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Smooth Torkie |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Great Britain -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen |
A brief presentation of the Smooth Torkie |
| The Smooth Torkie is an eccentric little hybrid breed that is an equal combination of Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) and Fox Terrier Smooth. It's a small dog with a big personality, created primarily as a pet. Its coat can be long or short, but it tends to mimic that of the Yorkie much more than that of the Fox Terrier. With big eyes and an even bigger heart, these lively dogs love to play and cuddle with their owners all day long, but they also have an independent streak that's sure to keep their owners on their toes. Vocal from time to time and relatively energetic, the Smooth Torkie can be difficult to live with, but with a long daily walk and good training, this breed makes an excellent pet. He's perfect with older children, but when it comes to other dogs, it's best to socialize him early and always keep an eye on him, as he can be a bit touchy. All in all, if you're looking for a sturdy, lively little dog who's up for anything, the Smooth Torkie could be perfect for you. |
History of the Smooth Torkie |
| When you think of a hybrid breed, it's natural to wonder what the purpose was of combining two different, or sometimes very similar, breeds to create a new one. Of course, this practice is nothing new, as dog breeds are being created all the time, but the best way to understand why a new breed came into being is to take a look at the history of its parents. Since the Smooth Torkie hasn't been around long enough to have a real origin story, learning more about the Yorkie and the Fox Terrier Smooth gives us some useful information about the Smooth Torkie. |
A little of the Fox Terrier Smooth |
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| The Fox Terrier Smooth is a classic Terrier breed that hasn't been altered in centuries; if it's not broken, why change it? It was originally bred in 18th century England, and it was in the 19th century that its breed standard was perfected. Playing many roles, from performer to show dog, this descendant of Bulldogs, Greyhounds and Beagles is certainly a favorite with many. He's intelligent, playful and full of boundless energy. This energy proved particularly useful in the Fox Terrier Smooth's (hence its name) main role of catching foxes. He would travel in the hunters' saddlebags until the fox had been hunted, after which he would be released to retrieve the catch. The Fox Terrier Smooth's cousin, the Fox Terrier Wirehaired, was also used to catch foxes, and until the 1900s they were considered the same breed. Finally, in 1985, the American Kennel Club separated the Wire Fox Terrier and Smooth Fox Terrier into two different breeds. Although the Wire Fox Terrier was eventually more popular than the Smooth Fox Terrier at shows, the Smooth Fox Terrier remains a popular dog, appreciated for its hunting, showing and excellent family companionship skills. | ||
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| Standard of the Fox Terrier Smooth |
A little of the Yorkshire Terrier |
| The Yorkshire Terrier, also known affectionately as the Yorkie, takes its name from Yorkshire and is said to be a descendant of the Clydesdale Terrier and the Black and Tan Terrier. At first, they were known as Shorthaired Terriers or Toy Terriers due to their small size, but these names didn't stick for long. Created primarily to capture rodents living in woolen mills, the Yorkie has always had a talent for sniffing out small rodents. At one time, legend had it that the Yorkie's long, silky coat was actually a production of the wool looms themselves. While the bold Yorkie was an excellent worker and kept the mills free of vermin, this attractive toy breed ended up becoming a pet rather than a worker. It wasn't long before he gained status, becoming an accessory for beautiful ladies and even a political mascot. When the Yorkie entered the United States in 1872, it was a firm favorite with the Nixon family and rose to the top of the list of most popular dog breeds. Accepted by the American Kennel Club, the Yorkie ranks as the third most popular breed and is used to this day as a show and companion dog. |
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| Standard of the Yorkshire Terrier |
Appearance of the Smooth Torkie |
| As the Smooth Torkie is a hybrid breed, its appearance varies greatly, even within the same litter. The typical appearance of the Smooth Torkie is a small dog with triangular ears, round eyes and a medium-length tail. Although it is a descendant of the Toy breed, it is robust and quite capable of taking care of itself. The Smooth Torkie's coat actually comes in two different versions: long-haired and short-haired. The long coat comes from the Yorkie heritage, but it won't be as silky as that of a traditional Yorkie. The shorter coat, of course, comes from the Fox Terrier Smooth and has a smooth, but rough texture. Based on this breed's coat type, the Smooth Torkie prefers warm weather to cold and tends to shed quite rarely. |
Temperament of the Smooth Torkie |
| When we hear the word Terrier, the first thing that comes to mind is perseverance, determination, drive and energy. The Smooth Torkie is all this and more. He's very affectionate and always ready for the next adventure. Thanks to the high energy level of the Fox Terrier Smooth, the Smooth Torkie will love to play and expend its energy in every possible way. The Yorkie, on the other hand, is a little more laid-back and, although he also loves to play, he'll be perfectly content with a long daily walk. So, all in all, the Smooth Torkie is a moderately to very active dog that only talks when it wants to and gets along with most people it comes into contact with. Because of its feisty nature, young children and other dogs can be the cause of episodes when the Smooth Torkie warms up, but with early socialization and training, this shouldn't be a long-term problem. |
Needs and activities of the Smooth Torkie |
| As a moderate-to-high-energy breed, the Smooth Torkie needs a few hours of quality exercise every day. This might involve a long walk or playing in the yard. Training is another great way to exhaust your dog and get him to behave well throughout the day. Terriers can be notoriously stubborn, but they understand what you want very quickly. Through training and exercise, you can establish a very strong bond with your dog that will last a lifetime, while keeping him out of trouble. Because of its energy level and size, the Smooth Yorkie can adapt to small houses and apartments, but it will need to be allowed out and exercised to keep everyone happy. |
Maintenance of the Smooth Torkie |
| The Smooth Torkie requires low to moderate maintenance, depending on the length of its coat. The long-haired version will require daily brushing with a comb and spiked brush to limit tangles, while the short-haired version should only be brushed every two weeks. In addition to brushing, bathing is only necessary when your dog is particularly dirty, as neither the Fox Terrier Smooth nor the Yorkie give off unpleasant odors. Frequent ear cleaning is also an important part of the Smooth Torkie's maintenance routine. Because of its folded ears, any extra moisture or debris left inside can lead to infection and irritation, so thorough cleaning at regular intervals can help reduce these risks. Finally, trim the nails every few weeks to ensure that the paws stay healthy and don't get scratched if the Smooth Torkie decides to jump on something. |
English (United Kingdom)