4-7 lbs
8-10"
Unknown
The Jarkie is a small but energetic crossbreed who typically weighs ten pounds or less and stands under a foot tall. An intentional cross between the Yorkshire Terrier, a small rodent hunting dog originally developed for keeping the factories and coal mines of Northern England free from vermin, and the Japanese Chin, a friendly and portable companion animal believed to have accompanied royal families from both China and Japan for centuries, this hybrid can be somewhat reserved and wary with strangers if not properly socialized. The Jarkie does fairly well in apartment buildings and is an entertaining and enjoyable companion for older, well behaved children but may quickly become overwhelmed by interactions with younger, quick-moving, or unpredictable children.
The Jarkie is a designer dog, an intentional crossbreed between the Japanese Chin, a small dog favored by the royalty of ancient Asia, and a diminutive ratter from northern England known as the Yorkshire Terrier. The Japanese Chin is an ancient breed, its origins hidden in myth and legend. The little dogs were prized by royalty in both China and Japan and were gifted to favored expeditionary forces in the mid-1850s, allowing them to gain popularity outside of Asia as well, in both England and in the United States. Prior to the name of the breed being formally changed to the Japanese Chin in 1977, they were recognized by the The American Kennel Club as the Japanese Spaniel in 1888. The Yorkshire Terrier is a newer breed in comparison, a cross between several types of terriers that were commonly used as pest control throughout the countryside; this included Dandie-Dinmont, Waterford, Paisley, and Clydesdale Terriers, among others. This dog was designed at some point in the mid-1800s as urban pest control, employed to search out and kill the mice and rats that had taken up residence in the factories and mines. Their handsome appearance and bright and lively disposition quickly turned them into a favorite companion animal for the fashionable elite, and they were bred for even smaller size and greater portability, and they were recognized as the toy group of the American Kennel Club in 1885. The Jarkie hybrid is typically less vocal than the Yorkshire Terrier and less prone to respiratory dysfunction than the Japanese Chin.
The Jarkie is a small, well-balanced dog characterized by straight, fine-boned legs and a luxurious, silky, single-layer coat which can be either range from medium-length to long. The coloration is often more like that of the Yorkshire Terrier, although both small and large white patches are common. The head may be small like that of the Yorkshire Terrier, with a medium-length muzzle and a button nose, it may be short and broad like that of the Japanese Chin- with both a muzzle and nose to match, or it may take some features from both. This hybrid has dark, round eyes that express their alert and intelligent disposition and small V-shaped ears that may either stand erect or fold forward.
The amount of time that is required to keep Jarkie hybrids looking their best can vary depending on the length of the coat that they inherit. While both breeds require more bathing than most dogs their size, generally speaking, a bath every three to four weeks should suffice. Dogs that inherit the longer coat of the Yorkshire Terrier require either daily brushing to prevent tangles and mats from forming or clipping of the coat into a shorter hairstyle, while those that have their coats clipped short or who inherit the slightly shorter coat of the Japanese Chin only need to be brushed three or four times a week. Although the Japanese Chin sheds more than the Yorkshire Terrier, both parent breeds are low-shedding enough to be considered hypoallergenic.
Although this dog is an energetic animal, it does not require a great deal of energy on your part to ensure that they get enough exercise. This hybrid will certainly enjoy short walks around the neighborhood, but even rollicking games of fetch can happen in a relatively small space due to their tiny size. Games of hide-a-treat or specially designed puzzle and toys are adequate for keeping their active little minds occupied so they typically make enjoyable roommates even in smaller spaces. It is important to be aware of the weather when exercising your Jarkie outside as they can be sensitive to higher temperatures, particularly those that inherit the short, wide muzzle of the Japanese Chin.
Written by a Irish Setter lover Penny Sebring
Published: 10/18/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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