Are you currently looking for a puppy? We will make a wild guess and say that your current faves are Yorkshire Terriers and Dachshunds. The good news is — you don’t have to decide anymore. Now you can have the best of both worlds, and adopt a Dachshund Yorkie mix. These adorable pups are also called Dorkies, and after reading this article you will understand why they are so wildly popular!
The Dorkie – Dachshund Yorkie Mix
It is not known why the Dorkie breed was founded first or where it comes from. But it is believed that it was most likely in the USA.
When you buy a Dorkie, you can’t know exactly what it will look like, as it can inherit certain genes from both parents.
The best way to determine the possible personality traits and appearance of a Dorkie dog is to take into account the characteristics of the parent breeds.
Both the Yorkie and the Dachshund are similar in temperament and size and share a similar determination!
Let’s take a closer look at these two breeds.
Origins of the Dachshund
The Dachshund has been around for at least 500 years and was first developed in Germany as a hunter dog.
The long, deep body and short legs of the dachshund as well as courage and perseverance allowed them to dig into the animal caves such as badgers and foxes and send their inhabitants.
Dachshund packs also hunted wild boars.
In the 1800s, the dachshund was bred more like a pet and preferred by kings throughout Europe.
Queen Victoria loved the breed especially.
These pet dachshunds were created to be smaller, but still maintained the fearlessness that made them such good hunters.
The dachshund first came to the USA in 1870 and was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885.
In the war years, the popularity of dachshunds decreased due to their connection to Germany.
But today, the dachshund is very popular both in Great Britain and in the USA as a pet and companion.
In some parts of Europe, especially in France, they are still used as hunters.
Origins of the Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkie is a relatively new breed of dog that was born in the 19th century. Century was developed in Yorkshire and has its name there.
The breed was brought from Scotland to Yorkshire by workers who came into the mines and mills.
They brought various Scottish terrier breeds.
The result was a small, lively dog with which rats and other vermin were caught in mines and mills, but which were also friendly to people.
In 1870, the breed was named Yorkshire Terrier and was recognized by the British Kennel Club in 1874.
Over the years, the Yorkie became smaller and smaller and developed into a pet, often as a fashionable companion for high-society ladies.
The Yorkie first appeared in the USA around 1872 and was recognized by the AKC in 1885.
Today it is the sixth most popular dog and the most popular breed toy in the USA.
Size, height and weight of the Dachshund Yorkie Mix
There are two sizes of Dachshund – standard and miniature. The weight of a standard is between 16 and 32 lbs. He stands 8 to 9 inches at the shoulder. The miniature weighs between 8 and 11 pounds. He stands 5 to 6 inches on the shoulder.
The Yorkie has the same height as the standard dachshund. Standing 8 to 9 inches on the shoulder, but with a much lighter frame. He weighs only 3 to 7 pounds.
The resulting Dorkie dog probably weighs between 5 and 12 pounds. And stand between 5 and 10 inches on the shoulder. So the dachshund Yorkie mix will definitely be a small dog!
Coat
The Dachshund has three different types of fur – smooth, long-haired and wire-haired.
The most common colors are chocolate, red, black and cream.
The dachshund can also have two-tone coats, with black and brown being the most popular. Other double colors include chocolate and tan, fawn and tan and gray and tan.
Or they can have patterns such as Dapple and Piebald.
Many dog breeds have a double coat, but a Yorkie has only one layer of human-like hair. It is long, silky and straight with high shine.
When Yorkshire Terrier puppies are born, they are black and brown or black and gold. When the puppies grow up, their hair turns blue.
The fur of a Dorkie can be soft and short or smooth and long. It is available in various colors, including black and tan, gray, gold and black.
Temperament and behavior
The dachshund may be small, but they have the biggest personality. They love company and don’t like to be left alone for a long time.
Dachshunds are very protective and have a strong prey instinct. That’s why you can’t leave them alone with small children or animals.
The Yorkie is a dog that is friendly and loving and is always looking for an adventure.
But like the dachshund, they don’t like to be left alone for a long time, and this can lead to destructive behavior.
They get along with other pets, but due to their short temper, they are not ideal for families with small children because they can snap.
As a hybrid, the Dorkie temperament is difficult to predict. However, most of them are gentle and loving, love to deal with people, and are very intelligent.
They often connect with one person in the family. They also love to cuddle and are happy to be with other pets and children. And like both parent breeds, they are very protective and bark a lot.
Grooming the Dachshund Terrier Mix
Dachshunds should be brushed regularly regardless of their hair length, but long-haired pups should be brushed daily.
This breed of dog does not shed too much and is pretty low-maintenance.
Yorkie coats become very long and must be brushed daily to prevent matting.
The Dorkie coat requires low to moderate maintenance and only needs to be brushed two to three times a week.
For all breeds, it is important that you clean their teeth and ears regularly. And also make sure to clip the nails when you need to.
Health problems
Both the Yorkie and Dachshund breeds live between the ages of 12 and 15. So the lifespan of a Dorkie is about 13 years.
Many believe that crossings are not prone to health problems. But, this is not always the case.
The Dachshund has a unique body shape compared to other dogs and is prone to back problems. Hip dysplasia, patella luxation and eye diseases are also common and they are also prone to weight gain.
Yorkies are prone to hypoglycemia. Yorkies are also picky eaters.
No special health problems of the Dorkie are known.
However, they are prone to skin problems and allergies and can inherit a disease that is with one or both parent breeds.
Exercise and training
Both Yorkie and Dachshund breeds require only moderate daily exercise, but should be kept on a leash due to their hunting instinct.
Since they have a stubborn strip, it can be difficult to train dachshunds. They require patience and respond to positive reinforcement.
The Yorkie is relatively easy to train, but has a low attention span and therefore requires short training sessions.
The Dorkie is intelligent and responds well to the training. Like his parent breeds, the Dorkie only requires moderate exercise.
Is the Dachshund Yorkie Mix just right for you?
Only you can decide whether the Dorkie is right for you.
We have described the personality and physical characteristics as well as possible health problems of both the Yorkie and Dachshund breed and the Dorkie itself.
The Dorkie is a super cute and friendly dog that requires moderate exercise and is ideal for living in an apartment.
Buying your Dorkie from a serious breeder increases the chances of a healthy puppy. So don’t look for a bargain when buying a dog. But before buying, also check out your local shelters. As cute as they are, many Dorkies are still abandoned by their owners.