Chorkie is a comparatively new crossbreed that was a result of a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and Chihuahua. This mixed-breed dog was first seen in the mid-90s and has been popular since then, especially because of its highly active and loving nature. Moreover, they can live happily in an indoor setting because of their size.
Of course, a Chorkie loves walking and enjoys taking part in various activities. But it will be absolutely fine even if you skip going outdoors for a few days. Just let your buddy run and play indoors. Owners can also expect to get a caring and loyal dog who mixes well with children.
If you’re interested in knowing more about the characteristics, nature, habits, and needs of a Chorkie before welcoming this mixed-breed to your family, this article has it all.
Read on to know more!
Chorkie (Chihuahua X Yorkshire Terrier): History
Chorkies are the result of crossing two pure dog breeds: Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terriers. The Yorkshire Terriers are known to have originated in old England, whereas the Chihuahua comes from Mexico. However, the Chorkie is supposed to have originated in the United States.
This loving and loyal crossbreed may have been around naturally for many years. However, hybrid dog breeders began to cross Yorkies and Chihuahuas intentionally to produce Chorkies in the early 1990s.
While the demand for Chorkie pups increased, more designer breeders popped up to develop these small, loving apartment dogs. Gradually, they achieved recognition from many clubs, including the American Canine Hybrid Club, The International Designer Canine Registry, The Designer Dogs Kennel Club, The Designer Breed Registry, and the Dog Registry of America.
Chorkie (Chihuahua X Yorkshire Terrier): Characteristics & Traits
The Chorkie can be an excellent apartment dog for single and large families. They are a small, attention-seeking dog with a loving, loyal, and obedient personality.
Let’s find out the key traits of Chorkies!
| Height | 6-9 inches |
| Weight | 8-10 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Size | Small (0 to 25 pounds) |
| Temperament | Playful, outgoing & friendly |
| Suited for | Children, single & large families, dogs & cats |
| Coat Colours | black, white, red, gray, fawn, yellow/ gold, liver/chocolate/brown |
| Coat Length | Short, medium & long |
| Shedding Frequency | Infrequent |
| Energy Level | Active |
| Activity Needs | Medium |
| Common Names | Yorkiechi, Yorkie-chi, York-chi, York Chi, Chiyorkie & Chiorkie |
| Other Characteristics | Easy to train & groom; apartment-friendly; highly loyal; low prey drive; ideal for first-time owners. |
1. Appearance
While they are a crossbreed of Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers, Chorkies come in various colours and patterns.
A fully-grown Chorkie is small in size, measuring 6 to 9 inches in height and weighing up to 10 pounds. They can either have the shiny and smooth coat of a Chihuahua or a Yorkie’s long, flowing coat.
Chorkies can have dark brown or black noses and eyes and are available in a variety of patterns and coat colours.
While Chihuahuas tend to be white, black, gray, silver, chocolate, or fawn, Yorkie Terriers showcase a range of shades like gold and black, tan and black, blue and gold, and blue and tan. Chorkies can inherit a combination or any one of these colours and patterns.
2. Personality
You can expect a Chorkie to be a fun-loving, outgoing, and extremely loyal companion. Because of their extremely loyal nature, Chorkies can sometimes get aggressive with unfamiliar or strangers. So, keep your buddy on a leash whenever you take them outdoors.
Your Chorkie is loyal and loves to be with its owners. So, they can suffer from separation anxiety after living alone for a long time because these cuddly buddies love spending time with their people.
Remember that a Chorkie typically seeks a person who matches their energy level. This loving companion will always be packed with energy and interest in watching you all the time and engaging in activities like playing, walking, or hiking inside and outside the house.
Fascinatingly, Chorkies don’t need much exercise in spite of being so energetic. Your buddy will not need more than a short walk every day but will need a lot of potty breaks.
They can be perfect for large households, single-person families as well as families with kids.
So, if you are a first-time dog owner, a Chorkie will be a fantastic choice.
3. Living Requirements
Chorkies are a highly versatile designer breed that makes them perfect for large to small houses, apartments, and houses with fenced yards. This loving dog can mesh well with children and other pets.
However, pay special attention when introducing your buddy to kids. It would help to let your children know how to treat dogs and their boundaries and space. Overall, keep in mind to supervise the communications between the two.
When it comes to gelling with other pets, Chorkies are usually good with family cats and dogs. That said, because of their small size, Chorkies are often at risk of getting hurt when with large dogs.
4. Health
As with any crossbreed dog, Chorkies are susceptible to some of the health problems of its parent breeds, Yorkshire and Chihuahua.
