Dorkies are a intercrossed breed with dachsie and Yorkshire terrier parent . These small , smart , and patriotic dogs are fit for apartment living and are playful companions .

odoriferous and fond , dorkie dogs are a intercrossed stock withYorkshire terrieranddachshundparents . gratefully , these endearing , intelligent pupshave enough prettiness and self-confidence to shake off having a wacky name like dorkie ! This egress crisscross breed is also sometimes refer to as dorkier terriers and doxie yorkies .

" Dorkies go in well with flat and townhouse living , " says Corinne Wigfall , DVM , BVS , BVM , and consulting veterinarian withSpiritDog Training . " They have it off the one - on - one clip and will quite merrily be a lap cad . "

dorkie laying in grass

Courtesy of cini.the.dorkie / Instagram

tiny playmate , dorkies lean to be a good match for a number of people , from families to retirees , and they adjust to most living situations so long as they get spoiled with attention . Because they ’re so midget , dorkies are good candidates forapartment living , but these spunky dogs need playtime anda mates of brusk walks a twenty-four hours .

Appearance

Because dorkies are a hybridisation strain , there ’s no " breed measure " that defines what these blackguard should look like . Even dorkie puppies born in the same bedding material may look altogether dissimilar . But each parent has some cute , signature traits that dorkie puppy could inherit .

Short and stout , dachshund bounder are nicknamed " sausage balloon " or " weiner " detent because of their stubby fiddling legs that endure a long , barrelful - like body . Yorkies , on the other deal , are among the tiniest of terriers and wear their whisker in farsighted , glam , silky tresses ortrimmed shorter into a cute " puppy cut . "

When it comes to dorkies , the coat colors , figure , and length can be all over the circuit card . Dachshunds alone can have smooth , conducting wire - haired , or farsighted - haired coat in a form of colors and patterns . Yorkies tend to have satiny coating that come in color combination like black and tan , black and amber , blue and tan , and blue and atomic number 79 . vernacular pelage colors for dorkies , though , let in reddened , black , brown , and blue . Both parent breed shed some and have small - to - restrained grooming needs .

closeup of a dorkie with his tongue out

But no matter what combination of traits they inherit , full - grown dorkies will always be asmall hotdog . Dachshunds variegate from 11–32 pounds while Yorkshire terriers are tiny dogs that typically weigh under 7 pounds . When these two breed are crossed , the result is a pup that tends to be slightly with child than her Yorkie parent , put down between 5–12 quid with a height that can vary between 5–10 in .

Temperament

What is a dorkie domestic dog ’s personality like ? They may beteeny - diminutive dogs , but they ’re gravid on personality . Yorkies are sprightly , pertinacious , a tad peremptory , and love cuddles . The spunky dachshund is brave and curious , trait that once helped these humble , sausage - determine firedog burrow into dens to flush out prey .

" The temperament for this stock is warm and friendly , " order Amanda Cairncross , DVM , veterinarian for mobile veterinary serviceThe Vets .

Dorkies can take to training well ( despite their dachshund parent being known to be a tad strong - willed ! ) and , as with other dogs , patience , body , andlots of positive reinforcementare a formula for dorkie education success .

dorkie near rocks and water

Courtesy of cini.the.dorkie / Instagram

Asan dynamic breed , dorkies love to play withinteractive toys , their preferred human , and other four - legged friends . As with every click , early socializationwill help bring harmoniousness to a rest home with multiple pets .

But because of their delicate frame , dorkies may not be a upright conniption for a home with young , roughhouse children who could accidentally injure these little Guy . Always supervise kids as they play with any pup .

Living Needs

As tiny dogs , dorkies feel right at dwelling house in small homes . Their motto : An apartment is their castle ; your lap is their throne !

While dorkies can live mirthfully in an apartment , Cairncross saysthese domestic dog can be outspoken , which is something to keep in mind if you share wall with neighbor .

