For many years, men have always considered dogs as their best friends. But do you have any idea where and when it all started?
In 1789, King Frederick of Prussia used the term “man’s best friend” to refer to a dog. This happened after realizing how these furry fellows could be one’s absolute and only best friend who will never deny or betray him no matter what.
Other pets like cats, rabbits, hamsters, horses, and even fishes, might have conquered a very special part in one’s heart. But then, even after all these years, nothing was still able to change the bond that these canines have made with their humans and everyone in almost every way.
With millions of dogs worldwide, the World Canine Organization or Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) was able to recognize 339 dog breeds that are internationally accepted. They were also grouped into ten based on several factors or criteria.
These groups include the Herding dogs, Mastiffs, Terriers, Dachshunds, Spitz and Primitive Types, Scenthounds and Related Breeds, Toy and Companion Dogs, Sighthounds, Retrievers, and Pointers and Setters.
All those dogs differ in a lot of ways. They are made unique based on their color, temperament, behavior, sizes, appearance, and even the skill or talent they are good at.
You probably have heard about many kinds of dog breeds. But are you familiar with the dog breed Torkie?
What Is A Torkie Dog Breed?
When two different pure breed dogs are bred with each other, mix dog breeds are born. One of those is the Torkie breed.
The Torkie, a mix of the breeds Yorkshire Terrier and a Toy Fox Terrier, is considered a hybrid designer dog breed. Both of its parents used to belong to the group of dogs originally bred to get rid of foxes, small vermin, and rats. Now, both of its parents are recognized as dogs belonging to the Toy Group.
What Do A Torkie Looks Like?
The Torkie’s looks are ideally a mix of both the Toy Fox Terrier and the Yorkie appearance. Given the small and adorable physique of its parents, this ball of fluff has brown eyes, black or brown nose, and coat color possibilities of silver, white, fawn, red, cream, brown, gray, and black.
Their height normally ranges from 8 to 9 inches when both genders reach adulthood. On the other hand, their weight ranges from 7 to 10 pounds or 2.5 to 5 kilos.
Though the Toy Fox Terrier and the Yorkie share an equal part in the Torkie’s genes, the breed displays more resemblance to Yorkie than the other.
Just like that of a Yorkie, its fur’s color is in shades of black and tan. Its coat is also silky smooth. The only difference to the latter is its shorter hair. Yorkie tend to have longer hair than Torkie.
Aside from its color, size, and height, another obvious detail most people notice in Torkies is its expression. Torkies cute little ears are upright, giving them an aura of always being alert.
Other dog breeds with a size like that of Torkie are Chinwa (Chihuahua Japanese Chin Mix), Maltese, Japanese Chin, and Biewer Terrier.
The Torkie’s Temperament
Since Torkie’s parents, Yorkies and Toy Fox Terrier, are bred to hunt, the two breeds have gained temperament suited to become the hunter they were trained to become. Given this reason, Torkie now is the furball that is full of agility, spunkiness, and fearlessness.
Despite having such a big and wild personality, Torkies are considered companion dogs. Their small size makes them perfect for people to carry around whenever and wherever they want to go. May it be an adventure or just simple walks, Torkies are easy to bring anywhere.
Also, this breed is very loving though sometimes they could become so fierce in showing their love to their owners and those people they care about. The strong passion they have eventually make them very protective and possessive with their humans too.
Torkie Breed Maintenance
Due to its sparse, not-so-long, and straight hair, a Torkie’s coat doesn’t need much maintenance, unlike other Toy Dog breeds such as Shih Tzu and Maltese.
What makes its coat easier to maintain is how its fur doesn’t shed as frequently, how silky soft, smooth it is, and how the hairs don’t tangle and knot that much. The only need you will need is to take a few minutes to do one quick brush every day, and then you are all set.
Aside from maintaining its fur, there are still three things that you should also keep in mind in maintaining and grooming Torkies. First is the length of its toenails.
