Shih Tzu Size Guide (Teacup, Imperial, Toy, Mini & Standard)

The Shih Tzu is a purebred dog originating from Tibet over 2000 years ago. There are five sizes of Shih Tzu that breeders refer to including Teacup, Imperial, Toy, Mini & Standard. While it may seem like there are so many sizes in reality there are only two distinct sizes. Teacup, Imperial, Toy and Miniature Shih Tzu are all the same size and Standard is the largest size.

If you are interested in Teacup, Imperial, Toy, Mini or Standard Shih Tzus keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about these sizes!

Table of Contents

Teacup Shih Tzu

What Is A Teacup Shih Tzu?

Teacup Shih Tzus are the smallest size of the Shih Tzu however they are an unofficial size. They originates from a cross between two Standard Shih Tzus that are on the lower end of the normal size range. Breeders usually take the runts of two different Shih Tzu litters and breed them together to create smaller and smaller sized Shih Tzu puppies until they consistently get the teacup size.

Teacup Shih Tzus are the same size as Imperial, Toy or Mini Shih Tzus however “Teacup Shih Tzu” is the most common name for this size. There are so many names for the same size Shih Tzu as it is an unofficial size and breeders use different names for marketing purposes. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and other kennel clubs do not recognize Teacup Shih Tzus as there are concerns surroundings the ethics of breeding dogs this small.

Overall, the breeding practice is unnatural and many breeders do it to have a marketing edge. Often, the Shih Tzus that are selected for breedings are smaller than normal because of a medical condition or a birth defect, leading to further health risks with each successive generation.

Teacup Shih Tzu Size

Teacup Shih Tzus get to a height of 6 inches (15.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 7 and 8 pounds (3.2kg to 3.6kg) when fully grown. They are the same size as Imperial, Toy and Mini Shih Tzus which are all the smallest size of Shih Tzu.

Once your puppy is fully grown you’ll need to start investing in dog products that you’ll keep for their whole life such as:

A full size dog crate so they have their own cozy den to sleep in – consider a dog crate pad to make it that much comfier!
An adult sized dog raincoat to keep them dry during wet weather
An adult sized dog life jacket to help with swimming in lakes and oceans
An adult sized dog jacket for cold winter weather
A dog cooling vest if you live in a hot climate
High quality no-pull dog harness to reduce stress on their neck while walking
And other similar products

Teacup Shih Tzu Temperament

Teacup Shih Tzus were originally bred as a companion dog so they are very friendly and lively. They love getting lots of attention and are often described as being a “look-at-me-and-love-me” type of dog. Due to their extremely small size Teacup Shih Tzus make excellent lap dogs.

They are also quite intelligent so training is straightforward. Nevertheless, there are a few things you need to start training them on straight away such as barking and being stubborn as they are known to be a vocal dog breed.

Teacup Shih Tzu Lifespan

Teacup Shih Tzus have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years. Their lifespan is significantly shorter than Standard Shih Tzus as they suffer from many health issues due to their tiny size. They are also highly likely to suffer from a fatal injury as they have very fragile bones and not much muscle mass to support their skeletal system.

Teacup Shih Tzu Price

Teacup Shih Tzus cost between $3000USD and $7000USD. Despite their high risk of suffering from serious health issues due to their small size, they still sell for exorbitant prices as they are a designer dog breed. Another reason why they are so expensive is because there are so few of them in each litter. Additionally, not many breeders bred them so it can be difficult finding one.

Teacup Shih Tzu Breeders

If you are looking for a Shih Tzu breeder, consider PuppySpot where you can use our discount code PUPPY300 for $300 dollars off any dog! Check out the adorable Shih Tzu puppies that are currently available here!

PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over 200,000 puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! You won’t regret having a look at their Shih Tzu puppies here as they are so cute!

Imperial Shih Tzu

What Is An Imperial Shih Tzu?

Imperial Shih Tzu is another name for a Teacup Shih Tzu. They are the smallest size of Shih Tzu that was originally created by breeding Shih Tzu runts together until breeders consistently got a smaller sized Shih Tzu. Imperial Shih Tzus are also called Chinese Imperial Dogs.

Imperial Shih Tzu Size

Imperial Shih Tzus get to a height of 6 inches (15.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 7 and 8 pounds (3.2kg to 3.6kg) when fully grown. They are the same size as Teacup, Toy and Mini Shih Tzus which are all the smallest size of Shih Tzu.

Imperial Shih Tzu Temperament

Imperial Shih Tzus were originally bred as a companion dog so they are very friendly and lively. They love getting lots of attention and are often described as being a “look-at-me-and-love-me” type of dog. Due to their extremely small size Imperial Shih Tzus make excellent lap dogs.

Imperial Shih Tzu Lifespan

Imperial Shih Tzus have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years. Their lifespan is significantly shorter than Standard Shih Tzus as they suffer from many health issues due to their tiny size. They are also highly likely to suffer from a fatal injury as they have very fragile bones and not much muscle mass to support their skeletal system.

Imperial Shih Tzu Price

Imperial Shih Tzus cost between $3000USD and $7000USD. Despite their high risk of suffering from serious health issues due to their small size, they still sell for exorbitant prices as they are a designer dog breed. Another reason why they are so expensive is because there are so few of them in each litter. Additionally, not many breeders bred them so it can be difficult finding one.

Toy Shih Tzu

What Is A Toy Shih Tzu?

Toy Shih Tzu is another name for the Teacup, Imperial and Mini Shih Tzu. They are the smallest size of Shih Tzu. Toy Shih Tzus are made by breeding the smallest dogs of two different standard size Shih Tzu litters until they consistently produce the Toy Shih Tzu size.

