I’m allegedly a “pit bull mix,” but I prefer to think of myself as a fine canine cocktail. Pour six ounces of red-nosed pitbull into a shaker, then add one ounce of wolf and one ounce of Jack Russell Terrier. Shake it, don’t stir it, and what you’ll get is an awesome Sophietini!

You could also call this mix a PitWoJack. Hey, if I were a boy dog named Danny, you could call my cocktail a PitWoJack Daniel’s. BOL!

Let’s take a closer look at what I believe to be my ingredients, and see if you agree with me.

Red-nosed pit bull:  I’m proud to be mostly pit, because like dogs of this breed, I am sweet, smart, strong, a great guard dog, and good with other pets and people of all ages. I have a beautiful short coat that is super easy to groom. Pit bulls get such bad press and are victims of such ridiculous bans that it makes me want to howl. With proper training and responsible owners, we certainly are not “the pits!”

By the way, this breed is not related in any way to red-nosed reindeers. (We can’t fly.)

Wolf: Speaking of howling, my dog dad is certain that I am part wolf. Of course all dogs descended from wolves thousands of years ago, but maybe my link is more recent. It’s true that my pack-animal instincts are stronger than those of a lot of dogs I know – for example, I get totally stressed out when my pet parents take my buddy Leroy to the vet and I’m left alone. Yet the little scamp hardly notices when I’m gone!

Wolf (left) and Sophie (right): Do you see any physical similarities?

Jack Russell Terrier: Although I’m loving and obedient – and have really adorable ears – I don’t have the fearlessness typical of this breed. But we do have a bit of a resemblance, no?

There you have it – the unique ingredients that make me an awesomely special blend: the Sophietini.

Do you think there might be other ingredients in the Sophietini? Let me know in the Comments area below!

Sophie was almost 84 dog years old when she passed to the Rainbow Bridge last November. She was adopted by i Love Dogs writer Laura Goldman in 1998 from a Hawthorne, Calif. shelter. She loved long naps, looking out the front windows and, most of all, her best buddy Leroy. Check out her other articles!

a.k.a. Welsh Co-Jack
(Pembroke Welsh Corgi/Jack Russell Terrier)

‘alo my perritos, as always, abrazos and besitos from your bilingual puppy amazon warrior princess Irie. I’ve been assigned a weird article. My mami said to tell you all about the Co-Jack. “Pues que es eso de Co-Jack?” I asked her. The word sounded vaguely familiar; do you mean low-jack, como for the human cars? I tell you cachorritos I wasn’t prepared for what my puppy ears heard next – it’s a what?! Come again? My chihuahua ears couldn’t believe it, but it’s true perritos. Did you know that sometimes Corgis and Jack Russells have romantic rendezvous (in parks, in alleys, sometimes backyards) and well, two months later my anipals you have yourself what the humans call a Co-Jack? You see? We doggies don’t discriminate like the humans, we love like free birds soaring through the wind of our pup pawls behinds. We see no breed or markings, we only see a happy tail and happy haunches. Oh, to be a dog ay?

So, I did my research. I sniffed and sniffed around about these strangely shaped doggies and got the pooch 411. Usually, they are very long and short, anipals, like their Corgi mamis or papis. To tell you the truth, I like the Corgis. Nice bunch of pups. When I was itty bitty (well, itty-bittier) one of them Corgis named Teddy came to my rescue at the dog park. He liked me lots, sweet guy. So, me and Corgies, we cool. And, the Jack Russell Terrier side, well what can I say? I have to send my Co-Jack pupsters some biscuits and a paw up high for being a Jack Russell Terrier mix like me! Pero, JRT and Corgi is a whole lotta feisty energy. Los Corgis y los Jack Russells are full of puptastic spirit, so you better get your human butts up and take them for a run to get that spirit out. I know what it takes because I’m a crazy JRChi myself and my mami takes me on lots of walks, so I know my Co-Jack friends would love it just as much.

My Corgi friends just like my Jack Russell familia have some sheddy coats, humans. I have to admit, I am pretty high maintenance too.  When it’s too hot I let those pelitos go! All over the house, a pretty white layer of hair. So pretty on the carpet, on the couch, on the bed, in the back car seat, in my crate. Co-Jacks might leave pretty white and brown blankets of fur too, you lucky humans!

This is my report, puppies! Co-Jackatastic pups can be found at your local animal shelter or check out For Paws, a Corgi & Corgi Mix Rescue.

