Shih Poo (Shih Tzu – Poodle Mix): In-Depth Breed Profile & Characteristics
Shih Poo is the result of the crossing between a Shih Tzu and a Poodle. Very adorable to its core, it ranks among one of the highly desired hybrid breeds.
The tiny size, pleasant character, and intelligent dog form the very best of its two parent breeds into a companion most homes seek.
Hypoallergenic, it features a very affectionate sweetness nature. Also, they are excellent companions for families, singles, and allergy sufferers.
So, if you decide to bring a Shih Poo home, you’ll find this post full and informative breed overview covering everything you would want to know about their appearance, personality, care requirements, health, grooming, and much more.
Breed Overview:
So, for the ease of discussion, here is a summary of the breed in tabular form for you, pertinent information about the Shih Poo.
| Attribute | Details |
| Breed Type | Designer Dog (Hybrid) |
| Size | Small: 8-15 pounds |
| Height | 8 to 15 inches |
| Coat Type | Curly or wavy, hypoallergenic, low shedding |
| Colors | White, black, cream, brown, gray, apricot or any combination thereof |
| Life Expectancy | 12 to 15 years |
| Temperament | Friendly, affectionate, playful, intelligent, loyal |
| Good With Children | Yes, they are gentle and enjoy playing with children |
| Gets Along with Other Pets | Yes, generally compatible with other dogs and pets |
| Energy Level | Moderate to High |
| Exercise Needs | Moderate, so some daily walks and playtime are definitely in order. |
| Training Difficulty | Easy to moderate, eager to please and a bit stubborn in places, but OK, with some work here. |
| Grooming Needs | Moderate to high, brushes are often required along with periodic cutting |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes. They are believed to be hypoallergenic. |
Parent Breeds:
Knowing that the parent breeds of the Shih Poo are the Shih Tzu, and the Poodle is significant. Moreover, the two breeds have the most distinct features they bring out in their combined unique way for the Shih Poo.
- Shih Tzu: It sports a long, luxurious coat. Extremely affectionate in nature, this breed originated as a companion for Chinese royalty. They are small but sturdy, friendly dogs who do wonderfully with children or seniors in the home – very easy-going and loves to snuggle.
- Poodles: Poodles come in three sizes: Toy, Miniature, and Standard. Toy and Miniature Poodles are so much used in crossbreeding that smaller and easier-to-handle hybrids can be produced.
Additionally, poodles have been known as intelligent dogs that do not shed much and are agile. It is because of their playful, social nature that they have made excellent companions.
When bred together, the Shih Tzu and Poodle have been able to produce the Shih Poo which houses most of the desirable traits from each breed.
Appearance:
The Shih Poo is an extremely small to compact dog bred with a solid build. There is any coat mix of coats from the two parent dogs but most often turns out to be curly or wavy.
Typically, they have a soft and hypoallergenic-coated dog, that’s just another reason they become so popular in allergy sufferers’ homes.
- Size: Shih Poos are small dogs; they weigh anywhere from 8 to 15 pounds and can reach up to a shoulder height of between 8 to 15 inches. This therefore means that they are ideal for an apartment or living in homes where the space is small.
- Coat and Color: The coat would be a cross between Shih Tzu’s soft, silky fur as well as Poodle’s curly, low shedding coat. Moreover, they will have different colors like that of Shih Tzu to Poodle- white, black, cream, apricot, brown, or grey, and anything in combination.
- Face and Eyes: The Shih Poo has quite a distinctive face with relatively large, rounded eyes and a short, almost flat snout roughly the same as the Shih Tzu. These are normally dark and emotive, and it makes them pretty cute.
- Tail: Shih Poos have a plume-like tail that curls over the back of the dog, making it cuter again.
Temperament And Personality:
Shih Poos are affectionate, friendly, and playful dogs. The breed is quite social and, therefore, needs environments in which it feels included in the family activities.
- Affectionate:
A Shih Poo is somewhat affectionate as a breed in nature. In addition, this breed loves its family members a lot. As such, this tends to seek attention and become close to one’s family through snuggling or, at the bare minimum, clinging to their family human. Very good lap dog.
- Intelligent:
Being Poodle by way of heritage, Shih Poos are pretty intelligent and smart learners. This makes training much easier, although they can sometimes be a little independent or stubborn, which will make training more difficult. So, this breed responds very well to positive reinforcement.
- Child Friendly:
The Shih Poos are gentle animals, so with their compact nature and composed attitude, the small-sized canine breeds are one of the perfect breeds for any family with little kids. The children love to play and can enjoy playing together but can retreat easily for quiet time.
