The Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkie Mix are crossbred, so the Shorkie doesn’t have a purebred lineage. Their average height is 5 to 9”, but they are known for their feisty and stubborn personalities. As lapdogs, they are wonderful companions for you. Sharkies are best suited to adult-only homes because of their small size.

See if this adorable doggie is the right pup for you by reading below and learning more about owning one.

History of the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier Mix

Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkie Mix are bred to create the Shorkie terrier mix, a designer or “celebrity” breed that thrives as a companion or lapdog. A Morkie was bred from a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese, which is a popular breed to cross with.

Originally bred as a companion, the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkie Mix is becoming more popular due to the fact that both parents shed minimally. Due to their small size, they’re also perfect for people living in small apartments or houses. In the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Shorkie is not currently recognized, but it is recognized by The Designer Breed Registry.

Breed Origin of the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier Mix

Let’s examine the breed parents – Shih Tzus and Yorkshire Terriers – to understand the origins of this breed.

A Shih Tzu was originally from Chinese royalty and served as a lap warmer and was pampered by Emperors. Their owners describe them as loyal and outgoing, but they are also as stubborn as they are outgoing. Despite their sociability, they enjoy staying at home as well.

A Yorkshire Terrier, the other parent, was bred to flush rats out of mines in Scotland and Northern England in the mid-1800s. Their status as companions for English ladies was recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1886. They are feisty, stubborn, and feisty just like the Shih Tzu.

When Shih Tzus and Yorkshire Terriers are combined, we get a Shorkie, which is feisty and stubborn, and very small like their parents. It is believed that they were first bred in the US around the 2000s. This fascinating dog is described in more detail below.

Characteristics of the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier Mix

The average number of puppies produced in a Shorkie litter is between one and five. The price of a Shorkie puppy can vary from $300 to $1000 because they are designer dogs. Despite their small size, they are know for being loyal, energetic, and protective, weighing between 5 and 11 pounds for men and 4 to 8 pounds for women.

Color	Hybrid dogs can have a variety of colors due to their genetic makeup. Black and Tan, Brown and White, Gold, Red and Gold, and Black and White are the most common coat colors for a Shorkie.
Appearance	The shorkie is a small dog whose height ranges from five to nine inches. As both of their parents shed minimally, they will typically have a straight coat like their Yorkie parents. They will also have wavy coats like their Yorkie parents. This makes them great pets for allergy sufferers. We will discuss that further on, but they are known to be high-maintenance dogs that need frequent grooming sessions.
Lifespan	Between 11 and 16 years is the average lifespan of a shorkie. Below we will go into more detail about their health issues.
Temperament	Shorkies are small dogs with big personalities. This lapdog has a short attention span and often acts on impulse. They love playing and cuddling as much as they love cuddling. In addition to their preying nature, they have a tendency to chase anything that moves, so they’ll certainly keep you on your toes! They tend to bark at the mailman when he comes to the door, as they are always alert and watchful. They are loyal and sociable but wary of strangers sometimes. Dogs need a lot of attention, so they aren’t suitable for homes where there are other dogs. When you need to leave the house, this need for attention and loyalty can also cause separation anxiety. For the rest of the day, they would do anything to be with you. Any unwanted behavior can be corrected through proper training at an early age. Despite their high energy levels, shorties can walk and hike with you despite being clingy and needy. At the end of a long day, they will still want to snuggle up with you.

Known Health Issues of the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier Mix

Even though Shorkies are generally healthy dogs, it is important to keep an eye on their health regularly. In addition to brachycephalic airway syndrome, dental disease, glaucoma, hypoglycemia, patellar luxation, and lens luxation, they can also be prone to glaucoma and diabetes.

When the upper respiratory system is abnormally shaped, brachycephalic airway syndrome occurs. Glaucoma can be cause by lens luxation, which occurs when the eye’s ligaments break down and the lens is dislocate from its normal position.

Shorkies suffer from some of the same health issues as their Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier parents. A number of congenital diseases affect the liver, spinal discs, and lungs. Keeping your pup’s health checked on a regular basis should prevent many of these issues from becoming a big problem.