Chihuahua’s expected lifespan is 10 to 18 years. They are usually healthy but are at risk of suffering from health problems like patellar luxation, epilepsy, heart disease, hypoglycemia, and folic acid deficiency.
On the other hand, Yorkshire Terriers have a life expectancy of 11 to 15 years. They are also prone to certain health conditions like hypothyroidism, patella luxation, portosystemic shunts, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. In addition, Yorkshires can also have dental issues like tooth decay and loss.
So, a Chorkie can be predisposed to a few of these same health issues, although most of them are healthy. The most common health conditions that Chorkies are susceptible to include:
Minor Conditions
- Dental diseases
- Patellar Luxation
- Lens Luxation.
Severe Conditions
- Collapsing Trachea
- Hypoglycemia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Legg Calve Disease.
Always adopt pups from reputed breeders because they take care to check for genetic conditions of the parent dogs before breeding.
All said and done if you want your Chorkie to stay healthy maintain a proper nutritional diet, make them exercise as required, and have a regular check-up done by a vet.
5. Dietary Needs
Chorkies can quickly gain weight if overfed, so you must be very particular about your buddy’s diet. Make sure to maintain a specific feeding schedule regularly and keep no food out in the open during the day. In addition, keep a check on the amount of treats your Chorkie is having daily.
Consult your vet about the foods to be fed to your canine buddy. High-quality dog food and good sources of protein are always recommended. However, the dietary requirements will change as your Chorkie grows from puppy to adult. That said, always ask your vet before changing your Chorkie’s diet.
6. Care
When it comes to taking care of your dog, regular veterinary checkups should always be on top of your list of priorities. With regular checkups, you can develop a proper healthcare routine.
Smaller breeds usually need anal gland expression. You can understand it if your dog is dragging or scooting on the ground. If you aren’t experienced, you can appoint a groomer to have your Chorkie’s anal gland expressed.
Chorkies are susceptible to overactive tear glands, resulting in tear staining near the eyes. So you must keep a clean cloth or hanky nearby and dab it periodically to reduce tear stains.
Apart from these, look for debris in the ears and pests regularly, and clean them as per the recommendation of your vet. Next, you must trim your dog’s nails once or twice monthly.
However, your key concern will be to monitor your Chorkie’s oral health because smaller breeds suffer more from dental problems. They need to brush their teeth regularly. You will get a proper idea of the brushing pattern from your vet. Dental chews for dogs can come in handy for it.
7. Grooming
The common coat colours of Chorkies are white, blue, black, silver, and brown. They either feature solid coat colours or a combination of colours. However, their coats are usually silky, light-coloured, and medium-length.
While Chihuahua aren’t hypoallergenic, Yorkies are. Thus, Chorkies can be hypoallergenic like Yorkies, but it’s usually tough to say. This crossbreed dog features a medium to long coat. They can’t survive extremely cold temperatures because of their small stature.
8. Exercise
Chorkies are full of energy, so they love to run and play. Taking them on regular walks keeps their brain stimulated and reinforces obedience. Fascinatingly, they won’t demand a yard as long as they are allowed to play indoors.
Your buddy’s exercise needs can be fulfilled even by playing fetching or anything else.
Chorkie With Other Pets & Kids
Chorkies are usually safe with older kids or adults who know how to properly treat & play with them.
Because of their small size, they make a great companion for children. However, their small size makes them susceptible to injuries.
Chorkies are also good with other animals in the family. However, keep them on a leash when you take them out for a walk or for any other activity since they tend to get dominant around unfamiliar dogs.
This designer dog breed loves to get all the attention and affection from their owners which is the reason why they love to be the only pet in the home.
FAQ’s
Are Chorkies suitable for all families?
Chorkies are fantastic family dogs who can adjust to almost all ambiances. They can be an excellent companion irrespective of whether you live in apartments, houses with or without yards, singles, or large families with children and other pets. Their intelligence, affectionate nature, and small size make them a great fit everywhere.
Is Chorkies aggressive in nature?
Chorkies aren’t born aggressive but can develop aggressive behavior if not properly socialized and trained.
How is a Chorkie’s temperament?
You can expect Chorkies to be sassy, friendly, loving, smart, and cuddly. They love to be with and around their people the most. Chorkies are always energetic and prefer to play tug of war or fetch in the room, even before taking a nap.
Conclusion
If you are looking to add a loyal, friendly, social, and fun-loving canine companion for your family, you can trust Chorkies blindly. Although small, they are loaded with energy and always love to play.
Chorkies are perfect for families with kids and other pets, too. They love to get attention and would hate to stay alone for a long period of time. Overall, they make for an excellent family dog that everyone will appreciate.