A bewitching, tricksy familiar with a lavish fur coat, the Shih Tzu is also popular as a ‘Lion Dog’ for centuries in Chinese culture.For people who like a naughty but cute lapdog, the Shih Tzu is ideal. Shih Tzu’s origins are somewhere in the seventh century from Tibet.They were the tiniest among the Lhasa Apsos breed and were given as a present to Chinese emperors. The breed we see today was crossbred with Pekingese. Shih Tzu was bred in Chinese royalty for centuries and thus their Chinese name confuses people as the names generally imply for Pekingese. This breed expanded to England and the US with the invasion of the British. These tiny joyful companions’ native lineage became extinct when communists took charge of China.Although the Shih Tzu has a loud bark, it has a low drool and snoring tendency. Shih Tzu dogs need a great amount of attention. Shih Tzu puppies love companionship. They’re terrible at hunting and herding, but they’re fantastic at loving their people. These breeds originate in Tibet. The breed flourished throughout Europe and was introduced to the United States in the mid-1950s by returning members of the US military who brought Shih Tzu dogs back from Europe and Asia.The Shih Tzu is a small dog breed that is widely adopted as a pet by families across the world. Shih Tzu owners generally struggle with maintaining the ideal weight range in their pet dogs. Weight management is extremely important to ensure that the pet dog enjoys good health and lives a long life.Here are some of the most important aspects of ideal weight management for Shih Tzu dogs and puppies. After understanding the suitable weight range for adults and puppies from the Shih Tzu breed, also check facts about most affectionate dog breeds and dog breeds that look like wolves.Signs Your Shih Tzu Is OverweightAs per American Kennel Club Official Shih Tzu Breed Standards, the average height and weight of a grown-up Shih Tzu is 9-10.5 in (22.5-26.6 cm) and 9-16 lb (4.0-7.2 kg) respectively.There are certain signs one needs to look out for if the owner wants to know about whether or not their Shih Tzu is overweight. A most easily noticeable sign that the Shih Tzu is overweight is if they start panting after even walking a short distance or after a small amount of exercise. Your Shih Tzu would get tired and not keep up with its daily schedule or exercise routine because of the strain of extra weight on its organs. An overweight Shih Tzu would have a hard time stretching its skin.Like most dogs, the Shih Tzu might not be very eager for a treat unless we feed it to them. Thus making them gain weight due to high-calorie treats. A pet tends to take over the lifestyle of its owner. If the owner is active then the pet is active while if the owner is lazy then the pet will be lazy. The shape definition of Shih Tzu can be an important factor in determining whether or not Shih Tzus are overweight.Try to feel the ribs of your Shih Tzu beneath their fur. As long as you can feel their ribs, Shih Tzus are not overweight but if the ribs poke you then it can be a sign of being underweight. Hypothyroidism, a thyroid condition caused by the lack of metabolic hormones, can cause excess weight growth. This condition is not easily detectable so concern a vet.When do Shih Tzus stop growing?The minimum growth period for a Shih Tzu pup is approximately one year. However, there is a possibility that they might stop growing on the completion of 9,10, or 11 months after being born.This time period is the same at which most dogs from the toy dog breeds mature. Even when reaching maturity around 10 months there is a chance that some might take an extra month or two to reach their maximum growth size.A six-month-old puppy can almost reach adult size and weight up to 7-12 lb (3.1-5.4 kg). So it takes approximately 10 months for a Shih Tzu to become an adult or sometimes about a whole year but not more than that. Do not expect your Shih Tzu to grow after one year. One sign you could examine to determine the growth of your Shih Tzu is to check its paws. The growth of the pup is pending if their paws are bigger compared to their legs.The owner needs to contact the breeder to get an idea of the age of a Shih Tzu brought from a breeder. You can gain extra information regarding their predecessors and the parents of your pet along with their age. There is rarely much difference when it comes to the size of a parent and offspring, so it will also help you to predict the approximate size of your Shih Tzu puppy.Will a Shih Tzu grow after being neutered/spayed?There is a surgical procedure done on pets to remove their reproductive organs. For females, this procedure is called spaying while for males, it’s termed neutering.The main purpose behind this procedure is to help reduce the threat of health issues regarding reproductive organs. It also helps with mood swings in growing and adult pets. A male Shih Tzu reaches puberty at around six months of age.It is also at a six months’ passage that a female Shih Tzu starts their first estrous cycle and begins to experience heat. This makes the sixth month of a Shih Tzu’s life an ideal time for a neutering or spaying procedure. You do not need to be concerned about the health, growth, and weight of your Shih Tzu puppy when the procedure is performed at an optimal time.American Vs European Shih Tzu SizeThe ideal size which is 9-10.5 in (22.5-26.6 cm) tall and 9-16 lb (4.0-7.2 kg) heavy is fairly identical for both European Shih Tzu’s and American Shih Tzu’s.These measures are similar for both genders of Shih Tzu puppies. Thus making both American and European Shih Tzu as the best