Sometimes, if you think too closely about all of the cross-breeds people have come up with, it truly feels like every dog has been bred with every dog at this point. It's pretty rare to come across a breed you've never at least heard of, especially if you spend a lot of time around dogs.
Recently, though, there was a dog that got people talking: a Pomeranian/Shih-Tzu cross. Not only is he adorable, fluffy, and sweet, but he's actually pretty rare. You have to look:
Miller the Shiranian is a little bit hilarious. I love his personality (and, of course, the way he looks like a live teddy bear)! He's the first Shiranian I've ever seen, but I hope he's not the last!
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Miller is a sweet boy, and while we don't know how old he is, we do know that he's incredibly sassy. His most viral video got over 2 million views and nearly 200,000 likes; his mom is asking him for kisses and he is (begrudgingly) giving them to her. In this video, his mom gives us all the low-down about what Shiranians are really like. They're affectionate, decently energetic, and intelligent!
Miller himself was a rescue she adopted last year, so whether he was intentionally bred or just the result of an accidental pairing between other family dogs. Whatever the case may be, Shiranians are actually rising in popularity - many people are drifting from the ever-popular Doodle crossbreeds and going after rarer pairings like this instead.
Should You Get a Shiranian?
While Miller may have been a rescue, the fact is that you can absolutely get a Shiranian from a breeder if that's your cup of tea. Like Miller's mom says in her video, the breed does have some potential issues like dental problems (Shih-Tzus often have underbites), respiratory issues, and patellar luxation , which is when their kneecap pops out of place.
However, if you find a responsible breeder and make sure you're taking regular trips to the vet to check that everything's going well, Shiranians might be just what you wanted. They're small enough to transport easily, incredibly sociable, and super soft. What more could you want?!
Be careful, though; small breeds like Shih-Tzus and Pomeranians are very common pet-store-puppy-mill finds, and their crossbreed is no different. Before you purchase a dog, research the breeder and ask lots of questions about their process. If they balk at answering your questions, it's best to look elsewhere and, if you're really suspicious, you should report them to local authorities and the Humane Society .
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