Shorkie Dog Breed (Shorkie Tzu or Yorkie Tzu) – Shih Tzu Yorkie Mix Puppies, Price and Shorkie Lifespan

Do you ever dream that you own a small but powerful fido? Then in a designer dog breed called a Shorkie dog breed, you can find the answer. Shorkie Tzu, Yorkie Tzu, ShizTzu-Yorkie Mix are the other names. This dog is wrapped in a small body with a huge personality. It is a feisty breed whose parents are a Shitzu and a Yorkshire Terrier.

She got her passion and zest from a Yorkshire Terrier as she inherited her desire to protect her fur parents from a Shitzu. As to any dog designer breeds, you cannot predict their appearance and personality. However, as time goes on and as Shorkie is being bred more and more, it follows that predictability of what to expect from this breed of dogs can come close to accuracy.

The Shorkie dog breed may be small in size, yet it is feisty, stubborn, and an intense protector. It is best cared for by someone who has previous experience in caring for a dog and a family who has older children who pretty much know how to be cautious when dealing with dogs.

Let us take a closer look at this dog breed, such as its history, its personality, health issues and lifespan, cost of buying and owning one, and much more.

History of a Shorkie Dog Breed:

It is believed that this dog breed has naturally existed over the past years but intentional breeding began in the year 2000 in the  United States. It became highly in-demand in Britain and in Ireland.

The main intention of why the two purebred dog breeds are mixed (Shitzu and Yorkshire Terrier) is to develop a small, beautiful, and friendly pooch that can be adopted in a living set-up home. The fact that both purebred dogs are not heavy shedders was one of the factors considered.

The first puppies to be seen were the puppies of the so-called F1 or first generation. By this, it simply implies that not every puppy was the same, some took more of the Shitzu genes than some of the Yorkshire Terrier. Having Shorkie pups who looked like either of her parents was not unusual. Nevertheless, the Shorkie puppies eventually developed as this dog breed originated through multigenerational breeding.

Shorkie Puppies:

Not all shorkie puppies resemble each other. Since they are first-generation hybrids, some of the puppies may look more like a Shitzu while some puppies may look more like a Yorkshire Terrier. There could also be some pups that may seem like a combination of its two parents.

Keep in mind that Shorkie puppies are very fragile and small, so be very gentle when handling it. Normally, a puppy may weigh about 2 pounds only. Teach your young kids beforehand that the puppy must be handled gently to avoid it from getting hurt and injured.

The puppies will certainly look adorable and huggable, no matter what. But don’t be tempted to spoil a Shorkie puppy because at a later stage, this can only make it more difficult for you to train it. This dog breed is stubborn and feisty, as stated earlier. Socialize and train it as soon as it gets home so it will grow-up a well-behaved fido.

Training tools that can help you shape your pup’s obedient behavior:

When it comes to your pup’s diet, give your puppies small portions of food 4x a day. Once they reach the age of 6 months, feed your pup twice a day until it reaches maturity. You can either feed your pup dry food or wet food.

Shorkie Price:

Various factors determine the cost of a Shorkie dog breed. Such considerations are, the breeder’s place and prestige, the pup lineage, and litter size, among others. Today, at $750.00, you can get a puppy. This is the price that you can get if the puppy has papers but no show quality. If you want to pay less, then you can look for a breeder that does not register its dogs. But is that a good thing? If you were to ask me, it’s still easier to get a registered pup because it means the breeder has a good reputation, and you don’t buy from a puppy mill. Therefore, great breeders only pair healthy dogs to improve the Shorkie dog breed’s health.

However, if you are looking for a pup with show quality and breeding rights, then be prepared to pay more- between $1,800.00 and $6,400.00.

How Much Money Will You Spend If You Buy A Shorkie Puppy?

When you buy a puppy, one of your top concerns should be the cost of caring. It is not inexpensive, such as taking into account meat, supplements, immunization, training materials, grooming, collar and leash, crate toys, food and water bowls, among others. That might be about $500.00 to $2,000.00 for the first year of the puppy.

Then, expect the expenses to increase by $500.00 to $1,000.00 in the next year in order for your Shorkie puppy to grow happy and well-behaved part of your life.

Shorkie Full-Grown:

1)  Size:

This is basically a new dog breed, and up to this date, when discussing its size, there is no known standard. In general, a full-grown Shorkie will grow to a height of 6 to 9 inches (Males) and 5 to 8 inches (Females). The males could weigh between 5 and 11 pounds while the females would weigh between 4 and 8 pounds.

2)  Coat Colors and General Appearance:

The major colors are the following: black, white, fawn, red, brown blue and combination of any of the listed colors. His coat’s surface might be smooth or there might be some curl or waves.

