Polish Hunting Dog vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Dorkie Terriers originate from the United States of America. The small Dorkie, a cross between the Dachshund and the Yorkshire Terrier has a short history, unlike the two dog breeds that were bred to bring him about.

These dog breeds were both used for hunting small animals but the Dorkie today is essentially a companion dog. The International Designer Canine Association started recording registration of the Dorkie from 2009.

The Polish Hunting Dog originates from Poland and is a purebred scenthound. Hunting with scent hounds goes right back to the 13th century, being highly esteemed by Polish nobility.

The famous Polish cynologist, Jozef Pawuslewicz hunted with Polish scent hounds and was part of the development of breeding this dog.

He wrote the first breed standard and the dog was officially registered by the Polish Cynological Association.

The Dorkie is a small hybrid breed standing at 13 – 23cm in height and weighing 2 – 6kg. The Dorkie mostly comes with long, straight hair but there are however Dorkies who have the short hair of the Dachshund.

The Dorkie is hypoallergenic, making them the ideal pet for allergy sufferers. They have floppy ears, a long body and short legs. The tail is long and furry. Most times they come in the Yorkshire Terrier colors of black and tan, but this can also vary.

Temperament:

The Dorkie is a loving, loyal, happy little dog who makes an excellent family dog. Although he isn’t looked upon as your typical lap dog, it is what he is really, as he loves nothing more than to be curling up on your lap or as close to you as he can get.

He loves spending time with his human family and is a social, extrovert kind of dog. Because he is also alert, he will do a good job of alerting his family to danger. He is good with children, but because of his smallness, rough children will need to be careful in rough and tumble games as he could get injured.

Even with a small dog like this, he will need training and socialization otherwise he can become a yapper, which comes from the Dachshund side. Training makes him obedient and relaxed around visitors in the home, and because he is an intelligent breed, he is easy to train and is a great dog for first time dog owners.

The Polish Hunting Dog is a large, strong dog standing between 50 – 66cm in height and weighing between 20 to 32kg. He is very similar to a Doberman Pinscher or a Rottweiler in looks.

The dog’s coat is short and the color is usually black and tan. He is a deep chested dog with a well-proportioned head, with longish muzzle and floppy ears. The tail is long.

Temperament:

Well balanced and gentle, the Polish Hound is a courageous, intelligent dog, easy to train and socialize. It isn’t an aggressive dog but is wary of strangers.

He loves playing with children and is loving and kind to them. He never tires of their games. He is alert and protective and makes a great watchdog.

Dorkies are easy going little dogs and adapt easily to life in the city or in the country.

Ideally they are inside dogs, feeling happy and content around their human family. They love adults and children and will get on well with other pets in the home too.

They are quite active little dogs and will thrive on games inside the home or outside in the garden. He may be small, but you can put him on a leash and take him for walks.

They make excellent pets and are only too happy to become a devoted and loyal family member of yours.

Your Polish Hunting Dog is a great choice of dog as a family pet. Used as a hunting dog he will be thrilled if he lands up with a family who are active and outdoorsy types.

You can always count him in when it comes to going for walks, hiking, cycling or running next to you when you go horse-riding.

The Polish Hunting dog is a stable, gentle dog and he has a whole lot of other wonderful attributes to his name. He is loving, loyal, courageous, friendly, social and companionable. And he's good looking. What a great pet this low maintenance dog makes.

The Dorkie, being a cross-breed, is a healthy dog and with good care can live t be 10 – 13 years of age. Nonetheless he is still prone to genetic problems and he can inherit traits from both parents.

Diet and Obesity:

A healthy diet will be needed to maintain the Dorkie’s health. You don’t want to overfeed your Dorkie, more so because he is a small dog.

The way you feed a dog can have a massive impact on his health and longevity. Just remember that a dog that is obese will battle to exercise, but also obesity can result in serious health problems, putting strain on the bones and joints too.

You don’t want to feed your dog day after day with kibble, and adding in some cooked rice, vegetables and chicken can just give him a more varied diet. Raw meat can also be included from time to time. Always ensure that there is fresh, cool water available to him.

Skin Allergies:

The most common symptoms of an allergy is skin irritation – your pet will be constantly scratching and licking. Some skin conditions with your Dorkie can be cleared up quickly while some might be so severe as to require lifelong treatment.

They are generally a robust breed and can easily reach up to 14 years of age with good care. There are always some common dog illnesses that you can benefit from knowing about because then you can get your pet to the vet if he appears to be under the weather.

Parasites:

Active dogs are always going to be exposed to parasites, whether they be ticks, fleas or worms. Right from word go, puppies are treated for worms, but it is important to treat your dog regularly for parasites. Speak to your vet about the best products.

Heat Stroke:

Heatstroke is always a risk for dogs even in areas where the weather isn’t particularly hot. People think on overcast days they can leave their dog in the car while they go in to the shops. A temperature that seems mild to a human can be like an oven to a dog. Excess heat is deadly to a dog. Signs of heatstroke include drooling, panting, anxiety, collapsing and then death.

Diet:

What you feed your pet can play an important role in managing health and skin conditions. Speak to your vet about special quality dog foods that can help reduce skin conditions and other nasty reactions to common, unhealthy food ingredients.

Grooming:

Dorkies are very low maintenance dogs, and they will require a brushing every 2 weeks. Those with longer coats may require some professional grooming. Check their teeth regularly and brush them 2 or 3 times a week. The occasional nail clipping may also be required.

Exercise:

The Polish Hunting Dog has always had an acute sense of smell, and with his long legs he has always been able to track his prey for many miles. This hunting has made him a dog that wants lots exercise and activities.

As a pet, this dog will require a lot of exercise, being better suited to active, outdoor type of owners. He is therefore better suited to life in the country and large open spaces as opposed to living in the city.

Grooming:

Apart from brushing your pets coat twice a week, check him over for ticks if you want to avoid the spread of tick-borne diseases.

Check his ears, inside and out. Check inside his mouth for bad teeth. This is because your dog can’t tell you if he has pain, and toothache can be terrible for your pet and bad teeth can affect other body organs such as the heart and the kidneys.

Make sure your pets nails are trimmed.

Make sure your pet receives excellent food. If you’re going to be feeding your dog commercially manufactured dog food, make sure it is the best quality ones. Some of the other foods have ingredients in them which can cause your dog to get sick.

Try and give your dog some wholesome, home-made food. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, carrots, sweet potato and spinach chopped up and added to the kibble will have your pet wagging his tail with delight. It will also be to his benefit to get some raw meat in from time to time.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.