Breed Info

Temperament

Playful. Eager to Please. Loving.

  • Playful and friendly
  • Close companions
  • Quiet and eager to please
  • Smart
  • Affectionate
  • Can be stubborn

Appearance

Cute & Teddy Bear-Like

Build:

  • Cute and huggable build
  • Round eyes that sparkle
  • Small

Coat Type and Color:

  • Curly
  • Short or long
  • Gray
  • Brown
  • Black
  • White

Size:

  • 8-10lbs
  • 8-13 inches tall

Exercise

Medium Activity

  • Shih Poos need moderate exercise
  • Short to medium walks
  • Playing indoors or outdoors
  • Playing with their toys and people
  • These pups enjoy agility games and other mentally challenging activities

We Recommend:

  • 40 minutes of daily activity
  • 8 miles of walking per week

The Shih Poo is a fairly new hybrid that blends the Shih Tzu and the Poodle.

The History of the Shih Tzu:

  • One of the oldest breeds
  • Favored by Chinese royals and can be traced back to the Tang dynasty- 618-907
  • During the Chinese Revolution, this breed was almost eradicated
  • Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1938

The History of the Poodle:

  • Can be traced to Roman & Egyptian times
  • The French used the variety of poodle sizes for duck hunting, sniffing out truffles and small companions
  • Used in circuses because of how quickly they learned tricks
  • Was the most popular breed in America from the 1950's to the 90's

Grooming:

  • Brush daily
  • Be on the lookout for mats
  • Visit a professional groomer 3-4 times per year
  • Wipe face to prevent staining
  • Check and clean ears weekly
  • Clip nails as needed
  • Brush teeth weekly

Training:

  • Can be challenging
  • Start early and maintain structure
  • Eager to please, so with patience and positive reinforcement your Shih Poo can be trained