When is a shih tzu puppy full grown

The shih tzu is a compact toy dog breed that has been popular as a companion animal since the days of Imperial China. Shih tzus can come in a number of different colors and markings, but all purebred shih tzus have a distinctive long double coat and reach maturity at a predictable age. From this age, the puppy may develop separation anxiety if left alone or not given enough attention. Females not spayed will experience their first heat.

However, although puppies of this age are rapidly approaching sexual maturity, if you are considering using your puppy for breeding this should be deferred until the age of 18 months. Growth will be slowing down, teething will be nearing completion and any previously excitable puppies should be calming down somewhat. Keep on asserting your pack leader position as any lapse will surely be challenged.

By 9-months-old the puppy will probably have reached his full adult height although as he bulks out his weight will continue to increase up to months. Some dogs may even add a little more weight up until 2 years. The growth rate slows down noticeably and this is the time to take the puppy off of the specially formulated puppy food that assists healthy growth and given adult formulated food in its place. Shih tzu are usually fully grown adults by 1-year of age. Generally, the male will grow slightly larger than the female.

The average lifespan of a shih tzu is 13 years and 2 months. However, with good health, good care, plenty of exercise and a healthy diet, there is every chance of a shih tzu reaching 16 years plus. I have even heard of exceptional dogs that have reached their 20th birthday. Please use the comments box below if you have any questions or thoughts about this post, about the shih tzu breed or about this website.

Alternatively, you can send a message using the contact us form. If you consider that a full-grown Shih Tzu is between 8 and 11 inches, and between 9 and 16 pounds, then it is not a surprise that you might be confused by some Shih Tzu that are larger and some that are considerably smaller.

These dogs that are larger or smaller than the average Shih Tzu size are most likely not purebred Shih Tzu. To be more accurate, they are particular dogs that have been bred in a way to purposely change their size, usually to make the dogs much smaller than the breed standard.

These small Shih Tzu are often given the fancy label of Teacup, Imperial or some other variation of a miniature Shih Tzu. This name is simply to make the pups appear more exclusive and expensive when in truth, they are more likely to have a host of health issues that will cost owners even more money in the future.

Some of these dogs might be just slightly under normal weight. This could be the result of breeding two purebred pups that were both runts of their litters. However, major problems can arise when breeders purposely aim for a full-grown Shih Tzu that is no more than five pounds. Sometimes this result is achieved by intentionally introducing a specific gene that causes dwarfism so that the Shih Tzu's bones cannot grow to their full size.

These precious pups simply aren't meant to be this small, and their tiny stature leads to severe health conditions and also makes the pups weaker.

Heart disease, brittle bones, calcium deficiencies, and major breathing difficulties are just a few of the problems miniature Shih Tzu can experience. Instead, they claim that these pups' smaller sizes are simply a result of incorrect breeding or possible pre-existing health issues. If the Shih Tzu is on the larger size, this could indicate that there was a larger breed in its ancestry, and therefore it is not considered a purebred. This does not mean that it cannot be a wonderful pet, but it is something to be aware of if you have your heart set on a purebred Shih Tzu.

Shih Tzu puppies are undoubtedly cute and full of energy, but the breed does tend to mature slowly. Therefore, if you choose an adult Shih Tzu as your new companion, you may still feel as if you have a playful puppy. A common cause is long-term contact with plastic bowls even those that are BPA-free.

Numerous times, when an adult Shih Tzu's nose has become discolored or faded, and owners switch to a a good stainless-steel bow l, things move into the other direction and eventually color comes back. Another common factor is outdoor exposure. Too much sun can cause a burn and cold winds can cause chapping. Both of these things can lead to peeling skin. When the top layer peels away it can expose a lighter or pink layer.

This can also be very tender. If your Shih Tzu's nose needs protection, you can dab a bit of balm like Natural Dog Company's Snout Soother onto it every 2 to 3 days and every day to help heal issues like peeling or cracking. Alternatively, not enough sun can cause winter nose AKC snow nose , a common issue seen with dogs in the wintertime when there are fewer daylight hours. Typically in these cases, once spring and summer come around, the nose darkens up again. There are a lot of changes that happen as Shih Tzu puppies mature into adults.

Let's look at some awesome puppy-to-adult photos. First, here are several cutie pies that had very noticeable color changes as they matured from puppies to adults Mini Mae at 3 months old and 1. And look at her now!

This is Mini Mae at 11 years old and 12 lbs. Photos of Mini Mae courtesy of Ross Merel. Lucy at 6 weeks old:. And, believe it or not, this is Lucy at 7 years old and 17 lbs. Photos of Lucy courtesy of Deanna Blanchard. Lacey as a tiny 8-week-old puppy red and white :.

And here is Lacey again at 24 months:. Photos of Lacey courtesy of Daphne Looper. Coco Puff at 2 months old and 3 lbs. And look at Coco Puff as an adult at 22 months old and 12 lbs. Photos of Coco Puff courtesy of Lucille Tillotson. Below is Teddy, at 4 months old. As you can see, his coat appears nearly black.