Dorkies have tiny stage , so a yoke of scant walks a twenty-four hours in addition toregular potty breakswill do . While not distance athletes , they are playful puppers that erotic love games of Salmon P. Chase andfetch with their families .

dorkie puppy in grass

Courtesy of cini.the.dorkie / Instagram

Care

Dorkies have a lot of energy to burn off and are a playful stock , so bring on the synergistic frankfurter toys , balls , and towboat ropes to keep your forever young - at - heart dog entertained .

When it come to training , dorkies are libertine learner and they’llenjoy preparation sessionsbecause it ’s an opportunity to be the nub of care — and preparation can experience like sport and games to this playful hybrid breed . Come disposed withlots of treatsto make sessions productive and fun . As with all breeds , practise patience and use positive reinforcement during training .

The amount of grooming dorkies require depends on which parent influences the mixed breed ’s coat the most . These dogs could stop up with a smooth , long , or wire - haired pelage . But if a dorkie claim after the Yorkie parent , plan for daily brushingto prevent tangles and matting .

dorkie dog lying on a teal mat

As part of their health and beauty routine , it ’s crucial that dorkies’teeth are brushed dailyin order toprevent periodontal disease . Because both dachshunds and Yorkshire terriers are prostrate to dental problems , dorkies will likely requireyearly dental cleaningsto keep their pearly-white whites healthy , says Justin Padgett , DVM , associate vet at Branchville Animal Hospital in Odenville , Ala. , and acontributor to Pet Dog Owner .

Pup parents should alsoclean their earsa few times a calendar month toprevent ear infection . Make suretheir nails are trimmedand tidy , too .

Dorkies tend to be picky feeder , so you might require to try out a few dog foods before you find one they like .

tan dorkie dog in a pink jacket and harness

Health

Dorkies canlive long , healthy liveswith typical lifespans of 13–16 year . While both the Yorkie and dachshund parent are prostrate to their own singular set of health problems , theInstitute of Canine Biologysays mixed strain heel are generally less likely than their purebred parents to inherit genetic disorders . With that in mind , though , a dorkiecaninherit some of the same health job as his parents .

Dachshunds and dachshund mixes are prone tointervertebral disc disease ( IVDD)and other back problems , Wigfall read . IVDD can be a serious status with symptom that launch the gamut from your pawl having minor back pain all the path to paralysis that could call for an emergency OR . Pet owner necessitate to verify they do n’t let their dachshunds jump on or off the bed or piece of furniture or in and out of cars because this is a common crusade of slide disc in the strain .

Yorkies , on the other hand , are disproportionately affected by portosystemic electrical shunt , aliver disease . Dogs who brook from this stipulation may exhibit symptom such as swaying , going of appetency , excessive urination , looseness , or vomiting , she pronounce . This disease can be key through testing .

dorkie dog sitting outside in grass

To check that you ’re working with an honourable dorkie breeder and that you ’re bringing home a goodish dog , be cognizant of these commonpuppy mill red flagswhen searching for a dorkie puppy :

History

While dorkies are a relatively novel hybrid breed that are acquire popularity , both Yorkshire terriers and dachshunds arepopular dog breedswith long chronicle . It ’s heavy to think , but the ancestor of the lovely - as - can - be dorkies were quite the hunters centuries ago .

Yorkies spring up in the northerly English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in the mid-1800s , according to theYorkshire Terrier Club of America . Before they were stylish , straight-laced - earned run average lap wienerwurst , they were hard - working rodent hunters that toiled away in textile mill and ember mines .

Before becoming family pets in the 1800s , badger dog were also working dogs . These brave hunters appeared some 600 years ago in Germany , according to the American Kennel Club . Their recollective , slender bodies and cunning wit reserve the stock to dig and burrow into badger den . ( The name dachsie is made of two German words : dachs , stand for " badger , " andhund , mean " dog " ) . Packs of dachshunds were even used to hunt savage wild boar .

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