You may have heard of a puppy named Borkie. It’s an unusual cross between the Yorkie and the Beagle. Known for many dog names, this designer dog is quickly rising in popularity among dog lovers.
Are you interested in seeing what makes the Beagle Yorkie mix so special? Then, by all means, step right into the magical world of tiny mixed breed dogs with big hearts.
The Controversy Behind The Designer Dogs
Crossbreeding isn’t something new. It has been around ever since humans accepted the company of canines. However, the practice of crossbreeding became popular only twenty years ago.
We can’t mistake crossbreed dogs with mutt dogs. This is where many people debate. Some insist that crossbreeds aren’t mutts because mutts have an unknown lineage of several different parents while crossbreed dogs usually have two specifically chosen purebred parents.
So, if you were ever in doubt as to whether Borkie is a mutt or a crossbreed, we can assure you that this is a crossbreed dog 100%!
Pros Or Cons Of Crossbreeding
There are dog enthusiasts who claim that crossbreeding may help reduce the quality of breeds by tempering the bloodline of the parents. Some even claim it’s a way of creating healthier dogs!
For example, crossbreeding may reduce the number of inherited diseases that are passed down from the parents to the puppies. Others argue and claim that those puppies are equally prone to inheriting the same health issues as their purebred parents.
Either way, it should always be underlined that there is no such thing as a 100% healthy dog, whether it’s purebred or a cross breed.
Which Clubs Recognize The Borkie?
Actually, none of the clubs recognize the Borkie as an official breed. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes them as a hybrid breed.
Still, the Designer Breed Registry (DBR) and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR) claim that the Borkie is one of them, equal to other crossbreeds.
Origin Of The Beagle
In order to understand this mixed puppy, we must understand the parent breeds. Let’s start with the breed that gave this dog its first letter, the Beagle.
The origins of the Beagle breed remain a mystery, but it’s certain that they’re an ancient breed. The AKC shows them as hunting dogs that used to hunt rabbits and hare in the English region before the Roman arrival in 55 B.C.
The modern-day Beagle is related to those early hunting dogs.
Once called a “foot hound”, the Beagle was a staple for all people, both nobles and commoners. People took care of them because they were of great help with hunting small game.
Beagles didn’t come to the USA until the end of the Civil War. But, it didn’t take too long for them to become a popular choice when hunting rabbits.
Soon enough, Beagles were listed by the AKC in 1885, and became one of America’s favorite dog breeds.
To this day, Beagles are the favorite choice for hunting small game because of their amazing sense of smell, hunting skills, and unique howl.
Find more details on this dog’s history in our text on what Beagles were bred for.
Origin Of The Yorkie
The Yorkshire Terrier, or the Yorkie, was created back in the 1800s in the English regions of Lancashire and Yorkshire. They’re tiny in size but mighty with character.
The history of this dog breed is pretty amazing. Yorkies were working dogs in coal mines and textile mills, with a big task of controlling rodents and other vermin.
It didn’t take long for nobles to see how attractive these puppies were. Noblewomen used to tuck these dogs under their arms as fashionable pocketbooks.
The big turning point for the breed was in 1886 when the Kennel Club of England officially recognized them.
Nowadays, Yorkie is number 9 on the AKC’s list of America’s most popular dog breed, just four places behind the other parent breed from this article – the Beagle.
Do Beagles Have A Good Temperament
Now that you’ve seen what the parent breeds did in the past and how it affected them today, it’s time to see how their temperaments are and how it affects the puppies.
Like with many other mixed breeds, the Borkie’s temperament will be left up to chance and genetics. It’s really a guessing game as to whose personality and appearance traits will win.
For example, the Beagle is a wonderful family dog that gets along well with pretty much everyone, including kids and pets. The beagle is active and sturdy, full of energy, and ready to have lots of fun with the children.
Since Beagles are working dogs, they will be happiest around active families that will tackle their need for daily exercises.
One thing that Beagles are notorious about is their desire to escape. Beagles love problem solving, and they’re incredibly smart about it. This breed will dig, climb, squeeze through, and run like crazy.
All future owners should make sure their property is safe and secured, and never leave their Beagle unattended outside. Trust us, they will make a run for it.
Since this breed has a strong prey drive, especially towards small animals, you shouldn’t keep them off-leash when going for a walk.
Small dog breeds like Chihuahuas, Pugs, Pomeranians, Bichon Frises, Maltese, or other Terrier dogs might trigger their instincts.
If you do take them out without a leash, you’re risking other animals and your dog, too, because they can get hurt in traffic.
More On The Yorkie Temperament?
As for the Yorkshire Terrier, it’s a true terrier dog like its cousins, the Cairn Terrier, the Westie, the Norwich Terrier, etc. This means that these dogs have courage and a lot of sass to help get through many questionable situations.
Generally speaking, Yorkies are friendly dogs, often acting goofy, but are still very eager to please the family. They also bond quite fast with all family members.
This is THE lap dog that will sit quietly for hours.
However, this doesn’t mean that they’re lazy couch potatoes. They still need lots of exercise and playtime throughout the day.
