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Shorkie Tzu: Breed Characteristics, Care &
Exercise Needs (Shorkie)
About Shorkie Tzu
Country of Origin, History of Shorkie Tzus
There is no known date or person who started the Shorkie breed, but it is believed it may have existed naturally over the years. However, it was only in the late 1980s or early 1990s that designer dog breeders in North America mixed Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terriers to develop Shorkies to have an intelligent, affectionate companion dog. As demand for mixed breed dogs kept increasing, Shorkie Tzus became more and more popular.
Shorkie Tzu Tools
Breed Selector Tool - is the Shorkie Tzu the right breed for you?
Is the Shorkie Tzu the right breed for you and your family?
Find out by using our Free Dog Breed Selector Tool
Check Your Shorkie Tzu's Learning Style
Are you aware dogs also have a learning style that can greatly affect their ability to housetrain as well as be trained correctly. Evaluate your Shorkie Tzu's learning style and personality using our free Learning Style tool so that you are better able to provide him with the proper Shorkie Tzu training methods.
Is your Shorkie Tzu dominating over you?
Does your Shorkie Tzu bark unnecessarily? Does your Shorkie Tzu come to you when you call? Download a FREE Report on Dog Dominance for you and your Shorkie Tzu and learn how to control your dog.
Do you make these mistakes with your Shorkie Tzu?
Are you inadvertently snow-balling bad behavior in your Shorkie Tzu? Evaluate your Dog Training Style from our Free Tool and learn how best to deal with your dog.
Shorkie Tzu Calorie Calculator
Do you know how many calories your Shorkie Tzu needs every day and how many cups of food you should be giving it every day? Click here to use our Shorkie Tzu Calorie Calculator.
A General Appearance of the Dog
The Shorkie, or Shorkie Tzu, is a cross of the Shih Tzu and the Yorkshire Terrier. To learn more about their traits, research both breeds. These dogs tend to be shy and hard to housetrain. They are sweet and like to please you so will learn good behavior with plenty of firm, consistent training and positive reinforcement. They love snuggles and playtime and usually get along well with kids and other pets.
These pups are good for a single or couple in an apartment or condo who are willing to start early and work consistently on training. They tend to be yappy, so must be trained early. They serve as a watchdog who will warn you of any noise or person. They love unconditionally and just want to be with you.
Coat
The majority of Shorkies have a long, silky coat. However, their overall appearance can be that of a Yorkie or of a Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzus are small and sturdy with small, round heads and short muzzles, but the Yorkshire Terriers have flat heads with more muscular bodies and a high set tail. Coat colors can be blue, black, red, white, fawn, or brown or a combination with noses of blue, black or brown and eyes of brown or blue.
Weight:
5 – 15 pounds
Height:
6 – 14 inches
Free Shorkie Tzu Training Secrets
Free Course on Shorkie Tzu Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Shorkie Tzu Personality Traits
Temperament of the Dog
The Shorkie can live in a home with older children, but is better suited to a home with one or two adults who have time and experience in dog ownership since they are hard to housetrain and hard to train in other ways. He has a short attention span, so needs frequent, short training sessions with positive reinforcement. He can be bossy and must be kept in hand with an alpha owner.
He is energetic, fun-loving, and playful. He doesn't need a yard if he has opportunity to play and take some walks. The Shorkie thinks he is a big dog, barking at strangers and unknown noises. He will be a cuddly lapdog with his people, but is shy around those he doesn't know well.
The Shorkie is possessive of his toys and food and insists on having them without others touching them. He can be stubborn. He loves to be the center of attention.
Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?
The Shorkie Tzu is a cuddly indoor dog who likes to take a walk on his leash.
Are they suited to homes with kids?
Shorkies are not fond of kids and are very jealous of any attention a kid gets instead of his getting it. They insist on their own way and want to be the center of attention, so may be snappy with or bark at children.
Training
The Shorkie Tzu is difficult to train. Housetraining takes extra time, vigilance, and persistence. All training takes consistency and persistence, using short training periods with positive reinforcement. He also tends toward small dog syndrome, so needs an alpha owner.
Free Shorkie Tzu Training Secrets
Free Course on Shorkie Tzu Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Shorkie Tzu Activity Level
How active is the breed?
Playtime with toys and family and a couple of short walks a day are plenty of exercise.
Grooming
The Shorkie needs a daily brushing to keep his coat free of tangles. Some owners will want their Shorkie groomed professionally every 6 – 8 weeks as well. Baths every 3 – 4 weeks are a necessity. Their teeth must be brushed at least 3 times a week and their nails clipped every 3 – 4 weeks. Check and clean ears several times a week to prevent ear infections.
Free Shorkie Tzu Training Secrets
Free Course on Shorkie Tzu Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Health and Care
The Shorkie Tzu is a relatively healthy dog. They do suffer from allergies, hypoglycaemia, collapsed trachea, patellar luxation (knee issues), and progressive retinal atrophy.
Life Span: 11 – 16 years
National Breed Clubs
National Breed Clubs: none
Other Recognition:
ACHC = American Canine Hybrid Club
DBR = Designer Breed Registry
DDKC = Designer Dogs Kennel Club
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
IDCR = International Designer Canine Registry®
Group: Mixed Breed Dog.
AKC Popularity Ranking: Not recognized by AKC.
Also Known As: Shorkie, Shorkie Tzu, Shorki, Yorkie Tzu
Train Your Shorkie Tzu To Listen To You
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Sign up for our Free Shorkie Tzu Mini Course to have a housebroken, obedient dog that happily comes to you every time you call.
You'll learn new commands to obedience-train your dog as well as how to housebreak your dog in 6 days or less.
You'll also learn how to eliminate bad habits like barking, nipping or biting, jumping, or pulling on the leash.Here's just s small fraction of what else you'll learn in the course:
How to lead and think like a pack dog - the new psychology.
3 dangerous mistakes that most Shorkie owners make when they are trying to potty train their dogs.
The 2 main reasons why your dog barks excessively and how to control its excessive barking.
How to obedience train your Shorkie Tzu to permanently end behavioral problems like Jumping, Aggression, Pulling on Leash.
A surprisingly easy way to teach your dog cool new tricks.
How to improve your dog's lifespan and keep it from getting overly heavy with a healthy and nutritious diet.
Getting Pro help fast - how to get access to our expert trainers when you need them most.
One hidden psychological trigger that all Shorkie Tzus have... that practically allows you to "analyze" and "control" your dog's every action.
Priority access to the free online seminars conducted by our training experts.
Whereas other dog training related web sites and books offer generic information for dogs in general, ours is the ONLY web site that offers Shorkie information specifically, from a renowned panel of experts - because as you probably know, Shorkies have their own special training requirements that other dogs don't have.
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