Breeds / Small
Shorkie puppies
The Shorkie is sociable and openly affectionate, keen on constant company and outgoing with visitors when socialised early. About 30 minutes of exercise a day suits them, and they can become anxious and vocal when left alone.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 3.2 to 7.3 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 7 to 16 lb
- Adult height 18 to 25 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming High
- Coat type Long silky
- Typical lifespan 11 to 15 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Shorkie
The Shorkie is a Shih Tzu crossed with a Yorkshire Terrier, developed in the United States as a companion. Adults weigh about 3.2 to 7.3 kg and stand 18 to 25 cm, with a long, silky coat that sheds very little. They are sociable and openly affectionate, bonding tightly with one household, and with early socialisation most turn out confident with visitors rather than the nervy, snappy small dog people expect.
Around half an hour of activity a day covers the exercise, which makes them workable in a flat. Grooming does not scale down with the dog: daily combing to prevent mats, bathing at least monthly, and teeth brushed several times a week. Two things catch owners out. A Shorkie left alone gets anxious and noisy, and a short muzzle inherited from the Shih Tzu side brings breathing trouble with it.
A cross, not a breed. No kennel club recognises the Shorkie or publishes a standard for the cross, so the figures above are typical observed ranges rather than anything breeders must meet. Two puppies from the same litter can end up quite different, one with the Yorkshire Terrier's silky jacket and finer bone, the other with the Shih Tzu's heavier coat and shorter muzzle. Later generations bred back to one parent breed are somewhat more consistent than a first cross between two purebreds.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Shorkie puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Brachycephalic airway problems where the short Shih Tzu muzzle is inherited, assessed on conformation and an exercise tolerance test
- Patellar luxation, graded on orthopaedic examination
- Collapsing trachea, recognised by a honking cough and confirmed on radiographs or fluoroscopy
- Portosystemic liver shunt, screened with a serum bile acids test
- Periodontal disease in the crowded jaw, found at annual dental examination
- Dry eye, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, found on eye examination with tear production testing
- Hypoglycaemia in very small puppies, confirmed by a blood glucose test
Your Shorkie puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Shorkie.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.2 to 7.3 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 7.3 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Shorkie
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- petmd.com for adult weight and height, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- petmd.com for life expectancy
- purina.co.uk for country of origin
- Health notes from Shorkie breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/shorkie. Discuss any of these with your own vet.