Shih Tzu identification: face, coat and tail
Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos and Maltese dogs are mixed up all the time, especially in a short puppy clip. Upload a photo for a free comparison, then check the face, coat and tail details below.
Also known as: Shitzu, Chrysanthemum dog
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About the Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu was developed as a palace companion in China, most likely from Tibetan dogs related to the Lhasa Apso and Chinese breeds such as the Pekingese. Its name is usually translated as ‘lion dog’. It was bred for company alone, and it shows: friendly, outgoing, happy to be carried and generally easy with visitors and other pets. FCI places it with companion dogs in group 9; AKC and KC list it in the Toy group. Many owners keep it in a short puppy cut rather than the floor-length coat.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Small
- Adult weight
- 4–7 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–16 years
- Exercise
- Low
How to recognise a Shih Tzu
- Short, square muzzle with a slightly tilted-up nose; hair growing upwards on the bridge gives the ‘chrysanthemum’ face.
- Large, round, dark eyes set wide apart, more open and prominent than a Lhasa Apso’s.
- Long, dense double coat, straight or slightly wavy, often tied in a topknot. In a puppy cut the round head and short face still give it away.
- Any colour is accepted; gold and white, black and white, brindle and parti-colours are common. A white blaze and tail tip are prized.
- Large drop ears with heavy hair, and a plumed tail carried gaily over the back.
- Sturdy body, slightly longer than tall, with a broad chest; the bite is undershot or level.
Photo tip. Take the face straight on at eye level, with hair lifted away from the eyes. Muzzle length and eye shape are what separate a Shih Tzu from a Lhasa Apso.
Shih Tzu or look-alike?
Lhasa Apso
A Lhasa has a longer muzzle, a narrower skull, almond-shaped eyes and a harder, heavier coat. The Shih Tzu’s face is shorter and rounder, with bigger, rounder eyes.
Maltese
A Maltese is always pure white with a single silky coat, a finer, longer muzzle and black-rimmed eyes. A white Shih Tzu has a broader head and a shorter face.
Pekingese
A Pekingese is heavier in front, with a broader, flatter face, a wrinkle over the nose, a mane-like ruff and a rolling gait on short, bowed front legs.
Shih Tzu mixes
Popular crosses include the Shorkie (with a Yorkshire Terrier), the Mal-Shi (with a Maltese), the Shih-poo (with a Poodle) and the Shichon (with a Bichon Frise). The round head, short face and plumed tail carry through often; a Poodle or Maltese parent can lengthen the muzzle and change the coat. In a short clip many of these dogs look alike, so the identifier shows the closest pure breeds, often Shih Tzu with the other parent.
Health and care
- As a short-faced breed, the Shih Tzu can be sensitive to heat and may snore. Keep walks gentle in hot weather and mention noisy breathing at rest to your vet.
- The prominent eyes need care: dry eye, corneal ulcers and progressive retinal atrophy are known in the breed. Keep hair away from the eyes and ask breeders for eye examination results.
- Patellar luxation and dental disease are common. Ask for patella results and brush teeth regularly; small kibble or wet food suits the short jaw.
- A full coat needs daily brushing, while a puppy cut every six to eight weeks is easier to keep. Clean the facial folds and check the hairy ear canals regularly.