Irie La Mona (The Little Doll) is a 7-month-old mixed breed, bilingual Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua adopted from the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter. Still a puppy, she aspires to one day host her very own show, and be the Oprah of mixed breed pups around the world! Check out her other articles!

a.k.a. Yorkiepoo, Malkie
(Maltese/Yorkshire Terrier)

Recently at the dog park, I came across a rather strange sight. A young lad, nary an inch above knee-high, came bouncing in my direction. Tail wagging, the little bugger tumbled straight into my ribs fancying a romp around the park. I looked him over, not too keen on having been pummeled on my jog towards the water fountain. I asked the tyke to slow his paws and tell me his name. The pup went by the name of ‘Muppet’. Odd name I thought out loud. He piped in repeatedly with his limited woofcabulary, “play, play, play” was all that seemed to come out of the bloody energetic pup’s snout. It was right around between the pummel and the obsessive licks to my face that I recognized the pup’s lineage. “By Saint Bernard, you’re a Yorkie! Wait, but not quite. There’s something else that I can’t quite pinpoint–” “Morkie! I’m a Morkie!” The pup, yet again, piped right in without raising a paw for permission.

Turns out the lad was the fortuitous offspring of a milky white Maltese mother and most likely an overexcited yappy Yorkie (definitely none of my relations). I inquired with the humans sitting about the dog park, wanting to know more about this strange mix. I nudged their legs and pawed at their hands to no avail. Luckily, I stumbled upon the lad’s human and another bird-like looking woman chatting about the whole debacle.

Here’s the information I came upon my pup readers. These “morkies” are a rather popular mix that can be found in the annals of most posh neighborhoods, but can also be found at your local shelter or Maltese and Yorkie rescues. They can be as small as their Yorkie parent and as large as their Maltese parent, between 3 to 7 pounds at times. You will never truly know with these mixed breeds, which makes for an enjoyable surprise and guessing game if you ask me. These small bits aren’t the best around the little humans. I saw Muppet terrorized by one practically on the verge of breaking the poor pup’s leg; luckily I saved him with a good bark at the boy. They’re delicate these morkies.

It’s obvious that these types of pups need a good groom considering they’ve got a mix of coats like mine and that of the Maltese. Nightmare really if you think about the knots and combs, the yanking and the whining. It’s not a pleasant experience sometimes, grooming. Still, it’s undeniable, the fluff of Yorkie black and Maltese white makes for a good mug on these pooches. I heard Muppet’s human say he’ll make a good watchdog despite his petite size. Understandable, we Yorkies are an astute lot always ready to alert our humans when danger approaches. Also heard mentioned that he’d be good for cuddling and relaxing evenings on the couch watching the telly. More of his Maltese side I would think.

There you have it pupmates, my morkie report. Morkies: a mixed breed that might pummel into you in the form of a ball of fluff on any given day at the dog park.

Humans, have other bonkers type names for these morkie lads? Tell me about them here.

(a.k.a. J.R.Chi, Chi-Jack)
Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua

‘alo mis perritos.  It’s me, Irie, here to tell you everything about why Jackahuahuas are the best doggie you’ll ever give a belly rub to!  Okay, pues sí, I’m biased; I am but of course, a J.R.Chi myself.  I love confusing people! The humans look at me, then at my mami and say, “Wait, is she a Jack Russell or a Chihuahua?” My mami and I laugh together, I roll onto my back to do my booty wiggle dance and bark out loud.  “I’m a Jackahuahua!” The humans smile and rub my belly. Yes, my cuteness is both my blessing and my curse. I exploit my Chihuahua ways to get as many belly rubs as I can, but then sometimes I get too many hugs and kisses when I just want to run away like a JRT and play with my squeaky football. When I wriggle and jiggle in your hands, let me go you bola de locos!

I’m itty-bitty, but I have some mighty legs. I’m a tough terrier packed into a compact Chihuahuense body. I got a droopy ear and a pointy ear, if you didn’t know that I was a mutt then that’s the proof pawpals. Pero, I’m no posh princess, that’s for sure! I do love tricking people into thinking I’m a lap dog – BARK! I’ll shoot around the living room and leap onto their laps with all the strength I have.  I’ll snuggle, I’ll lick, I’ll paw, I’ll rub my snout into their necks and just as the humans start to enjoy the petting session I’ll leap to my next licking victim! I can’t help it; I’ve got dos attitudes going on inside of me: feisty lap dog & fiercely independent Jack! Es como un gamble on what you might get from my homedoggies, but I like to trick people and let them figure it out.  Woof! Howl! It makes me laugh just thinking about it pup amigos.

