Charlotte Foster
Yorkie-Cav or King Charles Yorkie is a mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Yorkshire Terrier. These are a designer breed. The term “designer dogs” appeared at the turn of the 20th century, and representatives of this trend of pets are gaining more and more popularity. The main feature of designer pets is the combination of the best qualities of their parents, who belong to different breeds.
Metis has many advantages over purebred breeds:
- extraordinary appearance, combining the characteristics of the breeds of the parents;
- minimizing hereditary health problems – designer pets are famous for good immunity;
- improved character, human-oriented – every design dog is a loyal companion who will be completely and unconditionally loyal to you. Traits such as aggression, distrustfulness, rancor are completely absent from the representatives of the breed.
Yorkie-Cav is a relatively new hybrid. On the other hand, both parent breeds have a long history as companions.
History
Most often it is difficult to know where the designer dog breed came from, so the origins of the Yorkie-Cav are not known. But, to find out the roots of this wonderful breed, consider the origin stories of the parents.
- The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an English breed. The ancestors are considered Toy Spaniels, which lived en masse in Western Europe even before the X century AD. They were suitable for hunting and barked loudly at strangers. A little later, the breed was brought to England, where King Charles II became the first owner. Because of the fashion for Pugs, the muzzles of small spaniels have been shortened, and their appearance has changed beyond recognition. Over the course of several centuries, these dogs supplanted the former Toy Spaniels and were called the King Charles Spaniels.
- The Yorkie breed originated in Lancashire and Yorkshire, located in northern England. The Waterside Terrier is a possible ancestor of the Yorkshire Terrier. Representatives of the breed became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries in Yorkshire. Yorkies were widespread among the peasants since the latter was forbidden to have large dogs – the aristocracy was afraid of poaching by commoners on their lands. Small dogs served as house guards against rodents, and also played the role of escorts – they went with their owners on trade trips, etc.
Temperament
Yorkie-Cav inherited from his parents a confident and determined character, courage, determination, and curiosity. Representatives of the breed are friendly to other people and dogs. Get along with children. Respect is also given to cats. These are diplomatic dogs.
They need attention and care, they are ready to spend at least the whole day with their owner, or lie quietly in their arms. These dogs know how to feel the mood of the owner and adapt to the rhythm of his life.
The cross of puppies can be different, depending on which traits are dominant. Proper education plays an important role in shaping the character of a dog.
Appearance
Both Yorkie-Cav parents have soft, fine hair and their offspring will be no exception. The Yorkie-Cav color can be varied, the most common options are:
- Blenheim (expressive chestnut spots on a white background);
- black and tan;
- ruby (rich red hue);
- tricolor (black with white and tan marks on the eyebrows, cheekbones, back of the legs, ears, and under the tail).
Yorkies and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are small dogs, and the Yorkie-Cav does not grow too large sizes (average 6 to 18 pounds and 7 to 12 inches in height).
Training
By and large, all the upbringing of these dogs boils down to forming their correct character. Of course, you need to teach your pet basic commands, you can shape the training process, starting from specific tasks. Yorkie-Cavs are usually happy to teach commands and try to execute them correctly. The main thing is to encourage them with delicacies and praise, to exclude punishment and rude attitude.
Early socialization is very important to Yorkie-Cavs. A small dog needs to be accustomed to the world around him. So that she is not afraid of strangers, animals, machines. The pet must learn to behave correctly in the house, on the street, in public places.
Care
Yorkie-Cavs have low to moderate shedding, depending on who their coats look like. If held in medium to long lengths, it will need to be brushed daily to avoid tangling and debris. During the period of shedding old wool, it is enough to increase the time for combing and do it more carefully. Yorkie-Cav should be washed regularly with shampoo, then balm and shine oil applied.
Yorkie-Cav eyes are rubbed every day with a cotton pad moistened with water or chlorhexidine solution to prevent conjunctivitis. The dog needs to clean the ears.
The teeth are brushed to remove plaque and impurities, which then form tartar. You can also give your dog special chewing “bones” for oral hygiene. If you notice strong plaque or abnormalities, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If the dog’s claws do not grind on their own during your walks (or if the dog walks a little / does not walk at all), then they need to be trimmed.
Feeding
Yorkie-Cav food is easy to provide. They can be fed with natural food or selected quality dry food. The main thing: do not give food from the human table and make sure that the dog does not overheat. It is best to ask the breeder or veterinarian about feeding your puppies.
Health
Yorkie-Cav’s parents are relatively healthy dogs, but there are some of the most common diseases that can be inherited:
- Dry eye syndrome
- Retinal dysplasia
- Patellar dislocation
- Ear infections
- Eye problems
- Dysplasia of the hip joint
- Enamel hypoplasia
Conclusion
Yorkie-Cav is plush toys with funny faces that will surely delight you and your family with their boundless love and friendliness. They are great friends and real four-legged antidepressants!