The Shih Tzu is a sturdy dog with a small muzzle and normally has large dark brown eyes. The Chinese have described their head shapes as “owl head” and “lion head”, and their mouth as “frog mouths”. They have a soft and long double coat that will tangle and mat easily if not brushed at least every 2 or 3 days. A Shih Tzu should stand no more than 26.7cm (101⁄2“) at the withers and with an ideal weight of 4.0 to 7.5kg (9 to 17 lb). Floppy ears are covered with long fur, and the heavily furred tail is carried curled over the back. The coat may be of any color, black,  though white and with blazes of grey are shih tzu frequently seen. A very noticeable feature is the underbite, which is required in the breed standard.

Appearance

Because of their long coat and fast-growing hair, regular grooming is necessary, which may be expensive. The traditional long silky coat, which tends to reach the floor, requires daily brushing to avoid tangles. The coat can be clipped short to simplify care, but still requires frequent brushing. For showing, the coat must be left in its natural state, though trimming for neatness around the feet and anus is allowed. The shorter cut is typically called a “puppy cut” ^] or a “teddy bear cut” when the puppy cut is accompanied by a fuller, rounder face, resembling a stuffed animal.

The Shih Tzu is a small breed of dog with a wide range of coat colors, from black to gold. Standard recognized Shih Tzu colors include black, blue, red, brindle, liver, silver, and gold. Other color variations may also be available like Albino and White, though they may not be recognized by the American Kennel Club. In addition to solid colors, certain breeders are breeding tonal variations in each of these color types such as lighter or darker shades

Breeding

The Shih Tzu will have 3 to 4 puppies at one time on average. Older Shih Tzus will tend to have more puppies per litter. 20% of Shih Tzus give birth via C-section. Young female Shih Tzus will go into their first heat around six months old, repeating the process twice a year unless they are spayed. Traditionally, the breeding process for a Shih Tzu is complicated and time-consuming. The process required constant attention from the owner during the entirety of pregnancy, birth, and the tending of the litter.

Health

A number of health issues, some of them hereditary, have been found in individual Shih Tzu, and are listed below. The popularity of the breed has allowed for extremely poor breeding in general, leading to generalized and lifelong diseases, often from a fairly early age. shih tzu maltese puppies always shih tzu puppies colorado cheap