How big do Shih Tzus get?

How big does a Shih Tzu get?

Small, and never flimsy. A Shih Tzu ideally stands 9 to 10.5 inches at the top of the shoulders, and for the show ring it can't be under 8 inches or over 11. Grown Shih Tzus ideally weigh 9 to 16 pounds. The breed has always varied a good deal in size, and every Shih Tzu, large or small, should be compact and solid and carry good weight.

The range used to be far wider. American show rings of the past held Shih Tzus of 17 and 18 pounds beside others of 7. Two things a photo won't tell you are that a full double coat can make a dog look bigger than it really is, and that a well-built Shih Tzu feels surprisingly heavy when you pick it up.

How much should a Shih Tzu weigh?

Somewhere from 9 to 16 pounds as a grown dog, and where it lands in that range matters less than how it carries the weight. Overall balance and quality come first, whether a dog sits at the low end or the high end.

A healthy weight is easier to judge with your hands than with a scale. A dog at its ideal weight has ribs you can feel without extra fat over them. Lean on that rib check with a Shih Tzu, because the breed has no real waist and the long coat hides the outline anyway. Ask your vet to show you how it should feel at an early checkup, and our guide to Shih Tzu lifespan and health explains why the number deserves watching for life.

How big will our Shih Tzu puppies get?

Most likely somewhere close to their parents. Our Shih Tzu mamas weigh 9 to 13 lbs, and the puppies on our site today are expected to grow to 8 to 13 lbs as adults. Each puppy page narrows that to a range of its own, estimated from that puppy's mama and papa, and both parents are linked so you can see the grown dogs for yourself.

A puppy can still finish a little above or below its estimate. If you're hoping for a Shih Tzu toward the smaller or larger end, say so on your puppy application, where there's room to describe the size you have in mind. How much any estimate of ours can promise is spelled out on our health guarantee page.

When do Shih Tzus stop growing?

A Shih Tzu does nearly all of its growing in the first year, and small-breed dogs usually reach adult size at 6 to 12 months of age. Filling out can take longer. The Shih Tzu matures slowly, and a young dog can carry less weight than a mature one while its frame, bone and muscle are still right. Your vet can tell you whether a slim youngster is on track. The coat runs on a calendar of its own, and our Shih Tzu color guide explains the coat change that comes near the end of the first year.

Is there a mini, imperial or teacup Shih Tzu?

No. There's one Shih Tzu with one size range and no miniature kind, and there's no officially recognized Imperial, Teacup or Stained Glass Shih Tzu, in the United States or anywhere else.

So the labels describe how a seller markets a small dog rather than a kind of Shih Tzu. The name Imperial was meant to suggest that the palace dogs of China were that small. What really counts in the breed is a solid, sturdy build.

You won't see either label on our puppy pages. Each Shih Tzu we list carries an expected adult weight worked out from its parents, and that number is the one to go by.

Is the Shih Tzu a toy breed?

In the United States it is. The Shih Tzu is shown as a toy breed, a sturdy, lively, alert little dog that should be every bit as sound and well built as any other breed. In most other countries it's shown with the non-sporting breeds instead, one more reminder that the breed is meant to be small and solidly built.

That size is a big part of the appeal. Bred to spend most of its day inside royal palaces, a Shih Tzu makes a great pet in an apartment or a home without a big backyard. For hundreds of years they were royal lap warmers, pampered by emperors and their families. When you're ready to meet one, start with our Shih Tzu puppies.