Even though Yorkies are excellent family dogs that get along with pretty much anyone, they’re not really recommended for people with small children, or with children who are large or more hyper.
The Yorkie may have a tough character, but they’re still very small dogs, and can easily be injured if handled the wrong way.
What you shouldn’t do to your Yorkie is scold them harshly. Always keep a gentle and loving tone.
Just like the Beagle, the Yorkie has a strong prey drive, so the leash has to stay on. Also, since they’re so small, walking them off-leash might invite some predators like huge owls or coyotes to take them. It wouldn’t be the first case!
Beagle Yorkie Mix Temperament
Now that we know what the parents are like, it’s time to see what type of temperament the Borkie has.
Just as you could’ve predicted, the Borkie also has a strong prey drive. These are active dogs that love playing around, and they love doing it with children and other animals.
Just make sure the kids aren’t too small, and that they know how to handle small dogs.
As with all dogs, this Beagle Yorkie mix will benefit by getting through the socialization process early. Having them go through obedience training wouldn’t be half as bad either!
If you train your little Borkie, you will end up having a happy and well-behaved puppy.
How Big Does The Beagle Yorkie Mix Get?
Determining the size and weight of a crossbreed puppy is always uncertain because you never know which parent the puppy will take after.
Still, what we can do is get a general idea of what your Beagle Yorkie mix might look like by looking at the size of the parents.
The Beagle is a medium-sized dog, with 13 to 15 inches in height, and weighing 15 to 30 pounds.
The Yorkie is a lot smaller, having only 7 to 8 inches in height, and weighing under 7 pounds.
So, the Borkie puppy may be as small as an average Yorkie or as big as a medium-sized Beagle. Everything in between counts as well.
At roughly 9 to 11 kilos, and standing tall at 30 to 38 cm, the Borkie is obviously larger than its Yorkie parent. This is something that dog breeders must pay attention to because it’s advised that the female should always be the Beagle to prevent labor problems.
The appearance of all crossbreeds depends on genetics and chance. Your Beagle Yorkie mix puppy can inherit any coat color combination from above… there’s no such thing as a standard Borkie look.
Beagle And Yorkie Mix: General Appearance Traits
The Borkie is a beautiful puppy with a cheeky face and a cute scruffy coat (thanks, Yorkie mom or dad!). They have a round skull and a muzzle that is medium in length and not overly wide.
The Beagle parent has a short coat that sheds mildly, along with a long body, floppy ears, big brown eyes, and a long tail.
The Beagle’s sleek coat has several color combinations, including:
• Orange and white
• Lemon and white
• Tri-color
• Chocolate tri
• White and chocolate
• White and chestnut
• Red and white
Most dogs inherit the floppy ears from the Beagle parent, other than the erect ears of the Yorkie.
On the other hand, the Yorkie is a small and proportionate dog, with long and silky hair that doesn’t shed. Yorkies have erect ears, short and cocked tails, and round and brown eyes.
The Yorkie hair comes in three color combinations:
• Black and gold
• Blue and tan
• Blue and gold
The eyes of a Borkie are round and dark brown, which is quite appealing to many dog owners, if not the most appealing trait.
The body is rectangular, with a noticeable abdominal tuck and sturdy limbs. They have a slim tail, and they are medium in length, with short or long hair.
Most Borkies have a medium to long coat that is very wiry and unkempt looking. The facial hair is longer in some areas, making them look like they have eyebrows and a beard.
The most popular colors are black and tan, or grey and tan, but dogs with patches of white, also named tricolor, are also quite popular.
Beagle Yorkie Mix Puppies
Grown-up Borkies are small dogs, so naturally, Borkie puppies are very tiny. When handling these puppies, take extra special care that you don’t handle them roughly and risk potential injuries.
Puppy socialization should start as soon as you get your puppy, so it eventually turns out to be a dog that gets along with other pets and children, obeys commands, walks on a leash, and follows all your rules.
Training does take some effort, but the end result is a well-adjusted dog, and that’s simply priceless.
Grooming And Taking Care Of The Beagle Yorkie
Grooming the Beagle Yorkie mix depends on the coat type that the puppy inherits from the parent breeds.
The Beagle parent is quite easy to groom, and only needs occasional bathing. But, he needs to be brushed twice a week to control the loose hair.
On the other hand, the Yorkie needs to be brushed every day and bathed once a week. They have hair similar to human hair. Their hair can be trimmed with a puppy cut or it can grow all the way down to the floor.
In fact, the amount of grooming will depend on the haircut.
The Yorkie is a hypoallergenic dog, but the Beagle isn’t. This is exactly why you can expect your Beagle Yorkie mix to shed moderately.
Besides brushing and bathing – nail clipping, cleaning ears, and brushing teeth should be done on schedule.
Beagle Yorkie Mix Lifespan and Health Issues
As with (almost) everything else, it’s hard to tell how long a crossbreed puppy will live and what the most common health issues that a Beagle Yorkie mix might have. This is a cross between purebred parents with different lifespans and health problems.