It is not uncommon to see a facial mask with a shade darker than the rest of its body. It has a round skull, a short muzzle, small, triangular ears, and wide, expressive eyes. It has short legs with thin bones.

3)  Grooming:

Since this is a fine-coated dog breed, it is predisposed to having mats and tangles. This is why it is classified as a high-maintenance dog because of the need for daily brushing. Mild shampoo and conditioner are recommended since it has sensitive skin. Examples are Earthbath All Pet Natural Shampoo and WashBar Natural Dog Shampoo Bar. After shampooing, apply coat conditioners like Breezy Tail Blooming Conditioner or Sofee & Co New Natural Dog Puppy Conditioner.

4)  Temperament:

When you ask a Shorkie fur parent about her disposition, you may hear her say’ shorkie is a little dog but has the strength of a big dog.’ Although this dog breed is one of the sweet lapdogs, it can be labeled an’ energetic lapdog’ because it loves playing and playing until it becomes exhausted. Let it play with interactive dog toys such as StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy and Wobble Wag Giggle Ball.

It loves lots of cuddle moments, but when playing it also loves becoming physical. Like her parents, she has a strong tendency to attach. This is a dog breed that needs to be included in all sorts of family activities, and it will feel bad if its human family isolates it.

A Shorkie dog breed can be quite vocal. You will definitely get notified if someone is knocking on the door. It barks and for some, it can be quite a nuisance. It also has a strong tendency to cry and bark if it is separated from its owners.

5)  Trainability:

This dog can be stubborn and head-strong, so it needs more patience from you to train. Do not get aggressive if it fails to follow your instructions, as this will only make training it more difficult for you. A Shorkie does not at all recognize physical punishment. Stay calm and consistent, instead.

House-training takes time. It helps if you teach it crate-training. Why? Because once the pup gets used to it and considers the crate as its cave, it will be reluctant to soil the crate.

Try using these products when you begin training your Shorkie dog:

Additionally, stubborn dogs are known to respond well to the clicker training method. Products like EcoCity Dog Training Clicker or PetSafe Clik-R Trainer.

5)  Exercise:

This is an energetic dog and can benefit from a 60-minute slow walk each day. But, sometimes, there are days when it will be lazy to get-up from the bed and would rather laze in bed with you.

Important Consideration: Because of its brachycephalic airway, you shouldn’t give this dog breed a long and strenuous exercise, lest, it will succumb to heatstroke.

6)  Health Problems:

Both of its parents are deranged with various kinds of health problems, and it is not surprising that the Shorkie dog breed inherits most of these problems such as:

  • Brachycephalic airway syndrome: This is characterized by narrow airway passage making the dogs susceptible to drowning, heatstroke, and other kinds of respiratory problems.
  • Dental problems; Because the Shorkie has a short and narrow jaw, it suffers from crowding of teeth. In addition, premature loss of teeth is common in this dog breed.
  • Glaucoma: Characterized by an increase in the fluid around the eyes resulting to an increase in eye pressure.
  • Other health problems could be: Hypoglycemia, Lens luxation, Patellar luxation, Portosystemic shunt.

As you have seen, a Shorkie dog breed is accustomed to many kinds of diseases. Nature plays a role in their well-being in this respect, but if you buy a puppy from a reputable dog breeder, the risk that your pet will contract any of the diseases as mentioned earlier is lower. This is because only healthy dogs are chosen for breeding by a responsible dog breeder.

7)  Shorkie Lifespan:

A Shorkie is expected to live from 11 to16 years.

8) Nutritional Requirements:

An appropriate diet for your Shorkie is the one made specially for small dog breeds. Like all dog breeds, the Shorkie’s nutritional requirements adjust from puppyhood to senior era. High-quality pet foods like Wholehearted Grain Free Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food can be considered.

9)  Dealing with Kids and Other Pets:

There is no question that this is a very affectionate breed of dogs, but if you have younger children at home, care must be taken. Children look at small dogs as toys that they might find really enticing to hold and play with. Children can find a Shorkie dog too adorable to be able to squeeze or keep it in the wrong way. If a Shorkie gets hurt, it may nip. Furthermore, since a Shorkie is known for its stubborn behavior, there may be problems between this dog and younger children.

Summary:

Breed Type: Toy
Purpose: Lapdog
Temperament: Stubborn, Feisty, Loyal, Energetic
Exercise: Medium
Separation Anxiety: High
Good for New Owners: No
Affectionate: Yes
Kid-Friendly For older kids- Yes
Shedding: Low
Easy to Train: No
Barking Tendency: High
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