The Yorkie Chihuahua is a mixed breed dog cross between Yorkshire Terrier and Chihuahua dogs. These dogs originated in the middle of the 90s and have become famous since then. The Yorkie Chihuahua, also known as Chorkies, are devoted, playful, courageous dogs inheriting the best of both parents.
Table of Contents
Yorkie Chihuahua Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
They are eager to please, loyal, and friendly
Susceptible to hereditary disorders
They don’t require a lot of space or exercise
They are very vocal
Yorkie Chihuahua Basic Information
Name: Yorkie Chihuahua
Height: 6 – 9 inches
Weight: 8 – 15 pounds
Size: Small
Coat: Silky, smooth, medium to high
Color: White, tan, brown, black to beige, chocolate, fawn, cream, silver, blue, and gray
Other names: Yorkie – Chi, Yorkiechi, Chiyorkie, York-chi, Chiorkie, Chorkie, and York Chi
Breed recognition: American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Dog Registry of America
(DRA), The Designer Breed Registry (DBR), The International Designer Canine Registry
(IDCR), and The Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC).
Yorkshire Terrier Vs. Chihuahua – A Comparison
Features
Yorkshire Terrier
Chihuahua
mage
Origin
England
America
Height
8 – 9 inches
6 – 9 inches
Weight
4 – 6 pounds
3 – 6 pounds
Size
Small
Small
Group
Companion dog
Companion dogs
Children Compatibility
Low to medium
High
Family Compatibility
Medium to high
High
Pets Compatibility
Medium
Low to medium
Barking Level
Medium
Medium
Shedding Level
Low to medium
Low to Medium
Hypoallergenic
No
No
Grooming Needs
Low to medium
High
Overall Health
Medium to high
Low to Medium
Energy
High
Medium
Exercise Needs
Medium to high
Low
Trainability
Medium
Medium
Activities
Family dog, companion dogs
Watchdogs, companion dogs
Complication inbreeding
No
No
Litter Size
1 – 5 puppies
1 – 3 puppies
Lifespan
12 – 15 years
10-18 years
Other Names
Yorkie
–
Yorkie Chihuahua Personality
The Yorkie Chihuahuas can be slightly unpredictable owing to their mixed lineage. Puppies from the same litter can look quite different, with silky, long hair like the Yorkies or shorter, coarser coats like the Chihuahuas. However, they are tiny dogs. Some may have round, apple-like heads inherited from the Chihuahuas on a rectangular body with short legs, while others may resemble Yorkies.
Coat length can also depend on whether your Chihuahuas are short or long-haired. Thus, they may range from medium-long, silky, smooth, coarse, and wavy. Their hair color ranges from white, tan, brown, black to beige, and gray. Some Yorkie Chihuahuas will be single-colored, while others may be mottled. The Chorkies bear large, dark eyes, tiny, brown noses, ears that are either floppy or pointy.
In a nutshell, Yorkie Chihuahuas exhibit:
Yorkiechis have silky, long locks from their Yorkshire parents.
They may bear either droopy ears or pointy and alert ears.
The coat colors can come in various patterns inherited from both parents.
Yorkiechis seldom shed.
They get attached firmly to their families and are constantly yearning to show their affection.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
Medium
Family-friendly
Medium to high
Kid-friendly
Medium
Pet-friendly
Medium
Stranger -friendly
Low
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
High
Good to new owners
High
Sensitivity level
High
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold-tolerance
Low
Heat-tolerance
Low to medium
Yorkie Chihuahua Temperament
One cannot expect a Yorkie Chihuahua to be a quiet dog all the time, for they are known for barking. If your Chorkie is anxious around strangers, you can easily make out that he inherited Chihuahua’s quality. They are playful and grab your attention many times in a day. The Chorkie is a loyal and loving companion who wants to get cuddled, thanks to their parental genes. Chorkies make excellent lap dogs that are friendly, loyal, affectionate, smart, confident, and protective.
If your Chorkie inherits the personality of Yorkie, then he would be a willful, courageous, spunky, and alpha dog. However, the authoritative traits can also be seen in Chihuahuas. They bark to warn the pet owners about something or everything in their surroundings, just as you should be aware. Although they are vocal, they are not aggressive.
Yorkie Chihuahua Training
Both the parents are stubborn, and you can succeed only with perseverance while training Chorkies. However, the Yorkie Chihuahuas are loyal, brilliant, and people pleasers who respond well to positive reinforcements and rewards. Early training is better for these dogs. If your Chorkie takes Yorkie’s side, he will respond well to high praise and treats.
You can provide the following training sessions to Yorkiechis:
Chorkies would require a long walk that is 20 to 30 minutes of playing outside. Then, they would choose a couch or a big yard with their favorite toys. Although they like to be indoors, they still need physical and mental stimulation. Puzzle games and chew toys are great options to keep your Chorkies engaged indoors.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
Medium to high
Exercise needs
Medium
Intensity
Medium
Playfulness
High
Yorkie Chihuahua Grooming
The Yorkie Chihuahuas can be hypoallergenic with a low shedding coat. Although the Chorkies are low shedders, they can get dirty, and so they would require regular combing to avoid matting. These dogs are susceptible to overactive tear glands, leading to stains near the eyes. With a clean cloth and dabbing them, you can minimize these stains.
