Chorkie: Your Complete Guide
Have you ever wondered what a cross of a purebred Chihuahua and a Yorkshire terrier would be like? Thankfully, you don’t just have to wonder. Chorkies are a 50-50 cross between Yorkshire terriers and Chihuahuas. While they’re not recognized by official kennel clubs, like the American Kennel Club (AKC), they are small designer dogs with big personalities.
Chorkies have been popular for a few decades and continue to be a staple in households worldwide because of their small size, beautiful coat, and loving nature. They’re around 10 inches tall and don’t weigh too much, so you can keep them in homes that don’t have access to a yard. These traits classify most Chorkies as a toy breed, which is a small dog.
Read on to learn about Chorkies to see if they’re a good fit for your home or family.
Quick Look at the Chorkie
Below is a glance at Chorkies. We take you through their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 6-9 inches and 8-10 pounds |
| Coat Type | Long, hairy, soft |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Playful, energetic, loving, confident |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals |  |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 10-15 years |
What Is the History of Chorkies?
Designer dog breeds like the Chorkie don’t have a lot of verifiable history available, especially when they’re a newer breed. This makes it hard to pinpoint when Chorkies came to be.
That said, Chorkies started to appear during the 1990s and started to become popular in the early 2000s when other toy breeds and designer breeds became popular. The one thing that is well-known about Chorkies is that they got their start in the United States.
While there isn’t much known about the origin of Chorkies, Yorkshire terriers and Chihuahuas have a lot of history. Chihuahuas, for example, have a long history and have been around since the 19th century. They’re the smallest dog breed around and share many traits with the Techichi, which was a mute dog bred by the Toltec people in Mexico.
Yorkshire terriers also have a lot of history. They first appeared in the 18th century in English counties like Lancaster and Yorkshire.
While many terriers were bred to be large hunting or herding dogs, the Yorkshire terrier was produced to deal with vermin in mills and factories.
Today, they’re not usually used for handling vermin and tend to reside in their human’s home as one of the most popular toy breeds.
What Do Chorkies Look Like?
Chorkies have a lot of variation in their coat color because they’re a mixed breed. So, the coat color of the Yorkshire terrier and Chihuahua that birthed the Chorkie greatly influences their hair length and coat color.
On average, Chorkies have light coats that resemble a cream-like color or a golden brown. Most Chorkies have long hair that’s silky and smooth, but in some cases, it might be short and curly. This also depends on the genre of the Yorkshire terrier and Chihuahua that created them. While possible, colors like blue and silver are less likely.
What Size Is a Chorkie?
Chorkies are usually small dogs between 6 to 9 inches tall with an average weight of about 10 pounds. That said, this is not always the case. Some Chorkies may be bred from teacup Chihuahuas, which results in even smaller Chorkies. Male and female Chorkies are usually the same size or at least similar, so there isn’t too much variation.
What Is a Chorkie’s Coat Type and Length?
Chorkies can have a few different types of coats because they’re a mix between Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers. So, it’s not uncommon to have slight variations based on the dog you have. Commonly, Chorkies have long hair that’s silky and smooth. The type of Chihuahua that was bred with the Yorkshire terrier is what makes the biggest difference.
The two most common lengths are long and straight coats or short and scruffy coats. Long-haired Chorkies have silky coats that are smooth and soft, while short-haired Chorkies have short, curly hair.
What Is a Chorkie’s Temperament?
Chorkies have a unique temperament. While they’re smart and cuddly, they also have a healthy amount of sass. They’re full of energy and great family dogs, but make sure you don’t get on their bad side, or your Chorkie will tell you all about it.
Most Chorkies have a similar personality, but it does depend on their parents, as it does with all types of cross-breed dogs. It’s also important to note that Chorkies can now be bred with other Chorkies, which results in a less predictable temperament.
Are Chorkies Good With Kids?
Chorkies can be good with kids, but it depends on their age. Small children, babies, and toddlers don’t do well with Chorkies because of their size and temperament. Chorkies may snap at young children and become aggressive when playing rough. Furthermore, Chorkies are delicate, so toddlers can harm them when playing.
