Small in size but massive in personality, the Shorkie Poo dog is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a fun, affectionate companion.
Nevertheless, taking care of one isn’t an easy task. First, you’ll have to know his history, possible health issues, and his perfect diet.
Luckily for you, we have all the answers right here! So, what’s a Shorkie Poo, and how do you care for one?
Let’s find out together!
The Shorkie Poo’s Story
In the late 1980s, designer breeds were all the rage. However, it wasn’t until the 2000s that the Shorkie Poo was introduced.
Apparently, this delay is because this dog isn’t just the result of uniting two breeds together, but three ones! The Shorkie Poo combines the Shih Tzu, a Yorkshire Terrier, and a toy Poodle in one tiny dog.
Initially, it was just the Shorkie without adding a Poodle. However, with the increasing desire to develop a sweet lap dog that doesn’t mind small apartments, breeders developed the Shorkie Poo.
Now, because the breed is so new, we don’t have a lot of data when it comes to its history. So, to better understand what your Shorkie Poo could be like, we’ll need to talk about the parents!
Shih Tzu
While some people think that Shih Tzus are from China, this belief isn’t wholly accurate. The Shih Tzu is originally from Tibet, a self-governing region within China. It then spread to China with the passing of the years.
The general theory goes that the Shih Tzu was the result of crossbreeding the Lhasa Apso with the Pekingese almost 1,000 years ago! The breed was clever, affectionate, and ready to please but had a spark of stubbornness.
As a result, the Chinese nobles truly loved them and kept them as sweet companion dogs, symbolizing their status. Over time, the Shih Tzu spread worldwide.
Yorkshire Terrier
The Shrokie Poo’s second parent is the small Yorkshire Terrier. This breed started out in Yorkshire, U.K., around the 19th century. Back then, people wanted a small dog that could help around without being afraid of anything.
So, after breeding different terries together, they ended up with a dog that was hardly seven pounds heavy and almost feared nothing!
The Yorkshire Terrier was often seen around textile mills, helping humans by hunting down rodents. But that wasn’t the extent of his skills.
For instance, have you heard of the dog Smoky that saved 250 lives in the war? In just one mission, Smoky helped soldiers set up underground communication lines that helped them during the fights.
After that, Smoky continued her little combat missions and helped many soldiers as one of the first therapy dogs. Her courage and cleverness speak for her entire breed.
Poodles
Originating in Germany almost 400 years ago, the Poodles took the world by storm with their brains and beauty. However, we must point out that the breed’s fame didn’t start while they were in Germany but after it went to France.
The French aristocracy enjoyed the dog’s playful attitude and clever nature and soon began using them as lap dogs as well as hunting dogs.
Even after their fame declined a little bit, people could still see Poodles in circuses performing funny tricks, a testament to their clever minds.
The Shorkie Poo’s Appearance and Price
As it’s a relatively new breed, there isn’t a standard for what a Shorkie Poo Should look like. Yet, some things are true of all Shorkie Poos.
For instance, the Shorkie Poo is known to be a small breed. A grown Shorkie Poo usually stands around 6–14 inches and weighs only 7–15 pounds.
They also have a medium-to-long coat inherited from their Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier parents. However, this coat can either be silky straight or with some curls added to the mix, thanks to the Poodle genes kicking in!
When it comes to the coat’s design, you can find Sharkie Poos in various colors and patterns. They can be white, gray, black, red, or brown with solid or partial colored coats.
What’s more, their coats are hypoallergenic! This means that they don’t shed a lot which is great news for people who want a dog but suffer from allergies.
Sadly though, if you’re really thinking about getting this little fellow, you’ll have to shell out a few bucks! Because this is a designer breed that combines three of the most loved dogs, it costs around $1,000 to $2,000.
Nevertheless, this is just an estimate! You can find one cheaper or more expensive depending on where you look and how much effort you put into your research.
One piece of advice to keep in mind, though, is to always look for a reputable breeder. This way, you’ll guarantee that you’re getting a healthy dog from a good background, no matter what you pay.
Life Expectancy and Health Issues
If you took care of your Shorkie Poo and gave him all the love and care he deserves, you can expect him to live happily for about 12–15 years.
Shorkie Poos are generally healthy thanks to the fact that they’re a mix of three breeds. This led to healthy puppies that don’t suffer from the many health issues purebreds tend to get.
However, there are some conditions and diseases that tend to slip by. Hers are some of the most common ones that could affect your Shorkie Poo:
- Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
Sadly, Shorkie Poos can be born with some deformities in their noses and skulls, such as everted laryngeal saccules or elongated soft palate.
These conditions can lead to brachycephalic syndrome, an upper airway obstruction that causes your dog to struggle while breathing.
Some of the symptoms include the following:
- Coughing
- Retching
- Snoring
- Gagging
- Blue gums or tongue
- Fainting after exercise
- Heavy Breathing
- Difficulty breathing
Thankfully, with a good surgery and a change in your dog’s lifestyle, you can help your Shorkie Poo live a long, healthy life.
- Hypoglycemia
Also known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia is a serious medical condition that could be fatal to your dog if left untreated. Generally, it occurs when there are low glucose levels in the bloodstream.
If you don’t know, glucose is one of the body’s primary energy sources.
So, when its levels drop, cells find themselves without any energy to perform their natural functions. As a result, you’ll start seeing clear signs all over your Shorkie Poo, such as:
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Fainting
- Clumsiness
Usually, low blood sugar is the result of liver dysfunction, poor diet, extrapancreatic neoplasia, and insulinoma. Various other problems could cause this condition, but the ones above are some of the most prominent.
