Shorkie Breed Guide

Quick facts

Parent Breed Sizes

There is no recognized breed standard for the Shorkie, and no recognized “teacup,” “toy” or “imperial” Shorkie variety — those terms describe marketing, not a standard. Adult size depends on the two individual parents used. These are the published figures for each parent breed.

Both parents are small, so a Shorkie is small either way — but note that the Shih Tzu can be more than twice the Yorkshire Terrier’s weight, which is why the realistic adult range is wide. Ask a breeder for both parents’ measured adult weights and for adult photos of previous comparable litters. Those predict a puppy’s adult size far better than any breed label.

Health & Screening

Crossbreeding does not remove inherited disease risk. A Shorkie can inherit conditions — and skull anatomy — from either parent, so ask for documented test results on both parents rather than a general assurance that a litter is “vet checked” or “DNA clear.”

There is a genuinely useful coincidence here: the Shih Tzu and the Yorkshire Terrier parent clubs require the same two health tests. That makes a Shorkie breeder unusually easy to audit.

The two tests that matter most

For the Yorkshire Terrier parent, the OFA/CHIC breed requirements list exactly two screenings needed for a CHIC number: an eye examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist (recommended at 1, 3 and 6 years of age, before breeding begins) and a veterinary evaluation of patellar luxation registered with the OFA. The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America states the same pair — OFA Patellas at one year or older, and OFA Eyes at 1, 3 and 6 years — on all breeding stock, and the American Kennel Club lists the national breed club’s recommended tests as patella evaluation and ophthalmologist evaluation.

For the Shih Tzu parent, the American Shih Tzu Club states that a CHIC number requires an ACVO eye examination and an OFA patellar evaluation, with hip and cardiac evaluations optional. The club also states that it does not require testing of all breeding stock — so verify the public result for the individual dog rather than accepting “health tested” as a blanket claim.

Patellar luxation therefore sits on both sides of this cross. Cornell University’s Riney Canine Health Center describes it as a common orthopedic condition in which the kneecap dislocates, names Yorkshire Terriers among affected breeds, and notes that genetics play a significant role. Owners usually notice a “skipping” step — a brief hop on three legs that resolves after a stride or two.

Breathing: ask before you fall in love

The Shih Tzu is a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed, and this is the single most important anatomical question to ask about any Shorkie puppy. Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center describes brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) as a group of upper-airway abnormalities associated with shortened skull anatomy: narrowed nostrils, an elongated or thickened soft palate, everted laryngeal tissue and sometimes a narrow trachea. Signs include noisy or laboured breathing, exercise intolerance, gagging, blue-tinged gums, overheating and collapse.

A Yorkshire Terrier parent does not certify that an individual Shorkie has a normal airway. A visibly longer muzzle may reduce one risk factor, but it does not certify the nostrils, soft palate, larynx or trachea. The University of Cambridge describes BOAS as arising when shortened craniofacial anatomy crowds soft tissue that has not been reduced in proportion — muzzle length is only the visible part of that system. Judge the individual dog in front of you.

For any short-faced Shorkie: keep the dog lean, avoid heat and humidity, avoid strenuous exercise, and tell your veterinary team about any breathing signs before sedation or anaesthesia. UC Davis notes that brachycephalic dogs can face added risk around anaesthesia from airway obstruction, regurgitation and tissue swelling. Snoring and snorting are not endearing quirks — they are worth investigating.

The windpipe — and why you should use a harness

Cornell describes tracheal collapse as a progressive disease of the windpipe causing chronic coughing, and notes it is common in toy and small breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians and Toy Poodles, typically in middle-aged or older dogs. The characteristic sign is a persistent, harsh, dry cough often described as a “goose-honking” cough. PetMD states that Yorkshire Terriers are likely genetically predisposed to it, and recommends walking them in a harness rather than a collar.

Be clear about what this means when you talk to a breeder: there is no CHIC or OFA screening test for tracheal collapse, and it is not named in the YTCA’s health statement. No breeder can show you a certificate clearing a puppy of it. Treat anyone who claims otherwise with caution.

From the Yorkshire Terrier side

Liver shunt. PetMD states that most liver shunts in Yorkies are caused by a birth defect, and lists slow growth, disorientation, circling and sometimes seizures among the signs, tending to be worse after a high-protein meal. The YTCA names Liver Shunt and Microvascular Dysplasia among conditions affecting the breed, and states that a bile acid test may suggest the possibility of a shunt while diagnostic imaging is the definitive test.

Eyes beyond the exam. The YTCA also lists Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-prcd) and Primary Lens Luxation as optional DNA tests, and states that PRA can cause early-onset blindness. Cornell describes PRA as an inherited disease causing retinal cell degeneration and eventual blindness, often starting with reduced vision in dim light. Note the limit of the evidence honestly: Cornell’s PRA page does not list Yorkshire Terriers among predisposed breeds — the breed link here comes from the parent club, not from a veterinary school.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Cornell describes it as a condition in which the ball at the top of the femur loses its blood supply and breaks down inside the hip joint, causing hip pain and lameness, typically appearing in small breeds when dogs are only months old. As with PRA, the breed connection comes from the parent club and the OFA — the YTCA names it among conditions that may affect the breed, and the OFA lists an optional Legg-Calve-Perthes radiographic evaluation for Yorkshire Terriers.

Puppy hypoglycaemia. PetMD notes that small and toy breeds are at risk of low blood sugar and that Yorkie puppies are especially sensitive and should be fed frequently, listing weakness, lack of appetite, disorientation, tremors and seizures among the signs. Ask your breeder about feeding frequency for the first few months.

From the Shih Tzu side

Eyes. Large, prominent eyes set in shallow sockets are vulnerable to scratches and corneal ulceration, and to proptosis — displacement of the eye from its socket, which is a veterinary emergency. Seek immediate care for a displaced or acutely bulging eye, trauma, squinting, cloudiness or marked redness.

Kidneys. The American Shih Tzu Club identifies renal dysplasia among the breed’s health concerns, and PetMD discusses inherited glomerular kidney disease in the parent breed. Ask about family history; a cross does not cancel the risk, and no cross-specific prevalence study exists for the Shorkie.

Teeth — the one you will actually deal with

This is not an inherited disease but it is close to inevitable without intervention, and it comes from both sides. Cornell explains that plaque bacteria form a biofilm above and below the gum line, that periodontal disease is worse in smaller breeds, and that its incidence increases with age. Signs include bad breath, drooling, bleeding from the mouth, reluctance to chew, decreased appetite and taking longer to finish meals. PetMD calls dental disease one of the most common conditions in small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier and recommends routine cleanings under anaesthesia, and the YTCA states that dental maintenance matters in all toy breeds, with daily or weekly brushing. Budget for this from day one.

Lifespan, shedding and allergies

Published Yorkshire Terrier life expectancy is 11–15 years per PetMD, while the YTCA gives 12–15. Those are parent-breed figures. No cross-specific longevity study exists for the Shorkie, so treat any range you see — including ours — as a broad expectation rather than a prediction for one dog.

Shorkies are commonly low-shedding, but low shedding is not the same as low grooming: the coat still mats without regular brushing and clipping. And no dog is truly hypoallergenic. The American Kennel Club notes that allergens are carried in dander, saliva and urine, not only in shed hair, so anyone with allergies should spend time with the individual dog before committing.