In this article by Animal Expert, we will talk about a fascinating breed of dog, whose recent appearance justifies that it is not yet as popular as it should be. We’re talking about the dog Shorkie, does that name ring a bell? You might think it looks like a Yorkshire, and it’s not without reason, because it’s a half-breed that has emerged from the cross between a Shih-tzu and a Yorkshire Terrier, giving a puppy the size of a toy with a personality that is everything. less small. Want to know more about this curious new breed? Read and discover all the features of Shorkie.
The Shorkies first appeared in the early 21st century in the United States of America, where breeders decided to breed controlled crosses between two iconic breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Shih-tzu. While it is a very recent breed, there is certainly a lot to say, because it has incredible characteristics, some of which are yet to be discovered, because they only appear in a concrete way that have passed a few generations.
- In this way.
- The Shorkie comes from two known breeds.
- Both considered toy races.
- As evidenced by its official standard established by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
- And also famous for its intelligence.
- Its open and friendly personality and its incredible Size.
- These cross dogs have other names.
- Such as: Shorkie-tzu.
- Yorkie-tzu or Shih-tzu-yorkie mix.
The Shorkie is a small dog, classified as a toy breed. In fact, when they are puppies, they barely reach half a kilo of weight, while an adult Shorkie weighs between 3 and 6 kg, and their height varies from 15 to 35 centimeters to the cross. This shows that there is a lot of variability, mainly due to the different genetic loads of each individual, predominantly Yorkshire or Shih-tzu. Life expectancy varies between 11 and 16 years.
These puppies have a somewhat different morphology between one specimen and another, as they usually have a body image resulting from the mixture of Shih-tzu and Yorkshires in different proportions. In general, they have a compact body, a moderately developed musculature, a thin, curved tail. As for its head, some specimens are brachycephalic, a feature shared with the Shih-tzu, while others look more like Yorkshires and do not have this morphology. However, its snout is thin and trimmed, with triangular ears bent forward and dark nose.
Shorkie’s hair is moderately long or pronounced, with an extremely silky and very delicate feel. In some specimens, the typical two-layer shih-tzu structure is inherited, with a woolly lower layer and a less dense upper layer. In these dogs, thermal insulation is logically better than in those who have only one layer of hair, especially in cold climates.
In terms of size, the color of Shorkie’s fur varies considerably. The most common are: black, lion, brown, blue, red and white, as in all its combinations.
Shorkie’s puppy is very small because at 10 weeks it is very rare to reach a kilo of weight. These little ones need a lot of attention, especially in relation to the company, because they are very sensitive, from very young, to loneliness, requiring high doses of love and dedication. Especially when they are young, it is important to pay attention to their most basic education, trying to gradually adapt to the customs and schedules of their home, their home and their potential companions, humans or animals.
In this hybrid breed it is essential to ensure good hydration and nutrition because, due to the low percentage of body fat, they tend to develop hypoglycaemia, which can be avoided if they feed well, without excesses, but without shortage. It is also essential to ensure adequate rest, as they grow and need to replenish energies to properly develop their small body, so naps are very important because they need to sleep most of the day to be healthy.
The personality of Shorkie’s specimens is truly impressive. They don’t seem aware of their small size because they have a powerful personality. They are extremely impulsive and do not tend to think much about what they do, which can easily cause problems as they do not realize the dangers in time.
In general, they are distinguished by their dynamism, always trying to play with everything they see moving and wanting the attention of their human family. They are very affectionate and enjoy the care sessions and attention they receive.
Continuing the personality of Shorkie dogs, they can sometimes bark a lot, as can the Yorkshires, especially when faced with noises, visitors or strangers, because they distrust a little of them. However, when people know him, he certainly creates wonderful connections with Shorkie, although he always tends to maintain a special bond with those he considers his reference person.
In general, it is considered that Shorkie dogs require certain precautions to be in good condition, so they are not the most suitable for people who do not have time or who do not want a very demanding breed in certain aspects. For example, because they are active dogs, they have to exercise daily to release their overflowing energy, so they need walks and hours of play. In addition, this is vital to maintaining a proper weight, as Shorkies tend to gain a lot of weight because they are very greedy and eager for food. So, if they don’t move, they tend to gain weight easily, which negatively impacts their cardiovascular health.
As for fur, it usually requires special attention, and should be brushed regularly to maintain your health and shine. Specifically, it is recommended to brush it once a day, and this is the best way to keep your fur free of knots and ambient dirt. Finally, the importance of environmental enrichment should be emphasized, as they are energetic and playful dogs. Therefore, providing Shorkie with various toys and intelligence games is more than recommended.
The Shorkie inherits his great personality from the parent races, which can make him look stubborn and eager to get away with it. However, while this can make you lose patience with your training, it’s possible to teach it, you just need to know which techniques are most productive. For example, given your gluttony, experts comment that in this case prices such as sweets or food usually work very well. The same is true in most cases with toys or games, because this breed is very playful. In general, the most important thing is to avoid punishment and aggression at all costs, because in addition to being something quite unpleasant to everyone, they do not produce the desired results, they only make the animal appear more stubborn and refuse to obey.
Here are some recommendations for the Shorkie: organize frequent but short sessions of less than half an hour to make them more receptive; fatigue them a little earlier with games or walks to calm their nerves; Look for a quiet place, free from distractions like sounds or movements and base the whole session on affection and respect. As with all dogs, positive reinforcement is always the best way to form a Shorkie.
The Yorkshires and Shih-tzu generally have a variety of congenital diseases, i.e. hereditary and race-related due to their genetics. For example, in this article, we can read in detail the most common diseases of the Yorkshire Terrier, including conditions such as cataracts or collapse of the trachea.
However, as a hybrid dog, the Shorkie generally has greater resistance to these diseases, which can affect it, but with a much lower incidence. Some of the diseases that occur in Shorkies are oral problems, glaucoma and respiratory syndrome associated with brachycephaly, in cases where the specimen has this morphology closer to that of Shih-tzu. It is also true that the breed does not yet have a long history, so it is possible that trends to suffer certain pathologies are still known.
In general, what you should consider to maintain Shorkie’s health is regular veterinary examinations, during which vaccines, deworming and rigorous analytical tests are administered. It’s about monitoring your health and detecting abnormalities as quickly as possible so you can treat them early.
Shorkies are energetic and happy dogs, and if you want one of them to be part of your family, this is something to keep in mind at all times. Because? Well, because that means that sometimes they are very nervous, they require treats, games and a lot of attention, so you have to ask yourself if you have the time and strength to meet these needs.
After seriously considering the issue of adoption, being clear about the requirements of having a dog and the obligations associated with good care, you can start thinking about where to look for the animal. In Animal Expert we recommend that you start researching the associations, hostels and kennels closest to you, increasing the search rate if you do not find it. Shorkies are more common than you think of dog adoption entities, as are most hybrid breeds. If you can’t find them available right now, you can also be patient and wait a while, in case copies are saved.