If you notice any of the previous signs, please take your Shorkie Poo to the vet immediately, as they can diagnose your dog and treat him quickly.
- Glaucoma
Much like humans, dogs can also develop glaucoma. Simply put, it’s a painful eye disease that occurs due to inherited irregularities in the Shorkie Poo’s eye drainage. However, it can also be the result of an injury to the eye or some disease.
Unfortunately, it can progress rather fast and often leads to retinal damage in dogs. As a result, almost 40% of dogs who suffer from glaucoma end up blind in the affected eye.
Telltale signs of glaucoma include:
- Vision loss
- Eye pain
- Swollen eye
- Less desire to play
- Lethargy
- Watery discharge from the eye
- Red and swollen eye whites
- Loss of appetite
While there isn’t a cure for glaucoma yet, if you spot the signs early on, you can help your dog keep his eyesight and prevent its loss.
- Lens Luxation
Two main things could affect your dog’s lens: lens luxation and cataracts. However, our focus here is on lens luxation, which results from the dislocation of the lens inside the eye.
It can cause the lens to either fall backward and cause discomfort or fall forward, which can cause significant pain and may lead to glaucoma.
It’s a common inherited condition in both Poodles and Terriers, two of the Shorkie Poo’s parent breeds. Unfortunately, noticing Lens Luxation can be a bit tough, but there are a few signs that you can look for just in case:
- Eye pain
- Red eye whites
- Clouding in the eye
- Water discharge from the eye
Thankfully, there’s treatment lens luxation. Though it mainly includes surgery and can be costly, it’s essential to address the problem as soon as possible.
Temperament and Characteristics
Don’t let the Shorkie Poo’s small size fool you into thinking he lacks personality or character. In fact, he has so much in him that we had to categorize it into the good and the bad!
Here’s what we could find out:
The Good Side of Shorkie Poos
An accurate description of the Shorkie Poo would be a tiny, vibrant, walking cloud! Almost every Shorkie Poo parent has commended the breed for being super energetic and clever.
Shorkie Poos love spending time with their families, and they get super attached to their parents because they know they’re the center of attention.
Moreover, Sharkie Poos are great with kids! They’re not overly aggressive and can handle small kids without any issues. The only problem that could occur is that kids might get a little rough, considering how miniature the Shorkie Poo is.
For example, a child might pull his tail, which can cause the dog to react aggressively. Therefore, you might want to keep an eye out for the first few times the kids hang out with the dog and teach them how to handle him.
The Bad Side of Shorkie Poos
As we mentioned in the beginning, the Shorkie Poo is a tiny dog with a big heart that loves being around his family. However, this can backfire, as Shorkie Poos are prone to separation anxiety.
So, it’s best to train him from the beginning to be comfortable with being alone.
Moreover, the Shorkie Poo has two parents that often helped during hunting trips—the Poodle and the Yorkshire Terrier.
This means that if you don’t train him from a young age, you can find your dog running after squirrels, bunnies, and tiny animals!
Also, the Shorkie Poo is stubborn. So, if you think you can control your dog with a simple command once he sees a small animal, you can think again!
You’ll have to start training him early on, or he’ll be completely unmanageable.
Essential Caring Tips for Shorkie Poos
From washing, brushing, exercising, and eating healthy, it can be easy to miss a thing or two when you’re taking care of your Shorkie Poo—especially if you’re a new parent.
So, we’ve made a list with all the necessary things you need to remember!
Grooming
Even though the Shorkie Poo doesn’t shed as much as other dogs, you’ll still need to brush his coat daily. His coat is rather long and can easily tangle or end up matting.
When it comes to bathing, you can do that once or twice monthly. Of course, if he gets extra dirty during playtime, you can give him that one extra bath!
Also, because small breeds are notorious for being prone to teeth problems, it’ll be best to brush your Shorkie Poo’s teeth at least three times weekly.
Lastly, keep their nails trimmed by clipping them once every three to four weeks. Of course, you can always ask the vet or groomer to show you if you don’t know how.
Diet
A healthy diet is vital for keeping your Shorkie Poo happy and healthy. Though the exact measurements depend on your dog’s weight, height, and age, you can feed your dog around ½ cup of dog food daily.
Just remember to divide the food over a couple of meals throughout the day and ensure it’s designed for a small dog with high energy.
Moreover, make sure that this little fellow gets his share of vitamins and minerals by providing him with fresh, healthy food. For instance, you can let him snack on mushrooms or eggs.
Exercise
Just as with any dog, your Shorkie Poo will appreciate his daily walk. You can talk him to the park and play around for at least 30 minutes. The exercise will help burn off any extra energy and keep him healthy.
If you feel your Shorkie Poo gets tired quickly, you can split that daily walk into two 15-minute ones. This way, he’ll still get all the exercise he needs without overdoing it.
During your walks, introduce him to other dogs—if possible—and small animals so that he can become accustomed to them.
Also, you can add a little bit of fun by playing fetch to keep him entertained and build his muscles!
Wrapping Up
So, how did you find our guide on the Shorkie Poo? Hopefully, it was helpful!
To give you a quick recap, the Shorkie Poo is a hybrid dog with three parents—the Shih Tzu, Poodle, and the Yorkshire Terrier. He’s a small dog with a long, hypoallergenic coat that comes in many colors and patterns.
The Shorkie Poo is energetic, playful, and quite clever, so he can be a great family dog. So, if you’re looking for a cute indoor dog that can keep you company, you might want to consider the Shorkie Poo!