Breeds / Small
Chorkie puppies
The Chorkie is bold, lively and loyal, with the terrier's confidence and the Chihuahua's suspicion of strangers. Short walks and indoor games meet their needs, but they bark readily and need early socialisation.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 3.5 to 6.5 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 8 to 14 lb
- Adult height 15 to 23 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short to long silky
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Older children only
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Chorkie
The Chorkie is a Chihuahua crossed with a Yorkshire Terrier, first bred in the United States in the early 1990s. Adults are tiny, roughly 3.5 to 6.5 kg and 15 to 23 cm, and the coat can be long and silky or short and scruffy depending on which Chihuahua parent stands behind it. The character is terrier and toy dog combined: bold, busy, loyal to their own people and quick to announce anything unfamiliar at the door.
Exercise is easily met with short walks and indoor games, so the real work goes into training and socialisation. Left to their own devices a Chorkie becomes a barker that distrusts visitors. Grooming ranges from daily combing to a weekly brush depending on the coat, but teeth need constant attention in a jaw this small. A dog under 6.5 kg is fragile, so supervise children and larger dogs closely.
A cross, not a breed. Chorkies are crossbred dogs with no kennel club standard behind them, so treat the weights, heights and lifespans above as typical of what is seen rather than as figures anyone breeds to. Coat is the most variable trait, since the Chihuahua parent may be smooth or long coated, and littermates can favour either side in size and temperament as well. First crosses of two purebred parents tend to be more predictable than later generation crosses.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Chorkie puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, graded on orthopaedic examination
- Collapsing trachea, recognised by a goose honk cough and confirmed on radiographs or fluoroscopy
- Patent ductus arteriosus, heard as a continuous murmur on auscultation and confirmed by echocardiogram
- Portosystemic liver shunt from the Yorkshire Terrier side, screened with a serum bile acids test
- Periodontal disease and early tooth loss, found at annual dental examination
- Hydrocephalus in domed headed puppies, diagnosed by ultrasound through the fontanelle or by MRI
- Hypoglycaemia in young puppies, confirmed by a blood glucose test
- Eye disease including cataracts, dry eye and glaucoma, found on veterinary eye examination
Your Chorkie puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Chorkie.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.5 to 6.5 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6.5 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Chorkie
Previous: Chiweenie · Next: Chow Chow
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- purina.co.uk for adult weight and height, life expectancy and country of origin
- petmd.com for energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- Health notes from Chorkie breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/chorkie. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Kjd35uk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.