Yorkinese Dog Breed

The Yorkshire Terrier-Pekingese mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group--but both the Yorkie and the Pekingese parents are in the Toy group in the AKC and other clubs, so this hybrid would fit nicely in that category. Neither does any info exist about specific Yorkinese origin; while a Pekingese and Yorkie mix has probably existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. The Pekingese mixed with Yorkie likely gained popularity during the designer dog "explosion" in North America in the late 20th century. Whatever the case, these affectionate, sassy little dogs make great companion pets, and they're especially good for seniors or for those living in apartments.

A few Yorkie and Pekingese mix facts: they're toy-sized, averaging eight inches at the shoulders in height and eight pounds in weight; they have long-haired coats that can be either fine or coarse (or somewhere in between); and they're very sensitive and will suffer separation anxiety if left alone.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Yorkinese:

Some important Yorkie information: these hybrids are the offspring of two toy-sized companion breeds--which means the Pekingese-cross-Yorkshire Terrier will be both tiny and friendly as well. Physically, Yorkinese dogs are indeed small: height at the shoulders is 6-10 inches, and weight is 6-10 pounds. Yorkinese coats are long-haired, and can be silky like the Yorkie's or rougher like that of the Pekingese (or the texture can be somewhere in between); regardless, the coats won't shed too much. And the coats come in a variety of colors (in both solid and multi-colored patterns) that include black, gold, blue, tan, red, and white, among others.

The Yorkinese temperament is normally a mix of the Yorkie's "sassiness" and confidence, and the proud, regal nature of the Pekingese. These hybrids will be friendly and affectionate with family members, and they usually mix well with kids and other household pets--but the Yorkinese can be overly fussy without some early obedience training and socialization. Training a Yorkinese can be a challenge, as the dog's potential stubbornness means a few repetitions may be necessary when teaching commands or tasks; firm, consistent, reward-based training methods are recommended. But this hybrid's natural protectiveness and confidence mean its watchdog skills are pretty good. A Yorkinese will typically bark at and investigate most unknown sights or sounds.

These high-energy little dogs will also need consistent exercise. A daily walk or two, plus a few minutes' playtime, should fulfill a Yorkinese's activity requirements pretty well.

The Yorkinese, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including patellar luxation (dislocation of the kneecap) and various eye problems, the most serious of which are cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Toy-sized dogs like this one are also prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). 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 Yorkinese is 12-15 years.