Except if you have been an owner to one, you wouldn’t know about the fascinating nature of this special dog breed, the Chihuahua Yorkie Mix.
Popularly known as the Yorkchis, the Chorkie dogs are a designer dog breed made by crossing a purebred Yorkshire Terrier with a purebred Chihuahua. Originating from Europe and Mexico, these Chorkies only came into existence in America in the 1990s when they were first mixed.
This article will cover everything you need to know about the Chorkie dog, including the lifespan of these adorable small dogs, how to care for them, and their temperaments. I will also let you know if they are hypoallergenic or not, and the grooming tips for them. Before then, let’s see how big a Chihuahua Yorkie Mix will get. And why they are so compatible and popular, especially among elderly people.
How Big Will A Chihuahua Yorkie Mix Get?
Your Chihuahua Yorkie Mix can grow up to 9 inches tall and can weigh up to 15 lbs.
You should still expect some to reach an average height of 6 to 8 inches. But the maximum height known for a Chihuahua Yorkie Mix is approximately 9 inches.
They also have a small weight just like their size. A Chihuahua Yorkie Mix can weigh anywhere between 8 to 15 lbs during its lifespan.
These small sizes in height and weight are what makes them favorite among people who love portability and compatibility, for example, among singles and elderly people.
What Does A Yorkie Chihuahua Mix Look Like?
A Yorkie Chihuahua Mix looks rectangular-shaped and is small in size. Looking typically like a toy dog, some breeds are so small that they can fit into a purse.
Their ears are pointed and they inherited this trait from their Chihuahua parents. At times, the top of their ears can get floppy, a feature derived from Yorkshire Terrier. For their eyes, they are large and dark and their nose is tiny and brown.
Their coat is intermediate between that of a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier. And the texture is silky, soft, and thick. Their coat color also comes in many varieties. From the white ones to the black ones, there are many Chihuahua Yorkie Mixes to choose from.
The colors of Chihuahua Yorkie Mixes are brown, white, tan, beige, dark red, blonde, grey, or black. The colors can appear singly or be mixed with other colors. Often, their coat color patterns are mixed.
At the puppy stage, they are without a distinct neck. Their legs are also small and unable to support their movement. However, a fully grown Chorkie looks stronger and has longer legs to support its weight and movement.
At What Age Is A Chorkie Full Grown?
A Chorkie usually becomes fully grown after the first 12 months or the age of one.
Then, it will have a distinct neck, a slimmer body that is rectangular, and a lengthy tail that will often swing sideways.
How Long Do Chihuahua Yorkie Mixes Live?
The Chihuahua Yorkie Mixes have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. This is expected because smaller dogs live longer than bigger dog breeds.
To maintain this life expectancy of a Chorkie, you should commit to taking care of their health. Otherwise, they can be predisposed to diseases Chorkies usually die from.
Despite having a long lifespan, Chorkies are not exempted from having health issues and diseases. Whenever they do, you should take them to the veterinarian for treatments. Here are other common health issues you can expect from these pooches.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Chorkies are prone to patent ductus arteriosus, a disease that presents itself as fluid in the heart. This heart disease occurs when the vessels in their heart fail to close up. Hence, fluids leak to different spaces in the heart causing it to work more than usual.
A heart murmur will usually be observed in this condition and your canine buddy will get tired during exercises, have shortness of breath, and have lethargy in their hind legs.
You should consult your vet if you observe any of these conditions.
Mitral Valve Disease
Another heart disease affecting Chorkies is mitral valve disease. When this happens, their valve that prevents the backflow of blood weakens. Hence, backflow of blood occurs in the hearts and it gets strained.
Medication and annual heart checkup of your furry friend will help manage this disease. You should also demand cardiac evaluation of the parents from breeders before purchasing a Chorkie.
Patellar Luxation
Because Chorkies are small dog breeds, they are prone to patellar luxation. This condition affects their knee cap. Their knee cap gets dislocated and when this happens, they will have problems when standing or walking.
If you observe that your Chorkie friend has an abnormal gait, is in pain, or limping, the likely cause is due to patellar luxation. Depending on the integrity of the condition, a gentle messaging around the knee cap can bring it back to place.
At the vet hospital, a brace or surgery can be recommended, while their parents should also be screened for patellar luxation.
Other health conditions affecting Chorkies are skin allergies and respiratory tracheal collapse. Annual respiratory, ophthalmic, cardiac, and patella evaluation is therefore recommended for Chorkies.
How To Take Care Of Your Chorkie?
Your Chorkie deserves the best care. Excellent nutrition, adequate exercise, grooming, and good sleep is all they need.
Exercise Routine
Your Chorkie needs moderate exercises about 1 to 2 hours daily. They are best with moderate walks and a short playtime during the day is okay for them.
However, Chorkies sleep a lot. On average, they can sleep for about 16 hours daily and have irregular sleep patterns. Because of this, there can be problems in finding time for their exercises.
You should set a regular sleep and exercise routine for your Chorkies so that they can get used to them.
