The Complete New Shorkie Puppy Checklist for Your First 48 Hours
You did it. Your tiny Shorkie is coming home and your brain is buzzing with what to buy and what to do first.
This is the no-fluff 48-hour checklist we use to land the first days smoothly.
Follow it step by step and you will cover safety, sleep, feeding, potty, and those Shorkie-specific quirks that catch new owners off-guard.
Set Up a Safe Space
Create a small, calm base camp before pickup. A crate or pen with a washable bed, a safe chew, a water bowl, and a potty spot if you are using pads.
Place it in a low-traffic area where you can still see each other. Shorkies are velcro by nature and settle better when they can hear you.
You have the landing pad ready. Now make eating easy and predictable.
Food and Feeding Plan
Ask the breeder or shelter exactly what your puppy has been eating and keep that food for at least three to five days. Sudden switches equal upset tummies.
Shorkies are toy-size; they run out of fuel fast. Offer three to four tiny meals the first two days.
Food
Same brand and formula they came home on; tiny-bite puppy kibble or breeder-recommended wet.
Serving
Split the daily amount into 3 to 4 meals; tiny tummies digest better with frequent, small portions.
Add-ins
A spoon of warm water makes kibble more inviting and easier to chew.
Transition
If you plan to change foods, mix 25 percent new for two days, then 50 percent, watching stools.
Water and Potty Setup
Keep fresh water available but not sloshing around the house. A non-tip bowl or crate water bottle works.
Pick a potty method on day one and stick with it. Outdoors is simplest long-term, but many Shorkie homes use pads for nights or apartments. Place pads away from the bed and bowls.
- Take pup to the potty spot the moment you arrive home
- Use one cue word every time they squat
- Free-roam before they understand the spot
- Punish accidents
First-Night Sleep Strategy
Put the crate next to your bed. Being close cuts down on crying and helps you hear potty cues.
Expect one to two potty breaks the first night. Quietly out, cue, praise, and straight back to bed. No play party.
Health To-Dos and Vet Plan
Before pickup, book a new puppy exam within 48 to 72 hours. Bring records, microchip details, and any deworming dates.
Records Snapshot
Vaccines to date, next due date, deworming schedule, microchip number.
Ask Your Vet
Tracheal collapse risks, dental care plan, weight goals, parasite prevention safe for toys.
Grooming Basics for Shorkies
That silky, fluffy coat mats fast when food, tears, and play meet. Start gentle handling day one.
- Wipe face folds and tear stains daily with a damp, soft cloth.
- Comb ears, armpits, and behind the collar where tangles hide.
- Introduce a soft slicker brush for one minute sessions paired with treats.
Keep nails short and hair around the eyes trimmed by a groomer. Early, tiny sessions build lifelong tolerance.
Training Foundations
Use their name, then reward eye contact. That is your first recall.
Crate equals calm. Feed a meal in the crate and sprinkle a few treats when they step inside on their own.
Potty pattern for day one
- Out every 45 to 60 minutes awakePlus after naps, meals, and play.
- Go with themPraise while they finish. Rewards happen within two seconds.
- Accident protocolInterrupt gently, get to the spot, clean with enzymatic cleaner.
Smart Socialization
Safe exposure beats crowded exposure. In 48 hours, aim for calm sights and sounds at a distance.
- Carry to see traffic, bikes, and strollers.
- Invite one fully vaccinated, calm adult dog to sniff through a gate or pen.
- Play novelty sounds at low volume while they relax.
Keep it short and sweet so confidence grows.
Chews and Bite Management
Puppy teeth will find your fingers. Offer legal chews that fit a toy jaw.
Good options
Rubber puppy ring, soft braided fleece tug, treat-dispensing toy.
Skip
Hard antlers or bones that can crack baby teeth.
When they nip, freeze your hand, say your cue, offer the chew, and praise the switch.
Car Ride Home
Use a secured travel crate or a booster with a harness clip. Tiny pups become projectiles fast in a stop.
Line with a pee pad and bring paper towels, a trash bag, and a spare towel. Stop once for a calm potty break on a clean, low-traffic patch.
Puppy-Proof the House
- Cord covers and baby gates in place.
- Lift toxic plants, meds, and cleaners out of reach.
- Swap floor-length drapes and dangling blind cords for now.
- Keep purses and snack bags closed; bags can be suffocation hazards.
Red Flags To Watch
- Refusing all food and water for 12 hours.
- Vomiting more than once, bloody stool, or constant diarrhea.
- Labored breathing, honking cough, blue gums.
- Lethargy that does not lift after a nap and a small snack.
The 48-Hour Essentials List
Crate and Pen
Sized so they can stand, turn, and lie down; divider for growth.
Bedding and Pads
Washable bed, two to four pee pads.
Bowls
Shallow, non-tip; consider a crate water bottle.
Food and Treats
Breeder food plus soft training treats the size of a pea.
Harness and Leash
Soft Y-front harness and a light, 4 to 6 foot leash.
Grooming Kit
Soft slicker, fine comb, nail grinder or clippers, tear-stain wipes.
Enzymatic Cleaner
For invisible odor removal and fewer repeat accidents.
Chew Toys
Two to three safe puppy chews to rotate.
Offer three to four small meals spaced through the day, plus a tiny snack before bed if dinner was early. Frequent, small meals help prevent low blood sugar in toy breeds.
Up to 18 to 20 hours a day is normal. Prioritize short, gentle play windows and then back to the crate or pen for rest.
Comfort with presence, not parties. Place the crate at your bedside, offer a chew, and wait for a brief quiet moment to reward. Take out only for real potty needs.
Mildly soft stool can happen with stress. Keep food the same and add water. If there is blood, vomiting, lethargy, or it persists beyond 24 hours, call your vet.
Use a soft harness. Shorkies can have delicate windpipes and are prone to tracheal irritation from collars.
Sviatoslav Oleksiv founded The Pets and Love in 2019. A lifelong pet owner and Rhodesian Ridgeback enthusiast, he writes and edits our guides to help fellow pet parents give their animals the best care.
Every guide follows our editorial standards. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice — always consult a licensed veterinarian about your pet's health.