I feel like a big dog, you know? Pero, everyone says that I’m small. You know what I say to that? Ruff ruff ruff! I just shake my coat, wag my tail, and strut away like the Jackahuahua Xena-like force of nature that I am. Es mas, just to prove it to that bunch of tontos, every time I cross paths with a Great Dane I bark and bark until he knows who’s boss – ME. I always bring those big beasts to their knees with my scary woof! Now what do you have to say about “little”, humans?

I’m lucky because I’m a mix of two very popular pups; I’m the best combination of two hip hounds.  There’s Mariah Carey’s Jack Russell Terrier named “Jack”, there’s Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua “Tinkerbell,” and there’s me Irie La Mona, the best of both worlds, roaming the famous streets of Los Angeles. My mami found me at the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter and never looked back; I mean, come on, would you? Like I said, Jackahuahuas will make you want to give them a belly rub that lasts a lifetime. Get hip humans, get hip.

By the way humans, do you want a puppy just like me? Check out your local animal shelter or these rescue organizations and ask them for a Jackahuahua:

Russell Rescue, Inc.
Chihuahua Rescue USA

 Poochie pals, and human allies, can you think of other unique names for my mix? Tell me about them here!

Irie La Mona (The Little Doll) is a 7-month-old mixed breed, bilingual Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua adopted from the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter. Still a puppy, she aspires to one day host her very own show, and be the Oprah of mixed breed pups around the world!

I’m half Chihuahua and half Dachshund, the best of both worlds I think. I’m small enough to fit on most laps.  

People call me “hot dog” because of my longish back and shortish legs. But my legs are still longer than a Daschund’s and I have tiny feet.

The humans also compare me to a Fenec Fox for my large triangular ears that stick out like sails. But some of my fellow Chiweenies have floppy ears like Dachshunds do.

I have the hound dog’s long snout and the Chihuahua’s large soulful eyes.

Don’t mess with my peeps because I will come after your ankles. But unlike most small dogs I don’t constantly yap – I just give a hearty bark when the situation calls for it.

Both my parents have short hair so I have a slick coat and don’t shed much, much to my parents’ delight.

Like my hound dog ancestors, I’ll pursue any interesting scent. I may be small but I’ll tow you along to find out what’s behind that odor.

While I’m relentless in chasing smells, I prefer seeking warmth like Chihuahuas do. My elongated body helps me worm into a pile of laundry fresh from the dryer or under the blankets with my humans.

I find sunbathing a great way to soak up heat but nothing beats a comfy lap and hands to pet me.

Image from Flickr.

My furry friend Leroy fancies himself a Gerbulloxer (German Shepherd/Bulldog/Boxer), but I think the pup’s a tad delusional. I mean, look at him.

German Shepherd? Please. He got that kooky idea in his head because the shelter he was rescued from called him a “Shepherd mix.” Yes, apparently they were a tad delusional, too.  

I would say the only thing Leroy has in common with a German Shepherd is a pink tongue!

Boxer? No, I don’t really think so. Leroy is built like a tank – a tank with short legs that aren’t at all like the graceful, long limbs of this breed.

If I were a gambling girl, I’d wager 1,000 TJ’s Health Bites that Leroy is most likely an Old Anglican Bulldogge (pictured below right – do you see what I mean?), or what I prefer to call “Terribull.”

He’s half American Staffordshire Terrier and half Old English Bulldogge.

I don’t know if the same is true of all Terribulls, but I must say that Leroy has the best temperament of any dog I’ve had the pleasure to have known. I tell you, the pup is always cheerful!

When he wakes up from a deep sleep, his tail is wagging.

When he gets sent out to the backyard for barking at the delivery man (a little trick I taught him), his tail wags the whole time.

When he gets reprimanded for destroying our dog mom’s favorite shoes and … well, I bet you can guess what’s wagging.

While it’s quite nice to be around someone so happy all the time, I must say that he makes me seem a bit like an old sourpuss – yet that’s only because I choose to use discretion.

I only wag my tail when a special occasion merits it, such as receiving treats or going for a walk. No tail cramps for me, thank you very much.

Sophie was almost 84 dog years old when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge last November. She was adopted by i Love Dogs writer Laura Goldman in 1998 from a Hawthorne, Calif., shelter. Sophie “Do Do” loved long naps, looking out the front windows and most of all, her best buddy Leroy. Check out her other articles!