Should I get a Shorkie

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[Mai Tai]

Hi All, I am new.  I have the opportunity to adopt a Shorkie. A friend had an accidental mating between her female Yorkie and male Shih-tzu.  Both are in good health and have a good temperament.  I was concerned about aggression in Shorkies and potty training.  I am worried as I fostered a Cairn puppy mill rescue 3 years ago and it was a disaster.  This poor pup was sooooooooo aggressive.  She attacked my kids, me, the neighbors, etc.  I tried 3 trainers and two vets to no avail.  One vet felt she was brain damaged. We had to place her in a home with no children and it broke all our hearts. Are Shorkie's generally good with children (10 and older)?  Do they get along with cats, as I have two?  I really really want a dog and have been thinking about it for more  than 6 months, and now this opportunity is falling into my lap.  What do you think?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Also, I am a stay at home mom, and my children are extremely responsible and gentle.

Thanks again 

[Ann]

I have a Shorkie called Toby. He has been the most tolerent dog I have ever owened. However it sounds like you were very unlucky with your pup. Unfortunately you can get this problem in all breeds. As breeds off dogs are concerned generally I believe that shorkies would have to be the one of the most gentle loving dogs.

My granddaughters are very rough with Toby, they carry him by the neck and drop him and all the darling little things they do and Toby just comes back for more. he just loves the attention. I must say it is also how you control your dog. It must always be with a firm but love control.(The children as well lol)

I hope that helps!!

[Luigi23]

I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world with my shorkie. Luigi is the first dog I've ever owned and I have had very few problems with him. Potty/House training took a little consistency on my part, but shorkies are fast learners and he picked up on it pretty well. I work for 8-9 hours a day and I don't have any second doubts about leaving him in my apartment to roam. He's very mellow at times and very affectionate and playful at others. But overall, very easy going. He seldom barks and only growls at the kitties that roam around the yard. He's just so much fun and I wish I could take him every where.

Before I chose Luigi I spent time with a lot of pups that I was considering adopting. I wanted to make sure their temperments were nice and calm and didn't over react with strangers. But I knew right away that I was going to take Luigi home the first time he placed his little head on my lap and looked at me with his huge eyes. I would go and see the shorkie you're considering and spend some time with him. You'll know whether he's a right fit for you and your family or not.

Good luck! Lisa

[Ladywrite]

After having labs all my life, my shorkie is the best ever; and that's saying a lot because labs are terrific dogs.  But since I've down-sized my Christie is a riot!  She LOVES everyone -- any age, any size.  And it seems that everyone loves her.  I've seen grown men get down on their knees and speak baby-talk to her.  Her only problem is that she thinks she's big.  Took her for a car ride yesterday in the country and she was barking at the horses.  Go figure!

[Mai Tai]

Thanks so much for all of your comments and info.  My husband and I have decided to go forward with this adventure and we will be bringing our Shorkie home on October 14th, when he is 12 weeks old.  Any advice on how to prepare would be great.  We have a crate as I intend to crate train.  What treats and toys can you recommend?  I am sending an old shirt of mine (no buttons) to my friend so she can put it in with my puppy and he can get used to my scent.  Also, the scent of his mom and littermates will then be on it for when we bring him home.  Any other ideas to make the transition for him (Mai Tai is his name as his mom is Daiquiri and his dad is Cosmo) would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again.

[jencys]

Hi Mai Tai

Your little shorkie must have been born around the same time as my litter.  I have been having so much fun with them this past week.  They are 6 weeks old today, and so playful!  I don't know how I'll be able to let them go.  I'm heavily weighing the idea of keeping one of them.  I have loved my Shorkie Daisy, she is the perfect little dog.  The only thing I've had to work with on her is chewing underwear and socks.  Oh of course there is the never ending desire to socialize with the entire neighborhood.  Everyone has a dog here, so she feels she needs to go and visit through the fence with each of them. 

[Ann]

I really feel for you. I don't know if I could let them go etheir. I'm sure you will find people who will love them very much. If you like you are welcome to post here when your ready to find homes for them. I don't allow actual breeder to addvertise here but you can.

