Shih Tzu Size
We are a Shih Tzu Breeder of the smaller size or Imperial Shih Tzu.
The Shih Tzu can be referred to as Tiny or Teacup, Imperial Shih Tzu, and Standard Shih Tzu. Small Shih Tzu referred to as Tiny or Teacup Imperial Shih Tzu range in size from 3-6 lbs. at maturity. Small Imperial Shih Tzu range in size from 6-9 lbs. at maturity. The standard Shih Tzu, which is the Shih Tzu breed standard in the show ring range in size from 9-16 lbs. at maturity.
The early ancestors of the Chinese Imperial Court were given the Shih Tzu as a gift of great honor. The Shih Tzu would lie across the feet of the Emperor and Empress as they would take care of court business to keep their feet warm. At one time it was the fashion for the tiny Shih Tzu to be carried in the Imperial’s kimono sleeves to keep them warm. This is how the smaller Shih Tzu got the name“Imperial Shih Tzu”.
Imperial Shih Tzu are like premature human babies and can take longer to develop. Their soft spot takes longer to close than the larger Shih Tzu, sometimes up to 6 months or longer and this can be normal for their tiny size. Their puppy teeth may take longer to come in. Imperial Shih Tzu often do not hit sexual maturity until over 1 yr old, and the testicles may not come down as early as the larger ShihTzu.
At birth a true Imperial Shih Tzu is not a “runt” and is most of the time the same weight and can be even larger than their litter mates. It takes weeks after birth to see a difference in their growth rates. While a larger Shih Tzu puppy’s growth rate continues the same, an imperial Shih Tzu’s weight slows down dramatically. There is no sure way to know if a Shih Tzu puppy will stay small or have a growth spurt. There is a chart that can help determine a puppy’s adult weight.
At 8 wks of age, take the puppy’s weight and multiply by 3
At 10 wks of age, take the puppy’s weight X 2 and add a pound
At 12 wks of age, take the puppy’s weight X 2
You can also chart your puppy’s weight at www.puppyweights.com
The older the Shih Tzu puppy, the more accurate you can estimate their adult weight. Usually, the height of your Shih Tzu puppy at 7 months, is the height you can expect it to stay. A Shih Tzu puppy can still gain weight from the age of 7 months to a year old. The above chart is just a guideline. You must take in to consideration the Shih Tzu puppy’s parents and grandparents weight. It is not possible for anyone to know exactly what a Shih Tzu puppy will weigh at adulthood.
