The Shih Poo Breed – Shih Tzu x Poodle

The Shih Poo is a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Miniature or Toy Poodle. The combination may produce the straight hair of a Shih Tzu or the curly fur of a poodle, but they are beautiful animals. For many, they make the right choice for the home when a Shih Tzu may not be available.

Appearance

This particular combination offers a cute, sturdy dog with an expressive face. They also come in a wide variety of colors as well. The Shih Poo is characterized by its friendly, energetic personality. Although it does retain the attentive nature that is common with Shih Tzu dogs.

History

Crossbreeding is nothing new for dogs, it’s been a common practice for thousands of years. The origins of the crossbreeding of the Shih Tzu and Miniature or Toy Poodle are not known. But they have become quite popular over the past couple of decades. The reasoning ranges from the unique look and personality of the Shih Poo to the belief that they are hypoallergenic which may not be true for all Shih Poo dogs.

Temperament

Of course, the personality of any dog will be affected in large part by a combination of environment and what they inherit from their parents. For the most part, a Shih Poo is friendly and quite social, but there are exceptions. You will need to see their behavior which in many ways is shaped by the mother and their littermates.

Proper training for your Shih Poo puppy is highly recommended. You can enroll them in puppy training classes as young as 10 to 12 weeks and the results will be quite remarkable. However, you can train them yourself if you have the patience and provide enough attention.

Health

Although the mixing of two breeds tends to result in dogs that have enough genetic diversity to prevent some inherent illnesses, the Shih Poo is also just as vulnerable to other health conditions. If you are purchasing from a breeder, it is important to get verification that the puppy is a healthy one. Being told that they are healthy may be misleading. If the parents of the puppy have been cleared of health issues, then you can trust that your puppy is off to a good start.

Grooming 

The grooming will depend on whether the Shih Poo has straight hair or curly fur. Regardless, you will need to groom them once a month and brush their fur every few days if you want to keep them looking at their best. The area around their groin and lower belly need to be trimmed of fur or hair every so often as well. This will help keep them clean.

Plus, you should keep their ears clean, brush the teeth, and trim the nails every week or two depending on how fast they grow. Hard dog food is recommended along with soft dog food to keep their gums healthy.

Taking care of a Shih Poo can be fun but remember that they still need to be groomed regularly to keep their shiny coat.