Shorkie

Like many of the designer crossbreeds, the Shorkie originated in the United States in a quest to find a small companion dog that didn’t shed and that would fit into any family’s lifestyle, no matter how small their home and garden.

To understand more about the origin of the breed we need to look at the two breeds that go into the formation of the Shorkie.

Shih Tzu

Country of Origin: China

The Shih Tzu we know and love today is itself an ancient crossbreed having been created within the walls of the Forbidden City in the 17th century from crossing the Lhasa Apso from the monasteries of Tibet with an early form of the Pekinese.

The resulting dogs, called Lhasa Lion Dogs, remained hidden away from the eyes of the West until the 20th century when the Peking Kennel Club was formed and the Lhasa Lion Dogs were shown for the first time alongside the Lhasa Apso.

It wasn’t until the 1930s that these dogs found their way to England. The types that had the rounder skull and short muzzle became known as the Shih Tzu and a breed in their own right.

Yorkshire Terrier

Country of Origin: England and Scotland

It is believed that Scottish weavers brought a small terrier with them during a period of immigration from Scotland to Yorkshire and Lancashire during the 1850s. These 'Broken-Haired Scotch Terriers,' interbred with local small terriers to provide a working dog who quickly become popular as a very effective factory and mining vermin-killer, and that was of a small enough size that could be carried in their owner’s pocket.

Further breeds were used to perfect this Northern ratter including possibly the Manchester Terrier, the Maltese, the Skye Terrier, the Dandie Dinmont terrier, and the now extinct Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers. Shown as the Scotch Terrier in 1861, the dog later became known as the Yorkshire Terrier and was recognised by the Kennel Club in 1886.

While the breed was a working ratter, the Yorkshire Terrier soon became popular with wealthy ladies as a companion and this popularity lead to selective breeding to make them even smaller. Interestingly while the dog got smaller, their coat length stayed virtually the same - hence the long coats that can still be seen on show dogs.

The Shorkie can have any combination of the two breeds in their appearance, behaviour and temperament.

This attractive crossbreed needs owners who understand that crossbreeds are a bit of a gamble appearance and behaviour wise. If you’re a big fan of the Yorkie and the Shih Tzu, then you’ll love the Shorkie. Ideal owners will be able to groom their Shorkie regularly, even if they plan on using a professional groomer to clip regularly. Exercise and training should be done daily, this may be a small breed but they are very much ‘all dog’ and should be trained as such. Suited to family homes with older children, or child-free homes where someone is around most of the time.

The Shorkie will be happy with half an hour to an hour of walking each day, as long as they have plenty of games and owner interaction.

This is a small dog who can live in a flat or a smaller property as long as they have access to the outdoors for toileting and walks.

Toy dogs have a fast metabolism which makes them burn energy at a high rate. This means that that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the dog feeding guidelines of his particular food.

Shorkie coats are likely to be long and silky, with or without a thick undercoat, and can mat. They are unlikely to shed much but they will require a lot of coat care (especially if kept in full coat) and will need grooming every day.

Find a good local groomer who can either look after your Shorkie’s coat or teach you how to do it yourself as their coat develops.

The Shorkie can be a clever dog, always up for learning tricks and games. They should be trained to walk on a lead and harness as well as come back when called. While this may look like a cute fluffy dog, the Shorkie can be surprisingly game when out and can chase squirrels and even the neighbour’s cat!

This is a breed that needs early and ongoing socialisation so they gain confidence with people and other dogs.

The Shorkie makes a fun companion but as they are small and rather delicate, especially as puppies, they suit families with older sensible children. As they bond strongly to their owner, they are often a one-person dog, even if they get on with other members of the family.