No, the Borkie Poo is not just a Yorkie Poo who is prone to barking. It is in fact the next stage in hybrid breeding. Not content with the scampish good looks and playful nature of the Yorkie Poo, we have seen the beginnings of rarer crosses that enter another pure breed in subsequent generations.
In this article we will look specifically at the Borkie Poo, the combination of a Yorkie Poo and that most lovable sass-pot, the Beagle.
Table of Contents
Yorkie Poo History
The Yorkie Poo is a hybrid dog created by crossing a Yorkshire Terrier with a Poodle.
The definitive routes of the cross are not widely known, however, they likely first occurred as an accidental pairing. The Yorkie Poo really began to come into its own from 2010 onwards where the explosion of the internet and social media saw the rise of adorable pictures and increased information on the potential hypoallergenic benefits of Poodle crosses.
While the Yorkshire Terrier itself is relatively low-shedding, breeders discovered adding Poodle genetics offered the chance to reduce this even further making the Yorkie Poo a great option for those with pet hair or dander allergies.
A Yorkie Poo is a smaller-sized dog which means it appeals to a broad cross-section of potential owners, from city dwellers with smaller homes to older adults who may be less physically active.
Most Yorkie Poo lovers prize the breed’s friendly, playful disposition, their adorable appearance, and their flair for the mischievous.
Beagle History
Unlike the hybrid Yorkie Poo, the Beagle is a pure breed. These sturdy, stocky little pups are a type of scent hound. This means that the Beagle can sniff out even the faintest whiff of a rabbit from across a field.
The Beagle is largely thought to have originated in England and was first depicted in accounts from as far back as the Roman Empire. While in its earliest form, the Beagle generally helped villagers deal with pesky vermin. Their prowess for sniffing garnered attention and by the Victorian Era many hunters utilized packs of Beagles to hunt rabbits and other small animals.
Some hunters deliberately bred their Beagles to be small to fit in a pocket or saddlebag in order to be safely transferred along to the hunt. Interestingly this is one of the reasons that the Beagle made the jump to a domestic pet, as wealthy ladies of the period were enamored with their tiny size and feisty personality.
Modern-day Beagles are occasionally still utilized as hunting dogs however much rarely so. Instead, you are much more likely to find a Beagle very at home with indoor, domesticated life.
Beagles are famed for their strong will, sometimes stubborn nature, and their flair for the dramatic. They can often be naughty, known to be destructive when bored, and can be extremely vocal when voicing any displeasure or anxiety.
Many Beagle owners refer to this lively howl as their pup’s singing. Often this can only be averted by giving into your Beagle or temporarily winning obedience via a tasty treat.
What Do You Call a Yorkie Poo Beagle Mix?
Before the Poodle came to the party, the Yorkshire Terrier and Beagle had already been subject to the exploration of crossbreeding. The resultant cross is lovingly referred to as a Yorkie Beagle or Borkie for short.
It makes sense then that a combination of Yorkshire Terrier, Beagle, and Poodle would pick up the moniker of the Borkie Poo.
Why is the Yorkie Poo Being Crossed with the Beagle?
As with many Poodle crosses one of the first reasons this cross is being bred is for the desirable low shedding, curly coat common in Doodles.
Of course, you could already achieve that with Yorkie Poo so why cross with a Beagle too? There are a few potential answers. The first is a bit of an age-old problem with dogs, and that’s accidental crossing. If your Yorkie Poo isn’t neutered and crosses paths with an equally amorous Beagle, the result can often be an unexpected litter of Borkie Poo puppies.
Another reason may be the desire for more unusual Doodle crosses. In a world where it feels like just about every pure breed has been “Doodled”, the Borkie Poo offers up something a little rarer.
A final cause for this cross being bred may be the desire to temper some of the Yorkie Poo’s less favorable traits by adding a bit of Beagle. In particular, the Yorkie Poo can be a petite and fairly fragile dog, when crossed with a Beagle they can be a bit on the stockier size and overall, more robust.
Is it Ethical to Cross the Beagle with the Yorkie Poo?
The ethics of dog breeding can often be a hotly contested issue. Some would say the Borkie Poo is breeding a cross purely for appearance and may be referred to as an example of a “designer breed”. In reality, though, cross-breeding of various breeds has been around for centuries, and in some instances is actively required to improve overall health.
Whether the Borkie Poo is truly ethical remains to be seen as currently there just is not enough documented breeders. One of the concerns many may have is if breeders feel compelled to use the smallest sizes of Yorkie Poo to ensure this cross remains in the Toy to Small range when crossed with a Beagle. It is often the case that the smallest variations of Yorkie Poo may, in fact, experience health problems that would not support their use in breeding programs.
