Today we’re here to introduce you to this brave, adorable little watchdog that most dog owners agree are one of the most affectionate small breed dogs.
Yorkie Pekingese Mix
Also known as the Yorkingese, the Yorkinese is a breed of dog that is a cross between a Pekingese and a Yorkshire Terrier. This dog is small yet its coat is dense and long. The Yorkinese is the kind of dog that’s very affectionate and it’s full of energy, agile, and also a proud breed as well.
Parentage
The Yorkinese is a combination of a Pekingese and a Yorkshire Terrier, of which both dog breeds are considered smaller in stature. Nevertheless, each of these breeds are very different from one another as you are about to learn. As a matter of fact, you’ll never know for sure which one of the parents will present the dominant personality traits in a Yorkinese. And you may not know which parent will provide the stronger resemblance and appearance, which is the reason why this mixed breed is unique and interesting.
- Yorkshire Terrier – for this particular breed, the Yorkshire Terrier was first noted in Yorkshire, England in the 19th century and its affectionately known as the Yorkie. In modern times, the Yorkshire Terrier is believed to be a crossbreed of the Paisley Terrier and Clydesdale Terrier along with other types of terriers. It was not until 1872 that the first Yorkshire Terrier was ever recorded. These dogs are rambunctious and are considered a handful when taking care of them. They are confident, have dominant personalities, and they are quite mischievous.
- Pekingese – this dog was very popular amongst the nobility and royalty in ancient China. Because it was treated like royalty throughout the years, this dog is quite assertive and proud. Even though it has a smaller size, you’ll definitely appreciate the gigantic character of the Pekingese. It’s a loyal companion, full of will, and it’s a brave animal.
Appearance
Similar to its parents, the Yorkinese is a tiny sized dog that is quite delicate. Its average weight is in the range of 5-14 pounds. On average, the height of this dog is anywhere from 6-9 inches.
The coat of the Yorkinese is long, but it could have varying textures. This all depends on the dominant traits that it inherited from its parents. Yorkies have coats that are smooth and silky, while the Pekingese have coats that stick out and are course. As far as colors go, the most common Yorkinese colors include cream, golden, tan, black, and chocolate brown.
The Yorkinese head is partially square-shaped. This dog also has a tiny black nose, small dark eyes, and plenty of facial hair. This mixed breed also has a bushy tail of medium length and very short feet. All in all, the Yorkinese is charming, looks really cute, and is quite the elegant pup.
Life Expectancy
It is estimated that a Yorkinese will live anywhere from 12-15 years. Obviously, longevity depends on the dog’s environment, whether or not it gets good exercise, its diet, and whether or not you take proper care of your pooch.
Potential Behavior Traits
Even though this dog is quite small in stature, the Yorkinese definitely has an extra-large personality. It’s a courageous, brave, and bold dog that is littered with the combined traits of its parental breeds.
Even though it isn’t the most social dog with strangers and other dogs, this mixed breed is also independent, confident, and extra proud. On the other hand, if you take a Yorkinese while it is a small puppy and keep it in social situations, you’ll have an outgoing dog on your hands with a large and friendly personality.
As far as owners are concerned, the Yorkinese is incredibly affectionate, loyal, and one of the most loving dogs you’ll ever own. They are excellent companions and fantastic watchdogs. Similar to a Yorkshire Terrier, a Yorkinese is happy and energetic most of the time. The Yorkinese likes lots of attention and definitely thrives in smaller families. This dog will love to cuddle, spend quality time with you, and play as often as possible.
It’s also possible for this mixed breed of dog to cultivate Small Dog Syndrome. If you allow your Yorkinese to grow up without being trained, it can also become a very ill-tempered pup. If this happens, your dog is going to be quite disobedient and bark relentlessly, which no one really wants. Also, when the dog socializes with larger breeds, it won’t realize how small it is when compared to the bigger dogs. Your Yorkinese may believe he’s bigger than he actually is. It’s not necessarily smart to allow small children to play with a Yorkinese either. Only do so if your dog is well-behaved and trained because young kids can overly excite a Yorkinese.
Even though this dog is really small and cute, you should not treat a Yorkinese like it’s a baby, even though many small dog owners seem to do so. By spoiling this dog, you will create a monster and make it believe that it’s the household’s alpha. If the dog believes that he or she is the alpha, it will become unruly and difficult to train. This dog is also really stubborn if it chooses to be so, which means this breed is difficult to train at times as well. If you do not properly train your Yorkinese, life can become very frustrating, stressful, and make it difficult to care for your little pooch.
The Yorkinese only barks occasionally when an unwelcome visitor triggers a response. Or in other instances, it may bark a lot to grab your attention. Ignore the dog and refuse to respond if this happens. The smartest thing is to take it out for a walk and allow it to play. Your dog may have pent up energy which could cause the Yorkinese to bark excessively. If the excessive barking continues to happen, talk to your veterinarian to ask for advice about the problem.
All in all, a Yorkinese is an excellent family pet if you give it lots of attention and affection.
