personality, is very affectionate and loves his family members unconditionally.
In our comprehensive guide below, you’ll view pictures and learn more about the Chorkie, including facts about his physical characteristics and temperament, as well as any health issues you should watch out for.
Furthermore, you’ll find useful information about grooming and feeding your Chorkie puppy. So, keep reading. You’ll be glad you did!
Table of Contents
What is a Chorkie?
As we’ve already mentioned, the Chorkie is a designer dog developed by crossing a Chihuahua with a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie).
The Chorkie has several other popular names, including the Chihuahua Yorkie mix, Chia-Yorkie, Yorkie-Chi, and Yorkiehuahua.
Since both parent breeds are considered to be toy breeds, your Chorkie will also be a very small dog. As such, it is also possible to use either a male or female dog of either breed when trying to produce Chorkie puppies.
Since the Chorkie is a crossbreed, it can be difficult to tell what your puppy will look and act like as a full grown dog. To some extent, this is the case for all Chorkie puppies and mixed genetics can make the physical characteristics and personality traits of the puppies even more unpredictable.
What we can tell you for sure is that all Chorkie puppies are small in size. Generally speaking, the Chihuahua cross Yorkie will fall anywhere between the two parents for aspects such as appearance, temperament, and health.
Therefore, we need to learn more about each parent breed to get a good understanding of what to expect from your Yorkshire terrier cross Chihuahua puppy. However, it is still difficult to predict how he will look and act like as a Chorkie full grown dog until that time comes.
So, let’s take a closer look at both parent breeds, starting with the Chihuahua.
The Origin of the Chorkie Breed
An Overview of the Chihuahua Breed
The Chihuahua is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.
The Chihuahua breed traces its origins as far back as ancient Mexico and historians agree that the present-day Chihuahua is a descendant of an ancient dog called the Techichi. This ancient dog was bred by the Toltec people around the 9th century.
Back then, the Techichi was believed to wield supernatural powers. However, there’s no tangible evidence with regard to the exact history of the Chihuahua breed before its emergence in Spain.
The modern-day Chihuahua dog was actually bred in North America and the breed was officially recognized by the American kennel club (AKC) in 1904. These days, the Chihuahua ranks among the most popular breeds of dogs in the world.
The Chihuahua is so popular among dog owners the world over partly because of his diminutive size. This dog reaches up to 5 inches in height and weighs no more than six pounds.
These tiny dogs actually come in a range of colors, including white, black, red, fawn, brown, cream and more. These canines also come in many unique patterns, but one pattern is actually undesirable – the merle coat type. This is because there are many health problems associated with it.
The smooth coated Chihuahua is easy to maintain and groom since he has short hair. On the other hand, the long-haired Chihuahua has more grooming requirements, including more frequent bathing and brushing.
Despite being one of the smallest dog breeds around, the Chihuahua has a huge personality and makes for a great family companion. These dogs are also quite intelligent, which makes them easy to train as long as you use positive reinforcement training methods for motivation.
In a family setup, the Chihuahua acts as a loyal companion. This dog sometimes builds a strong bond with one member of the family and he can be quite bossy. Chihuahuas are generally wary of strangers and aggressive towards other canines.
This breed is a good choice for families with older children as they are often intolerant of small kids. However, if you have time on your hands to train and take care of your Chihuahua, he can be a very loving dog.
Now, let’s talk about the Yorkshire Terrier.
An Overview of the Yorkshire Terrier Breed
Despite being a toy breed, The Yorkshire Terrier displays the lively personality that is typical of most terrier breeds. This dog has tons of energy and enjoys various family activities, but his most distinctive feature is his long, smooth coat.
As his name suggests, the Yorkie was originally bred in Yorkshire, England in the 19th century. The emergence of this breed can be attributed to three different dogs with more contribution coming from the Maltese and the Paisley Terrier.
During the formative years of the Yorkshire Terrier breed, there was no recognized standard for the breed, so any dog with a long, smooth, blue and fawn coat was said to be a Yorkshire Terrier. In the 1860s, however, one of the dogs was selected to define the breed standard. Soon afterwards, the Yorkshire Terrier made its way to North America.
The Yorkshire Terrier was officially recognized by the AKC in 1885 and he became the breed of choice for the American nobility and English upper class. Apart from being a loyal companion, these dogs were also used to control rats and other pests in clothing mills.
These days, however, the Yorkie is mainly a family companion dog, and constantly ranks among the most popular dog breeds in the US and elsewhere in the world.
Now that you know more about each parent breed, let’s take a look at the Yorkie Chihuahua Mix in more detail.