The size difference is also a consideration. The dame should always be the bigger of the two dogs to prevent complications when whelping. However, a big size difference is never recommended not just because of health reasons but due to the variation in the litter which can occur.
The Benefits of a Borkie Poo
While there are not many cases documented of Borkie Poos, based on what we know about the Yorkie Poo and the Beagle we can surmise that this will make for a compact, low shedding, and fairly healthy breed.
In a Borkie Poo, you get a more physically robust version of a Yorkie Poo with a dollop of Beagle sass. The smaller size and lower exercise needs can make them appealing to a wide range of potential owners.
The Cons of a Borkie Poo
Rarity is the first con. The Borkie Poo is not widely bred therefore finding one could be tricky. There are also the negative conations sometimes associated with mixed breed dogs where a hybrid is mixed with yet another breed. Many less enthusiastic people may refer to this offering as a “mutt” which may make breeders less inclined to breed these litters if there is less demand.
Size and Weight of the Yorkie Poo Beagle Mix
To provide an estimation of the Borkie Poo’s size and weight we will look to the parents for a clue.
Take the Yorkie Poo first. These little scamps can be expected to come in at between 7” and 15” in height and 3lbs to 14lbs in weight.
The Beagle on the other hand has a bit more “junk in the trunk” so to speak and will be between 18lbs and as much as 30lbs in weight. Height wise they will be on the upper end of the Yorkie Poo range at 13” to 15”.
When pairing dogs to crossbreed, responsible breeders will generally try to match physical size as much as possible, therefore it is often a larger example of a Yorkie Poo that is selected to pair with a Beagle on the smaller side.
The resultant Borkie Poo pups can then be expected to fall in the region of 12” to 15” in height and around 12lbs to 25lbs when fully grown.
Color and Coat Types of the Borkie Poo
The Beagle offers up a double coat that is dense and smooth. They do shed but as their coat is short it often does not appear excessive. Most commonly Beagles are tricolor of black white and tan. Their marking pattern can vary but they often display the tell-tale white tip to their tail which makes them easier to spot in the long grass.
Generally, the Yorkie Poo being chosen to cross with a Beagle will be one that displays the more desirable curly Doodle-ish coat. This increases the chance of the low shedding curled pattern being passed onto the resultant Borkie Poos.
Whereas the Beagle has a fairly limited color palette, the Yorkie Poo comes in just about every color there is. This includes cream, black, white, red, sable, apricot, tan, chocolate, gray, and silver. They can be all types of markings and bi or even tricolored.
In theory, a Borkie Poo could be any color present in either the Yorkie Poo or Beagle. However, given the prevalence of tan, white and black in both breeds it is likely this may be more common.
Health of the Beagle Yorkie Poo Cross
Yes, crossing breeds offers a chance to improve health by reducing the risk of conditions common in a purebred, but occasionally there are some conditions present in both parents that still have a chance of making an appearance. The good news is overall it can be considered that a Borkie Poo would be an overall healthy dog.
A few conditions that overlap between the Yorkie Poo and the Beagle are:
- Anxiety
- Cushing’s Disease
- Epilepsy
- Hypothyroidism
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
- Patellar Luxation
Temperament of the Borkie Poo
Perhaps not the best choice for a novice owner, the Borkie Poo can inherit the stubborn streak of their Beagle parent which coupled with the tenacity of the Yorkie Poo can make for a formidable counterpart. Both parent breeds are known to be rather vocal to boot.
Persevere with the training and what the Borkie Poo can offer up is a playful, clownlike, loving ball of energy who will happily play and can be challenged with puzzle toys and/or scent work.
How Much Exercise does a Borkie Poo Need?
Little dogs with little legs does mean less walking. A Borkie Poo will fall in the low to mid energy range and generally, 30 minutes of walking a day in addition to some at-home playtime will suffice.
The Beagle in them can make them a little bit predisposed to a more sedentary life and they should be encouraged to get off the couch daily. Even if they do look super comfy!
How Much Food Will I Need to Give my Yorkie Poo Beagle Mix?
As Borkie Poos will be a smaller dog it can be extremely easy to accidentally overfeed them. Specific feeding requirements will be influenced by things such as gender, activity levels, and type of food. Weighing your pup regularly and seeking veterinary advice is the best way of making sure they stay in a healthy weight range for their age and build.