The Shih Tzu-Yorkie, also known as Shorkie or Shorkie Tzu, is a cute, loving, loyal, and playful dog. Check out some must-know facts about the Shih Tzu-Yorkie mix, provided by DogAppy.
Fast Fact
Brush your Shorkie’s teeth regularly, as this is one of the few dog breeds that is more prone to oral diseases.
A great little companion for your child, or a cute lapdog for your wife; Shorkies make really great pets. Being a cross between the Shih Tzu and the Yorkshire Terrier, these dogs inherit positive traits from both; confidence and courage from the Yorkie, and the playful and lively nature from the Shih Tzu. This makes them one of the most adorable designer dog breeds in America.
Shorkies are very bubbly dogs. They won’t sit in one place for a long time, and like being petted and played with all the time. Apparently, these doggies are also considered to entertain kids and protect them when outdoors. Although Shorkies aren’t meant for guarding, they are really good watchdogs, and never fail to alert their owner in times of crisis; no burglar threat when you have a Shorkie.
After this brief introduction, you might have a somewhat rough picture of what a Shorkie is. Check out some more interesting facts about the Shorkie’s temperament, behavior, diet, and health, to make that picture more clear.
Shih Tzu-Yorkie Mix (Shorkie)
| Breed | Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier |
| Height | 6 – 14 inches |
| Weight | 7 – 15 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12 – 15 years |
| Temperament | Loving, Playful, and Intelligent, |
| Diet | Dry Kibble |
Other Interesting Facts About Shorkies
✦ This breed originated in the United States, when breeders sought to create an intelligent, good-looking designer dog. It can be said that they were quite successful in their quest.
✦ Shorkies come in a variety of colors, including black, red, beige, gold, chocolate, white, and other mixes within these shades. Their coats are typically long and silky, and need to be groomed regularly to maintain their good-looking appearance.
✦ The diet of these teddy-bear dogs is composed specifically of high-quality dry kibble. Shorkies have an inherent tendency of developing oral diseases, including tooth decay, tooth loss, or gum problems. A diet of protein-rich dry kibble suitable for small dogs would prevent such diseases.
✦ As said earlier, Shorkies aren’t the type of dogs who would sit in one place. They are very easily distracted. This distracting nature could prove problematic while training them. However, trainers should avoid using harsh methods and adopt more of a ‘little training and lots of treats’ pattern while training these doggies.
✦ Keeping the training session short while teaching one thing at a time does prove effective. Training sessions should be held daily, but not more than twice a day.
✦ Shorkies are social dogs and they just love people around them. Leaving them alone for long periods of time would upset them and lead to separation anxiety, resulting in excessive barking and destructiveness.
✦ These dogs adapt to any setting, be it a house or an apartment. They are very loving and playful, and are constantly on the move towards their next pass-time activity. They love playing fetch and chewing on squeaky toys.
✦ They don’t need to be specially taken for a walk to meet their exercise requirements. An hour’s game of fetch or ball could keep their exercise target in order. However, Shorkies are capable of getting needful exercise solely from daily indoor activities too (running, playing, etc).
✦ This breed, being a cross between two separate breeds, is inherent to several diseases to which its parents are prone to. Some of the dominant ones include oral diseases (as mentioned above), kidney stones, liver diseases, Patellar Luxation, Hypoglycemia, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
✦ The dog should be bathed at least once a month, and groomed by a professional groomer once every six months. It’s also very important to brush the coat on alternate days to avoid it from becoming snarled and tangled.
If you wish to adopt a Shorkie, it is preferable to do so from a certified breeder to ensure a good and healthy puppy. So get home a Shorkie and see it light up your life, and that of everyone around.