How Big Will a Yorkie Chihuahua Mix Get?
One of the factors that makes the full grown Chorkie dog so popular is his small size.
The Chihuahua is a toy breed and stands up to 10 inches tall and weighs anywhere between 4 and 6 pounds. The Yorkshire Terrier also falls under the toy group and reaches no more than 9 inches in height, and weighs around 4 to 7 pounds.
With that information in mind, you can expect your Chorkie full grown dog to fall within the average height and weight range for the two breeds. This means your Chorkie puppy will stand no more than 10 inches tall and weigh anywhere between 4 and 7 pounds when full grown.
However, the only way to actually know the size of a mixed breed dog like the Chorkie is to wait until his maturity age.
General Appearance
The Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier Mix is not only an excellent companion, but a very cute dog, as well. However, the exact physical characteristics of your Chorkie dog will depend on which parent dog he takes after most.
Chihuahuas are known for their attractive coats, which could be either short haired or long haired. These small dogs come in various colors, which gives potential pet parents plenty of choices.
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On the other hand, Yorkshire Terriers have a striking blue-and-tan coat with long, smooth fur. This dog’s coat has a fine, glossy texture with various colors and patterns.
It is important to point out here that while full grown Yorkies have a blue and tan coloration, the puppies are normally black in color. The all-black coats of newly born Yorkie puppies eventually turn into the blue and tan coloration that is typical of these dogs at maturity.
As you can see, a Chorkie will be a lovely combination when it comes to appearance. The dog can take after either parent breed or be a perfect combination of both. Again, you can never be sure what you will end up with when you cross a Chihuahua and a Yorkie. However, there are a few common physical characteristics.
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While there are definitely some exceptions, most Chihuahua Yorkie mixes exhibit the following characteristics:
• Chorkies usually inherit the long, smooth coat of their Yorkie parent.
• A Chorkie puppy may inherit either the apple or deer-shaped heads of his Chihuahua parent.
• A Chorkie may have either relaxed and droopy ears, or pointed and alert ears.
• Chorkies come in a range of colors and patterns.
Are Chorkies Hypoallergenic?
? While no dog breed is 100% hypoallergenic, Chorkies do not shed as much as many other dog breeds. This means that they may be a good choice for allergy sufferers.
However, the coat of this mixed breed dog will require proper maintenance with daily brushing and regular bathing to help maintain coat and skin health.
Please refer to the grooming section below to learn more about how to maintain your Chorkie dog.
Chorkie Behavior & Temperament
In most cases, Chorkies are an excellent combination of the Yorkie and Chihuahua breeds, which are known to establish strong relationships with their owners almost immediately.
Chihuahuas bring a lot of attitude and pride to the mix while Yorkies contribute a bold, yet affectionate side to the mix.
Both of these parent breeds are small dogs who tend to establish strong bonds with one member of the family and they are often territorial. Therefore, you can expect your Chorkie personality traits to the same. However, you can also expect your pup to be wary of strangers.
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Since the Chihuahua x Yorkie is very small, this dog may not be a good choice for families with kids. Not only can this dog be intolerant of small kids, but his small size puts him in danger of getting injured by kids who do not know how to interact with a dog. This mix may also be a bad choice for families with cats or other dogs.
Both Yorkshire Terriers and Chihuahuas require a lot of attention and affection so your mixed breed dog could become aggressive or dominant around other pets in the household. Your Chorkie will most likely acquire the social skills of his Chihuahua parent, but that might not prevent him from showing aggression towards other dogs.
Early and proper socialization will help prevent this issue, but Chorkies are generally not as dog-friendly as their Yorkshire Terrier parents are. That is an important thing to keep in mind if you gave other dogs a home or enjoy spending time at a nearby dog park.
Do Chorkies Bark A Lot?
Like their Chihuahua parent, Chorkies tend to bark a lot.
They are usually eager to alert their owners of strangers or any abnormal activity around their environment by barking. This can actually make them good watchdogs.
RELATED: 5 Simple Ways to Stop Your Dog from Barking
Chorkie Puppy Care Tips
As with other breeds, training, exercise and good care are of the utmost importance. Chorkie puppy care is not all that different from caring for other dogs.
However, there are some important tips for taking care of a Chorkie.
1. Chorkie Training
The Yorkie Chihuahua Mix is generally an intelligent little dog, but training can be difficult in some cases since small dogs can be stubborn.
This means that while your Chorkie is intelligent and may respond well to training, it is extremely important that you establish yourself as the pack leader. It is also important that you utilize positive reinforcement training methods to motivate your dog every step of the way.