High-Quality Diet
Chorkies love eating. And when they are not sleeping or playing that’s what they will do. Their eating habits can make them prone to obesity. That’s why it is best that you monitor their food intake with the following serving size recommendation, ½ to ¾ cups of food split into three meals every day.
For this purpose, Pet Plate comes highly recommended and it helps you serve the correct quantity of meals to your canine buddy and prevents obesity. In addition, it’s rich in multivitamins and proteins for the complete growth and robust health of your furry partner.
Use Dental Water Additives
There are not so many breeds who love chewing and biting at almost anything like the Chorkies when playing or eating. When bored and it’s time for play, you will find them dragging and chewing stuff with their teeth.
Because of these, Chorkie teeth need more attention and care. Dental water additives help to clean their teeth properly and remove any plaque left therein. It also ensures that their teeth stay clean and strong always.
More so, they are small dogs and are susceptible to plaques. That’s why it’s recommended that you brush their teeth daily with dental water additives.
What Are Chorkie Dogs Like? Temperaments Of Chihuahua Yorkie Mixes
Chorkies are fun-loving, playfully stubborn, outgoing, affectionate, and loyal beings. They are very loyal and clingy to their owners and this makes them bark at strangers that try to come their way.
Do Chorkies Bark A Lot?
Yes, Chorkies bark a lot and tend to be vocal about almost anything.
And these playful and sometimes stubborn dogs will bark for their attention and to get anything they want.
However, they will still not bark a lot if you trained them properly. You can train them not to bark at strangers or children and let them get rewarded whenever they do so.
Are Chorkies Hard To Potty Train?
Yes, Chorkies are hard to potty train because they are toy breeds. But this shouldn’t bother you about them.
You can find it easy to potty train a Chorkie if done correctly. To potty train them, lead them calmly to the place where they will poop and urinate walking towards the place and sometimes using your hands to show them the direction.
You should put a smile on your face during the training to get your Chorkie interested. Don’t also forget to reward them for every training passed. It doesn’t have to be all treats, a pawshake with your furry buddy will suffice in letting it know that it is a job well done.
Always aim for consistency. A Chorkie may not be willing to obey initially but with time and positive reinforcement, it will get used to the good habit.
How Do You Stop A Chorkie From Biting?
Chorkies get bored easily whenever they are left alone. When this happens they will be found playing and biting several accessories in the home.
To caution your Chorkie from biting, you should create and spend as much playing with it. You can also let it play some fetch games to keep it entertained or other games that are friendly on the teeth like the chewy dog toys.
Can Chorkies Be Left Alone?
Chorkies can’t and shouldn’t be left alone.
They naturally love to be with people and love the companionship of their owners or handlers. When they are left alone, they get bored, suffer from separation anxiety, and become destructive.
You shouldn’t leave your Chorkie alone for more than 6 hours per day. Especially for the Chorkie puppies, you should endeavor to not leave them alone for more than 3 hours.
Should you need to be away from your Chorkie for a long time, consider hiring a professional sitter to care for your pooch or entrust your pooch to a dog daycare center.
Are Chorkie Dogs Hypoallergenic? Grooming Tips For Chihuahua Yorkie Mixes
Chorkies are considered to be hypoallergenic dogs because they do not shed a lot. However, their coats still need complete trimming and grooming.
Do Chorkies Shed?
No, as mentioned, Chorkies shed very little throughout the year. Also, the amount of shedding depends on how dominant the Chihuahua genes get expressed in their genetic makeup.
Can I Shave My Chorkie?
Yes, you can shave your Chorkie. It’s a good idea to shave your Chorkie, as it helps keep their body and coats clean and tidy.
There are grooming tools and cleaning accessories specially designed to help you shave your Chorkie. The Furminator Undercoat Tool and the Pro Pet Works All Natural 5 In 1 Oatmeal Shampoo works wonders for shaving and cleaning my furry Chorkie respectively.
The Furminator Undercoat Tool gently rolls through my Chorkie back and removes any loose hair that’s left underneath. Hence, you wouldn’t need to bother about your furry friend shedding at all.
At the same time, I can also trim the coat with it to keep my Chorkie looking beautiful. I also recommend the Pro Pet Works All Natural 5 In 1 Oatmeal Shampoo for your canine friend because Chorkies are susceptible to skin allergies.
This shampoo will not only clean their furs, and make them shiny, but it will also keep them free from germs and skin pests that cause skin irritation in canines.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Yorkie Chihuahua Mix Cost? A Yorkie Chihuahua Mix will cost about $400 to $500 for a puppy. This cost will certainly come as a surprise as it pales in comparison to how much their purebred parents individually cost on average.
Why Do Chorkies Shake? Chorkies do shake at times because of the cold weather. They are not adapted to living in the cold. You should get a cloth for your canine friend to keep it warm during cold seasons. Chorkies may also shake because of hypoglycemia. So, ensure that your canine friend has eaten. If your canine buddy still stages for no obvious reason to you, you should visit the veterinarian.
What Is A Teacup Chorkie? A Teacup Chorkie is a Miniature Chorkie that can fit the size of a teacup or even a purse. They can grow up to 6 lbs, are very easy to move about, are friendly, and likable.
