Showing posts with label Shih tzu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shih tzu. Show all posts

Saturday, July 28, 2018

What Is A SHIH TZU Standard?

A Shih Tzu fully groomed for a dog show.
A Shih Tzu fully groomed for a dog show. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Shih Tzu is a toy dog of small stature and enormous heart. This lovable little dog is often a spoilt member of the family; if you own a Shih Tzu you will understand the love their owners feel for theirs!

If you want to show off your beautiful, purebred Shih Tzu at competitions on any level then you will need to familiarize yourself with the standards and requirements.

The American Kennel Club has clearly defined guidelines when it comes to what kinds of physical attributes your Shih Tzu will need to exhibit. 

If you want to show, breed or are just interested in learning about the Shih Tzu Breed then here are some things you can do. Ask your breeder, your Vet, use the Internet and learn everything you can about Shih Tzu's.

The breed specifications are long and detailed for the Shih Tzu to account for many of the variations. 

Summary of general breed specifications: 

Overall Appearance:

The Shih Tzu is sturdy and lively with a long flowing double coat. A proud bearing and a distinctively arrogant manner with the head generally carried well up and a curved tail which rests on the back. 

There is a great variation on the size of the Shih Tzu but the dog must carry a good weight and give an overall impression of a compact, solid and well-built dog. 

Size, Proportion, Substance 

The ideal weight for adult dogs is anywhere within the range of 9 to 16 pounds. The highest point of the back (known as the withers) should be not less than 8 inches. The ideal Shih Tzu should be well proportioned. The length between the withers and the root of the tail is slightly longer than the height at the withers. The dog may not appear to be 'leggy' or conversely, may not appear dumpy or squatty. Substance - Regardless of size, the Shih Tzu is compact solid 

Head 

The head should be round, broad, with a wide space between eyes. The head must appear to be in balance with the overall size of the dog. The Shih Tzu should have a warm, sweet, wide-eyed, friendly and trusting. AN overall well-balanced, pleasant _expression is the most important aspect of the features of the head. 

The judges carefully examine beyond the hair to determine if what is seen is the actual head and shape or if careful grooming has been used to cover faults.

Faults

- Narrow Head
- Close-set eyes
- Small, close-set or light eyes
- Excessive eye white
- Snippiness
- Lack of definite stop
- Pink on nose, lips or eye rims
- Overshot bite

Competing with your Shih Tzu 

Of course, if you want to show your Shih Tzu you will need to read as much as possible on the subject. Read everything you can and discuss 

The breed standards can differ from country to country and also even within various breed organizations. Generally, you can be sure that even between different judges there are limits as to what is considered a variant and what is considered to be a fault. Interpretation varies as do judges tastes. 


The Shih Tzu standard is made up of fanciers, breeder’s nationwide.  If you do not plan to show your Shih Tzu then just about any puppy will do. These are some good guidelines for what to look for but being exact is not necessary.  If you have found the cutest, healthiest little puppy then that is all your family will need.




Friday, January 27, 2017

TEDDY BEAR Breed Information

Teddy Bear (Shih Tzu x Bichon Frise)

The Teddy Bear (Zuchon, Shichon) is a hybrid dog that is a result of a few different designer dog breeds. They can be the result of the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise, the Shih Tzu and the Poodle and the Bichon Frise and the Toy Poodle. In many cases the Teddy Bear breed can be a mix of all three of these breeds.
Size

zuchon shichon teddy bear puppy
Photo Flickr blsbee blue
The size of Teddy Bears will vary but generally the dog is rather small weighing in between 12 to 14 pounds and measuring no higher than 12 inches.

Coat and Color
All color variations of parent breeds are available in the Teddy Bear. Since they are multiple breeds mixed, sometimes more than just 2, they can come in so many different coat and color options all depending on the parents.

Grooming
This breed is a minimal shedding dog that has a very soft, fluffy coat that is reminiscent of the stuffed animal. This breed of dog needs frequent grooming in order to prevent their coat from becoming tangled. They need to be brushed daily and like all dogs they also need basic grooming such as brushing their teeth and trimming their nails on a regular basis.

Character and Temperament
They are a very people oriented dog that is extremely well mannered and friendly. The temperament of your Teddy Bear will depend on their breeding however they are typically affectionate and very playful. They are also extremely outgoing and very social and the get along with everyone especially children, other pets and dogs. They can grow very attached to their family and if left alone for too long can develop separation anxiety.

Training
Every combination of the parent breeds of the Teddy Bear is extremely intelligent so this means that they are extremely intelligent and eager to learn as well. They are people pleasing dogs so it is easy to train them as they do well on picking up commands and different tricks. However like other small dogs they can often be difficult to house train. A consistent routine can help them along with this.

Activity level
The Teddy Bear is not a very active dog so they need some kind of physical exercise either inside or outside to keep them in shape. They do need regular play on a daily basis but simple games and a daily walk will make a world of difference in behavior and energy level.