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Shih Tzu ID page

You are welcome to print this flyer (back to back works well) to utilize for identification purposes in shelters or rescue efforts.

To recognize a Shih Tzu that ends up in rescue can be quite trying. There is a standard for the breed that is the ideal. But most of the rescues are those that are purchased in pet stores or bred by back yard breeders and they are not the ideal, or near the standard.

Puppy millers like to use a Lhasa mom and a Shih Tzu dad as the litters are larger and the bottom line bigger. Sometimes the get from these breedings are referred to as poorly bred Shih Tzu but they are in actuality cross bred dogs.

The standard states that a Shih Tzu head should appear round from any angle. The is a domed head, padded muzzle and a nose that the top of is level with the bottom of the eye rims. And the nose is less than an inch in length. The eyes should be large and round. But this is the ideal.

For a rescue, if the head is domed, and the eyes are round, that could be the clue that it is a Shih Tzu, but if the nose is down, or low and too long, and the eyes are round but small, then this could be a poorly bred Shih Tzu. If the skull is flatter or the eyes almond and the nose really low and longer, then it could be a Lhasa or a Shih Tzu/Lhasa cross.

The ideal Shih Tzu is not a square dog, but slightly rectangular. The height at the withers or shoulder blades to the floor is slightly less than the length of the withers to the tail set. A poorly bred dog can be very long and not fit that description. The legs of a poorly bred dog can also be short, or very long. A well bred one will have the neck and legs in balance. Long neck, long legs or short neck, short legs.

The colors of the Shih Tzu and the Lhasa are the same so that is not a way to tell the difference. The hair is very much the same texture also. The bite in the Shih Tzu should be undershot, which means that the lower teeth should be in front of the upper ones. The Lhasa has a level or a slightly undershot bite.

The reason that I have both here is that many find it difficult to tell the difference between the breeds. And it is harder with a cross or a poorly bred Shih Tzu.

The temperament of one that is cross bred can be that of a Shih Tzu or a Lhasa. The Shih Tzu is a companion dog and should be happy and outgoing. They are a people dog and will attach themselves to anyone who is good to them. The Lhasa is not that way, usually. The are more of a one person dog, and then will owe allegiance to the rest of the family but do not make friends as fast as the Shih Tzu does.