The reason why a Shih Tzu may be called a “Toy Shih Tzu” instead of a “Teacup Shih Tzu” is because teacup breeds have a bad reputation for being the result of unethical breeding practices. Some breeders have decided to call them “Toy Shih Tzus” to make it sound like they are breeding a different type of Shih Tzu. It is mainly a marketing tactic. In most cases, this size of Shih Tzu is called “Teacup” or “Imperial”.

Toy Shih Tzu Size

Toy Shih Tzus get to a height of 6 inches (15.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 7 and 8 pounds (3.2kg to 3.6kg) when fully grown. They are the same size as Teacup, Imperial and Mini Shih Tzus which are all the smallest size of Shih Tzu.

Toy Shih Tzu Temperament

Toy Shih Tzus were originally bred as a companion dog so they are very friendly and lively. They love getting lots of attention and are often described as being a “look-at-me-and-love-me” type of dog. Due to their extremely small size Toy Shih Tzus make excellent lap dogs.

Toy Shih Tzu Lifespan

Toy Shih Tzus have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years. Their lifespan is significantly shorter than Standard Shih Tzus as they suffer from many health issues due to their tiny size. They are also highly likely to suffer from a fatal injury as they have very fragile bones and not much muscle mass to support their skeletal system.

Toy Shih Tzu Price

Toy Shih Tzus cost between $3000USD and $7000USD. Despite their high risk of suffering from serious health issues due to their small size, they still sell for exorbitant prices as they are a designer dog breed. Another reason why they are so expensive is because there are so few of them in each litter. Additionally, not many breeders bred them so it can be difficult finding one.

Toy Shih Tzu Breeders

Mini Shih Tzu

What Is A Mini Shih Tzu?

“Mini Shih Tzu” is another name for the same size dog as a Teacup, Imperial or Toy Shih Tzu. They are the smallest Shih Tzu size. Mini Shih Tzus are made by breeding the runts of two different standard size Shih Tzu litters together until they consistently get the Mini Shih Tzu size.

Like the Toy Shih Tzu, naming the smallest Shih Tzu size a “Mini Shih Tzu” is mainly a marketing tactic to avoid the bad reputation surrounding teacup breeds.

Mini Shih Tzu Size

Mini Shih Tzus get to a height of 6 inches (15.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 7 and 8 pounds (3.2kg to 3.6kg) when fully grown. They are the same size as Teacup, Imperial and Toy Shih Tzus which are all the smallest size of Shih Tzu.

Chocolate Poodle Guide – Everything You Need To Know!

Mini Shih Tzu Temperament

Mini Shih Tzus were originally bred as a companion dog so they are very friendly and lively. They love getting lots of attention and are often described as being a “look-at-me-and-love-me” type of dog. Due to their extremely small size Mino Shih Tzus make excellent lap dogs.

Mini Shih Tzu Lifespan

Mini Shih Tzus have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years. Their lifespan is significantly shorter than Standard Shih Tzus as they suffer from many health issues due to their tiny size. They are also highly likely to suffer from a fatal injury as they have very fragile bones and not much muscle mass to support their skeletal system.

Mini Shih Tzu Price

Mini Shih Tzus cost between $3000USD and $7000USD. Despite their high risk of suffering from serious health issues due to their small size, they still sell for exorbitant prices as they are a designer dog breed. Another reason why they are so expensive is because there are so few of them in each litter. Additionally, not many breeders bred them so it can be difficult finding one.

Mini Shih Tzu Breeders

Standard Shih Tzu

What Is A Standard Shih Tzu?

Standard Shih Tzus are the largest and most common Shih Tzu size. While they are the largest size of Shih Tzu, they are still a very small dog breed. Standard Shih Tzus are the only recognized size of Shih Tzu by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

If you are planning on getting a Shih Tzu, it is recommended that you get a Standard one as they do not suffer from as many size related health issues as Teacup, Imperial, Toy or Mini Shih Tzus do. You are much more likely to adopt a healthier puppy if you get a Standard Shih Tzu.

Standard Shih Tzu Size

Standard Shih Tzus get to a height of 8 to 11 inches (20.3cm to 27.9cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 9 and 16 pounds (4.1kg to 7.3kg) when fully grown. They are the largest and most common Shih Tzu size. Standard Shih Tzus are quite quick to mature as they reach their full adult size by 10 months of age.

Standard Shih Tzu Temperament

Standard Shih Tzus have a lively and friendly temperament. Despite their small size, they are very confident and have a big personality. Shih Tzus can be bossy at times, especially around people they don’t have respect for or don’t see as the pack leader. However, if they are socialized from a young age, they can be trained out of this behaviour. Shih Tzus are known to be vocal dogs and will bark a lot if not properly trained.

If barking does become an issue, it’s best to firstly try to retrain your dog out of the habit with positive reinforcement techniques. If this doesn’t work, try distracting them from their barking triggers with toys. Look for boredom-busting dogs toys such as ones you can hide treats inside. Other options include using ultra-sonic sound devices.

Standard Shih Tzu Lifespan

Standard Shih Tzus have a lifespan of 10 to 16 years however they live for 13 years on average. Standard Shih Tzus have the longest lifespan of all Shih Tzu sizes as they suffer from less health issues. You can give a Standard Shih Tzu the best chance of living a long life by giving them plenty of daily exercise, feeding them a healthy diet and keeping on top of vet appointments.

Standard Shih Tzu Price

Standard Shih Tzus usually sell for prices between $2500USD and $6000USD. They are slightly cheaper than Teacup Shih Tzus however they are still very expensive as they are a very popular dog breed. One reason why Standard Shih Tzus are so expensive is because they come from very small litters.