Breeds / Small
Shih-Poo puppies
The Shih-Poo is smart, friendly and confident, adaptable to flats or houses, and gets on with children and other pets when socialised early. Around 30 minutes of activity a day is enough for most.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Shih Tzu and Poodle
- Adult weight 3.6 to 8.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 8 to 18 lb
- Adult height 20 to 28 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming High
- Typical lifespan 12 to 16 years
A cross, not a breed. The Shih-Poo is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and muzzle length vary and can favour either parent, and a first cross of two purebred parents is less predictable in coat than a later generation bred back to a Poodle. A puppy that inherits the Shih Tzu face can inherit its breathing and eye problems too, so judge the individual puppy rather than the label.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Shih-Poo puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Brachycephalic airway problems where the short Shih Tzu muzzle is inherited, assessed on conformation and exercise tolerance
- Patellar luxation, identified from lameness or a bunny hopping gait and graded on orthopaedic examination
- Progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and dry eye, detected by DNA test, eye examination and tear production testing
- Periodontal disease in the crowded jaw, found at annual dental examination
- Legg Calve Perthes disease, diagnosed by hip radiographs in a young lame dog
- Von Willebrand disease, detectable by DNA test and a clotting factor assay
From Shih-Poo breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/shih-poo. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Shih-Poo puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Shih-Poo.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.6 to 8.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other small breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.