The Right Environment
Since it’s a small dog, it’s very easy for a Yorkinese to live in a small apartment. In fact, these dogs like staying with a smaller family. Ensure that your dog has plenty of supervision when you allow it to interact with young children and other dogs.
Depending how you raised it, your Yorkinese might prefer to stay alone if it likes receiving all of your attention. In fact, if your house has other pets this dog might not handle it very well. It could get this trait from Pekingese dogs that are superior and proud.
A Yorkinese has the ability to adapt tremendously to all environments. It handles cold and hot weather in most cases depending on its coat texture.
Proper Diet
It’s best to feed your Yorkinese using dry food of the highest quality. Feed your dog the right proportions that usually amount to a half or three quarters of a cup depending on the size and weight of your dog. It’s important to feed your Yorkinese twice per day, and this doesn’t even count any treats that you give him or her. Feeding your dog more than this could lead to it becoming overweight.
Recommended Exercise
A Yorkinese can live quite comfortably in a smaller enclosed space like a smallish apartment. But like all dogs, this mixed breed also needs to get exercise every so often. It’s an energetic dog, so giving it lots of exercise will help it unleash its pent up energy.
Exercise is a nice preventative from having a really stubborn Yorkinese. It’s also great to help your dog have excellent mental and physical health. A wide range of smaller dog breeds are very active, but the Yorkinese is only somewhat active so it requires light exercise and nothing more.
A 15-20 minute walk around the park is plenty of exercise. This dog doesn’t explore much and prefers to roam around the home and play. A Yorkinese’s mental health is stimulated by toys and it helps to get additional exercise. Allow your dog to chase you around and play fetch with it every day.
Keep your Yorkinese isolated during playtime and exercise. Otherwise it may bump into other big dogs and have a conflicting temperament since it isn’t a very social animal.
It can dehydrate easily so give it enough water while exercising and do not let it over-exercise to exhaustion. Consider your dog’s age and current state of health to decide how long your dog should exercise.
Dog Training
This breed of dog is really intelligent, so it will obey commands and understand you if it feels like it. Remember, it’s also very stubborn.
To get training to take effect, you may need to nudge your Yorkinese in the right direction. To train them effectively, you must perform training exercises consistently and have a great deal of patience. Use a positive approach, reinforce the training with rewards and avoid using punishments for the best results. Begin training your Yorkinese while it’s a puppy, because the younger the dog, the easier it will obey and adapt to your commands.
Avoid treating your dog like a baby, because if you do it will become a bossy little brat. Even worse, it will become nearly impossible to train once it becomes an adult. Let the dog know that you’re the boss at all times.
Training a Yorkinese requires socialization. If you allow your dog to socialize with other dogs early in life during the puppy years, it will adapt better to other dogs and become well behaved around them.
Watch Video: Yorkinese Playing
Grooming Recommendations
With the Yorkinese, it’s necessary to provide strict grooming and this is especially true if it has a long coat. It might not shed too often, yet regular grooming every few months and daily brushing is a must.
Brush your dog using a soft brush to prevent tangling and eliminate loose hairs. Do not brush your dog rigorously to prevent coat breakage. Your dog’s coat will remain healthy and smooth using a gentle dog shampoo. And it will be easier to brush your dog if you use conditioner.
Your Yorkinese’s hair will not become a nuisance if you provide a regular hair trimming, and this is especially true of facial hair. Trim the hair around its eyes to keep its line of sight free of obstructions. Clip its nails when necessary, and check for ear infections and bacteria regularly because this dog is susceptible to these conditions.
Yorkinese tooth care is also quite important. They are prone to dental issues, so brushing two or three times a week is our recommendation.
Remember to bathe your Yorkinese one or two times per month. And if it exercises a lot and interacts with other pooches often; then more baths are better than less.
Similar to a Yorkshire Terrier, your Yorkinese may be hypoallergenic. Not every dog of this breed has this problem, so ask your veterinarian first.
Potential Health Issues
This mixed breed doesn’t have any breed specific health issues. But there are potential health problems that it can have based on the breeds of its parents that one should pay attention to. The major health issues to keep in mind include:
- Collapsed trachea
- Brachycephalic syndrome
- Entropion
- Leg-calve-perthese disease
- Skin fold dermatitis
- Patellar luxation
- Portacaval shunt
- Reverse sneezing
- Heart disease
- Mitral valve disease
- Hypoglycemia
Acquiring a Yorkinese
These dogs are actually very common right now. A puppy will typically cost between $200-$550 and most kennels and breeders will have them available. You may even adopt one from your local pound.
Final Thoughts
The Yorkinese is an extremely popular breed of dog. It’s intelligent, smart, and it makes a great pet. It doesn’t require a great deal of maintenance and it doesn’t need a whole lot of space. It’s affectionate, loyal, cuddly, and loves to play.
Exercise caution when owning a Yorkinese. Even though it’s very small in size, it is a brave and bold dog. It typically doesn’t get along well with children and other dogs.
For the best training, introduce your Yorkinese to socialization and training as a puppy. This will give your Yorkinese a chance to act well-behaved and playful with children and other dogs.
At the end of the day, Yorkinese make excellent family pets. But they do require plenty of affection, attention, and proper training from their owners.