Corkie

8-20 lbs
8-12"
United States
Cocker Spaniel
Yorkie

The Corkie is an adorable small to medium sized dog that is a mix of the Cocker Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier. They are usually about 12 inches tall and weigh approximately 15 pounds on average. Their coat is medium to long, straight, and silky and can be any combination of colors from white, black, gold, brown, blue, and red. They are good family pets but need to be socialized early to get along well with other pets and should be watched with small children. The Corkie is intelligent but may be slow to train due to their independence. You should only use positive reinforcement with the Corkie because they can be very sensitive.

purpose Purpose
Family pet
history Date of Origin
2000
ancestry Ancestry
Cocker Spaniel and Yorkshire Terrier

Corkie Health

Average Size
Male Corkie size stats
Height: 10-14 inches Weight: 10-20 lbs
Female Corkie size stats
Height: 8-12 inches Weight: 8-20 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion
  • Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome
Minor Concerns
  • Retinal Dysplasia
  • Seborrhea
  • Lip Fold Pyoderma
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Cataracts
  • Atopic Dermatitis
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • MRI
  • CT Scan
  • Eye Examination
  • Skin Evaluation
  • Urinalysis
  • Blood Tests

Corkie Breed History

There are two types of Cocker Spaniels, the American and the English. The American originated in the United States in the 1800s but is a cousin of the English Cocker Spaniel that originated in the 14th century in England. It is said they came over on the Mayflower in 1620 but did not become registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC) until 1878. They were both bred to hunt and the only difference is their size. The American Cocker Spaniel is smaller, at about 13 to 15 inches and the English Cocker Spaniel is 15-17 inches. This breed is known for their ability to find and flush birds from the brush and retrieve them from the water in some cases. The Spaniels were all considered hunting dogs but were separated between land and water Spaniels, depending on their size and then the land Spaniels were separated depending on their ability. The Springer Spaniel was used to spring game animals from the bush and the Cocker Spaniel was used to flush the woodcock, which is a type of small bird. The American Cocker Spaniel started being bred differently to be in shows. They have longer torsos, a more domed head, and their prey drive was reduced. In 1946, the AKC decided the American Cocker Spaniel should be listed separately because of their differences. The Yorkshire Terrier originated in the 1800s in England as a hunter of mice and rats. They are believed to be a mix of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Skye Terrier, Paisley Terrier, Clydesdale Terrier, Waterside Terrier, and the Maltese. They were not that popular at first but is now the most popular Terrier in the United States where it was bred to be smaller and have a longer coat. In 1885, they were registered with the AKC and are the 9th most popular dog breed.

Corkie Breed Appearance

The Corkie is a small to medium sized dog between 8 and 14 inches tall and weighs up to 20 pounds. Their long, silky coat is straight and may be sable; white; sable and white; red roan; gold; cream; blue roan; blue roan and tan; silver; red and white; red; buff and white; buff; brown, white, and tan; brown and white; brown and tan; brown; black, white, and tan; black and white; black and tan; or black. Their ears may be erect or floppy, with a lot of fur covering them and they have a short muzzle with a black nose and dark eyes. Their tail and legs are short, torso is long, and they are very sturdy.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Corkie eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Corkie nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
sable Corkie coat
Sable
white Corkie coat
White
cream Corkie coat
Cream
red Corkie coat
Red
blue Corkie coat
Blue
silver Corkie coat
Silver
brown Corkie coat
Brown
black Corkie coat
Black
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Corkie straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Corkie Breed Maintenance

Maintenance for this hybrid is moderate to high. Their long, silky fur is susceptible to matting and must be brushed daily. Many owners get their Corkie groomed every four to six months to make them easier to care for. A stiff bristle brush and metal comb are needed as well as a slicker brush for finishing. You should use your fingers to untangle mats so you do not damage their coat. They need their nails trimmed every few weeks and your should clean their ears once a week and check for redness, waxy buildup, and mites. In addition, brushing their teeth with a soft toothbrush several times a week will prevent dental issues.

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Brushes for Corkie
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Corkie requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Corkie Temperament

Although the Corkie is a friendly dog that makes a good family pet, they can be snappish and sensitive so they need to be socialized early to get along with other pets and kids. They may be difficult to train, depending on their personality because some may be stubborn. They do not like to be left alone for long periods of time and will bark a lot if lonely or bored. They love attention but small children can make them nervous so supervision is recommended. They have a high prey drive so they may hunt any kind of small pet like a ferret or hamster.

Corkie Activity Requirements

The Corkie can become lazy and even get overweight if they are not active daily. They need at least 45 to 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day to keep them healthy and happy. Without enough exercise, your Corkie may become anxious and bored, which can cause behavior problems. You can take your Corkie for a walk in the neighborhood, hike in the park, have a nice long game of fetch, a trip to the dog park, or even agility training. If you have a private fenced yard, you can let your Corkie play outdoors for an hour or two but they need mental stimulation and attention as well.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Corkie Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.00 - $2.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$30.00 - $60.00
food bag monthly cost

Corkie Owner Experiences

Baylee
11 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She has been the sweetest, most loving dog since day 1. She is easy to train and loves everybody she comes into contact with. I have never had any issues with her being aggressive.
2 years, 8 months ago
Marley
6 Weeks
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing running
She's a beautiful active happy puppy
6 years, 3 months ago
Reece
2 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I absolutely love her! She is still young, but so far has proven to be a great dog!
6 years, 2 months ago
Abby
8 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Abby is the sweetest dog I have ever seen! She appears never to have met a stranger, human or canine. She tries hard to be friends with our 3 cats, but they are not in the mood for doggie kisses on their faces. She is the most obedient dog I have ever had, with the unfortunate exception of being a "runner" whenever she can find a door or yard gate open.
6 years, 2 months ago
Miurray
2 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chase
Its a fun experience. We have had this dog since like, 3-4 years and he is so cool.
5 years, 4 months ago
Pepè
3 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playdate
Pepè is such an amazing dog! We’ve had him since day 1, and we truly enjoy his spunky attitude! He’s truly always happy and extremely playful. He’s also an amazing guard dog lol, but I would recommend this particular breed (10/10)
3 years, 5 months ago
Murphy
4 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
About 8 months before I got Murphy, my beloved chihuahua was hit by a speeding car and killed. I was beside myself with grief and declared no more dogs for me!!! The good Lord had other plans. An old friend called and as we were about to end the conversation she asked about Faith, my dog. I broke down as I did everyday. She told me about her niece’s dog that was going to the pound the next day, her husband did not like him and abused him! Without hesitation I told her to bring him to me. Not knowing what he was. I’m so Blessed, he is a WONDERFUL dog. He knows I rescued him, more importantly he rescued me.
3 years, 3 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - New pet
Question

isn't it the corkie that cam be trained to alert about a seizure

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
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