Chorkies enjoy getting attention from their masters, so they will be keen to learn tricks and commands if you reward and praise them accordingly.
As with most small breeds, housetraining a Chorkie can be a challenge.
Some of these dogs learn the dos and don’ts of peeing and pooping quite fast, while others keep on making the same mistakes the whole of their life.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict this when choosing a puppy. Crate training is particularly helpful, but some will have accident-related incidents time and again.
Fortunately, other aspects of Chorkie training will be a breeze, if handled well. Make sure to teach your dog the basics: lie down, sit, come, and stay.
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How to Teach your Chorkie the Sit/Stay Command:
For instance, training your puppy to stay/sit can be a simple task.
Simply tell your Chorkie to stay/sit by the door. Once he does that, praise him. Open the door and allow him to go outside. That should be his reward for obeying the command.
If he gets up immediately you open the door, quickly close it and repeat the command. Don’t allow him to go outside until he has obeyed the command.
Don’t punish or shout at your puppy for disobeying a command since your dog will feel betrayed by your actions. Dogs respond well to positive reinforcement once they get things right.
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ALSO READ: 13 Common Dog Training Mistakes You Ought to Avoid
2. Socialization
Early socialization is extremely important for your Chorkie since small dogs tend to develop behavioral issues or dominant tendencies if they are not well socialized at a young age.
Give your puppy an opportunity to meet many new people and not just the members of your family. This will make him more comfortable around strangers and in new situations.
Let your pup walk around the neighborhood and explore new surroundings and people. If he seems scared, don’t be in a hurry to remove or pick him. Give him time to adjust.
As with many other small dogs, the Chorkie is vulnerable to Small Dog Syndrome if he is not properly trained and socialized.
A dog develops Small Dog Syndrome if he doesn’t get proper authority or leadership from his owners and it causes the pooch to develop aggressive or dominant tendencies.
To prevent bad habits associated with this condition, train and socialize your Chorkie properly. This will help teach him good behavior and discipline.
ALSO READ: All About The Cheagle – The Adorable Beagle Chihuahua Mix
3. Chorkie Exercise Requirements
The Chorkie requires an average amount of physical activity, so it will be quite easy to meet his exercise needs.
Chorkies are full of energy, so be sure to take him out on daily walks. A dog who gets plenty of exercises and quality playtime with his owner will be happier and calmer in general. Keep in mind that playtime is also a good exercise for your dog.
Chorkies enjoy interactive dog toys and indoor games. Make sure to use toys and balls designed for toy or small dog breeds. If you opt to take your Chorkie to a dog park, ensure your puppy is well socialized and that there is an area dedicated to small breeds.
Keep in mind that Chorkies require attention while exercising or playing. This will ensure your dog is safe at all times. Always keep your dog collared and leashed when taking him out on walks. This is because they can be aggressive if they come across another dog. If your dog tends to pull on leash, make sure to use a harness instead.
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4. Chorkie Grooming Requirements
Generally speaking, Chorkies have more grooming demands than their Chihuahua parents do.
For instance, since Chorkies usually acquire the long coat of their Yorkshire Terrier parent, they normally require more frequent brushing than many previous Chihuahua dog owners are used to.
Fortunately, shedding is minimal for this mixed breed dog just as is the case with both parent breeds.
As far as Yorkie Chihuahua Mix grooming goes, brush your Chorkie every day and after baths to avoid tangles and mats.
Next, bathe your Chorkie every two weeks. Be calm and friendly when grooming your dog. This will help put him at ease. Make sure to use deodorizing wipes when you’re not washing your Chorkie dog to keep his coat and skin healthy.
Also, trim your pup’s hair. Keep any hairs around Chorkie’s ears short. Also, trim any hair around his eyes and nails. Long hair inside a dog’s ears can make him vulnerable to ear infections.
Last but not the least, brush your pup’s teeth each day to prevent dental problems.
Further Reading: Top 10 Best Bones to Clean Dogs Teeth
5. Feeding information
Since the Chorkie is a small dog, his appetite should be small, as well.
Make sure that you buy high quality dog food that has been specially formulated for small breed dogs. When it comes to choosing between canned and dry dog food, go for what your puppy loves most. Dry dog food can help prevent tartar buildup, but canned food is just as nutritious.
? Be careful when selecting generic or cheaper brands. These may include low quality ingredients and fillers that might not offer your dog the much-needed nutrients. You can ask your vet for recommendations on high quality dog food for your pet.
Avoid serving table scraps to your dog. You should avoid getting your puppy in the habit of consuming human dog on a daily basis. Some human foods are also unsafe for dogs.
