Snorkie vs Dunker - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Known as the Norwegian Hound, the Dunker hails from Norway. Bred and named after breeder Wilhelm Dunker to be a robust scenthound, Norwegian Scenthounds were crossed with a Russian Harlequin Hound because this particular dog was an excellent scent trailer and it could stand up to the freezing conditions of Norway.

The Dunker become popular in the mid-19th century in other Scandinavian countries. Hunters liked its intelligence, its robustness and its speed and strength. In 1902 a club was founded for the breed and in the same year the Norwegian Kennel Club recognized the Dunker.

The Dunker started dying out after the war, and in the late 1980s breeders of the Dunker petitioned to allow them to cross the remaining Dunkers with scenthounds. Today the dog is known in Norway but is uncommon outside Scandinavia.

The Snorkie is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer.

The exact origins of this dog are unknown, but it is believed that it is a designer dog from the United States. Known also as the Schnerrier, this toy breed is a popular pet as he can slot into life in the city or the countryside, in small homes or large.

The Snorkie’s history is short and unknown but both the parent breeds each have a long history.

The Dunker is a medium sized dog which stands at between 50-55cms with females being slightly smaller at 47-52cms. They usually weigh between 11-18kg and look similar to other scenthounds, being muscular and athletic.

The ears of the Dunker are floppy, the tail is long and carried straight with a bit of a curve, the nose is large and black as well as the eyes, but some dogs have light eyes which can even be blue.

The coat of the Dunker is straight and dense and this coat of his is well known for the unique color of the coat – blue or black dappled, while some dogs will have black, tan and white markings. White faces are preferred but you will find dogs with black masks.

Temperatment:

This is a non-aggressive dog and can become quite friendly when trained and socialized.

They are dogs that form strong bonds with their owners, being particularly good around children. They get on well with dogs and other pets in the home.

They’re intelligent dogs and are are easy to train. In fact, training and socialization is recommended for this dog as he does tend to be a bit stubborn.

Training ensures he is relaxed and obedient. He is an active dog and will certainly require some exercise each day. He’ll respond willingly if you call him to join you in your jogging- or cycling outings.

Coming from two small dog breeds, the Snorkie will be small too, and will measure anything from 14 to 30cm and weigh anything from 3 to 6kg.

The Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer are fairly similar to look at and you will no doubt get high set erect ears, a small, compact body and a medium length tail which will be thickly furred.

The coat of the dog will be longish and could end up being the silky hair of the Yorkie or being the crisp coat of the Schnauzer. Colors of the coat can be grey, tan, silver, black. Shedding will be minimal.

Temperament:

When you get two purebred dog breeds being used to bring about a new dog breed, you cant really say what the temperament of the dog will be – because it could actually be a mix of characteristics from either breed. Either way your little pet will be social, playful, loving, loyal and companionable and make a great little watchdog.

The Dunker is such a good tempered dog and he will be happy to settle in the city or the countryside with his owner.

When you look at his history, he is a hunting dog, used for hunting rabbits. Being an active breed, he is better suited to living in a home where there is at least a fair sized garden.

He isn’t a high maintenance dog either, so no special attention to grooming is required. Being a fairly healthy breed, he isn’t likely to develop any serious health issues too. This low-maintenance, undemanding Norwegian Hound makes a splendid pet.

Your Snorkie will be a sociable little dog who loves hanging out with his human family. He is loyal and loving towards them. He gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

Small he may be, but he makes a great watchdog and will alert you to suspect behavior with his constant yapping.

Suitable for life in the city or the countryside and also a great choice for first time dog owners, the Snorkie promises to make you an awesome family pet.

The Dunker dog can live to reach a ripe age of 12 to 15 years. There are some health issues he may face -

Partial or Complete Loss of Hearing:

Partial or complete hearing loss can come about because of dirt or wax build-up in the ear canals. It can be because of an untreated ear infection, an injury or even old age.

Your veterinarian can examine your dog’s ear canal. Certain dog breeds such as the Dunker and others are more predisposed to deafness and you’ll find your dog responding slowly to your voice or he may be totally startled when woken.

Your vet will determine the type of treatment for your dog if an ear infection for instance is suspected. Treatment in this case may involve cleaning wax out of the ears or getting rid of overgrown ear hair.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition with your dog where bone rubs against other bone. Your Dunker dog will be in pain and his movement could be limited and he may even become lame. Get your pet to the vet because there are a number of treatment options.

Eye Problems:

Take a look at your pet’s eyes so that you’re aware of cloudiness, inflammation, discharge, a change in eye color or red eyelid lining. Take him to the vet if you suspect something serious, but in the meantime you can also gently wipe over your pet’s eyes to remove any discharge.

If you do need to bath your pet, make sure to protect his eyes before applying any lotion.

Because a Snorkie is a mixed breed, they can inherit any one of the health issues from each of the parent breeds – the Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer.

Because this is a small dog, you can probably expect dental problems - overcrowded teeth and pancreatitis. The idea is to make sure you feed your little pet excellent food to minimize health issues.

Pancreatitis:

The pancreas has many functions, one of which is the production of digestive enzymes which are critical for food digestion.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and then digestive enzymes, normally inactive until they reach the small intestine, become active in the pancreas instead. This brings about swelling and pain. Obesity, medications, high-fat diets and a disease such as hypothyroidism can cause pancreatitis.

Your dog will lose his appetite, be lethargic and restless and be vomiting too. He will have to get to the vet.

Exercise:

The Dunker is a dog with stamina and energy and he will need a walk every day as well as some other forms of vigorous exercise. The idea is to involve a dog like this in all your activities, whether you go running, swimming or cycling.

Grooming:

The Dunker isn’t going to require you to spend a lot of money on maintenance for him. A good brush-down twice a week will be adequate as he is a fairly heavy shedder and brushing him will get rid of all those loose hairs. It is also time to check him over for fleas and ticks too.

Other grooming aspects to check will include nail trimming, checking the inside of the dog’s ears for excess wax build-up and dirt.

Dental care is of major concern because teeth left unattended can result in mouth bacteria. This bacteria enters the blood stream and results in systemic infection. Sometimes the bad teeth can be so painful that a dog no longer wants to eat.

It is imperative to brush your pet’s teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste.

Being a small dog, the Snorkie will be fairly easy to care for, and for anyone on a low budget who badly wants to own a dog, he won’t cost you a whole lot of money in food.

Let’s look at how to care for your Snorkie -

♦Give him exercise – walks, ball games and indoor games.

◆Brush the coat twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs. The Snorkie isn’t a heavy shedder but he loves the grooming session. His coat may need to be professionally trimmed.

◆When you brush him, check for fleas and ticks. Check inside the ears for redness and make sure the eyes are bright and alert.

◆The Snorkie is small but will be a handful if left untrained. He is intelligent and will make a superb pet if he is trained and socialized.

◆ Provide your Snorkie with his own quiet, comfortable place to sleep.

◆Keep his vaccines up to date to eliminate killer canine diseases and get him to the vet if he appears to be ill.

◆Have your Snorkie spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.

◆Feed your Snorkie the best food there is. The commercially manufactured dog foods can be a good, convenient choice. Read the labels and buy the food appropriate to your pets size, age and energy levels.

Try and give him some home-made food. You can add a little bit of home-made food to the dry kibble to enhance it. You can do this twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a tasty healthy choice for your little pet. Just chop it all up for him.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.