Silken Windhound vs Shorkie - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Silken Windhound vs Shorkie - Breed ComparisonBoth Silken Windhound and Shorkie are originated from United States. Silken Windhound may grow 36 cm / 15 inches higher than Shorkie. Silken Windhound may weigh 13 kg / 29 pounds more than Shorkie. Silken Windhound may live 3 years more than Shorkie. Both Silken Windhound and Shorkie has almost same litter size. Silken Windhound requires Low maintenance. But Shorkie requires Moderate maintenance

History

silken windhound - historyThe Silken Windhound is a breed intentionally developed by Borzoi and Deerhound breeder, Francie Stull. Although the first litter of the Windhoud was not born until 1995, their development began in discussions ten years later. Bred as a cross between her beloved Deerhounds and Borzoi, the first Society for the breed formed in 1999 and they were recognized by the UKC in 2011.

Ms. Stull wanted another breed for her kennel and decided on a smaller sighthound than her Borzoi. She wanted a long coat, a good temperament, good health, and possessing the same athletic abilities, grace and poise as the sighthounds that are larger. She developed the Silken Windhound based on this vision.

With this in mind, the kennel purchased the pick of a litter from the American and English Borzoi Champion bitch, Stillwater Virginia Reel. This puppy was eventually bred to Stillwater White Lightning and produced puppy that was a blue brindle. This dog, Stillwater Kristull Peacock, had the coat, personality and structure that Ms. Stull wanted for the new breed. She was bred to Deerhound Windsprite Autumnal Xenon to form the foundation for the Silken Windhound.

Over time champion Borzoi were bred with multi-generation Whippet based dogs and small Whippet from coursing and show lines. Finally, all of this work was rewarded with an incredible little sighthound to fit in the line of sighthounds between the giant and large breeds and the smaller whippet type breeds.

The Silken Windhound lives today in 24 different countries. They take their place in hound competitions all over the world in obedience, lure coursing, and racing. They are a Limited Stake Breed in the ASFA and competed with 40 other dogs in 2010. Then they were accepted by the NOFCA or National Open Filed Coursing Association, also in 2010. Finally, in 2011 they were fully accepted by the UKC.

The Silken Windhound is recognized in addition to the UKC, by the Dog Registry of America, the Rarities Inc., the American Canine Association, the Kennel Club of Slovenia, the American Pet Registry, Inc., the International Silken Windhound Society and the International, All-Breed Canine Association of America.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Miscellaneous dogs
Origin:
United States
United States
Height Male:
47 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
18 - 24 cm
7 - 10 inches
Height Female:
44 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
16 - 22 cm
6 - 9 inches
Weight Male:
10 - 20 kg
22 - 45 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
7 - 17 kg
15 - 38 pounds
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
15 - 18 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 4
1 - 5
Size:
Medium dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Silkens
Shorki • Shorkie • Yorkie Tzu Shorkie Tzu
Colors Available:
tuxedo marked or solid colored , white to black with brilliant brindles and solid red, in between. They can be spotted
Black and tan • Brown and white • Gold • Red • Gold, black, and white • Particolored
Coat:
silky coats of middling length longish to very long, with feathers. Some are straight, some are very curly
coat type soft and relatively long coats. They should be silky and never coarse
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Gentle, Intelligent, Outgoing, Playful, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Responsive, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

silken windhound puppy - descriptionThe Silken Windhound is a breed of beautiful, athletic medium sized dogs. They have the long coat, athletic build and classic lines of the sighthound/coursing dog. Just looking at them and you know they have strength, balance and grace in those medium sized bodies. Their running ability is exceptional. They perform well in the confirmation rings.

They are sine boned, balanced with smooth muscles – a sleek hardy looking dog. They have almond-shaped, large, dark eyes with small folded ears. Looking in their faces you see intelligence, friendliness and alertness. The head is long with a well balanced muzzle and a dark, slightly down-turned nose. Her lips are dark and full and her neck long and slender. The Silken Windhound must have a flexible loin because they have a gallop of double suspensions and are amazingly fast. A deep chest is also a must with a flexible, curving tail. Her legs are straight and long, as she is built for speed.

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

Characteristics

silken windhound dog - characteristics1. Children friendliness – they are great with children and would romp with them all day.

2.Special talents – speed and agility.

3.Adaptability Like most sighthounds they can be couch potatoes but being medium sized they can live just about anywhere as long as it is inside.

4.Learning ability - They are smart but their learning ability can be hampered by their stubbornness.

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

silken windhound puppies - health problemsMost inherited diseases and conditions are rare. There is some drug related sensitivity, especially to ivermectin, and some dogs carry a MDR1 (multi-drug resistance gene) that is defective. Breeders are attempting to breed this out of the Silkens. A few other rare instances of concern include:

  • Cryptorchidism – a birth defect resulting in undescended testicles.
  • Lotus Syndrome – an occasional birth defect resulting in death.
  • Umbilical hernias – may require surgery.
  • Cataracts - may lead to old age sight problems
  • Deafness

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

silken windhound dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy This is a medium sized, active breed. They need high quality dog food with plenty of protein. Feed them 3 times a day from a food made for high energy active medium sized breeds.

2.Feeding the adult - Feed them 2 times a day from a food made for high energy active medium sized breeds.

3.Points for Good - Exceptional agility and speed.

4. Games and Exercises The breed is active, and they love to run. They need daily exercise and they usually excel at flyball, agility, obedience and therapy. Obviously, they are very good at lure coursing and racing. They love to run or jog with you.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Silken Windhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  2. Silken Windhound vs Pharaoh Hound - Breed Comparison
  3. Silken Windhound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  4. Silken Windhound vs Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  5. Silken Windhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  6. Silken Windhound vs Hungarian Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  7. Silken Windhound vs Redbone Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  8. Silken Windhound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  9. Silken Windhound vs Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  10. Silken Windhound vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  11. Silken Windhound vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  12. Silken Windhound vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  13. Silken Windhound vs Santal Hound - Breed Comparison
  14. Silken Windhound vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Silken Windhound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  16. Silken Windhound vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  17. Silken Windhound vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  18. Silken Windhound vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  19. Silken Windhound vs Podenco Canario - Breed Comparison
  20. Silken Windhound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  21. Silken Windhound vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  22. Silken Windhound vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  23. Silken Windhound vs Podenco Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  24. Silken Windhound vs Podenco Galego - Breed Comparison
  25. Silken Windhound vs English Foxhound - 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