White Shepherd vs Shorkie - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

White Shepherd vs Shorkie - Breed ComparisonBoth White Shepherd and Shorkie are originated from United States. White Shepherd may grow 41 cm / 17 inches higher than Shorkie. White Shepherd may weigh 33 kg / 73 pounds more than Shorkie. Both White Shepherd and Shorkie has almost same life span. White Shepherd may have more litter size than Shorkie. Both White Shepherd and Shorkie requires Moderate maintenance.

History

white shepherd - historyThe German Shepherd and the white German Shepherd are the same dog - the only thing is that their coat colors vary.

The White Shepherd evolved because people were looking for a working companion dog with a high degree of intelligence and a white coat.

The development of the White Shepherd began at the time of the 19th and 20th centuries. A breeding program was started but in 1933, the white coat color was made a disqualification in the German Shepherd Dog breed standard.

Not to be deterred, it was in 1969 that the U.S. and Canada formed White German Shepherd breed clubs and the breed was actually recognized by the UKC in 1999.

shorkie - historyThe Shorkie is a mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Shih Tzu. This little dog actually thinks he’s quite big. He is a great watchdog and a barker, and he is a loyal and loving member of his family. He will let you know if he thinks something is going on that shouldn’t be.

This hybrid combines two breeds known for their good looks, cuteness and personalities. Shorkies get their watchdog instincts and their loyalty to their people from the Shih Tzu and their personalities and good looks from the Yorkie. This designer breed has no known standard and every puppy is different, but traits from its founding breeds will remain. Both breeds have great personalities.

Regardless of the differences within the litter, because the personalities and adorableness of the two founding breeds are equal, all of the puppies will have those characteristics. They will all be energetic, playful and think they are big dogs. They will all love people and especially kids – playing and watching over them.

The Shorkie is intelligent, trainable, and snuggly. They will also have the stubborn trait that the two founding breeds can show at times. Developed in the United States, this crossbreed is extremely popular even though they have been in existence for only ten years or so. Breeders in the U.S. began to mix these two breeds in order to develop a cute, friendly and intelligent little dog that will cuddle on your lap – perfect lap dog.

Even if we already have breeds similar to the Shorkie, its development allows breeders to diversify and improve the genetics of the dogs. It is important that these be responsible breeders whose intentions are not financial but to legitimately improve the positive traits of each breed while sorting out the undesirable or weak traits. This is the positive side of the new designer breeds.

Even though it is still being developed, at least the Shorkie seems to be a success story for designer breeds as a loving, popular little dog. It will take a lot more time and a lot more development before the Shorkie becomes an actual recognized breed. At the moment it remains a hybrid, a crossbreed, a so called designer dog.

It will be at least 7-10 generations of careful and quality breeding before the Shorkies are potentially recognized as its own pedigree breed. It is important to breed Shorkies to Shorkies in order to develop a standard that could be accepted for a new breed by the AKC and UKC. Over time the puppies must become more and more standardized in their conformity to that new breed standard. Their physical appearance and their temperament will be standardized. At this stage the second generation of Shorkies is rare. Their popularity is rising in the United Kingdom. Both Britain and Ireland have a growing interest in this hybrid.

Description

white shepherd puppy - descriptionThe White Shepherd is a true beauty and is a medium to large-sized dog that is muscular and strong. He stands at between 55 and 65cm in height and weighs between 35 and 40kg.

He is somewhat longer than tall. The double coat is medium length, dense, straight and white. He is a fairly heavy shedder. He has an intelligent face, a long muzzle and erect ears. The long tail is low-set.

Temperament:

This beautiful dog’s face tells you that he is highly intelligent. He can be easily trained. The bright eyes are eager and alert and he is ready to be an excellent guard dog and take his role as protector and guardian seriously.

The White Shepherd loves his human family and isn't overly enthusiastic around strangers. They’re playful dogs and will make great playmates for children. They also aren’t aggressive with other dogs and will get on well with other pets in the house.

shorkie puppy - descriptionThe Shorkie, being a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Shih Tzu, and as such has physical and temperament characteristics from both breeds. They could be 50-50 but most likely each puppy will be more like one of the founding parents than the other. Because there is a lot of similarity between the founding breeds there is a lot of similarity between the Shorkies.

Their hair is either wavy or straight, but it is soft. It can be a wide variety of colors and usually they have a darker mask on the face. Usually they have the eyes of the Shih Tzu – large -but not protruding. Their muzzle is short, and the skull is round with triangle ears. Their bodies are compact, small with plenty of muscle for their size. They also have fine bones and short legs, with a thin curled tail.

Characteristics

white shepherd dog - characteristicsThe White Shepherd is such a beautiful dog and he has some great characteristics to match his good looks.

He is friendly and amicable with his human family and is a great protector as well. He isn’t aggressive yet he makes a great watchdog.

He is loving and loyal and forms strong bonds with his human family. Bringing him into your home and heart is guaranteed to confirm the opinion held that dogs are man's best friend.

1.Children friendliness – yes, they are very child friendly.

2.Special talents – Loyal and loving.

3.Adaptability – The Shorkie could happen.

4.Learning ability – Highly intelligent, but they can be stubborn.

Health Problems

white shepherd puppies - health problemsThe White Shepherd shares health problems much the same as the German Shepherd, and one of these is hip dysplasia.

