TEACUP SHORKIE PUPPIES FOR SALE
Confident. Proud.
Shorkies are the result of crossing a Yorkshire Terrier with a Shih Tzu, and these little dogs are packed with personality. Calm dogs that are easy to care for, they are the perfect choice for inexperienced pet parents who want a good family pet. Shorkies are sweet and well-suited for singles, seniors, or families with children. They are energetic and playful, and they get along with people of all ages. They adapt easily to condo and apartment living because of their small size, and they don’t necessarily need a large yard.
Temperament
Early socialization will help your puppy grow into a happy and loving adult dog that does well with children and other pets. This is a stubborn breed, so training can be difficult but positive reinforcement goes a long way.
These are small dogs who think they’re big, and they’ll have an attitude like a larger dog.
They’re too tiny and adorable to be good guard dogs, but they make good watch dogs because they will alert you when strangers are near.
While they live to please you, they also have a stubborn streak that can make them challenging to train.
Appearance
Shih Tzus are longer than they are tall. Their round heads are wide between the eyes, and the ears are large and pendant. They have large, round eyes and a short muzzle with teeth that meet in a scissors bite. Their backs are level and straight, their legs are muscular, and they carry their high-set tails over their backs.
Yorkshire Terriers are also small with flat heads and ears that are v-shaped and erect. They have medium-sized eyes and muzzles, and teeth that also meet in a scissors bite. They hold their tail slightly higher than their back. Their legs look straight from the front, and they have round feet.
Shorkies have relatively long, silky coats that can be any color associated with the parent breeds.
They are usually 6 to 14 inches in height and 7 to 15 pounds in weight.
Exercise
Your energetic pup will be ready for daily walks and games of fetch and ball!
This breed is a good choice for condo and apartment dwellers because they are often able to expend their energy indoors and don’t necessarily need a yard of their own.
About 30 minutes of daily activity should be enough to keep them healthy and happy.
Shorkies are a new hybrid breed created recently in the United States, and they are still being developed. Right now Shorkies are the result of crossbreeding the Shih Tzu and the Yorkshire Terrier, but the eventual goal is to breed Shorkies with other Shorkies to create a new pure breed. Their history isn’t long, but both parent breeds have well-documented and interesting histories.
The Shih Tzu breed is one of the oldest known and was favored by Chinese royals and kept at court as far back as the Tang dynasty, 618 to 907. Although we don’t know its exact ancestors, experts believe they are a cross between Tibet’s Lhasa Apso breed and a small Chinese dog like a Pekingese. Shih Tzus became popular with commoners in China during the Ming dynasty, but they almost disappeared during the Chinese Revolution. Somehow seven males and seven females were saved, and all of today’s Shih Tzus are descended from those 14 dogs. They began to appear in other countries and North America in the early 1900s. They were often referred to as Apsos. Clubs recognizing the differences between Shih Tzus and Apsos were not established until 1934 and 1935, but a standard defining the Shih Tzu’s unique characteristics wasn’t established until 1938. World War II veterans returning to the United States brought these vivacious little pups home with them from England. In 1969 Shih Tzus were recognized as a toy breed with the American Kennel Club. They became popular in the U.S. quickly and continue to be popular today.
The Yorkshire Terrier was named for its place of origin in England. When the Industrial Revolution brought Scottish immigrants to England in search of work, they brought with them the now-extinct Old English Toy and Waterside Terriers, which were well-suited to hunting rodents. Pairing those two created some of the breed’s early refinements. They eventually arrived in the United States, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885. They became popular for their showmanship and their affectionate personalities.
Major health concerns to be aware of:
- Hypoglycemia
- Collapsed Trachea
Minor health concerns to be aware of:
- Patellar Luxation
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Your Shorkie’s long and silky coat requires daily brushing to keep it free from uncomfortable tangles and mats. They should be bathed occasionally; every two months or so is about right. They will need a trim about every 6 weeks. Nails should be clipped as necessary, usually once or twice a month. You’ll want to check and clean their ears weekly to lessen the chance of ear infections. Like all dogs, your Shorkie needs to have their teeth brushed a couple of times a week to keep both teeth and gums healthy.
Early socialization and training are a good idea, but their short attention spans make them take a bit longer than average to learn. Keep your training sessions short and sweet, and use positive reinforcement. Shorkies are sensitive, and a harsh tone may cause them to shut down.