toy dog companion for anyone. An average European Shih Tzu puppy must not be taller than 10.5 in (26.6 cm) while an American Shih Tzu puppy must not be taller than 11 in (27.5 cm) nor shorter than 8 in (20 cm). This places the average size measurements for American Shih Tzu and European Shih Tzu puppies to somewhere around 9-10.5 in (22.5-26.6 cm).What affects the growth of a Shih Tzu puppy?Similar to humans, animals also have three major factors that influence their growth. These three factors are:Nutrition: What we eat is very important as it is directly related to our health, the same can be set for our pets. If a Shih Tzu owner wants their pup to be healthy and put on an average amount of weight, they need to feed their Shih Tzu puppies a balanced and healthy diet. Always opt for the best quality of food that falls into your budget. Food items and snacks that are cheap and have unhealthy amounts of carbohydrates and fats must be avoided. These food items not only increase the weight of your Shih Tzu above the healthy average but also pose health risks in the future.Genetics: Genetics play a vital role in providing knowledge about the size of any pet. The Shih Tzu breed being a toy dog breed is naturally small in size. This factor turns true for your Shih Tzu when parents are of the Shih Tzu breed. There however might be the uncertainty of size if the parents or grandparents have crossbred.Physical activity and Health: Exercise is vital for strengthening muscles and bones. Shih Tzu being an active breed loves to walk and play around. If you start to notice that your Shih Tzu is lacking in their daily activity, or that they are getting tired easily on their walks then this could be a sign of being overweight or being underweight.How to properly weigh and measure a Shih Tzu?If you desire for your Shih Tzu to be of optimal weight and possess good health, make sure to weigh it at least two times a year. The growth of a Shih Tzu is uneven. It might grow faster during some months and slower during some others. There are some easy and predefined standards for weighing a pup.Method One: You can weigh your Shih Tzu using the traditional weight chart when he or she is eight weeks old.Method Two: Another method to get a weight estimate for Shih Tzus is: -Eight-weeks old pup: The weight that the puppy has at this age shall be multiplied by a factor of four or five to determine its ideal adult weight.For example, if the present weight of the Shih Tzu puppy is 3 lb (1.36 kg), then the ideal adult weight shall be between 12-15 lb (5.5-7.0 kg).How do I know if my Shih Tzu is the right weight?Many factors contribute to a Shih Tzu being under or over-weight such as a Shih Tzu with a small size might weigh less.The height and weight of the parents and grandparents also play a role in this and sometimes it is because of the cross-breeding. On the other hand, a Shih Tzu could be overweight because of an unhealthy and lazy lifestyle. Eating too much junk food or treats, cheap quality food, less exercise, all could be factors leading to excess weight gain. To solve the problem of being underweight, consider two criteria:If the Shih Tzu is slightly smaller with only a few pounds like 1-2 lb (0.45-0.9 kg) less than the average estimated weight, it might be because of their parental genes.If the dog is 4-6 lb (1.8-2.7 kg) less than the average weight then health issues are a possibility. So, it is advisable to check with a vet.With the case of an overweight Shih Tzu, try to cut down on snacking and opt for a balanced diet along with optimal exercise.Living With Tiny Shih Tzu DogsShih Tzu is usually low maintenance and a high attention seeker. You do not need to worry about excessive exercise or burnout, a normal walk in the morning and evening are sufficient.One factor to keep in mind all of the time is a healthy and balanced diet. Try to avoid snacks, although occasionally one or two treats per day are ok. When it comes to grooming, if you want your Shih Tzu to have short fur then this requires minimal grooming and is easy to manage. However, if you opt for long fur then you must be prepared for daily grooming, weekly baths, and weekly oiling. These are a must to keep your Shih Tzu’s coat smooth and healthy.One major factor to keep in mind when adopting a Shih Tzu is that it is an attention seeker breed. These puppies want a lot of love and affection from their owners. Shih Tzus are also very social and absolutely adore kids. As a result of their social nature, these puppies are not the best guard dogs. Their health standards are also pretty low.As long as you have them neutered and spayed at an optimal age, there are very minimal health issues that you need to look out for in the Shih Tzu breed. Although, some of the issues that the owner must consult a vet from time to time for are hypoglycemia, stenotic nares, hip dysplasia, dehydration, and luxating patella.The coats of these pet dogs require regular brushing and grooming. You may perform the grooming at home or may take your puppy to a professional groomer for more comprehensive care of your dog’s requirements. Regular grooming will also help improve your pet dog’s quality of life.Without a doubt, your Shih Tzu’s health and well-being are of utmost importance to you. So it is important that you take your Shih Tzu to the vets for regular health check-ups.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Shih Tzu weight then why not take a look at most stubborn dog breeds, or Shih Tzu facts.
A bewitching, tricksy familiar with a lavish fur coat, the Shih Tzu is also popular as a ‘Lion Dog’ for centuries in Chinese culture.
