Shorkie vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison

North Country Beagle is originated from United Kingdom but Shorkie is originated from United States. North Country Beagle may grow 21 cm / 9 inches higher than Shorkie. Both North Country Beagle and Shorkie are having almost same weight. Both North Country Beagle and Shorkie has almost same life span. Both North Country Beagle and Shorkie has almost same litter size. North Country Beagle requires Low Maintenance. But Shorkie requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Miscellaneous dogs
undefined
United Kingdom
United States
Height Male:
33 - 45 cm
12 - 18 inches
18 - 24 cm
7 - 10 inches
Height Female:
33 - 45 cm
12 - 18 inches
16 - 22 cm
6 - 9 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 7
1 - 5
Size:
Medium
Small
Other Names:
Northern Hound, Northern Beagle
Shorki • Shorkie • Yorkie Tzu Shorkie Tzu
Colors Available:
black, orange, Mainly white, perhaps tan
Black and tan • Brown and white • Gold • Red • Gold, black, and white • Particolored
Coat:
Short and smoothish
coat type soft and relatively long coats. They should be silky and never coarse
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, 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

Known also as the Northern Hound or the Northern Beagle, the North Country Beagle hailed from Britain and is extinct.

It hailed more specifically from- and was native to the Yorkshire and Northumberland regions of England. As a scenthound it was known for its hunting skills.

There isn’t much known about the dog but it is one of England’s oldest hound breeds, with much of its ancestry been lost. There are many theories surrounding the origins of this dog. Also, the date at which the North Country Beagle was developed is also debatable but it has always been a good hunter.

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

The North Country Beagle seemed to vary quite a bit in size and because there isn’t much information on this extinct dog, we can assume he was much the same size of the Beagle we know today which is roughly 33 – 45cm in height and weighing between 9 and 11kg.

Not much is known about the dog’s appearance but it is believed that it looked much like the Southern Hound and English Foxhound. It was likely a medium sized dog with longish ears, thick bones but always agile and athletic.

Temperament:

There is very little known on what this dog’s temperament was like. He was strong willed and if you owned such a dog you would have had to have him trained and socialized. It was a dog that showed very little signs of aggression. It seemed the dog was friendly, social and loving to his human family.

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

The North Country Beagle was a social, energetic dog who loved spending time with his human family. They were intelligent too, so training and socialization were possibly easy for him.

They weren't regarded as raucous kind of dogs and were fairly quiet. They were quite social and didn't like being left alone for too long. They were adaptable too, slotting quite easily into country- or city life.

Coolish with strangers, the North Country Beagle made a good pet and companion with a generally happy, contented disposition.

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

The North Country Beagle had a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, and while he was a fairly healthy dog breed, there were some common health issues to look out for. Some of these were patellar luxation, epilepsy and glaucoma.

Glaucoma:

This is a condition where there is pressure in the eye and where there is inadequate fluid drainage as well. Left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness.

It is fairly common in certain breeds. There is primary and secondary glaucoma and symptoms for instance with primary glaucoma can be this high pressure within the eye and also a cloudy appearance in front of the eye along with redness of the blood vessels and dilated pupils. There can also be headaches and loss of appetite.

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

Your North Country Beagle was a social animal and he always had a whole lot of love and friendship to offer his human family.

Today, if you bring such a dog into your home, its your responsibility to care for him and provide him with love.

Diet:

A puppy such as this would have been fed 4 times a day. As he got older he would have had his meals cut down to one or two a day. His owners would have chosen a dog food according to age and activity levels, but always made sure that the food was rich in vitamins and minerals.

Dry kibble has the advantage of keeping your dogs teeth clean. Home-made food was and is always a welcome treat and can occasionally be added to the dry kibble. Keep the food consistent and simple to avoid stomach upsets.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato and spinach would have kept the Beagle happy and healthy and is an excellent diet today for modern dogs. Sometimes you can also give a little bit of raw meat. Never leave any dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Your North Country Beagle would have required lots of energy and will have required being exercised. His owners may have taken him for walks every day, and modern Beagles today would require ball games and games that also provide him with the chance to think and work things out.

Veterinary Care:

If you bring a pet home such as what the North Country Beagle was like, as a puppy, you would have had to make a vet appointment to ensure he had his vaccinations to protect him from deadly diseases.

Grooming:

General grooming of your North Country Beagle would have required you brushing him twice a week, checking inside and outside his ears for infection. This is particularly of importance with floppy eared dogs like this. Check his eyes and teeth too. His nails couldn't be neglected either, as left long, they could have hooked onto objects, tearing and causing pain and bleeding.

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. North Country Beagle vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. North Country Beagle vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. North Country Beagle vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. North Country Beagle vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. North Country Beagle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. North Country Beagle vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. North Country Beagle vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. North Country Beagle vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. North Country Beagle vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. North Country Beagle vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. North Country Beagle vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. North Country Beagle vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. North Country Beagle vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. North Country Beagle vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. North Country Beagle vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. North Country Beagle vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. North Country Beagle vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. North Country Beagle vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. North Country Beagle vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. North Country Beagle vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. North Country Beagle vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. North Country Beagle vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. North Country Beagle vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. North Country Beagle vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. North Country Beagle vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison