Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a toy breed from Tibet, standing 11 in at the withers, weighing 9–16.5 lb. Recorded lifespan is 10–18 yrs.
- Breed group
- Toy
- Origin
- Tibet
- Height
- 11 in
- Weight
- 9–16.5 lb
- Lifespan
- 10–18 yrs
Among the 500 breeds here with recorded measurements, the Shih Tzu is taller than 6% of the measured breeds, heavier than 8%, one of 20 in the Toy group, one of 4 from Tibet.
Living with the Shih Tzu
Two breed references score every breed they cover from 1 to 5 on the things an owner lives with day to day. These are the Shih Tzu’s, with what a 1 and a 5 mean on each row.
- Affection with family
- 5 of 51 independent · 5 devoted
- Good with young children
- 4 of 51 not suited · 5 very good
- Good with other dogs
- 4 of 51 not suited · 5 very good
- Openness to strangers
- 4 of 51 reserved · 5 everyone is a friend
- Watchdog / protective nature
- 3 of 51 unbothered · 5 vigilant
- Energy
- 2 of 51 couch potato · 5 busy all day
- Exercise needs
- 2 of 51 a short walk · 5 a job to do
- Playfulness
- 4 of 51 only when invited · 5 non-stop
- Barking
- 2 of 51 only to alert · 5 very vocal
- Shedding
- 3 of 51 barely · 5 constantly
- Drooling
- 1 of 51 a dry mouth · 5 keep a towel
- Tolerates being alone
- 3 of 51 poorly · 5 well
- Tolerates hot weather
- 1 of 51 poorly · 5 well
- Tolerates cold weather
- 3 of 51 poorly · 5 well
Rated 1 to 5 by the American Kennel Club and DogTime, averaged where both rate the same thing, and read from their breed pages in 2022. Nobody at Woof & Beyond has met this breed — these are the publishers’ judgments, not ours.Shih Tzu on AKCShih Tzu on DogTime
Breeds that look like the Shih Tzu
A neural network trained to tell breeds apart by sight read all 510 photographs in this reference, and these are the 6 it placed closest to the Shih Tzu.
Height 0–38 in
- Shih Tzu11 in
- Pekingese6–9 in
- Lhasa Apso10–11 in
- Polish Lowland Sheepdog16–20 in
- Löwchen12–14 in
- Schapendoes15–19 in
- Afghan Hound18.5–27 in
Weight 0–220 lb
- Shih Tzu9–16.5 lb
- Pekingese8–10 lb
- Lhasa Apso15–18 lb
- Polish Lowland Sheepdog30–50 lb
- Löwchen12–18 lb
- Schapendoes26–55 lb
- Afghan Hound55–65 lb
Lifespan 0–20 yrs
- Shih Tzu10–18 yrs
- Pekingese12–14 yrs
- Lhasa Apso12–14 yrs
- Polish Lowland Sheepdog12–14 yrs
- Löwchen13–15 yrs
- Schapendoes12–15 yrs
- Afghan Hound12–14 yrs
Nothing here was grouped by hand. The ranking is an opinion about appearance, not about ancestry, which is why it sometimes puts together breeds no kennel club would — and why it is worth looking at the photographs rather than taking the order on trust.
Guides that mention the Shih Tzu
Every guide on this site whose text actually discusses this breed.
- How Fast Can Dogs Run?
- How Many Puppies Do Dogs Have? Answered for All Dog Breeds
- Preventing Your Dog from Running Away: The Surprising Reasons and Solutions
- Suspect Your Dog Is Part Wolf? Here’s How You Can Tell
- How to Manage a Dog with a 9 to 5 or Full-Time Job
- Top 16 Teddy Bear Dog Breeds You Will Adore