Shih poos are a cross between a shih tzu and a toy poodle. While some shih tzu breeders breed a poodle to a shih tzu to create first-generation shih poos, it's also common practice to breed shih poos to one another to create multigenerational dogs.
Shih-Poo Personality
The Shih-Poo will inherit characteristics from both parent breeds. For a good understanding of them, it's a great idea to learn all about their Shih Tzu and Poodle parents. Shih Tzus can be stubborn, but what they lack in trainability, they make up for in personality ten fold.
The American Kennel Club recognized the shih tzu in 1969. The "poo" in shih-poo comes from the poodle, the national dog of France. Despite the affinity for poodles in France, these dogs were developed and bred as duck hunters in Germany.
Shih Poos aren't purebred dogs or a breed in their own right. The Shih Poo isn't recognized by breed organizations like the American Kennel Club but that doesn't mean they're mutts.
The Shih-Poo is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Shih Tzu and the Poodle. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed.
The Shihpoo is a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Toy or Miniature Poodle. He may have the curly coat of a Poodle or the long, straight coat of a Shih Tzu, but he always has a cute, alert expression and a sturdy body.
People commonly associate the Shih Tzu with China, but they actually came from China's western neighbor, Tibet, which was a sovereign nation until the 1950s. Tibet probably sent dogs to the Chinese royalty as gifts. The Chinese then bred them with Pekingese or Pugs to create the modern-day Shih Tzu.
Shih Tzus are purebred dogs, while Shih Poos are born when a Shih Tzu and Toy Poodle mate. This makes Shih Tzus a little more predictable than Shih Poo puppies, who may come with some surprises!
Shih-Poo Breed Appearance
He can be seen in coat colors of gray, brown, black and white. The amber eyes of the Shih-Poo will usually be round and sparkle with an air of mischief, and being a very cute combination of his parents, he will appear to be a huggable teddy bear.
The average Shih Poo lives for 12 to 17 years so they have one of the longest life expectancies of all Poodle mix breeds. There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a Shih Poo including size, gender, generation and whether they are desexed or intact.
Merle Shih Poo Price
They are the most expensive Shih Poo coat color as they are the rarest. Not many people breed Merle Shih Poos.
They make excellent companion pets. Also sometimes known as the Shoodle or the Pooshi, Shih Poos have been popular with owners and breeders for over a decade, but no one is quite sure of when these toy dogs were first bred.
Shih Tzu are known as relatively quiet dogs. There's a good chance that Shihpoo can inherit this trait from their Shih Tzu parent. The Asian breed are known for been quiet dogs that are laidback. These dogs are usually quiet calm, which could be perfect for dog owners living in apartment blocks or in city dwellings.
The Shih Tzu probably has ancient roots in Tibet as the smaller cousin of the Lhasa Apso, but the breed was developed and perfected in China. The elegant and docile little "lion dog" was highly prized by the Chinese court for centuries, living a life of luxury in the royal palace.
The Shih Tzu shares more DNA with wolves than most other breeds. The only breed group with more shared wolf DNA is the Nordic spitz group (Huskies, Samoyeds, and Malamutes). The breed almost went extinct in the early 1900s after the death of Empress Tzu Hsi.
True to their adorable-sounding name, Teddy Bear dogs are a hybrid or designer cross breed of a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frise or, alternatively, a Shih Tzu and a Maltese.
What is the rarest color in a Shih Tzu? Although black is one of the most dominant genes, a completely black Shih Tzu, without any white markings, is arguably the least common. Similarly, a pure white Shih Tzu is only seen rarely and a white puppy with black markings is virtually unheard of.
Shih poos, as a result, are often playful, affectionate and quick-witted little charmers, although they may inherit their shih tzu parent's willfulness. Because of this, they often need a firm but patient guide in training, and might not be the best choice for first-time dog parents.
Still, it is actually extremely unusual to have a litter of these solid black pups. While the American Kennel Club recognizes solid black as a standard color among the Shih Tzu, finding an entirely black one is pretty rare. Solid black Shih Tzus are indeed rare, as are any solid color would be for this breed.
The average Shih Poo price ranges between $1200 and $4000 when adopting a puppy from a reputable breeder in the US. Of course, the Shih Poo cost varies between different states. As with anything, their price is usually tied to the overall cost of living in the area.
Shihpoo can vary in appearance depending on whether they take after their Poodle parent or Shih Tzu parent. Therefore a Shihpoo could have a curly, silky, short-haired or long-haired coat. Shihpoo coat colors could range from gray, black, brown and white.
Eggs are perfectly safe for dogs, Eggs are a great source of nutrition for your canine companion. They are high in protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and fatty acids that help support your dog inside and out.
The rarest Shih Tzu colors are: pure black, liver, and silver. A point to note is that for a Shih Tzu to be considered black it must have no other colors; a dog with even a slight shade of white is not black but two-color.
Bluey, an Australian cattle dog, entered the Guinness Book of World Records by living to the ripe old age of 29 years and 5 months, setting the record for oldest dog ever. The record was set in 1939 and still stands, but many Australian Cattle Dogs have tried to beat it by living good long lives of their own.