For these reasons, Chorkies aren’t the best for children who are younger than ten years old. Once children grow up and mature, they can become a great household pet.
Are Chorkies Good With Other Animals?
Chorkies are okay with other animals, but it depends on how well you socialize them. Socialization training can help most Chorkies become comfortable with other animals, even if you train them at an older age. That said, Chorkies are known for having a bit of a personality, so it’s not uncommon for them to want to be the only dog or pet in a home.
Chorkies are also not the brightest when dealing with larger animals. They may bark or become aggressive with dogs or animals much larger than them. For these reasons, training is key if you want your Chorkie to be good with other animals.
Are Chorkies Aggressive?
Chorkies aren’t aggressive by nature, and most dogs are not. Typically, Chorkies only become aggressive when they’re provoked. For example, children playing with a Chorkie can cause them to get aggressive, or they pull, tug, or harm the dog. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to their behavior when they’re playing to avoid taking things too far.
Chorkies can also be snappy when you play with them too rough, even as an adult. Always keep this in mind and ensure you correct the behavior when you notice it to avoid problems in the future.
Do Chorkies Bark?
Chorkies are vocal dogs, more so than most large breeds, especially when they see strangers. If they see something (or someone) moving outside, there’s a good chance that some barking is coming. Even when new guests enter your home, there’s a good chance that your Chorkie will bark.
Barking can be reduced with the proper training, but this isn’t always guaranteed to work. So, avoid apartments with noise regulations and ensure you don’t give them too many places to see outdoors if you don’t want to hear their loud bark.
Are Chorkies Affectionate?
Chorkies are usually affectionate with the people they live with, and they show this by being loyal and forming deep bonds. They’re also outgoing and love to play with their owners. Plus, Chorkies are small enough to rest on your lap for some good pets and snuggles.
When it comes to Chorkies, you can count on them invading your bed space for some extra attention before bed as well.
Are Chorkies Intelligent?
Chorkies are known for being extremely intelligent dogs. They can pick up new commands quickly and love to explore and discover more about their environment.
Chorkies are also smart enough to get your attention by being vocal, so you’ll want to train around that to keep the barking to a minimum. Overall, Chorkies are smarter than your average pup.
Are Chorkies Energetic?
Chorkies are known for their high energy levels, and many breeders claim they have more energy than most dog breeds. To make sure your Chorkie isn’t restless, you’ll want to play with them a few times per day and take them on daily walks.
While playing and walking are often enough, you may notice that they still have some energy left at night for late-night mischief. The good news is that you can train this behavior away or play with them more throughout the day to avoid this problem.
Are Chorkies Easy to Train?
Chorkies are easy to train because of their high intelligence. You can train them to learn advanced commands, solve puzzles, and behave however they want. Plus, you don’t need a professional to train them because they can pick up on new commands and take them quickly.
Aside from basic training, Chorkies are also good agility dogs. They love to please their owners by learning new tricks, so you can train them to do just about anything.
Are Chorkies Good Watchdogs?
Chorkies are good watchdogs because they’re good at alerting their owners to potential problems. They’re vocal dogs, so when strangers come to your home or if something isn’t right near their home, Chorkies will vocalize it.
Chorkies won’t be a good deterrent to threats because they’re tiny, but they’re brave enough to scare some people off with their loud bark.
Are Chorkies Good Service Dogs?
Chorkies are not known for being the best service dogs. Still, that doesn’t mean they’re bad service dogs. Chorkies can be good service days if they’re helping people who have mental health disorders. They’re smart enough to fetch medications and comfort their owners during panic attacks, but not large enough to help people with physical problems.
While they’re not the best service dog breed, that doesn’t make them useless. Chorkies are among the best emotional support dog (ESD) breeds because of their small size, loyalty, and emotional intelligence. As an ESD, they can help people through panic attacks and learn deep pressure therapy, which uses pressure to comfort their owners.