These dogs are at risk of getting hip dysplasia. It’s a congenital disorder with dogs inheriting the disease from their parents. Some young dogs can get the disease too. Because they are such active dogs, the White Shepherd is at risk of dysplasia. There are a number of signs you can look for in your dog and some of these are -

trouble standing up

limping

favoring the use of one particular leg

reduced activity

weight gain

Your vet may want x-rays to examine your dog's hips. Your vet will want to slow the development of the disease and also ease the pain in your pet. There are other steps the vet will suggest to you that can make it as comfortable as possible for your pet.

shorkie puppies - health problemsMany hybrids are in better health at least genetically than their parent breeds. Responsible breeders will breed any genetic issues out of their puppies. Still there are many health issues that the Shorkies are prone to. These include:

  • Tooth loss, tooth decay and gum disease caused by dental overcrowding.
  • Joint issues – can cause lameness.
  • Diabetes – high blood sugar.
  • Kidney stones.
  • Liver disease and potential shunt.
  • Progressive Retinal Apathy - visual imparity.
  • Patellar Luxation – can cause arthritis.
  • Hypoglycemia. – low blood sugar.
  • Collapsed Trachea.

• Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome – “smashed face” causes problems with breathing, heat, flying and more.

• Glaucoma – Yorkshires have this, and it can be secondary to the lens Luxation.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

white shepherd dogs - caringThe White Shepherd's weather-resistant double coat will need to be brushed regularly as he is quite a heavy shedder. When brushing him, check for ticks and fleas as well as any unusual lumps.

Exercise:

This beautiful dog was developed from a herding breed so he is very active. He will love a walk every day but that won’t be sufficient. He just loves ball games, and if you take him to the park, he’ll love you throwing sticks for him or the frisbee.

Because of his intelligence, he will require mental and physical stimulation. You get some toys for dogs where you can put some kibble in the toy and he has to figure out a way to get the food out.

Diet:

The White Shepherd is an active dog, so to keep him that way, ensure he gets good food which has the right balance of vitamins.

There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market, but the idea is to know how to choose the high-quality ones and to avoid the ones that can actually jeopardize your dog’s health.

Always read the write-up on the packaging and choose according to your pet’s age and his activity levels.

It is always a good idea to give such a dog some home-made food too. Not any kind of home-made food either because you have to be careful with dogs to avoid them suffering from abdominal pain. They like their food plain and simple – boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

Some raw meat occasionally is also good. Don’t forget to ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

shorkie dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy - The Shorkies need a high-quality, well-balanced dry kibble. Make sure it is a formula for small, active dogs. It should have lean meat and essential minerals and vitamins. Make sure it is puppy food not adult. The puppy needs 300 -550 calories a day in 3 meals.

2.Feeding the adult – Obesity is a problem for the Shorkie as it is for many small dogs. Don’t overfeed your adult but give her the same kind of high quality small breed dog food, only for adults. They need about 200-300 calories a day in 2 meals.

3.Points for Good Health – Few genetic diseases.

4. Games and Exercises – These are very active little dogs and need exercise every day. They needs walks, games, and time with you. They also love to cuddle with you at the end of the day. They love squeaky toys and playing fetch outside or inside.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Miscellaneous dogs
Origin:
United States
United States
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
18 - 24 cm
7 - 10 inches
Height Female:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
16 - 22 cm
6 - 9 inches
Weight Male:
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
1 - 5
Size:
Medium dog
Small dog
Other Names:
American White Shepherd
Shorki • Shorkie • Yorkie Tzu Shorkie Tzu
Colors Available:
White
Black and tan • Brown and white • Gold • Red • Gold, black, and white • Particolored
Coat:
Medium length, dense, straight
coat type soft and relatively long coats. They should be silky and never coarse
Shedding:
Constant
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Responsive, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. White Shepherd vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. White Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. White Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  4. White Shepherd vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. White Shepherd vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. White Shepherd vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  7. White Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  8. White Shepherd vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. White Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  10. White Shepherd vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. White Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  12. White Shepherd vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  13. White Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  14. White Shepherd vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. White Shepherd vs Pyrenean Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. White Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  17. White Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  18. White Shepherd vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. White Shepherd vs Queensland Heeler - Breed Comparison
  20. White Shepherd vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison
  21. White Shepherd vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. White Shepherd vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  23. White Shepherd vs Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  24. White Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  25. White Shepherd vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  26. Shorkie vs Alopekis - Breed Comparison
  27. Shorkie vs Brug - Breed Comparison
  28. Shorkie vs Pomeranian - Breed Comparison
  29. Shorkie vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  30. Shorkie vs Pug - Breed Comparison
  31. Shorkie vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Shorkie vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Shorkie vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  34. Shorkie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  35. Shorkie vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  36. Shorkie vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  37. Shorkie vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Shorkie vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  39. Shorkie vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Shorkie vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  41. Shorkie vs Corgi - Breed Comparison
  42. Shorkie vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  43. Shorkie vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  44. Shorkie vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  45. Shorkie vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  46. Shorkie vs Papillon - Breed Comparison
  47. Shorkie vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Shorkie vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison
  49. Shorkie vs Miniature English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  50. Shorkie vs Miniature Dachshund - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds