Yorkinese (Yorkie & Pekingese Mix): Info, Pictures, Traits, Facts

The Yorkinese is a small dog that is a mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Pekingese. As you might imagine, these small dogs demonstrate many of the same traits as their parents. They have huge personalities and like to be the center of attention. They are entirely independent, unlike many toy breeds. However, they are still very loyal and enjoy the attention of their family.

Despite their bubbly appearance around their owner, Yorkie Peke mixes are wary around strangers and can be challenging around most other dogs as well. They love their people first and foremost—often at the expense of others.

With the proper amount of socialization, these toy dogs can be great companions and fitting to some families, though. Below, we’ll help you figure out if this small dog is best for you and your family.

Yorkinese Puppies

Like many smaller dogs, the Yorkinese can be quite yappy and active. They tend to jump around and can need quite a bit of playtime to stay satisfied. They are not exactly low-maintenance dogs because of this. While they are small, they need a bit of exercise!

They are trainable but can be stubborn. This is one reason why we only recommend them for experienced pet owners. As a mixed breed, they are healthier than either of their parent. But they are still not the healthiest dog in the world and can be prone to a few health problems.

While they may love their family, these dogs do not always take well to strangers and other pets.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Yorkinese Dog

1. Yorkinese dogs are prone to “love bites.”

For one reason or another, many owners report that their Yorkinese is prone to nipping for attention. Typically, this is not much of a problem. However, it is a somewhat unique behavior in this mixed breed.

2. These dogs can live for a long time.

We put their lifespan at 16 years. However, depending on their overall health, these dogs can live much longer when in the right environment.

3. Yorkinese dogs aren’t always yappy.

As small dogs, many people assume that this breed is yappy. However, that is not always the case. Many individuals are tranquil.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Yorkinese 🧠

While the Yorkinese can be very affectionate with their people, they are also very independent. They are excellent watchdogs, as they tend to bark whenever they see a stranger or hear a new noise. They are endlessly loyal.

They can be too independent, which can cause some problems. While they are smart enough to learn various commands, they don’t always perform these commands when you ask. For this reason, we only recommend them for experienced dog owners who know how training works.

These dogs can be great companion dogs, but they tend to be a bit full of themselves and attention-seeking. They need a lot of early socialization and early training.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

They do best in smaller families. They can make great companions for older children or empty-nesters who are looking for a companion. However, they are not excellent with younger children.

This is not because they are aggressive or anything of that sort. Instead, their small size makes them prone to injury from overexcited, younger children. This can cause them to be fearful of young children, which can lead to snapping. Even if they aren’t fearful, younger children can easily injure them.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Not particularly. They do not have a strong prey drive, so they will not necessarily chase smaller animals. That isn’t necessarily saying much, though, as there aren’t many smaller animals than them. With that said, their attention-seeking behavior can make them somewhat territorial around other animals. They like all the attention their family can give, so they don’t put up with other dogs or pets taking that attention.

They can get along with other pets when socialized early. However, that is not their default. They are not pack-oriented.

Things to Know When Owning a Yorkinese

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Yorkinese does not have any particular dietary needs, but they are tiny. A small-sized kibble or wet food would be best. Typically, wet food will be the best choice, as it is usually higher quality, and you’re going to find more options. However, high-quality dry food is also suitable. You just may be looking for an appropriate small-kibble option for a while.

Because they are not very food-driven, these small dogs can be somewhat picky. Food that tastes good is necessary. Once again, you’ll likely have luck with wet food for this reason.

Exercise 🐕

While these dogs are small, they do need a bit of exercise. However, their small legs mean that a short walk will probably be plenty. A little bit of exercise for a larger dog is quite a bit of exercise for the Yorkinese.

These dogs are usually okay with a short walk or a few minutes of playtime outside. They are brilliant, so challenging games are a good option. They respond well to canine sports like agility. You can also engage their mind through interactive puzzle toys or playing games like hide-and-seek.

Keeping their brain engaged can also prevent them from being too yappy or territorial.

Training 🦮

These small dogs are smart. They can learn a lot of commands relatively quickly. They can learn many different commands and remember them. While they aren’t always very food motivated, they do like their people’s attention, so they may perform as you ask.

However, these canines are very independent. They think for themselves and aren’t necessarily always going to listen to what you say.

Grooming ✂️

The Yorkinese is a high-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. They require daily brushing to avoid mats and tangling. They do shed quite a bit, so prepare to deal with quite a bit of loose hair around the house. You may need various brushes to deal with their coat, and there is absolutely some level of learning necessary to groom these dogs effectively.

You may decide to get this dog groomed regularly by a professional. However, if you keep up with the grooming, you can easily take care of it at home by yourself. These dogs do not need a bath very often. They may need a bath if they get visibly dirty. However, they should not need to be bathed regularly.

You will need to care for their ears, eyes, and teeth as well. Their nails will need to be clipped. However, these are all basic grooming that all dogs need, so it is nothing special for this breed.

Health and Conditions ❤️

These dogs are prone to many of the same conditions that other small dogs are. They tend to have some problems with their joints. They can also have some breathing problems due to the shape of their muzzle.

Typically, though, these dogs are not very unhealthy. As a mixed breed, they are healthier than most other dogs out there. They are just prone to a wider variety of diseases because of their diverse gene pool. There are a lot of potential problems they can inherit. However, the odds of them inheriting any of these problems are relatively low.

Male vs. Female

There is not anything significantly different between the different genders of this mixed breed. They both have very similar personalities and appearances.

Final Thoughts

This mixed breed can be a great companion dog for the right family. They do need a bit of exercise and quite a bit of grooming. As smart dogs, they can learn many different commands. But they can be very stubborn and independent. This means they won’t necessarily listen to you 100% of the time.

With early socialization and training, these dogs can be friendly. They do tend to be a bit aloof around strangers and aren’t necessarily friendly around other pets. Socialization can go a long way to fix this, however.

• See Also: Yorkillon (Yorkie Papillon) Dog: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits

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Featured image credit: jason johnstone, Shutterstock