About
The
Breed
The Breed
Shih Tzus are a wonderful breed that are literally made for companionship. Every dog breed was bred for a specific purpose. For example, German Shepherds were bred for protection, Huskies for dog sledding, Terriers for controlling rodents, etc. The Shih Tzu was bred for thousands of years for the sole purpose of companionship for Chinese Royalty. Because of this, they are the perfect pet companion. They require little exercise. With the proper training they are not yippy, hyper, territorial, or aggressive. They have hair and not fur so they do not shed and are hypo-allergenic. They require regular coming and grooming.
The Colors
While some breeds can only be a few colors, Shih Tzus have many different available colors. There is a rich variety of color variations and markings that make Shih Tzus one of the more beautiful breeds. The dogs can be solid or multiple colors with black or white markings. Most dogs have black noses, lips and pads. Some Shih Tzus have a recessive gene that lacks the black pigment of the points (nose, eye lids, lips, and pads). These are called livers.
If a puppy is going to be registered with the American Kennel Club, the breeder has a choice of eight solid colors, seven varieties of two color combinations, four combinations of three or more colors and a variety of different types of markings that occur with the combinations listed above.
Shih Tzus are known for changing the color of their coats as they age. Some coats lighten. Some coats gray. In order to have an idea of what your puppies final coat will look like when they mature it is important to look at the parents and grandparents. Colors of the coat and skin can dramatically affect the price of the dog. Livers are more expensive than blacks. Solids are more expensive than partis (multi-colored). Rare colors increase the price as well.
