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As the cross of a Miniature Schnauzer and a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie), being cute is practically the Snorkie’s birthright. Also known as a Schnorkie or a Schnerrier, this crossbreed is the perfect little furbaby to keep in your lap all day and snuggle.
Aside from having an endearing appearance, the Schnauzer Yorkie mix is also intelligent, affectionate, and energetic. Let me tell you 7 things that will make you want to get your very own Schnorkie.
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1. Snorkies have the irresistible face of a Yorkie with the lean body of the Miniature Schnauzer.
Take the black button eyes, pricked ears, and fanned-out whiskers of the Yorkshire Terrier parent and add them to the slender body of the Miniature Schnauzer. What you’ve got is the Snorkie.
These hybrids tend to be on the small side, with a full size Snorkie dog reaching only 5 to 12 inches (12 to 30 cm) in height and weighing 5 to 12 pounds (2 to 5 kg). And as tiny as these pups already are, in some cases, they’re being bred to be even smaller as miniature, toy, or teacup Snorkies.
No matter its size, though, a Snorkie’s fur will usually be straight and silky. Common coat colors include any combination of black, blue, tan, silver, or white.
2. The Schnauzer Yorkie mix loves being the center of attention.
Like its parent breeds, the Schnorkie is the consummate companion dog. It thrives on interactions with its family and it will love entertaining you with its antics. If you want a loyal dog who will follow you around all day, this is the perfect pet for you.
Because of their affectionate nature, Schnauzer Yorkie mixes are the perfect match for singles and seniors.
With its even, friendly temperament, the Snorkie gets along well even with other dogs. This crossbreed definitely inherited the sociable personality of the Miniature Schnauzer.
However, because of its attention-seeking personality, the Snorkie struggles with separation anxiety. If you don’t want chewed-up shoes as proof of how much your Schnauzer Yorkie mix missed you, leave him with some toys before leaving the house.
3. The energetic Schnorkie occasionally needs downtime.
Just like you sometimes need a break from your noisy, unruly kids, the Schnerrier also requires some downtime and quiet.
One quirk of the Snorkie’s behavior is that he can get moody and snappish if he gets too tired. This irritability may be something he inherits from the Yorkie, which is known for its impatience with overly persistent tykes.
A Schnauzer Yorkie hybrid is generally kid-friendly, but you’ll want to supervise playtime with toddlers, who may accidentally hurt this fragile dog.
4. Schnauzer Yorkie mixes aren’t the most laid-back of pets.
With his Terrier and Schnauzer lineage, you can expect the Snorkie to be playful and high-spirited. This active little dog needs at least 30 minutes of exercise daily to work off its abundance of energy.
Walks are the ideal workout for this crossbreed. Make sure to put a leash on your pup before you head out, though, as he inherited the high prey drive of his parents.
The Schnauzer-Yorkie mix will enjoy indoor playtime just as much, so you won’t need a yard for this petite dog. As long as you spend enough time playing with them, Schnorkies will be as happy in an apartment as in a house with a backyard.
Aside from being energetic, these dogs are also quite yappy. If your Snorkie thinks that you’re not paying him enough attention, you’ll most likely hear about it. (Don’t worry. You can control your dog’s barking with consistent training.)
This tendency to bark does have an advantage, though: it makes the Schnorkie a great watchdog. Your furry little companion won’t hesitate to alert you of potential intruders approaching your home.
5. Training a Snorkie can be a battle of wills.
Schnauzer-Yorkie mixes are bright little canines, but their Yorkie heritage may make them stubborn. But as long as you’re willing to devote time and effort to frequent training sessions, you’ll find that these dogs can quickly recognize commands and learn tricks.
Watch how this little Snorkie learns the ‘sit’ command:
Schnorkies are eager to please and easily persuaded by food, so be generous with affection, praise, and treats during training. Early socialization will also help them be friendlier towards other pets and younger children in the household.
6. Snorkie care is not for the lazy.
As we’ve said before, the Schnorkie is not a low-maintenance breed. For instance, a lot of work goes into keeping the Snorkie’s coat in good health.
Grooming a Snorkie
Most Schnauzer-Yorkie mixes have long coats, which is a trait they inherit from their parent breeds. Most of these crossbreeds have the Schnauzer’s undercoat with the Yorkie’s thicker top coat.
