Premier Pups > Dog Breeds > Shorkie
Shorkie Breed Information
Shorkies are spunky little fluffs that can swim in a bowl, sleep in a cup, and fit in a purse with plenty of room to spare. These pups are known for their affectionate nature, loyalty, and fearless personalities. They love to love and protect their favorite humans, they thrive on attention, and they have no real concept of their non-ferocious looks and size.
In their minds, Shorkies see themselves as alligator-looking dogs, and although that is far from their actual appearance, they do have the big personalities to match the courageous beasts they envision to be. These little pups are spirited, friendly, loving, and very intelligent. They have a knack for mischief, a dash of stubbornness, and a whole lot of love to give. The dream dog Shorkie is a designer mixed breed, a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Yorkshire Terrier.
For insights on the unique characteristics of designer breeds like Shorkie, delve into our blog on the Ultimate Guide to Teddy Bear Dogs.
BREED TYPE / MIX
Hybrid / Shih Tzu crossed with a Yorkshire Terrier
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Minimum
TRAINING
Determined
TEMPERAMENT
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Loving, Sweet
ADULT WEIGHT
6-14 in
ADULT HEIGHT
4-10 lbs
LIFE SPAN
13-16 yrs
Characteristics
- The Shorkie is also known as the Shorkie Tzu, Shih Tzu Yorkie Mix, Shih Tzu mix, and Yorkie Tzu
- This small breed is one of the most popular designer dogs in the United States
- Alert and always on the look-out, Shorkies make efficient watchdogs
- The gorgeous Shorkie sheds very little is considered to be semi-hypoallergenic and is a wonderful option for those with mild pet allergies
- Friendly and sweet, Shorkies make loving companion pets for families with older children, couples, singles, and active seniors
- Shorkies benefit from hybrid vigor. They are healthier and not prone to the same ailments as their parent breeds
- The Shorkie pup makes fast friends with kids, other dogs, and strangers
- Adaptable – Shorkies are toy-sized dogs that fit comfortably in micro-apartments, small and large homes
- Shorkies are bright dogs. They are easy to train, easy to groom, and even easier to love, and they make excellent companion pets for first-time pet owners
Appearance
Shorkies are toy-sized adorable dogs. Their demeanor is friendly, their expression alert, and their disposition cheerful. True to his parent breeds, the small-size Shorkie is a tiny pooch that weighs 4 to 10 pounds and stands at 6 to 14 inches tall. He has a muscular built body, a round face with a short muzzle, dark expressive eyes, cute floppy ears, and a curled tail.
A fully grown Shorkie sports a fine, soft coat that is medium to long in length. The Shorkie coat is straight or slightly wavy in texture and can come in a variety of stunning colors and color combinations that include black and white, white and brown, tan and black, red and gold, with various markings and patterns. The Shorkie is a low shedder and a hypoallergenic breed.
Photos
Temperament
Shorkies are exceptional dogs when it comes to companionship. They love to glue themselves to the hip and be near their family at all times. These little dogs thrive on affection and can barely take being left alone. They carry a great love in their beautiful hearts and it is seldom said about them that “they won’t be separated from their humans by any means”. Shorkies are very fond of being cuddled, spoiled, pampered, and they would do anything for belly rubs. Although they are affectionate with all family members, Shorkies tend to have a favorite human. For them, that is their pet parent, their mentor, and their best friend.
The Shorkie is a moderately active dog who enjoys digging for gold, chasing, and being vocal about lots of things he finds interesting. He likes to talk to mirrors, chew on squeaky toys, play canine games, and if he could, he would invite a horse for a playful chase. He also enjoys zooming from one room to the next, and loves games of hide and seek in which treats are involved.
Kids and Shorkies make wonderful playmates. They share in their love for games, stunts, and giggles, and can spend tireless hours chasing each other through the house. That being said, children over 6 years old and teens are a better fit for Shorkies as opposed to small children that can easily hurt or get hurt while playing with these dogs. Although not particularly aggressive, Shorkies aren’t known to be the most patient of dogs and they can sometimes be jumpy around speedy toddlers.
When it comes to training, Shorkies are very intelligent and can be trained for basic tricks, commands, and obedience with patience, consistency, lots of delicious treats, and praise. They can at times be stubborn or overly enthusiastic when they get bored during training sessions. This behavior isn’t a problem with adult Shorkies but rather with Shorkie puppies during early puppyhood. Full-grown Shorkies need to be both mentally and physically stimulated to keep from getting bored or developing any kind of destructive behavior.
Training a Shorkie requires patience and consistency. For more insights on training dogs effectively, check out our blog Easiest Dogs to Train - Top 5 Pups for Effortless Training
Insights
Allergies to dogs are a common thing around the world. As of 2021, it’s been reported that up to 20% of the world’s population suffers from pet-related allergies. Allergies to animals, especially to dogs, are triggered when the proteins that are found in the dog’s skin cells, saliva, and urine, are carried and spread through the shedding fur. Loving dogs is easy but living with them when they shed their dander-filled fur isn’t – not when you have allergies.
Your...
A Puppy for your Lifestyle - Part 3
In Part 1 and Part 2, we introduced you to 10 breeds that fit perfectly in either a relaxed lifestyle or an active lifestyle.
We dedicate Part 3 of Choosing the Best Dog for Your Lifestyle to families with or without children, singles, and retirees who lead balanced lifestyles. The pack of dogs we want you to meet are moderately active breeds that...
Care
Grooming
Shorkies are moderate maintenance when it comes to grooming. Generally, Shorkies have medium to long coats that need to be brushed and combed daily to be kept tangle and knot-free and to keep from matting. That being said, many Shorkie owners prefer to keep them in a puppy clip or a teddy bear cut which are much easier to groom and don’t require as much brushing.