Establish a proper feeding schedule. Chorkies only require around one cup of high quality dog food each day to maintain them in a healthy condition, so feeding this dog will be more affordable than having a larger dog.
Keep in mind that Chorkie puppies grow very fast and should be fed more often than adult Chorkie dogs. Therefore be sure to split the food into three meals per day. Also, feed your puppy at the same time each day.
You can also supplement your pup’s diet with tasty treats, but vets agree that these mustn’t make up more than 10% of your pup’s daily diet. Last but not the least, make sure your dog has constant access to fresh water to keep his body hydrated.
ALSO READ: Probiotics for Dogs – How Do They Work And Which Are The Best?
Chorkie Health Problems
As a crossbreed, the Yorkie Chihuahua Mix may be vulnerable to certain health problems.
It is widely believed that crossbreeds are generally healthier than their purebred counterparts since there have a bigger gene pool.
While this is often the case, if both parent dogs are at risk for the same health problem, then your Yorkie-Chi’s risk for developing the same condition will actually be greater.
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Chorkies are prone to a number of health conditions, including the following:
Hypoglycemia: Chorkies are prone to hypoglycemia (or low blood sugar). Common signs and symptoms include low energy, reduced appetite, tremors, restlessness, shivering, anxiety and confusion.
Tracheal collapse: this is a serious condition that occurs when a dog’s airway collapses or constricts. Signs include a dry cough, breathing problems and sudden breathing sounds.
If your dog shows any of these signs and symptoms, take him to your vet as soon as possible. Tracheal collapse often occurs due to too much heat, exercise or excitement. Overweight dogs are also vulnerable to this condition.
A Dislocated Kneecap: also known as patellar subluxation, a dislocated kneecap is caused by injuries or by genetics. You may notice the dog constantly limping in his rear leg. This can be due to sudden or occasional lameness. Take your dog to your vet because only a qualified vet can detect and treat this condition.
Eye Problems and Dental Problems: Since both Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers are tiny dogs, this may also be true for a Chihuahua Yorkie Mix.
Both parents are also vulnerable to a health condition known as portosystemic shunt. This is a liver disorder that can be very expensive to treat. If you see your Chorkie acting abnormally, contact your vet as soon as possible.
What is the Life Expectancy of a Chihuahua Yorkie Mix?
The Chorkie’s parents are toy breeds, and small breed dogs generally have high life expectancies. This means that your Chorkie will also have a long lifespan.
The Chorkie has an average lifespan of around 14 to 16 years.
How Much Do Chorkie Puppies Cost?
Since Chorkie puppies are usually marketed as a “hybrid” or “designer” dogs, they often have very high price tags. However, it is important to realize that some of the puppies marketed as “crossbreeds” or “designer dogs” are actually mutts.
In fact, many experts recommend Chorkies for adoption rather than supporting backyard breeders or designer dog breeders out there. Make sure to do your research to ensure you get a real Chorkie for sale or adoption.
Either way, you should use the Embark Dog DNA Test Kit to ensure that you are getting a real Chorkie dog. This dog DNA test kit will help you to accurately determine the parentage of your dog as well as any potential health issues to watch out for.
That said, the average price of a healthy Chorkie is around $400 to $800.
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Finding Reputable Chorkie Breeders
Reading local publications, asking your colleagues and going online are some of the best ways to find good Chorkie breeders.
However, the best way to find a reliable breeder is by going online. Browsing the internet is quick and cheap, and there are normally reviews and comments from other dog enthusiasts who have purchased dogs from them in the past.
When you’re considering a given breeders, make sure to visit the kennel or home of the dogs to ensure that the puppies are comfortable and look healthy. Meeting the parent dogs will give you a good idea of how your desired puppy will develop.
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Keep in mind that even purebred dogs differ considerably from one individual to another. This means that you should do your homework before buying a new dog. Ideally, you should meet several Chorkie puppies and their parents before making your purchase.
Chorkies often make wonderful companions, and their larger gene pool gives them a unique look. Obviously, you should use your due diligence before adding any dog to your household, but this can be a bit difficult if you have your heart set on a particular dog.
ALSO READ: All About the Chihuahua Poodle Mix (Chipoo)
Conclusion
If you love the Yorkshire Terrier and also love the Chihuahua, then you can’t go wrong with the Chorkie. This cute little dog is the perfect blend of sweet and sassy.
We highly recommend Chorkies to anyone who wants a sweet, loving and protective dog. They can make awesome pets for most families, except those with small kids and those who plan to be away from home most of the time.