The Schnorkie needs daily brushing to keep its fur from matting and knotting. The good news is that the Snorkie’s hair is usually silky and soft, so you shouldn’t have difficulties running a slicker brush through it.
Despite its long coat, the Schnauzer and Yorkie cross sheds little to no fur, and it won’t leave clumps of hair on your furniture and clothes. If you or a family member suffers from dander allergies, a Snorkie is ideal for you.
You want to have your Snorkie’s coat clipped every 8 to 10 weeks to keep it at a manageable length. You can also give your dog a trim using clippers. Make sure that the hair around the eyes are trimmed so it doesn’t obscure your pet’s view.
There are plenty of Snorkie hair cuts for you to choose from, but the neat puppy cut – which leaves the hair at 1.5 to 2 inches all over the body – requires the least amount of maintenance.
How often should I bathe my Snorkie?
Not often at all – your Schnauzer Yorkie cross will be just fine with a bath every month or two. If he does get some buildup or debris in his coat, you can clean the hair with a warm, damp cloth. This will help preserve the coat’s natural oils.
The right diet for the Schnauzer Yorkie mix
Because of its size, the Schnorkie doesn’t need much food every day. He’ll find it easier to digest small, frequent meals as a puppy. Once he reaches maturity at 9 to 12 months, you can start feeding him 1 to ½ cups of high-quality dry kibble daily, divided into two meals.
Dry dog food is ideal for small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier and the Snorkie. The hard texture of dry kibble can help with dental problems common in these dogs.
Schnauzer and Yorkie hybrids tend to gain weight more easily as they grow older, so you want to take it easy on the doggie treats. Spacing your pet’s meals throughout the day should also help keep it at a healthy weight.
Snorkie health issues to look out for
The Snorkie has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, but, like all crossbreeds, Schnauzer Yorkie mixes are prone to the health conditions that affect their parent breeds.
Like Miniature Schnauzers, for instance, many of these hybrids may suffer from heart problems and pancreas-related diseases like diabetes. From its Yorkie side, the Schnorkie is vulnerable to hypoglycemia, tracheal collapse, and bone conditions like luxating patellas and Legge Perthes disease.
Because of their small, fragile bodies, these dogs should also be handled carefully, especially as puppies.
7. The cost of a Snorkie is totally worth it.
Since the Schnauzer and Yorkie hybrid is considered a designer dog, it usually costs a pretty penny. Breeders may charge anywhere between $500 to $600 for a Snorkie puppy.
Make sure to get your money’s worth by supporting reputable breeders. Here are some Snorkie breeders you can get in touch with.
- Serendipity’s Haven (Washington)
- C and K Kennel (Arkansas)
- Love Me Tender Puppies (Texas)
As we’ve said before, some breeders may advertise a ‘teacup snorkie for sale’. While so-called teacup dogs are adorable, their health often suffers because of their small size.
You can also get a Snorkie through rescues and shelters. Rescue organizations for its parent breeds, like Save a Yorkie Rescue, Inc. and Rescue Me! Schnauzer Rescue will sometimes have Schnauzer Yorkie mixes that you can take into your home.
Breeds similar to the Snorkie
These breeds have many similarities with Schnauzer-Yorkie crosses because of their shared parentage.
Snorkie vs Shorkie
Snorkies and Shorkies (a cross of the Shih Tzu and Yorkie) are loving lap dogs who enjoy playtime with their families.
Snorkie vs Yorkiepoo
Like the Schnorkie, the Yorkiepoo has plenty of energy to spare and will love performing tricks for you.
Snorkie vs Schnoodle
A mix of the Schnauzer and the Poodle, the Schnoodle makes for a great watchdog because of its natural suspicion of strangers.
Why we love the Schnauzer Yorkie crossbreed
From its adorable appearance to its friendly, affectionate nature, there’s a lot to love in the Schnauzer Yorkie mix. These dogs are also intelligent; with consistent training and positive reinforcement, they’ll easily pick up commands and tricks.
However, separation anxiety and excessive barking can be a problem with the Snorkie. The Schnorkie’s coat also needs daily brushing to maintain its signature silkiness.
Have a Snorkie at home? Tell us about him in the comments!
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