Both Shorkies with a teddy bear cut and Shorkies with a long coat need to be bathed and taken to a professional groomer every couple of months. The Shorkie is sometimes prone to dental issues. It is beneficial for him to have an oral care routine that involves daily brushing and plenty of dental chews or dog toys designed for dental care. He should also have his ears checked and cleaned on a regular basis, and have his nails trimmed at least monthly.
Shorkies with short muzzles aren’t very fond of hot weather as they are prone to overheating. They aren’t equipped to handle extreme weather, hot or cold, and they should be kept in the shade during summer and dressed in dog coats and sweaters during winter.
Grooming Shorkies can be a task, especially if you're new to it. For a detailed guide on grooming, check out our blog on How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
Exercise Needs
The Shorkie is a moderately active dog known to tailor himself to his parent’s needs. He is just as happy running around chasing squirrels as he is lazing on a couch for two straight days. That being said, the Shorkie needs an average of 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise split into two or three walks and plenty of active playtime inside the home. Having inherited a high prey drive from his Terrier parent, the Shorkie will love having a rumba or a remote-controlled toy car to chase around the house.
Health
Shorkies, like all dogs, can be prone to some of the issues that are common in small dog breeds. They may be at risk of hip dysplasia, over-heating, hypothyroidism, allergies, dental disease, and cataracts, especially during senior years. Because of their short muzzle, Shorkies may not be able to withstand long workouts or play outside during very hot weather. Short muzzles often pose difficulties with regulating body temperature. Many of the health issues that are common in the Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier breeds are canceled out thanks to crossbreeding.
Lifespan
As a healthy, long-lived designer breed, the Shorkie has a lifespan of up to 16 years. These dogs are not prone to life-threatening health problems and can live as much as 18 years. Their parents, the Shih Tzu and the Yorkshire Terrier also have long lifespans and have been known to exceed 20 years of age. The oldest Shih Tzu that lived was Smokey from St. Petersburg. Smokey lived to be 28 years old. A Yorkshire Terrier named Bonny also lived to be 28 years old.
Training
Shorkies are very intelligent dogs although not always easy to train. They can sometimes be stubborn when trained as they have a short attention span and can get bored easily. Training a Shorkie puppy requires patience, lots of motivation, play and lessons combined, and consistency. Because they are part Shih Tzu, they may inherit some stubborness from their Shih Tzu parent.
Training sessions should be kept short for these pups. 10 to 15 min sessions twice every day should do the trick. These dogs love to be praised, cheered, petted, and rewarded with delicious dog treats. Giving them what they crave will get them in a cooperative state, attentive, and eager to learn. Positive reinforcement should also be used to train these adorable puppies.
Socialization should be started in early puppyhood with these adorable dogs. Shorkie puppies tend to have a high prey drive, and although friendly in nature they also tend to be a bit territorial of their space and favorite humans. To avoid this behavior passing on to adult Shorkies, it is best to start the socialization process early on and introduce them gradually to new places, people, other dogs, cats, other small pets, distractions, and sounds.
As with most family-attached dogs, Shorkies need to be trained early to handle some alone time. The Shorkie is known to suffer when left alone and is generally prone to separation anxiety. Anxiety in dogs can cause feelings of loneliness, sadness, and destructive behavior like excessive barking, chewing and going potty everywhere in a revenge fit. To avoid this and other problematic behaviors, it is best to train the Shorkie puppy early on to be comfortable when alone.
Early training is crucial for breeds like Shorkie. Dive into our blog on Early Training: Key Cavapoo Puppy Behaviors for a deeper understanding of early dog training.
History
The Shorkie also referred to as the Yorkie Tzu, Shorkie Tzu, Yorkie Shorkie, and Yorkie Shih Tzu, is a new and highly sought-after designer hybrid. Having originated only 10 to 20 years ago in the United States, these remarkable dogs stand out for their diva-like personalities, affectionate nature, and cuddly good looks. By crossing two highly popular breeds like the purebred Shih Tzu and the purebred Yorkshire Terrier, professional breeders aimed to create a fantastic new dog that would inherit the Yorkie’s fearlessness and protective nature and the Shih Tzus friendly personality and cheerful mood.
The new Shorkie breed impressed with adorable looks and a colorful personality and was met with instant fame across Europe and the United States. The Shorkie is one of the top breeds in demand in the United Kingdom today. To learn a little more about the cute Shorkies, we can take a look at the history of their parent breeds.
The Shih Tzu puppy, also known as the” lion dog” and “a dog of grace and kindness”, has been the favorite lapdog of high society families, royalty, emperors, and queens for hundreds of years. These lovely dogs originate from China where they were raised as companion pets throughout many dynasties. The Shih Tzu sports a long, luxurious, and elegant coat, and is famously known as a loving, easy-going, and sweet companion pet. Some of his hobbies include cuddling everything that moves, making new furry friends, and playing endlessly with kids.
The Yorkshire Terrier puppy, also known as Yorkie, is a dog of many talents. A cuddly lapdog that is fiercely loyal to his pet parents, a watchdog, a fast-learning student, a therapy dog, and an agile competitor in canine sports, the Yorkie makes quite the impression. The Yorkie has been the favorite companion pet in the Victorian age, a famous therapy dog during WW2, and a renowned show dog. Yorkies were developed in Yorkshire England during the 19th century and have been highly popular around the world ever since.
The Shorkie designer puppy is recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry and the American Canine Hybrid Club. The American Kennel Club is yet to recognize mixed breeds.