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I often get asked what dog breed I am, especially because I’m a mutt! Here’s what my mom knows about me so far:

Q: What mix of breeds are you?
A: When I was adopted, the Animal Rescue told my mom that I’m a mix of Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire Terrier. After doing the Embark DNA test, I found out they were wrong! I’m actually a shorkiepoo: Shih Tzu, Yorkie, and Poodle!

Q: How much do you weigh?
A: I’m currently a healthy 7.5 pounds! I was underweight and malnourished when I was adopted, but since I have a great appetite, I was able to put on the lbs pretty quickly!

Q: Are you hypoallergenic? Do you shed fur?
A: I do not shed fur or hair, thankfully! Interestingly, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, according to the smart doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

Many people think that pet allergies are caused by a dog’s or cat’s fur, but the real source of pet allergies is often a protein that’s in the saliva and urine of dogs and cats. This protein sticks to the dead, dried flakes (dander) from your pet’s skin.

Some dog breeds are marketed as hypoallergenic because they don’t shed fur or they shed very little. Because these dogs don’t shed, the allergy-causing dander that sticks to their fur doesn’t get released into the air or onto the floor as much as with a shedding dog. But while you may have less dog hair with a nonshedding dog, no dog breed is hypoallergenic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pet-allergy/expert-answers/hypoallergenic-dog-breeds/faq-20058425

Q: What is your personality?
A: I’m spunky, playful, affectionate, clingy, alert, outgoing, and smart! I have a lot of energy but since I’m small, I can tire myself out by playing and running around the house. I love to follow my mom 75% of the time and sit on her lap, but I am okay with being independent if I have to be. Even though I’m not a puppy anymore, I just learned a bunch of new tricks really quickly!

Q: What health concerns do you have?
A: I get ear infections often, because my floppy ears go downwards and don’t get to air out all the time. My vet has been working with me to get my ears back to a healthy state with medicated ear drops. I also get my ears cleaned monthly with Epi-Otic, and it’s helped a lot! Many small breeds have dental and gum issues, so it’s important that I brush my teeth often. Sometimes there are little pesky fleas and ticks that want to hitch a ride on my back, so I need to stay on top of my monthly Revolution prevention meds.

Q: What type of regular maintenance do you need?
A: I eat twice a day and go on at least 3 walks a day. I get groomed pretty often, because my coat grows pretty fast and long. I get a bath every two weeks and get combed every other day. I brush my teeth every few days, and my nails get trimmed pretty often too… I love spa treatments! As mentioned above, I use Epi-Otic to clean my ears monthly and get my dose of Revolution monthly. As with all dog breeds, I visit my friendly vet annually (or more when I need to) and make sure I’m up to date on all of my shots and vaccines.

Let me know if there’s anything else you want to know about me!

– Butters The Pup 🐾