Maintaining your dog’s toenails’ length is very crucial in keeping your pup healthy and happy. Once left unmanaged, the nails could become very long, eventually causing them problems and pain. So trim your Torkie’s nail regularly or every 3 to 4 weeks.
Once done with their nails, the second thing to consider is your pooch teeth. Experts say healthy dental care is a great opportunity to keep your body healthy– this also goes the same with dogs.
Others might never consider taking care of their dog’s teeth, thinking it is not that important. But experts say it is. Healthy gums and teeth can prevent your puppy from having organ damage. So brush your puppy’s teeth every couple of days. Don’t forget to use the right brush and toothpaste.
The third thing that needs extra effort is their ears. Though it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the puppy’s ears, over-cleaning may lead to irritation and eventually infection in the ear canal.
So, the question is, is there a right or best time to clean your pet dog’s ears? Experts say the best time to clean your dog’s ear is when it is already dirty and smelly. If your puppy’s ears still look clean, cleaning it still won’t be necessary.
Clean its ears using clean earbuds and pet-friendly ear drops. You can purchase the drops from your local pet stores or trusted veterinarian.
Do Torkies Needs To Be Physically And Mentally Challenged All The Time?
It is important to keep your dogs healthy physically and mentally, especially with breeds like Siberian Husky, Pitbull, Rottweiler, and German Shepherd. Without doing so, these doggies might end up destroying your furniture or even your house, costing you a lot of money in the end. And nobody would want that.
Though Torkies can’t destroy as much, these cute little fellas still need extra time for some mental and physical exercises, which can be very good for their overall health. Doing so could help them control their behavior too. About 30 minutes of activity per day can already create a difference for them.
Dog parents can do that by taking them for a walk outside or simply by playing with them. Torkies tend to be energetic and can play for hours, so there would be no problems keeping them busy and happy.
For their mental exercises, training them commands is the best way to do it. There are several commands which you can try to teach Torkies. But for starters, it is best to begin from the simplest. Try teaching them tricks like sit, lay, leave it, and come. These basic lessons can be handy in the future.
How Often Should You Bathe A Torkie?
In bathing dogs, experts say there is no exact advice that could fit every breed as it would depend on the puppy’s situation, climate, and skin condition. Generally, the best advice is to bathe them at most once a week or once they started to smell no matter what breed your dog is.
Remember not to bathe your dog frequently. Over-washing can cause dryness to your pooch skin, leading to skin problems and unhealthy growth of fur. It is also a must to put in mind to use only shampoos that are gentle for dogs as it could cause irritation and skin problems as well.
For Torkies who are suffering from skin disease, it is a must to ask for your vet’s recommendation regarding the shampoos or soaps you will be using. Dogs with skin problems are more sensitive, so it is important to rely on the expert’s advice to keep your dog healthy again.
What Are The Things Needed Once You Adopt A Torkie?
Adopting a Torkie is another responsibility you should be ready to embrace for years. These cuties are like babies needing love, time, effort, and money to be healthy and happy.
Some of the things you should have once you adopt one are com, slicker brush, pin brush, nail clipper, toothbrush, dog-safe toothpaste, toys, treats, dog food, bed, shampoo, soap, vitamins, and dog clothes.
Do Torkies Bark A Lot?
Torkies is a small dog breed. But these ball of fluffs doesn’t let their sizes and heights get on their way in showing everyone how they love their human. They tend to become so overly protective and possessive of them.
These reasons cause this breed to bark a lot and have the tendencies to be noisy. But this kind of personality makes Torkies excellent guard dogs. Their brave souls and hearts are the combination that could surely keep your family, possession, and territory safe from anything and anyone.
Is Torkies Easy To Train?
Torkies is one of the smartest breeds of dogs. For this reason, it is important to give them regular mental exercises to make the most out of their intelligence.
There is no problem teaching this breed new tricks as Torkies can be trained easily and understand words their humans utter better than other breeds.
