Shorkie vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison

Shorkie vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed ComparisonGrand Gascon Saintongeois is originated from France but Shorkie is originated from United States. Grand Gascon Saintongeois may grow 49 cm / 20 inches higher than Shorkie. Grand Gascon Saintongeois may weigh 28 kg / 62 pounds more than Shorkie. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Shorkie has almost same life span. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Shorkie has almost same litter size. Grand Gascon Saintongeois requires Low Maintenance. But Shorkie requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Miscellaneous dogs
undefined
France
United States
Height Male:
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
18 - 24 cm
7 - 10 inches
Height Female:
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
16 - 22 cm
6 - 9 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
1 - 5
Size:
Large
Small
Other Names:
Virelade
Shorki • Shorkie • Yorkie Tzu Shorkie Tzu
Colors Available:
White with black patches
Black and tan • Brown and white • Gold • Red • Gold, black, and white • Particolored
Coat:
Short and smooth
coat type soft and relatively long coats. They should be silky and never coarse
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Responsive, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

grand gascon saintongeoisKnown also as the Virelade, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois hails from the Saintongeois region of France, being a newish addition to the hunting dog breed.

The Saintongeois hound and the Grand Blue de Gascogne are the ancestors of this scentdog as these two breeds themselves, are exceptional hunters. The Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large dog and favored by the French nobility for its ability to hunt.

After the French Revolution the popularity of the breed waned. It was Baron Joseph de Carayon-LaTour who tried to revive the Saintongeois Hound. The dogs were mated with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and were so outstanding that breeding was continued. The breed that was created is the Grand Gascon Saintongeois which we know today.

It was in January 1993 that the Grand Gascon Saintongeois was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club.

shorkieThe 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

grand gascon saintongeois puppy - descriptionThe Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large, well built breed of dog that looks strong and robust. His head is strong and covered with loose skin that forms wrinkles around the cheeks. He stands at 61-73cm and weighs 30 to 35kg.

He has straight, long legs. He has a short, smooth coat which is white with black patches. Sometimes you'll also find a speckled or ticked pattern. There'll be tan dots over the eyes.

The eyes are brown, the nose black and the long, thin textured ears are low on the dogs head and also well back on the skull. The tail is long.

Temperament:

He is known for his deep voice to voice an opinion. He is a loving, friendly, courageous and affectionate breed with a well balanced temperament, making him a splendid pet. He is also intelligent and so he won't battle at all to learn some rules. Training and socialization will be good for him even though he is such an amicable dog already, but then he just becomes extra obedient.

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

grand gascon saintongeois dog - characteristicsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a true hunting dog breed and valued for his hunting prowess. He has another side to him though and is gentle, loving and calm with his human family.

He makes a wonderful family companion, getting on well with children as well as pets in the home. He may show a bit of aggression to strangers and this is why training and socialization works so well with him as it helps him behave well around family and strangers.

Training is never a problem as he is an intelligent dog. He is an energetic dog and won't fit well into city life in tiny properties, also because of his tendency to bark when bored. He fits well into country life or large properties.

When you provide your large pet with good food, a warm place to sleep, exercise and plenty of love and attention, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois is going to turn out to be one of the most loyal, affectionate pets you can imagine.

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

grand gascon saintongeois puppies - health problemsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a robust dog, who with good care can reach up to 14 years of age. You're not going to be running to the vet often with this strong looking dog, but even so, there are one to two problems that you'll want to look out for.

Ear Infections:

Long-eared dogs are more susceptible to canine ear infections. The symptoms of the infection will be dependent on how severe it is. Certainly your dog may experience pain and you'll see him shaking his head and pawing at his ear. If both ears are affected by inflammation, he may even walk in a wobbly fashion and the infection could lead to deafness. It is imperative that he get to the vet as soon as possible.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is where the ball and socket joint of the hip is malformed. It results in a joint rubbing and grinding. It can lead to loss of function of the hip joints. It is a common skeletal disease in young or old dogs, small or large dogs and in both males and females.

Large dogs are more commonly affected though with hip dysplasia which can see arthritis developing too. Your dog will display decreased activity and difficulty with standing up after lying down. Veterinary intervention will be required.

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

grand gascon saintongeois dogs - caringThese large dogs with their short smooth coats have very little grooming needs. Regular brushing twice a week will remove dead hair and also ensure the good condition of the coat.

He has long ears and these will need to be checked regularly to avoid ear infections. It will be a good idea to learn how to clean the ears and to do it in such a way as to avoid damaging them. Signs of ear infection include redness, discharge, irritation and bad odor.

Diet:

Following the feeding instructions on the packaging of top quality kibble, provide your Grand Gascon Saintongeois with at least 2 meals a day. To steer away from the monotony of kibble every day, mix in some raw meat from time to time, and also include some cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables as a tasty treat. Fresh, cool water should always be easily accessible to him.

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. Shorkie vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Shorkie vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Shorkie vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Shorkie vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Shorkie vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Shorkie vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Shorkie vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Shorkie vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Shorkie vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Shorkie vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Shorkie vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Shorkie vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Shorkie vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Shorkie vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Shorkie vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Shorkie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Shorkie vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Shorkie vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Shorkie vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Shorkie vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Shorkie vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Shorkie vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Shorkie vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Shorkie vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Shorkie vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison