How to Adopt a Shorkie in the United States | PetzLover

Where can you adopt a Shorkie?

You can browse Shorkies for adoption by location and save the search so you hear about new dogs quickly. Search for Yorkie mix and Shih Tzu mix as well, because shelters do not always use the cross's name.

Is an adopted Shorkie right for your home?

Hill's describes Shorkies as spunky, playful, loving and fiercely loyal, but also high-strung and willful, with a high prey drive and a habit of barking at the slightest disturbance. PetMD calls them social and affectionate with people and other pets when well socialized. Those traits come from very different parents: the Yorkie was bred to catch rats and the Shih Tzu to be a palace companion.

• Apartments: workable with daily walks and play, if barking is managed.
• Other pets: ask how the dog behaves with cats and small animals, given the prey drive.
• Children: PetMD warns small children may treat a Shorkie like a toy; many rescues prefer older children.
• Heat: a short-muzzled Shorkie needs cool walks and a home that stays comfortable in summer.

How does Shorkie adoption work?

1. Search rescues, shelters and listings, and read each dog's profile and the rescue's rules.
2. Message the rescue or poster about the dog's health, house-training, barking and why it needs a home.
3. Fill in the application: household, landlord, work hours, other pets, past dogs and your vet.
4. Expect a reference check and often a home visit or video tour.
5. Meet the dog with everyone in your household, and introduce your own dog on neutral ground if allowed.
6. Sign the adoption contract, which usually requires returning the dog to the rescue if it does not work out, and pay the fee.

Rescue rules vary. Yorkie Haven Rescue, for example, has said adopters must be at least 25, collect the dog from the foster home and never have it shipped in an aircraft cargo hold. Owners and rescuers can see the other side in how to list a Shorkie for adoption.

How much does it cost to adopt a Shorkie?

The AKC puts typical shelter adoption fees at $50 to $300. Small-dog rescues set their own fees, often according to age and the vet work done, so read what each fee includes. Paid separately, the AKC estimates spay or neuter at $50 to $300 and a microchip at $25 to $50, which is why a fee that covers both is good value.

Budget beyond the fee for grooming about every six weeks, as Hill's suggests, dental care, a harness and a dog license where your city or county requires one. For comparison, Petful cites a broad breeder estimate of $1,500 to $6,000 for a Shorkie puppy; see how to buy a Shorkie puppy.

What health care do adopted Shorkies often need?

• Teeth. PetMD and Hill's both list dental disease; many rescued small dogs need cleanings or extractions.
• Eyes. PetMD lists cataracts, dry eye and progressive retinal atrophy, and Hill's adds glaucoma. A red or squinting eye needs a vet promptly.
• Breathing. Hill's says short-snouted Shorkies may have brachycephalic airway syndrome and a higher risk of heat illness.
• Cough. A honking cough can mean tracheal collapse, which the ACVS links to Yorkshire Terriers.
• Knees. A skip or hop in the gait may be a slipping kneecap.
• Coat. Dogs from neglect often arrive matted and need a short clip to start fresh.

What should you expect in the first weeks after adopting a Shorkie?

Many shelters use a 3-3-3 guideline: about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn your routine and three months to feel at home.

• Use a harness and an ID tag from day one.
• Restart house-training with a fixed schedule and pads for emergencies, as Hill's suggests.
• Reward quiet when the doorbell rings rather than scolding barking.
• Keep walks short and cool in hot weather.
• Book a vet visit in the first week or two and register the microchip in your name.

If problems continue, ask the rescue for help before anything else. If no Shorkie is available near you, post a Shorkie wanted ad and say you would welcome an adult.