Yorkie mixes combine a Yorkshire Terrier with another breed, producing dogs whose size, coat, energy, voice, and sociability can vary widely—even within the same litter. The ten informal mix names below can help you anticipate possible needs, but they cannot predict an individual dog’s adult appearance or behavior.
What to know before choosing a Yorkie mix
Yorkshire Terriers are tiny companion dogs. The American Kennel Club’s breed profile lists them at 7–8 inches tall, about 7 pounds, with an 11–15-year life expectancy. Those figures describe the Yorkshire Terrier parent breed, not Yorkie crosses. Another AKC facts article describes Yorkies in the five-to-seven-pound range, illustrating why published parent-breed descriptions can differ in presentation.
Yorkies are often described as affectionate, sprightly, feisty, brave, and tenacious. Their official breed-standard description says their “high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance.” A mix may inherit some of those qualities, the other parent’s tendencies, or a combination that is difficult to predict.
Mixed-breed names such as Shorkie and Morkie are informal shorthand, not AKC-recognized breed classifications. Meet the actual dog, ask for veterinary records, and assess its behavior rather than choosing by a name alone.
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10 Yorkie mixes and the personalities they may bring
| Mix | Possible personality | Practical considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Shorkie (Shih Tzu × Yorkshire Terrier) | Cuddly, playful, and people-oriented in many descriptions. | Plan for companionship, positive training, and regular coat care. Individual Shorkies may still be assertive or vocal. |
| Chorkie (Chihuahua × Yorkshire Terrier) | Feisty and often vocal, with a big-dog attitude in a small body. | Early, reward-based socialization and training matter. Supervise interactions with children and larger pets because of the mix’s small size and possible intensity. |
| Morkie (Maltese × Yorkshire Terrier) | Often described as somewhat calmer while remaining affectionate and lively. | They generally need close human contact, routine grooming, and gentle training suited to a small companion dog. |
| Yorkie-Pom (Pomeranian × Yorkshire Terrier) | Curious and energetic, with a tendency to stay busy and alert. | Short training games, safe play, and enrichment can help channel that energy. Expect regular brushing and possible barking. |
| Yorkie-Poo (Poodle × Yorkshire Terrier) | Smart, energetic, and frequently eager to learn. | Use varied reward-based lessons and daily mental activity. Coat texture is variable, so grooming needs should be judged on the individual dog. |
| Snorkie (Miniature Schnauzer × Yorkshire Terrier) | Curious, energetic, and ready to investigate challenges. | Provide puzzle or stimulation toys, training, and supervised exploration. A bored Snorkie may invent its own activities. |
| Dorkie (Dachshund × Yorkshire Terrier) | Often vocal, lively, and determined. | Keep sessions positive and consistent, manage barking rather than punishing it, and use handling practices appropriate for a small dog with a long-backed parent breed. |
| Yorkie Russell or Jorkie (Jack Russell Terrier × Yorkshire Terrier) | Energetic, quick to learn, and potentially intense when under-stimulated. | They suit homes prepared for daily exercise, training, and safe outlets for terrier curiosity. |
| Pugshire (Pug × Yorkshire Terrier) | Often described as lap-oriented and affectionate. | They still need age-appropriate activity and careful monitoring of breathing, heat tolerance, and weight with a Pug parent. |
| Bichon Yorkie or Borkie (Bichon Frise × Yorkshire Terrier) | Energetic and companionable, with a coat that can demand substantial care. | Plan for brushing at home and professional salon visits as needed. Coat type and matting risk vary from dog to dog. |
How to match a mix to your household
Energy and enrichment
Do not equate a small body with low exercise needs. Yorkie-Poms, Yorkie-Poos, Snorkies, and Yorkie Russells may thrive with several short walks, play sessions, training games, and food puzzles. A lower-energy individual still benefits from routine movement and sniffing opportunities. Ask the rescue, breeder, or foster family how the specific dog behaves after activity and when left to settle.
Companionship and time alone
Many of these crosses are bred from companion-oriented parents and may prefer being near people. Before adopting, make a realistic plan for workdays, gradual alone-time training, toilet breaks, and backup care. Persistent distress when alone is a behavior issue to address with a veterinarian or qualified force-free behavior professional, not a reason to assume a mix is inherently unsuitable.
Vocal behavior
Chorkies, Dorkies, Yorkie-Poms, and other terrier-influenced mixes may alert-bark or vocalize during excitement. Reward quiet pauses, reduce triggers visible through windows, and teach a reliable alternative behavior. Punishment can increase fear or arousal and does not identify why the dog is barking.
Children and other pets
Small dogs can be injured by rough handling, falls, or overly enthusiastic play. Any Yorkie mix living with children should have closely supervised interactions, child education about consent and gentle handling, and a separate resting area. Introduce other dogs and cats gradually, using barriers and rewards; prey drive, confidence, and tolerance are individual traits rather than guaranteed results of a mix name.
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Grooming a Yorkie mix
The Yorkshire Terrier contributes a continuously growing, hair-like coat, while the other parent may add a double coat, curls, furnishings, or a different shedding pattern. There is no single grooming schedule for all ten mixes. Check behind the ears, under the legs, around the collar, and beneath the tail for tangles; mats can hide skin problems and make brushing painful.
Begin gentle handling early, pair brushing and nail care with treats, and use a professional groomer when the coat or the dog’s comfort requires it. Bichon Yorkies are specifically noted for needing both at-home grooming and salon visits, but any cross can require professional help.
Health questions to discuss with your veterinarian
Yorkie-focused veterinary guidance commonly raises periodontal disease, liver shunts, and luxating patellas as concerns that may matter in Yorkshire Terriers and some mixes. This does not mean every cross will develop them, and mixing breeds does not reliably eliminate inherited risk.
- Ask your veterinarian to examine the mouth, knees, heart, weight, and overall structure during routine visits.
- Daily tooth brushing is ideal; introduce it gradually with veterinary-approved technique and supplies. A small-dog toothbrush may be useful, but it does not replace professional dental assessment.
- Seek veterinary advice promptly for difficulty eating, persistent bad breath, limping, weakness, unusual thirst, collapse, or changes in breathing or behavior.
- Request the parents’ health information when obtaining a puppy, and keep vaccination, parasite-prevention, and dental records for the dog you bring home.
Questions to ask before bringing one home
- How does this particular dog behave around strangers, children, dogs, and cats?
- What happens after exercise, during grooming, and when the dog is left alone?
- What daily brushing, bathing, clipping, and professional grooming does the current coat require?
- Are veterinary records available, including dental findings, patella evaluations, medications, and any episodes of fainting, digestive illness, or breathing trouble?
- What training methods, food, schedule, and toileting routine is the dog already used to?
The bottom line on Yorkie mixes
These ten crosses can be affectionate, funny, clever, and full of terrier spirit, but the best fit depends on the individual dog and your ability to provide training, companionship, grooming, supervision, and preventive veterinary care. Choose the temperament and needs you can support every day—not the mix label that sounds most appealing.
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