Daily Life of the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier Mix

This small, cuddly pup requires a lot of attention and care, but it’s worth it because it provides so much love. You can find out more about their daily lives below.

Food and Diet

Regardless of your dog’s age, he should be eating a balanced diet. For small dog breeds, you should purchase food formulated specifically for them. Food can be dry kibble, wet, dehydrated, or raw.

Once your Shorkie reaches 6 months of age, they should only receive two meals a day for the rest of their lives. A pound of body weight should be fed 40 calories per day. You should feed your Shorkie 360 calories daily if he weighs 9 lbs.

It can sometimes be hard to predict the size of your Shorkie once they reach adulthood because they are a hybrid. A good indicator of how big they will be is the size of their parents.

You should definitely monitor the amount you feed Shorkie dogs as they have a tendency to gain weight if overfed. You can also keep them healthy and at a healthy weight by giving them healthy treats.

Exercise

Due to their small size and small legs, Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkie Mix don’t require long walks every day. It will benefit them to be outside for anywhere between 30 minutes and 60 minutes every day since they are very energetic and active dogs. Also, they make great walking or hiking companions.

Due to their shortened muzzle, Shorkies are susceptible to brachycephalic airway syndrome like their Shih Tzu parent, which may cause respiratory problems. However, you should be aware of the risks regardless of whether it is a concern in warmer weather.

In spite of their high intelligence, Shorkies are not intereste in brain games. It may be necessary to use a treat to get their attention if you want to stimulate their minds! Shorkies may need to go to the bathroom more often than other breeds of dog, too, because of their small bladders. Keeping puppy pads around the house is a good idea if you don’t have a place where they can go outside alone.

Family Compatibility

Shorkies are loving dogs that will get along with everyone in the family, but they will be more attached to their primary caregiver. Separation anxiety can develop without proper training. Therefore, Shorkies make great pets for singles or couples. They thrive in small homes and apartments due to their small size and love to play indoors.

It is not recommende to keep a Shorkie with young children due to its toy size and fragility. In a family environment, a Shorkie can be very happy if your children are gentle with it. Due to their need for attention, they are also good in households with only one pet.

In addition to being loud and yappy, Shorkies can also be good watchdogs and guard dogs for the family home, warning you when someone is at the door!

Training of the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier Mix

The Shorkie can be very stubborn, just like their Yorkie parent, which makes training them a bit challenging. Positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise and treats, is the best way to train a dog.

It is important to keep a routine with your Shorkie when housebreaking. Ensure that they are fed and taken outside at the same time every day.

Socializing of the Shorkie – Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier Mix

Shorkies need to be socialize, especially if you have other pets. Shorkies can feel neglected if they don’t receive enough attention from an early age. It is imperative to socialize with them since they are unaware of how small they are. They can get into confrontations with more-sized dogs when they do not realize how small they are.

When you have young children in the house, it is important to socialize with them from an early age. There is a lesson in being gentle with your dog as well as your children!

Grooming

A Shorkie can be a high-maintenance breed. The reason for this is that they are designers. For allergy sufferers, spitz dogs are perfect because of their hypoallergenic coats and little shedding; however, they must be groome regularly.

Shorkie owners typically clip their pups every eight weeks into “teddy bear” clips. Usually, the body is trimme short to reduce mats and knots, but the face is round to maintain cuteness.

Additionally, you should ensure that you check your Shorkie’s ears and eyes regularly to prevent infections. Tear stains may develop in Shorkies with overactive tear glands. Several times a day, wipe around their eyes if this happens. It can make a huge difference in minimizing tear stains.

In addition to clipping their nails, keeping their dental health in good shape is also important. Since small breeds are know to have more dental issues than larger breeds, it is important that you brush their teeth every day. Using a dental chew may be easier than using instructions from your vet on how to brush your dog’s teeth.

Conclusion

Despite their small size, Shorkies have big personalities. Toy pups are energetic and feisty, but they also love to snuggle with you as lapdogs as much as they love playing outside. This breed is extremely loyal and wants to stay by your side at all times. It is important to train them properly to prevent separation anxiety, and their grooming requirements are high, but they can make an excellent companion for a couple or even an older family.

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