How to spot quality when looking for a Shih Tzu puppy?  

It is easy for breeders to spot quality puppies and difficult for regular individuals and families to spot and see the quality of a quality Shih Tzu.  We created this page to help you spot quality and the quality of our Shih Tzus. .  This will also help explain why we price our puppies as quality Shih Tzus.  If you are looking for that original Chinese royal Shih Tzu look, please read the following ways to spot a breed that was originally deemed royalty and lived in temples.  

Newborn Head Shape

 The newborn puppies should have a golf ball head shape with little to no visible snout or mussel.  I have attached a newborn photo and  5 week old photos as examples.  When examining the mother and father you can use your thumb finger to determine the depth of the nose.  The depth of the nose should not come out more than thumb distance.  

Tail Curl 

At about 5-6 weeks puppies begin to have a tail curl.  Watch for a tail curl when searching for a puppy.   Shih Tzu do not have docked tails.  AKC breed standard guidelines do state that  Shih Tzu’s tails need to set high on their backs with heavily plumped hair.   The tail should carry the curve well over the back of the adult.  Some ask, "should the tail be like a pug tail with a circled loop?"  No,  they have one curve in the tail that hovers high over the back. 

The Size of Quality Shih Tzu

The size of our Quality Shih Tzu is a great size for children.  It is sturdy enough to play with and easy to carry around.  Shih Tzus are not too fragile because we do not breed toy.  The term Imperial Shih Tzu is just a term that is made up and has no validity.  There is no credible definition  that can say one dog is imperial compared to another.   There is no set of standards for the Imperial name and is just a fancy way of saying the breeder does not know what he or she is talking about.   The Shih Tzu standard weight is between 9-16 pounds.  If a Shih Tzu is 7-8lbs it is not generally a concern.    There are issues that can take place if the Shih Tzu is a great deal smaller than standard.  When they are of the weight between 2-5lbs these dogs often have health issues, such as hypoglycemia,  luxating patella, hip issues, and other heath issues.   We breed our dogs to be right around the 7-10 lbs mark.  We feel this is a good size for Shih Tzus.  Because our Shih Tzu are on the lighter end of the scale without being toy, we believe this eliminates health issues and allows us to still register with AKC.  

Key factors when adopting?

Look at the parents and also check the compressed mussel and flat snout.  Make sure your Shih Tzu has a flat face.  Shih Tzu should not look like pomeranian or yorkie at any time newborn to adult.   These breeds(yorkie and pomeranians) have long snouts.   A compressed mussel is a key factor and making sure your dog is a quality Shih Tzu.   Make sure your tail has a curl and also check the hair on your Shih Tzu.  Shih Tzus are not created equal just because it says AKC does not mean that the breeder is breeding for quality. They might just be breeding for quality.  We do not inbreed our lines.  We have a saying around our house, "We breed the best and leave the inbreeding to the rest."    
Make sure you are taking the time to look at the parents and your adopted Shih Tzu for a quality Shih Tzu.   

Good luck with finding your prefect fur baby!!!!  

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