Borkie Dog Breed

The Beagle-Yorkie mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' specific origin; while a Beagle mix with Yorkie has probably existed for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. The Yorkie-Beagle mix is likely a result of the designer dog "explosion" in North America during the late 20th century. Although the Borkie dog may still retain some of the Beagle's hunting instincts, this enthusiastic, affectionate crossbreed is best suited as a pet for active families.

A few facts about Borkies: they're small-sized, averaging 11 inches at the shoulders in height and 15 pounds in weight; they can have short and smooth or long and silky coats (or most likely, somewhere in between)--and regardless, the coats won't shed too much; and they're very energetic and will need consistent exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Borkie:

Some vital Borkie information: a Beagle and Yorkie mix is the offspring of two breeds that are fun-loving, often mischievous, and sometimes stubborn and selfish. These hybrids won't require a ton of maintenance and care; their coats are usually medium-length and fine, so they'll need regular grooming, but they don't need a great deal of upkeep otherwise.

Personality-wise, Borkies are always friendly (even with people or animals they don't know, so they don't make the best watchdogs), and they'll need as much attention as they're so willing to give. If they get consistent outdoor exercise, they'll do well in apartments--if they're able to keep quiet, that is! Like their parent breeds, Borkies tend to bark a lot (and possibly even bay or howl like the Beagle), so it's best if they learn a "Hush!" or "Quiet!" command early on. Unfortunately these hybrids can be stubborn and tough to train, so owners will need to have plenty of patience when teaching them commands. In any case, it's a good idea to start training and socializing your Borkie as early as possible so the dog can learn respectful, calm behavior.

And Borkies are very energetic, often to the point of being high-strung--but they're also pretty small, so they don't have huge exercise needs. They will need physical (and mental) activity on a regular basis, though, to keep them from becoming too hyperactive.

The Borkie, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids may suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including structural issues like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, along with hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and assorted eye problems like glaucoma and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Borkie is 11-15 years.