The Beagle has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. This breed is mostly prone to glaucoma, patellar luxation, central progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, chondrodysplasia, distichiasis, cherry eye, hip dysplasia, ear infections, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
The other side of the family, the Yorkshire Terriers, can live around 11 to 15 years, and they can be prone to hypoglycemia, Legg-Perthes disease, skin issues and allergies, retinal dysplasia, liver shunt, collapsed trachea, kneecap dislocation, pancreatitis, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and dental problems.
Your Borkie puppy may be prone to all of these diseases, but it also may be prone to just some of the listed health issues that the parent breeds have.
This is exactly why it’s necessary to look for health test results from your breeder. Early health screening can help you get a general picture of which diseases your puppy might encounter in the future.
Reputable Borkie breeders will always health screen their litters and provide you with certificates that prove the dog is healthy and free of current issues.
Exercising And Training A Beagle Yorkie Mix Dog
The Beagle Yorkie Terrier mix is going to be an active and playful puppy, just like his purebred mom and dad.
These dogs need to exercise at least thirty minutes to an hour a day, but this depends on the dog’s size and weight. A medium-sized Borkie will resemble the Beagle parent more, and will need an hour or so of daily exercise.
If a Borkie is smaller and resembles the Yorkie parent more, you will need to give him around thirty minutes of exercise daily. A short walk and some playtime in the yard should satisfy their activity needs.
Training a Borkie should be a simple task if you think of how intelligent the Beagle and the Yorkie are. Both parents love to please their owner, so it’s only likely that the Borkie will do the same.
However, early socialization and obedience training should be done in time to ensure that the grown-up Beagle Yorkshire Terrier mix will be a well-behaved dog.
Harsh training should be avoided because of the sensitive Yorkie genes.
What’s The Best Home Type For A Beagle Yorkie Mix?
Photo from @romeo.borkie
The Yorkie Beagle mix will do best in a home with a secured and fenced back yard. Also, larger kids are always a safer choice when it comes to this crossbreed. They can be taught how to handle the dog correctly and how to respect it.
The Beagle Yorkie crossbreed is still easygoing with animals and children, so you can’t really go wrong here. Whether you’re a single person or you have a family, you are the perfect candidate for a Borkie.
As long as you keep their food bowl full, their water fresh, and activities on schedule, Borkies will love you.
Is A Beagle Mix A Good Family Dog?
Absolutely! The Borkie is a wonderful addition to any family and a friend to all family members. These dogs are patient, active, and show affection.
They’re also dogs that love playtime, especially with children, but make sure the little ones are always under supervision and that they show respect to the dog.
Does The Borkie Get Along with Other Pets?
The Borkie gets along very well with all pets, big or small, but only if you raise them correctly. A socialized puppy will always be a friend to anyone. However, because of the strong prey drive that the parents have, it’s not really advised to let Borkies roam freely and chase small animals.
Three Things You Should Know About The Borkie
1.The Borkie is a social dog.
They share love and they love almost everyone they meet; hence, the reason why Borkies might not be very good watchdogs or guard dogs.
2.The Borkie is sensitive to the cold.
Borkies don’t enjoy cold weather. They prefer wearing a cute dog coat when they go out. This should be the first thing on your dog list if you live in a place with a colder climate.
3.The Borkie becomes very attached to her family.
Most dogs cling to one family member, but not Borkies. They love all family members equally to the point that they tend to follow them around the house. Leaving them alone for too long is not a good idea because they can develop separation anxiety.
Beagle Yorkie Mix For Sale: How To Adopt Or Shop
photo from @kait_4thekids
Finding a crossbreed dog is always much more difficult than finding a purebred dog. There are many dog shelters that carry specific breeds like Pit bulls, Poodles and Poodle mixes, Golden Retrievers, etc.
However, finding a Cocker Spaniel Shelter, Dachshund, or Schnauzer shelter is as difficult as finding a Borkie one. You will need to dig a little deeper to find these pooches.
Many shelters are usually hit or miss. They might carry a Borkie, but you may be too late to adopt one. They’re terrific dogs, so it is no wonder why their demand and supply don’t match.
If you’re lucky enough to find a Beagle Yorkie crossbreed for adoption, you should know that the adoption costs are much less than the breeder fees.
You can expect to spend anywhere between $50 to $100 for your Borkie, and that’s including vet costs!
On the other hand, you will need to stretch your budget a bit more if you want to go through a breeder. A breeder’s Borkies cost anywhere from $500 to $1000!
But, it will be a bit safer if you choose the breeder option because you can ask them all sorts of questions about the dog’s health, temperament, parents, and behavior, as well as the parent’s previous litter.
As we mentioned earlier, health screenings are something that responsible breeders practice, so make sure you ask to see clearances on time.
Conclusion
Getting a dog isn’t only about picking one from the shelter, buying dog food, and throwing it a ball from time to time. All dogs deserve to live in a home where someone will take care of their physical needs as well as their mental state.
All dogs need love, and the Beagle Yorkie mix has lots of it to share with you. It’s quite easy to fall for this mixed breed dog. They’re one of the cutest and tiniest dogs out there, but their place in your heart will be huge.
Read Next: 13 Best Beagle Breeders In Florida
