Teacup Shih Tzu: Health, Diet, LifeSpan, Temperament...

Group: Toy

Also known as: Teacup Lion Dog, Teacup Chrysanthemum Dog, Tiny Imperial Shih Tzu, Tiny Chinese Shih Tzu, Toy Shih Tzu, Teacup Shih Tzu, Chinese Imperial Dogs

About Teacup Shih Tzu

Country of Origin, History of the breed The Shih Tzu is believed to have descended from a cross between the Lhasa Apso or Tibetan mountain dog and Pekingese. Evidence of this dog’s existence can be traced to documents, paintings and objects d’art dating from A.D. 624. The Shih Tzu is the oldest and smallest of the Tibetan holy dogs. This little dog was the favorite house pet of the Chinese royals for most of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 A.D.).

Every Shih Tzu today can be traced to 14 dogs which were imported to England for breeding in 1930. The Shih Tzu Club of England formed in 1935. During World War II soldiers brought some Shih Tzus to the United States. They were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1969.

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Check Your Teacup Shih Tzu's Temperament

Training your Teacup Shih Tzu will be fast, easy and simple, if you know whether your Dog is aggressive, docile or friendly. Use this Free Dog Personality Test to peek into how your Teacup Shih Tzu's mind works.

Teacup Shih Tzu Calorie Calculator

Do you know how many calories your Teacup Shih Tzu needs every day and how many cups of food you should be giving it every day? Click here to use our Teacup Shih Tzu Calorie Calculator.

A General Appearance of the Teacup Shih Tzu

The Teacup Shih Tzu has a wide, very round, hairy head which is in proportion to the rest of his body. This is often called a “babydoll face.” Because of the way his fur grows in all directions around his face, he is often referred to as the “chrysanthemum-faced dog.” His black eyes are round and expressive. His muzzle is square, short, and well-cushioned ending in a button nose.

His short legs are well-muscled and well-padded. He has a heavily-plumed tail that turns up over his body. The Shih Tzu should look proud with a distinctively arrogant carriage. At all sizes, the Shih Tzu should be proportioned to be slightly longer than he is tall (at the withers, or shoulder). His movement should be smooth and flowing, and appear effortless.

The Teacup Shih Tzu is a cobby dog with a sturdy chest. Because the weight is generally in the bone structure and muscles that go with those bones, a Teacup Shih Tzu that is the same size as a Teacup Yorkie will weigh more than the Yorkie.

When considering a Teacup Shih Tzu, find out how to choose a happy, healthy dog or puppy.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog.

Although the Teacup Shih Tzu is sweet and playful, he is not afraid to stand up for himself. His name means “lion” and he lives up to it as a fierce protector of his property which can include his people, toys, and house and yard. Normally he is very sweet and loving. He loves to play. Youngsters have considerable energy which needs to be directed. However, he loves to sit in laps and will be delighted to stay there all evening. They also make great travel companions and are easy to take on trips. He is very happy and alert, friendly (if socialized well), and normally trusting.

A Teacup Shih Tzu should be given several places he can safely sleep without being stepped on or sat on and where he will feel cuddled. He should also be given plenty of his owner’s attention. He can suffer from stress-related disorders if he does not get enough attention from his owners for a considerable period of time. When excited or sleeping, he may snort, wheeze, or snore.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

Teacup Shih Tzus can easily accommodate to apartment living with being potty trained to use a litter box or potty pads if necessary. All their play needs can be met with indoor play. However, a small fenced yard keeps a Teacup Shih Tzu interested and occupied for periods of time each day. They enjoy being able to look out a window or door throughout the day. They are sensitive to the sun and heat, so long walks in the sun or high humidity are not advised. They should not be left outside alone for long periods. A daily walk is greatly enjoyed and helps with the energy level for the day.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

Because Teacup Shih Tzus love people of all types, including children of all ages, they are appropriate for homes with children. They will enjoy being played with and cuddled by the children. Simply remember to monitor the children to make sure they do not squeeze this tiny dog too tightly or smother it or toss it around like a stuffed toy. They can be injured easily.

