Are there different sizes of shih tzus

About our Ads. Cookie Consent Tool. Belgium - Belgique. Brazil - Brasil. Canada English. Costa Rica. Croatia - Hrvatska. Denmark - Danmark. Finland - Suomi. France - France. Germany - Deutschland. Greater China - Taiwan. Italy - Italia. Latvia - Latvija. Malaysia Bahasa. Netherlands - Nederland. New Zealand. Norway - Norge. Philippines English.

Poland - Polska. Puerto Rico English. Republic of Singapore English. South Africa. Sweden - Sverige. Switzerland Suisse. Switzerland Schweiz. United Kingdom. United Arab Emirates English. United States.

For Dogs. For Cats. About Hill's. Although it is quite rare , Shih Tzus may occasionally have blue eyes. However, this usually happens when there is a lack of the color gene for black. But, the light eye color has nothing to do with the coat. In order for these dogs to have blue eyes, you need to look at the pigment of the nose and muzzle and not the coat.

The standard color of the Shih Tzus breeds eyes, and the nose is usually a solid black. Therefore the lighter pigment is actually a weak gene and considered a genetic fault. The blue-eyed Shih Tzu coats can be any color; however, gray is the most common coat color of this particular variety.

The nose could be dark gray and look black under low lighting. However, when put in direct sunlight or side-by-side, the difference is clear. Shih Tzu puppies, on the other hand, have a different story when it comes to blue eyes.

An interesting fact is that all puppies are born with blue eyes. This is mainly because, by the time you see their eyes, puppies are already several weeks old, and the eye color has already changed to the permanent dark eye color. Around the third week, when they begin to open them, it will reveal the baby blue eyes. However, after a few more weeks, the eye color slowly begins to change to a more solid fuel.

Around 10 to 12 weeks, the eye color changes to the permanent eye color, which is usually black or dark brown.

In some puppies, the process may take up to 16 weeks. However, in rare cases, puppies keep their blue eyes permanently. Brown Shih Tzus are often referred to as chocolate colored. Solid brown Shih Tzus, in most cases are Liver colored. However, Liver is nominated by skin pigmentation and not the coat color. With Liver, the eye rims, lips, nose, and paw pads are Liver colored, which extends from a light brown, with a sometimes pink tint to a dark brown. Although your eyes are seeing a brown coat, this is not how the dog is officially certified.

Even if a puppy is born with a solid brown coat, it will change as he matures, and in most cases, it lightens. Irrespective of whether the Shih Tzu has a light brown coat or solid black, many a time, as they mature, it changes to a more distinct dark brown color.

Black Shih Tzus are extremely rare. You may be tempted, as many people are, to buy a miniature Shih Tzu, believing that it's exactly the same dog as the purebred in a petite, precious package. While the two dogs do share many similarities, Imperial Shih Tzu have a few critical differences that need to be seriously considered. Standard Shih Tzu are between 8 and 11 inches in height and between 9 and 16 pounds.

This leads to a very significant difference between the two dogs types. The tiny Imperial Shih Tzu are susceptible to major health issues and weakness due to their small size. This is especially true for those dogs that are bred to grow no larger than 5 pounds.

Standard Shih Tzu, in comparison, are considered to be sturdy and reasonably healthy dogs. Although Standard Shih Tzu are prone to several health conditions , including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, collapsed trachea and breathing problems, as well as a number of eye, ear, and teeth issues, this does not mean that all Shih Tzu will get these problems. It simply means that the breed tends to see more of these issues than other conditions. There are some Imperial Shih Tzu that may be slightly under the breed standard weight of 9 pounds.

These dogs can still generally be found to be in good health and live the average life of a Standard Shih Tzu which is approximately 12 to 16 years. Standard Shih Tzu are bred by crossing two purebred, healthy Shih Tzu dogs. Imperial Shih Tzu are bred to intentionally be smaller than the breed standard. This is not necessarily wrong if it is done in an ethical way. The main problem is with breeders that strive for micro-mini pups or dogs that come in at five pounds or less. These poor pups, although super cute, are most likely destined for a future of numerous vet visits and problems.

These health conditions mean that the owners can probably count on a vast collection of vet bills. Given the hefty price you may pay for these tiny dogs, it's rather odd that they are not recognized as an actual dog breed.

I know it sounds bizarre, that Imperial Shih Tzu are not considered a dog breed when you are looking at one in the flesh, or holding one in your hand, confusing, right? But what is meant by this is that the imperial Shih Tzu are not acknowledged in show events as a true breed. Imperial Shih Tzu are not recognized as a separate dog breed mainly due to the fact that they are a result of incorrect breeding methods or even possible pre-existing health issues. If you decide that you want to add an Imperial Shih Tzu to your family, or maybe you've already met one that has stolen your heart, the AKC suggests that you find a reputable breeder.