Although they have medium to long coats, the Yorkie Chihuahuas may neither sustain extreme cold nor heat since they are small. Yorkie Chihuahuas are healthy breeds. However, they may undergo health conditions passed down from Yorkie and Chihuahua parent breeds. Pet parents must take these breeds for regular veterinary check ups to detect any health issues beforehand.
Health Overview
Overall health
Medium
Weight gain tendencies
Low to medium
Size
Low
Obesity: Both parents of Chorkies are predisposed to obesity. Since they are small breeds, obesity negatively affects a dog’s strength and durability. Obese Chorkies exhibit an increased risk of heart disease, joint problems, digestive disorders, diabetes, and hypertension.
Ear Infection: Yorkie Chihuahuas are prone to ear infections because of the shape of their ears. Cleaning ears with moist cotton once a week can help. Pay special attention to the ear area during grooming sessions. Hair growth inside the ear should be groomed and removed by professionals to avoid ear infections.
Eye Infections: Eye infections are similarly common. Like in humans, it causes puffy eyelids, itchiness of the eyes, and eyelids that stick together. Eye infections are minor and treatable in the initial stage, but you should not ignore them as they can be signs of more severe illnesses. Antihistamines, cold compresses, and eye drops are usual procedures for a normal eye infection.
Dental Disease: It affects 80% of pets by two. It causes tartar build-up on the teeth, infection of the gums and roots, and in extreme cases, loss of teeth and damage to the kidneys.
Skin Allergies: Overbathing can cause skin dryness, atopic dermatitis, or rashes, leading to excessive hair loss and shedding.
Patellar Luxation: It is also known as “slipped stifles,” a common problem in small dog breeds that is caused when the patella, which has three parts-the femora (thigh bone), patella (knee cap), and tibia (calf) — is not correctly bounded. This leads to lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, like a hop or a skip. This condition is caused by birth, although the misalignment or luxation does not always occur much later. In addition, the rubbing caused by patellar luxation leads to arthritis. There are four patellar luxation grades, ranging from phase I, an occasional luxation causing unstable lameness in the joint, to grade IV, where the turning of the tibia is heavy, and you cannot realign the patella manually. This gives your dog a bow-legged appearance. Uphill grades of patellar luxation may require surgery.
Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia is a disorder that can affect several tiny dog breeds, including Chihuahuas. When a dog’s blood sugar level drops too low, hypoglycemia occurs. This occurs most frequently after an exercise session, when the dog skips a meal, or when the dog witnesses an exciting occurrence. If you suspect your dog is suffering from hypoglycemia, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Collapsed Trachea: A dog’s trachea (windpipe) is a muscular tube supported by soft cartilage rings. The trachea travels through the dog’s neck on its way to the lungs. When a dog pulls too hard on a collar or chokes on a chain, it can cause tracheal collapse. On the other hand, many little dogs are born with malformed or weaker tracheal cartilage. This can cause the windpipe to collapse, making it difficult for the dog to breathe.
Hypothyroidism: Deficiency in thyroid hormone is hypothyroidism with clearly identified symptoms which are obesity, unusual shedding, rough patchy coat, and fall in the energy levels. Hypothyroidism is not life-threatening and can be treated with regular medication throughout the dog’s life.
Heart Problem: Chihuahuas and its mixes can suffer from Mitral valve disease with Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). PDA is a condition that manifests after the puppy is born. It affects a small blood artery in the heart and prevents it from closing correctly. In fully developed dogs, mitral valve disease develops. The problem occurs when weaker heart valves allow blood to flow backward, putting the heart under stress.
Hydrocephalus: This is a comparatively rare disease experienced by smaller canines. Dogs with this disease have cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inside their heads that cannot drain. This puts a lot of pressure on the brain, leading to lousy vision or blindness, seizures, restlessness, trouble learning commands, and coma.
Allergies: Allergies are common in Chorkies as in other dogs. Allergies can be due to food or the environment. Allergies can cause breathing issues and skin itching. Identifying the allergens and making the necessary diet and environmental changes will help the Chorkies.
Expressing your canine’s anal glands is also necessary for smaller breeds like Chorkies. If you find your dog dragging his bottom, then he must require his anal glands expressed. Either you can do it yourself or request your pet’s groomer.
Yorkie Chihuahua Diet and Nutrition
Feed your Chorkies a high-quality dog food designed for small dog breeds. Do not overfeed your Chorkies, for they are prone to obesity. Like any dog, the amount may differ as he moves from puppyhood to adulthood.
Yorkie Chihuahua Living Condition
Chorkies are comfortable being in apartments.
They are well suited for families with old children and senior adults.
They are not a good option for owners who have been away from home for a long time.
Adding a Yorkie Chihuahua to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Breeding a Yorkie Chihuahua
Yokiechis don’t do well for homes with small children.
While some Yorkie Chihuahuas learn to poop and pee, others may require a lifetime to manage, which is difficult to predict when picking a puppy.
Crate training can be helpful, but it may result in accidents.
If you search for a cute toy pooch, Chorkie would be an excellent option.
They can make great pets for first-time owners.
Get a Yorkie Chihuahua mix from a reputable breeder to avoid inevitable circumstances like health disorders and get vaccination certifications from the breeders. In addition, it is best to check with the pup’s parents to guarantee his health and happiness.
The cost of a Yorkie Chihuahua Puppy is $400 – $1500
