A Snorkie puppy, sometimes spelled Schnorkie, is a “designer” hybrid breed which we get by combining a Purebred Yorkshire Terrier and a Purebred Miniature or Toy Schnauzer.  They differ from what we lovingly call mutts in that they have a pedigree which leaves no doubt as to their heritage.  Several canine registries recognize the Snorkie breed, and my registry of choice is the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC).  In order to register a hybrid puppy with ACHC, both parents must be a registered purebred dog. Thus, the heritage and pedigree of the puppy is easily identifiable and traceable.  One of the best benefits of owning a hybrid dog is the fact that they are genetically healthier than a purebred dog, as they get each set of genes from a different breed, eliminating breed specific anomalies.

Snorkies not only are little and cute, but they also have a wonderful disposition. They are happy-go-lucky dogs, extremely intelligent, easily trained, and are very loyal. They love to play with their toys, go in the car, cuddle on the couch, and love to give you kisses.  Snorkies make awesome family pets, as they are great with kids and other animals, are eager to please, and can be just as happy in an apartment as in a house.  They do not require a lot of extra exercise, although they do love to go on walks and outings, probably because the Snorkie is a very social and curious animal.

 

Gentle, consistent, & proper training of a new Snorkie puppy is recommended.  They can easily learn commands such as “no barking”, “go potty outside”, “sit”, “stay”, “down”, “no”, etc.  All untrained puppies, of every breed, will exhibit some bad behaviors if their owners do not take the “parent” roll and work to teach their puppy what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are not acceptable.  I compare training puppies to raising human children; they have to be taught what is expected and the difference between right and wrong.  A good example is if you don’t want a “yappy” dog, then you need to teach them “no barking”.

 

Quick facts about Snorkies:

• Snorkies grow up to be small dogs ranging from 6 to 12 pounds when fully grown.  The adult Snorkie weight depends on the size of each of the parents… smaller parents equal smaller Snorkies.
• A Snorkie’s head is usually more “boxy” like the Schnauzer's, only smaller.
• A Snorkie’s natural ears are smaller than a Schnauzer’s and are floppy when relaxed but stand erect (like the Yorkie) when at attention.
• The tail of the Snorkie is docked, just like the Yorkie & the Schnauzer
• Yorkies & Schnauzers are both Terriers with very similar body structures, thus, the Snorkie tends to grow up to resemble a “bigger” Yorkie or a “smaller” Schnauzer.
• The Snorkie hair is usually finer, silkier, and straighter than a purebred Schnauzer.  Snorkies can be groomed like a Schnauzer or they can grow long hair like the Yorkie.  This is just a matter of personal preference.  If the hair is grown long, the dog will need to be brushed regularly.  If kept groomed like a Schnauzer, expect to groom about once every three or four months.
• Snorkies can be solid black, black with white markings, varying degrees of salt & pepper, black and gold, or tri-colored.
• A Snorkie is non-shedding and hypoallergenic which is great for allergy and asthma sufferers.
• Snorkies have no known allergies.
• Snorkies are a very healthy hybrid dog with no known health problems.
• A Snorkie’s lifespan is approximately 13-15 years.