How to take care of the Teacup Shih Tzu Puppy? Feed a Teacup Shih Tzu at regular intervals. As a puppy he may need 3-5 meals a day to keep his tummy full and his energy up. Sometimes the breeder will recommend a supplement if he is especially tiny. As an adult, two meals a day will suffice. Never force a Shih Tzu to eat because he will eat when he is hungry. If he is crated at night, put some food and water in the crate.

The Teacup Shih Tzu should be confined to a safe room using baby or puppy gates and given safe chew toys for his own safety. Puppies should have a couple of short walks a day and at least one short training session a day.

Teacup puppies are fragile and should be given a rest after 30 minutes of play. Keep a strict watch on children when they are handling puppies until you are confident of their ability to handle the puppy appropriately.

Your Teacup Shih Tzu will be a happy, well-adjusted companion when you sign up for and carry out our Free Shih Tzu Training Course.

Training

Although Shih Tzus can easily become stubborn or set in their ways, they are easily trained by an owner with patience and persistence. They enjoy pleasing their owner and are very loyal, so if training is started early and continued consistently, they will be good companions.

A Teacup Shih Tzu can be housetrained quickly and effectively as a young puppy. Using positive reinforcement (praise, playtimes, treats), the owner can easily train a puppy to a variety of commands. To help you with housetraining, sign up for our Free Tips on Housetraining Your Shih Tzu.

Some Teacup Shih Tzus are barkers, so should be trained early to respond to a voice command to be quiet.

Activity Level

The Teacup Shih Tzu can satisfy his need for activity by playing indoors several times a day. However, he will greatly enjoy a daily walk. He is really interested in all types of things going on outdoors.

If you have two dogs, they will love playing together and chasing each other around the house and yard.

Do not let the Teacup Shih Tzu become lazy or he will gain weight and become unhealthy.

To make training fun for both you and your dog, sign up for our step-by-step guide on Shih Tzu Training now.

Coat Color

All colors of coat are seen and all color combinations are possible. Their coats can contain white, black, brindle, liver, red, gold, and silver in varying amounts.

Coat Type

The Shih Tzu has a long, flowing double coat that easily reaches to the floor unless he is kept clipped. A show dog’s coat should flow and ruffle luxuriously as he walks. The hair on top of the head must be tied up to keep it out of his eyes.

Size

The use of the words “imperial” and “tiny teacup” and “teacup” denote Shih Tzus that are smaller than the AKC minimum standard of 9 pounds and 8 inches at the shoulder. Since the Shih Tzu is a toy dog, it is redundant to call the small ones “toy Shih Tzu” or “tiny toy Shih Tzu,” but you often read or hear those terms. Other names include “miniature Shih Tzu” and pocket or purse Shih Tzus. There is no standardization among those terms and what size they denote. They vary in adult size from 3-9 pounds, with most in the 5-7 pound range. Because of their bone structure and wide chest, adults under 4 pounds are rare.

Health and Care

Teacup Shih Tzus are vulnerable to ear, eye, and respiratory problems. Because of their tendency to jump on and off of furniture, they are prone to spine problems and knee problems. Other health issues includes spinal disc disease, entropion, portacaval shunt, renal dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), patellar luxation, and trichiasis.

All small dogs are prone to tooth and gum problems. To avoid these issues, clean your dog’s teeth twice a week and have annual check-ups and cleaning by your vet. Also inquire about new vaccines.

Diet greatly affects dental and mouth health. Learn more about good diets for Shih Tzus.

Weight: Less than 9 lbs

Height: Less than 8 inches

Litter Size: 2-4 puppies

Life span: 12-15 years

Grooming

Teacup Shih Tzus need regular grooming because they have a long, luxurious, flowing coat. Many people keep them in a “puppy cut” which allows the owner to bathe the dog weekly and brush him 3-4 times a day in a short amount of time. If the coat is long, they will need to be brushed daily. Whatever type of cut you choose, you will need to schedule your dog to go to the groomer at least every 6 weeks.

The Teacup Shih Tzus nails should be trimmed at least monthly, ideally every 2-3 weeks. Their ears should be cleaned with an ear cleaning solution. All small dogs are prone to gum infections so their teeth should be cleaned twice a week. Check with your vet for a vaccination against this infection. During the weekly bath, check their anal glands and clean them as necessary.