Chorkies can also be used as therapy dogs in schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Their small size and calm demeanor make them perfect for comforting just about anyone.
How to Care for a Chorkie?
Chorkies aren’t hard to care for as long as you understand their needs. It’s important to play with them as often as possible and to ensure that they get plenty of exercise. Thankfully, playing counts as exercise, so you don’t have to take hour-long walks daily. That said, it’s not a bad idea to go for a few walks per week or to visit your local dog park.
It’s also important to take your Chorkie to the vet annually for a check-up. This will help you catch anything wrong before it becomes a problem. Aside from feeding them meals on a routine and brushing their coats, there isn’t much else to worry about when caring for a Chorkie.
Do You Need to Groom a Chorkie?
The amount of grooming you need to do depends on the type of Chorkie you have.
Long-haired Chorkies have to be brushed twice per week and should be groomed professionally at least once per month to keep their coat healthy. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to brush their coat daily to keep them comfortable. Since they’re a lovable toy breed, you can do this while they’re sitting on your lap.
On the other hand, short-haired Chorkies don’t require frequent grooming. While you should still brush them once a week to prevent matting, you don’t have to worry about brushing them daily. You should also bring them to a professional groomer at least once per month to keep their coat healthy.
Do Chorkies Shed?
Chorkies shed throughout the year but not as often as most other breeds. However, Chorkies tend to shed more during the spring and autumn months, so there’s no need to panic if you see more hair in the furniture during these seasons. Daily brushing can also help prevent dog hair from ending up all around your home.
What Health Problems Do Chorkies Have?
Chorkies struggle with health problems common in Chihuahua and Yorkshire terrier breeds. You’ll want to look for conditions that impact both breeds and some unique ones that might harm your Chorkie.
The most common health problems that Chorkies may have include:
- Luxating Patella: Congenital condition that causes the kneecap to slip out of place. This causes discomfort, limping, and stiffness.
- Thyroid Issues: Chorkies might face some thyroid problems, especially hyperthyroidism. This causes weight gain, lethargy, and even fur loss.
- Tracheal Collapse: A severe condition that can occur with Chorkies is based on genetics and can cause the trachea to collapse.
Aside from these serious conditions, Chorkies also have problems with skin allergies. Therefore, make sure you groom your Chorkie frequently to prevent these problems from happening.
How Long Do Chorkies Live?
Chorkies live for 12 to 15 years, depending on how well they’re cared for and their genetic background. In fact, some Chorkies have lived to be older than 15 in the right circumstances. Chorkies can also die prematurely when not cared for properly, so their diet and health are important to monitor as they grow older.
What Should a Chorkie Eat?
Chorkies need to eat a diet rich in vitamins, protein, and minerals, just like people. Make sure you look for kibble and wet food for hydration, and try to include bell peppers, broccoli, green beans, peas, and spinach, beef, and turkey.
You can also give them some table food, but make sure you do so sparsely to avoid digestive problems. Also, avoid discount store brands and look for high-quality food that’s made for small dog breeds.
It’s also important to note that Chorkies can have dental issues, so make sure you get them treats that have teeth-cleaning properties or manually brush their teeth.
Is a Chorkie the Right Dog for Me?
Chorkies are cute, small dogs that can be the right fit for almost any dog-lover. However, some people do better with Chorkies than others.
Chorkies are a great fit for you if you don’t have a lot of space and live in an apartment because they don’t need as much exercise as large dogs. You’ll also love a Chorkie if you like a small dog that sits on your lap and wants to spend time with you.
Chorkies aren’t the right fit for everyone. You might not be the best fit for a Chorkie if you have small children (because they’re delicate) or don’t like barking. They’re known to have a loud, ear-splitting bark, and when they get going, it can be too much for some people. If you don’t want a dog you must groom often, you may also want to avoid a Chorkie.
Overall, Chorkies are great companions if you like a smaller dog that loves to spend time with you. As long as you can handle the barking and grooming needs, you can’t go wrong with a Chorkie.