Breeds / Size not published
Dorkie puppies
The Dorkie is a small, spunky and affectionate dog with a big dog attitude and bark. They are playful and can do well with adults, children and other pets, but they have a high prey drive.
The facts
- Size class Not published
- A cross of Dachshund and Yorkshire Terrier
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight Not published
- Adult weight in pounds Not published
- Adult height Up to 30 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Not published
- Typical lifespan 11 to 15 years
- Good with children Not published
- Good with other dogs Not published
About the Dorkie
The Dorkie crosses the Dachshund with the Yorkshire Terrier. Both parents started as working dogs, the Dachshund tunnelling after badgers and the Yorkie hunting rats in textile mills and coal mines, and the cross keeps their confidence. PetMD describes them as less than a foot tall, recorded here as up to 30 cm, and gives a typical lifespan of 11 to 15 years. The coat can lean towards the Yorkie's long, silky hair, which needs a lot of grooming, or towards the Dachshund's easier coat.
Dorkies are indoor dogs that dislike being alone and do not cope well with cold weather. They need daily exercise, partly because both parents are prone to obesity, and a Dorkie with the Dachshund's long back needs strong back muscles to protect it. Walk them on a lead or in a fenced area because of the prey drive, and supervise very young children closely. Keep a Dorkie light, because extra weight strains a back already prone to disc disease.
A cross, not a breed. The Dorkie is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and puppies from one litter can differ. Coat care in particular ranges from easy to daily brushing and regular grooming depending on which parent a puppy takes after.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Dorkie 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. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. 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.
- Intervertebral disc disease from the Dachshund side, which causes back pain, weakness or paralysis
- Bloat, a swollen, twisted stomach that needs emergency treatment
- Tracheal collapse, suspected from a honking cough
- Liver shunt, an abnormal blood vessel around the liver, suspected from poor growth and screened with a bile acids blood test
- Patellar luxation, graded on orthopaedic examination
- Periodontal disease, prevented by regular tooth brushing and found at dental checks
Your Dorkie puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Not published adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Buying guides for this
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- Health notes from Dorkie breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/dorkie. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for adult weight, coat type, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.