[Mai Tai]

Hi Jency,

Mai Tai will be 5 weeks old tomorrow.  He was born on July 24th.  He is one of 3 pups born to my friend's Yorkie.  She does not want to give them up either.  She is keeping one of the boys from the litter and giving Mai Tai (male) to me and Ruby Faith (female...obviously) to her cousin.  I know she will sob when she lets them go, but she has a Shih-tzu, 3 yorkies, a Llasa (spelling?) and a shorkie already, as well as 4 cats, so her husband says NO MORE.  I know I could not handle all of those pets.  I have 2 cats and 5 daughters, so I think one pup will do it for us.  I hope my cats do not get too upset at the new addition.  He will at least be used to cats by the time he gets here.  I have to introduce them slowly, especially as the cats are bigger than he is. 

Good luck with your puppies.  I wish you the best.

[bat27]

Hi All, I just found this site about shorkies and am so excited, where I live(big city) no one has ever really heard of a shorkie and I get people coming up to me all the time asking about my little "Romeo" and he really lives up to his name. Trust me, I never ever wanted any pets but my kids begged & I found this breed and he's my little buddy. My friends think I've lost it because  I talk about my shorkie more then any of my 3 kids. Anyone thinking of getting this breed will be happy, I find them very smart,loving (romeo has a few issues but he's only 9 months)

[Ann]

Hi great to have you join. Yes I think everyone who has a shorkie feels the same. They just enchant you. Even if they are naughty sometimes you can't be cross with them cause they look up at you with their sweet little eyes and you just melt. Hope you enjoy being on e the site and I look forward to seeing some pic's.

[mmcgui]

Good luck with your new little Mai Tai!  You're going to love him!  My Shorkie is actually bred the same as yours (Yorkie mom, and Shih Tzu Dad), and she is so loving!  I can't even yell at her, I barely do, because when I do, she gets so upset and just rolls right over onto her back!  She just loves to be loved! 

I also have a cat, and Mattie really enjoys tormenting her ALL THE TIME.  It drives me crazy, and I have no ideas on how to stop this.  If any one does, please let me know. 

I would say the best tips I would give you would be to have his crate in your bedroom.  At night, for the first few weeks, they cry...but NOT if you sing to them!  I sang to Mattie the first few nights as we went to sleep, and she quickly learned to love her crate.  (If you can't sing, I would just speak gently to her)  Also, having the crate in your bedroom makes them feel like they aren't alone.  Oh, and cover the crate with a light blanket at night.

Tip#2: Set a potty schedule!  And when he goes potty, use a term (like "go potty, Mai Tai!")  Now whenever I say "go potty" to my pup, she does her thing right away.

Last tip: When you leave him in his crate for longer periods of time, do not make a big deal about it.  Just put him in, close the door and leave.  His crying will break your heart, and you'll want to go back and comfort him, but that will make it worse.  Also, when you let him out, don't make a big deal either (for about 15 min).  That way he'll learn that being in his crate is good. 
Let us know how it goes.

[Mai Tai]

Hi, on The Dog Whisperer, I saw Cesar Milan put a cat in a carrier and then put it near the dog.  He made sure the dog was in a calm submissive state first by correcting it with a sharp sound, and or pull to the side with a leash whenever the dog tried to jump or bark at the cat.  He corrected the dog this way every time the dog showed any attention to the cat in the carrier.  The reason the cat was in the carrier is that he tried it at first with the owner of the cat holding the cat in her lap, but the cat clawed her to get down every time the dog came near.  Soon enough, after consistent correction, the dog ignored the cat completely.  I have no idea if this will work, but will try it if I have to when I get Mai Tai home.  I adore my cats and do not want them to be bothered in their own home.  I know you feel the same way.  If you find something that works, please let me know.

[Mai Tai]

I tried the method Cesar did and it worked for me.  Everytime Mai Tai even looked at the cats, I told him, "Hey" and he stopped.  Now he ignores the cats and they are not afraid of him at all.  As soon as he falls asleep, the cats come to investigate and smell him.  Then they curl up in my lap with the dog at my side.  It is sweet.  Hope you have luck with this method.  I think it helped me alot that Mai Tai was raised with cats, so we had a head start.