- Friendly With Other Pets:
Shih Poo is an animal that depicts friendliness with other pets. They are not aggressive nor rude, and it is that playfulness that leads them to be friendly with all other dogs and cats too; however, this also depends upon early socialization.
- Playful:
Shih Poos loves to play and keep active. Among many other great activities that make this dog go crazy, are playing fetch, walking around the neighborhood, or playing in the yard. Anything goes provided it lets him burn off a little energy.
- Clingy:
This is a companion breed that develops an attachment to an owner. Being a social companion, it tends to thrive much on human interplay. Being left alone can make it behave destructively and anxiously.
Training And Exercise Needs:
Shih Poos are brainy dogs, and they take command pretty well, but there is some little obstinacy that comes from the Shih Tzu nature. Sometimes, training can be fun and exciting if done well with a firm hand, but patience is extremely necessary.
- Positive Reinforcement:
Shih Poos learn best through positive reinforcement such as rewarding them through treats, praise, or even play. Punishment methods are abhorrence, which makes them react anxiously and hence creates problems during training.
Because of the early socialization of the Shih Poo, they would get properly integrated into various surroundings. Therefore, they make minimal fuss if exposed to various pets and other humans. This is done through early exposure to environments and other varied sounds.
- Simple Commands:
Shih Poos learn to sit, stay, and come easily to basic commands but also have a stubborn side. Short sessions work better than long ones since Shih Poos are prone to getting distracted.
Exercise Needs:
Despite its small size, Shih Poo is moderately active. Regular exercise will keep them healthy and happy.
- Walking: The dog will be on daily walks with the owner lasting around 20-30 minutes. They tend to love smelling around and moving about, making it a healthy way to the consume excess energy they may have left over.
- Play with Owner: In addition to their daily walks, Shih Poo loves to spend time with his owner. Their favorite games played are fetch or tug-of-war. They play in the home or yard if it is applicable.
- Mental Stimulation: They are intelligent animals and love doing activities that keep them stimulated. Puzzle toys, obedience training, and interactive games are great ways for them to keep mentally stimulated.
Grooming Needs:
Coat is one of the major things for the care of a Shih Poo. Although his coat is hypoallergenic, he needs constant grooming to prevent mats and tangles.
- Brushing:
Brush your Shih Poo 3-4 times a week. This is going to depend on whether your dog inherited the longer, more textured coat from the Shih Tzu parent.
If it does, this is going to mean a lot of brushing to prevent mats and tangles. The curlier coat from the Poodle is probably easier to brush but will still need to be brushed.
- Bathing:
Bathe your Shih Poo every 4-6 weeks. Over-bathing will dry up their skin. Only bathe if necessary; a mild dog-specific shampoo works best for the health of the coat and skin.
- Trimmings:
The Shih Poo’s coat has to be trimmed again and again, not too long or unruly. Most owners like a “puppy cut” that leaves the coat at a somewhat shorter length, rather more manageable.
- Ear Care:
The ears need to be cleaned regularly. Use a damp cloth to gently clean them and check if they are red or have too much wax on them.
- Nail Trimming:
Shih Poo’s nails need to be trimmed so that they don’t overgrow, which hurts and causes the joints. Every 2-3 weeks.
Health Issues:
Generally, Shih Poo is considered a healthy breed of dog. However, being dogs themselves, they too are not entirely immune to specific health issues. Some common issues that might appear include the following:
- Dental Issues:
Though Shih Poo is a small breed dog and, hence, is likely to have dental problems in the form of gum diseases or tooth decay, if dental care with brushing is undertaken properly, then most of the issues will not occur.
- Patellar Luxation:
This is a condition whereby the kneecap luxates out of its normal position. It is not always serious but can be lame or painful. Keeping regular exercise and a healthy weight reduces this risk.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA):
This disease slowly destroys the dog’s vision until he or she becomes blind. PRA is hereditary; proper vet checkups and screening should be done regularly.
- Allergies:
Since Shih Poos inherit allergy sensitivities from the Poodle parent, they could also be sensitive to environmental allergens, such as pollen or dust mites. This can cause itchy skin or digestive issues. Check on this dog closely and report any health issues to your vet.
- Ear Infections:
Shih Poos are very prone to infections in the ears since they are floppy-eared dogs. Dogs require constant care and cleaning to keep their ears dry and handle infection control.
Is Shih Poo The Dog For You?
These are great companion dogs for any person: for families, bachelors or bachelorettes, and any allergy sufferer.
Enough proper grooming, excellent training, and attention will be required and rewarded with a great loyal dog.
Appealing to whatever might attract attention toward the beauty of appearance, an outgoing personality, or a hypoallergenic coat through this Shih Poo is a cause for delight.
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