Through communication, Torkies can become more familiar with your voice, words, and gestures. This allows them to understand you better.
It is also an effective and enjoyable way to teach your dogs basic good manners, which will help them when dealing with other people and dogs.
What Are Torkies Possible Health Concerns In The Future?
Like any other dog breeds, Torkies also tend to suffer from possible health problems in the future. One of the minor problems that this breed is prone to suffer is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism in dogs happens when the thyroid gland shrink or get inflamed.
Hypothyroidism usually occurs in dogs aged 6 to 8 years old. Other dog breeds that are more prone to it are Irish setters, Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, and Cocker Spaniels.
Dogs that suffer from hypothyroidism experience some symptoms, including dulling of hair coat, thinning of fur, gaining weight, too much scaling or shedding, inability to manage coldness, and reduced activity. Once left untreated, hypothyroidism can negatively affect many organs in the long run.
Another health problem that dog owners should watch out for in Toy Torkie is Patellar Luxation. Often a health concern that affects mostly small dogs, Patellar Luxation happens when a dog’s kneecap dislocates.
Though it eventually moves back again and doesn’t negatively interfere with your puppy’s life, treatment for this problem needs surgical procedures, and this requires some amount of money.
There are still other major concerns in Torkie’s health that should be properly managed. These problems include Portacaval Shunt, Lens Luxation, Tracheal Collapse, Von Willebrand’s Disease, and Legg-Calve Perthes Disease.
To identify whether the puppy is suffering from these illnesses, occasional physical tests will be administered. These tests are x-rays, thyroid tests, blood tests, allergy tests, and complete physical examination.
Torkie’s Food Consumption
When feeding Torkies food, fur parents should consider the kibbles’ size. Small dog breeds won’t eat with ease if their food is too big for them to handle. So it is crucial to give them food, only big enough for them.
Aside from kibbles, there are still other foods that dogs will love that can be safe and healthy for them too. Some of those are chicken, fish, plain popcorn, peanut butter, dairy products, white rice, carrots, and apples. These foods are high in vitamins and minerals that can be good for Torkies overall health.
Though some can be very healthy, there are still other foods that fur parents should watch out for that could harm these pooches.
The list includes apple seeds, alcoholic beverages, apricot pits, cherry pits, avocados, chocolate, xylitol, garlic, and coffee. All these might seem harmless, but unfortunately, these foods can lead to liver and kidney disease, poison, and even death.
So never forget to feed your dogs with these. Once accidentally ingested, better seek medical help as soon as possible.
Is Torkies Good For Kids?
Despite having such a very active and goofy personality, Torkies are very sweet and perfect to be with children.
They also tend to become so loving and even possessive of their human, making them great protectors. Though these Torkies got a very small physique, their strong personality is perfect to jive with kids.
Though this breed’s temperament and behavior are great with children, it is still very important to be cautious when letting kids play with them.
Due to the breed’s small size, children could cause injury or broken bones or limbs, especially during playtime. This is why it is important to supervise kids every time they interact with the puppy.
Aside from Torkies, other dogs that can also be perfect for the family and kids are Havanese, Papillon, Pug, Beagle, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, French Bulldog, Dachshund, American Pit Bull Terrier, Poodle, Labrador, and Golden Retriever.
These dogs do well with other pets and also are fond of being with kids. These breeds are also very kind, playful, affectionate, and love to please their human and always with their pack.
Is Torkies Good With Other Pets?
With the high-spirited heart that Torkies have, they tend to not focus on their physique but what their soul could give. For this reason, this dog breed is more prone to hurt other dogs or other pets or either get hurt by them too.
Their small bodies could put them at risk as some big dogs could take advantage and attack them. This could result in wounds or, worse, even death. There are also times when Torkies could physically hurt other dogs and a result of possessiveness and jealousy when it comes to its owner.
With all the risks, it is indeed better to look after a Torkie all the time. After all, you may not want to put your life at risk and cause other pets or people to get hurt because of it.
