Yorkie Chihuahua Mix – Chorkie Breed Information

Parent Breeds:

Chihuahua & Yorkshire Terrier

Breed Nickname:

Chorkie

Size:

Toy

Height:

6 to 9 inches

Weight:

8 to 15 pounds

Life Span:

12 to 15 years

Coat Colors:

White, brown, silver, blue, and black

Friendliness

Intelligence

Good for First-Time Owners

Good with Children

Easy to Train

Exercise Requirements

Ease of Grooming

Amount of Shedding

Amount of Drooling

Tendency to Bark

What Is A Yorkie Chihuahua Mix Called?

The offspring of a Chihuahua and a Yorkie is called a Chorkie, although they can have many names. Some of these include Yorkiechi, Yorkie-Chi, Chiorkie, Chiyorkie, and York Chi.

These tiny dogs are excellent for novice owners as they can live in apartments and deal with being alone.

However, they’re well-matched for large families with big gardens. Let’s learn more about this gorgeous toy breed!

The Chorkie originated in North America in the early 1990s, when designer breeders began mixing all sorts of new designer breeds together.

Once breeders saw how popular other designer dogs were, they decided to mix the Yorkie and Chihuahua – two of the most beloved small breeds.

As you can imagine, everyone wanted a Chorkie as soon as they saw them. As demand grew, breeders had to work overtime to keep up!

Yorkies (also known as Yorkshire Terriers) originated in England.

They were created by Scottish weavers who had migrated to England, mixing multiple breeds together to create the tiny, fearless dog. The earliest reports of them date back to the 1860s.

There are many theories for when and where Chihuahuas originated, from Mexico to China.

However, one thing that historians can all agree on is that they are one of the oldest toy breeds, dating back as far as the 9th century.

Chorkies are often described as fun and silly, as well as loyal to their owners. While this might seem like a desirable trait, it can quickly turn to aggression around strangers and other dogs.

To prevent this, training is needed from an age.

Similar to their parent breeds, Chorkies tend to suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for multiple hours of the day.

They would suit larger families where someone is always home best, or individuals that work from home.

Having multiple pets at home can also make this easier.

Despite their small size, Chorkies have plenty of energy to exude and therefore suit active owners the best.

They love getting involved in anything their owners are doing, so they’re great companions to take on errands.

Provided they’re socialized properly, Chorkies can live in households with children and other pets.

They’re good dogs for any size of family, although busy individual households might struggle to meet their social needs.

As Chihuahuas and Yorkies are both so small, they’re predisposed to a number of health conditions.

Mix breeding can help to minimize these issues, but that doesn’t mean that Chorkies are completely free of any health concerns.

Chorkies are generally considered to be a healthy breed, but here are the health issues to be aware of if you’re thinking of buying this breed:

• Allergies
• Skin issues
• Hypothyroidism
• Patellar luxation

Chorkies often also suffer from dental diseases due to overcrowding of teeth. If they have Chihuahua eyes, they might have to deal with overactive tear glands and other eye issues.

Smaller breeds tend to need their anal glands expressed, so if you see them scooting on the ground, make an appointment with their groomer or vet.

It’s worth paying extra for someone else to do it, so you don’t have to.

Ensuring that your dog is routinely seen by a professional vet will help to prevent these issues from becoming incurable.

The quicker you get them diagnosed and treated, the less severe they will become. So, stick to your appointments – it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Chorkies aren’t the easiest to train, so you’ll need a firm hand when attempting to get them to listen to you.

Much like their parent breeds, Chorkies like to believe they are the top dog in the household, so to speak. You need to establish boundaries and prove yourself to be the dominant force in the household.

However, negative reinforcement won’t work well. While it might show them you are their owner, it will make them more territorial and stubborn, making it harder to train them.

Use positive reinforcement while training them, with lots of treats. Make sure to train them in short bursts so that they don’t get bored or overwhelmed, which can lead to heightened stubbornness.

While Chorkies are very energetic, they don’t need long exercise sessions. They’d be better off being taken on lots of short walks throughout the day to get their energy out.

Or, if you had a yard, play fetch with them for a few minutes throughout the day to burn this energy off.

Bear in mind that Chorkies only have small bladders, so they’ll need to go outside every couple of hours anyway. You might as well take them for a walk around the block while you’re outside!

Most Chorkies will get tired out by playing an active game, so you might not have to take them on walks every few hours. Make sure that they aren’t lounging around all day and they should be happy.

Give them some toys to play with to keep the boredom at bay, too.

Chorkies have little legs, so they don’t like too much vigorous exercise. They can also suffer from issues with their joints, so don’t make them run much faster than a brisk walk.

They’re not the best for people who love hiking, swimming or running.

The best food to give Chorkies is a kibble formulated for small dogs with high energy levels.

This will give them enough long-lasting energy for the entire day thanks to plenty of protein and slow-releasing carbohydrates.

Chorkies are susceptible to eating too much and becoming overweight, which can lead to a number of other health concerns.

Make sure that you only feed them the correct amount depending on their weight. This fluctuates throughout their life, so make sure you measure them regularly.

As they often suffer from dental issues, you need to look for premium quality food that is soft enough for their fragile teeth.

Low-quality kibble might lead to pain or more worrying symptoms, such as broken teeth.

You may also be interested in:

• Best Dog Food for Chihuahuas
• Best Puppy Food for Chihuahuas
• Best Dog Food for Yorkshire Terriers
• Best Puppy Food for Yorkshire Terriers

Chorkies cost between $400 and $800, depending on the breeder you use, the parents, and your location.

Look for a breeder who has completed screening for both parent dogs and is willing to introduce you to at least one of the parents.

Once you have your Chorkie home, you’ll need to consider the ongoing costs.

Food might be cheaper as they don’t eat as much as larger dogs, but grooming and insurance costs might be higher due to their small size. You’ll also need a crate, toys, and treats.