- The Shih-poo is a cross-breed or “designer” dog breed which mixes the Poodle and Shih-Tzu dog breeds. This produces a smart, friendly and loyal dog that makes a great companion for most people.
- The Shih-Poo is a newer cross-breed dog which combines desirable traits of both the Shih-Tzu and the Poodle. They are an excellent choice for family members who have dog allergies.
- The Poodle has two extremely desirable traits that most dog owners want. Firstly, they are recognized as one of the smartest dog breeds in existence, along with German Shepherds and Border Collies. The second attribute that is highly coveted is their single coat, low shed, hypoallergenic fur. The look of the Poodle is very specific and not every-ones favorite. Many people would like to extend the desirable traits of the poodle into other breeds that they enjoy. Thus the cross-breeding process has found the Poodle being used in many variations. The Shih-poo takes the history and quality of the Poodle breed and works to fuse it into the Shih-Tzu. It helps to reduce the breathing issues and temperature sensitivity that some Shih Tzus have. The Shih-poo is a relatively new cross-breed, so the results may vary.
- The Shih-poo will receive traits from both parents. Size will also be dependent on parents. The coat colors will be a combination of their parents colors, and the coat itself will be long and either straight, curly or some combination in-between. An average weight for the breed is approximately 10 pounds, but they can range anywhere from 5 to 15 depending on which parent they take more of their characteristics from. Similarly, their height ranges from 8-12 inches at the shoulder.
- Shih-poo share a range of temperaments between the full extents of both the Poodle and Shih-tzu breeds. The general traits that you can expect for the Shih-poo breed are that they are active, affectionate, loyal and loving. They are not good watch-dogs or guard-dogs, but they will bark at times to alert. In general, Shih-poos are not for homes with small children, though some homes have been able to acclimate them to this situation. They will do well with older children, other dogs and other pets. This is helped with early and regular socialization. Shih-poo can suffer from separation anxiety; they do not do well when left alone for long periods of time. Lack of mental exercise and interaction can lead to many destructive behaviors and lots of barking.
- Shih-poos are relatively new, so as you can see numbers are general ranges. They can live anywhere from 12-17 years. In general they loose any of the possible health problems of either breed, though, as with any cross, issues from either parent are possible to a degree. As we discussed, the poodle traits tend to lessen or completely eliminate any of the breathing issues found in the Shih-Tzu side of the dog. These are not very active dogs, so heavy activity families are probably not the best for these dogs. The Shih-poo is a generally healthy dog breed.