The Chorkie is a designer dog that goes by several names – Yorkiechi, Yorkie-chi, Chiyorkie, Yorkchi, Chiorkie, York-chi, and York Chi. This cross between the Chihuahua and the Yorkshire Terriers is gentle, loving, and kind, and can thrive in any household as a family pet. The dog is hypoallergenic and will be an apt choice for potential pet parents who suffer allergies to danda.
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Origin of the Chorkie
While the origin of the Chihuahua is traceable to Mexico, Yorkshire Terriers were first developed in old England. These are the parents of the Chorkie breed which gained popularity in the US in the 1990s at a time when pet parents wanted to adopt small dogs. To date, no one knows the first breeder that crossed the Yorkshire terrier with the Chihuahua.
However, the parents of the Chorkie have existed as pets for a long time – Yorkies started existing around the mid-1800s. According to the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, the breed came into existence when counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England began cross-breeding English terriers with Scottish terriers. The breeders first developed them as ratters to work at coal mines and textile mines, flushing out rodents and small mammals.
In the same vein, Chihuahua’s history is equally a bit murky but there are a couple of widely accepted theories about the breed’s origin. The most notable one says they may possibly have descended from the techichi – a small dog breed from South and Central America. The AKC recognized the Chihuahuas in 1904.
These are the clubs that recognize the Chorkies
- American Canine Hybrid Club
- The Designer Dogs Kennel Club
- The International Designer Canine Registry
- Dog Registry of America
- The Designer Breed Registry
Important Things To Know About the Chorkie
- Lifespan: 12–15 years
- Height: 15–23cm
- Yappiness / barking: High
- Hypoallergenic: Yes
- Separation anxiety: High
- Exercise needs: Moderate
- Friendly with other dogs: Moderate
- Dog group: Terrier
- Male weight: 8-10 lbs
- Female weight: 8-10 lbs
- Colors: The Chorkie can occur in any coat color common to the Yorkshire Terrier or Chihuahua, this includes: Brown, silver, white, blue, steel blue, black, and tan
- Color pattern: The breed’s coloring can be realized as solid, some come with mix colored coats
Appearance
Because they are mixed breeds, the Chorkie’s appearance may vary. Even within the same litter, individual puppies will have completely different looks. However, generally, the Chorkie dog breed is very tiny, sporting a small head, large and erect ears, and large eyes.
While the coarse and short coat of the Chihuahua may be evident in some, others may come with the Yorkie’s silky, long coat. Color-wise, most of the Chorkies come with the Yorkshire Terrier’s coloration – a black coat with tan markings on both the face and feet.
Health
Being an offspring of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Chihuahua, the Chorkie may be susceptible to the health issues that ails both parents. In General, the Chorkie is healthy but pet parents can watch out for health problems like:
- Skin problems
- Allergies
- Patellar luxation
- Hypothyroidism
Training
Always eager to please and intelligent, the Chorkie can sometimes display some stubborn streak which calls for patience and perseverance in training sessions. The toy pup should be taught simple behaviors such as sit, come, stay, and should be constantly engaged in mental exercise.
Harsh training methods like punishments should be kept at bay and positive reinforcement should be cultivated. Training sessions must be kept short and fun in order to avoid frustration.
Feeding
The diet to feed your Chorkie should be the type formulated for small and active pups. The breed has the propensity to gain weight if overfed, thus, regular feeding schedules (twice a day) are preferable to free-feeding (leaving out food all day long). The number of treats you feed your Chorkie should be equally limited.
This fancy breed will benefit from a high-quality kibble with a very good source of protein. “Filler” dog food should be avoided.
Grooming
Though Chorkies don’t shed frequently they require attentive haircuts which can come less or more frequently, depending on whether the Chorkie got the Yorkie’s coat or the Chihuahua’s. Brushing should be done regularly and baths can come once weekly or once bi-weekly.
To keep periodontal diseases at bay, the teeth of your dog should be regularly brushed. Once weekly may suffice where the pet parent can’t manage daily brushing. The ears should also be checked and cleaned when dirty. The dog’s nails must be trimmed as at when due.
Smaller breeds like Chorkies may also need other grooming considerations other than simple haircuts. They may need their anal glands expressed, which some groomers will do automatically or owners can learn to do it by themselves. They are also prone to tear stains, so wiping their eyes occasionally with a warm, clean cloth will help keep them shiny.
Exercise
The Chorkie may be small-sized but its body is suffused with plenty of energy, though, they get tired easily. Daily exercise of 30 minutes will be good for this breed. Physical exertion will not only keep this furbaby happy, but it will also aid in weight maintenance in addition to making the dog behave well (a tired pup always behaves better)
The Chorkie is an escape artist, thus, never leave it unsupervised while exercising outdoors. The dog has been known to escape even from fenced yards.
Temperament
The Chorkie’s temperament is usually a unique mix of both parents’ characteristics. Yorkies and Chihuahuas are known to be confident, playful, energetic, and often stubborn, and the possibility of the Chorkie getting these traits is very high. To end up with a well-behaved Chorkie, then, you must start early to expose it to people, other pets, and situations. The Chihuahua’s tendency to alert the pet parents to suspicious activity by barking and the Yorkie’s fearlessness combine in the Chorkie to make a fine and effective watchdog.
Read Also: Teacup Chihuahua: Breed Information, Temperament, And Facts
Shedding, Is The Chorkie Hypoallergenic?
While the Chihuahuas aren’t hypoallergenic, the Yorkies are, thus, if your Chorkie happens to get more of the Yorkie, they may be hypoallergenic, but may shed more if the Chi gene dominates. However, the Chorkies have the tendency to be hypoallergenic.
Do They Make Good Family Pets?
The Chorkie will make an excellent addition to any family, thanks to its gentle and loving nature. It is a diehard lap dog that feels happiest on the lap of its owner. With that said, care should be taken around children as the pup is a toy breed that can get injured easily.
The dog also gets along fine with other household pets.