The Shih Tzu Poodle mix is a hybrid dog that is a cross between the Shih Tzu and the Poodle. This is a small dog so the Poodle variety that is usually used in the cross is either the Toy Poodle or the Miniature Poodle and not the larger Standard Poodle, although that would be possible. These dogs are also known as Shih Poos.

Hybrids

The Shih Tzu and the Poodles (all varieties) are two of the most popular breeds of all dogs in the U.S. and in many other countries, so it’s no surprise that crossing these breeds would produce a dog that is also popular. However, whenever breeds are crossed there is no guarantee which breed the puppies will resemble. Some of the puppies may look more like the Shih Tzu parent and some may look more like the Poodle parent. Hybrid dogs are not necessarily more healthy than purebred dogs. If the parents have health problems, they can pass them on to their puppies. Many hybrid breeders claim that breeding this way will produce “hybrid vigor” but this is untrue. This is not crossing two different species so it’s not true hybrid vigor in a biological or agricultural sense. All of these dogs are the same species. If they share similar health problems then it’s likely that the puppies will inherit those problems, too.

People often choose to use Poodles to crossbreed dogs because they do not shed much, if at all, and they are good for people with allergies. Some Shih Tzu Poodle mix puppies may have a coat that doesn’t shed much but you should meet the individual puppies so you can see which ones have a coat that is more like a Poodle coat.

Appearance

The Shih Poo may resemble either the Shih Tzu parent or the Poodle parent. Some Shih Poo have curlier coats while others have a fluffier, straighter coat. They come in many colors, like Poodles, but they can also be parti-color with a white front, like Shih Tzus. Some Shih Poo will have a longer muzzle, like Poodles and others will have the Shih Tzu’s shorter muzzle. Some dogs will combine traits from their parents. Most dogs will have a black nose and dark eyes. They are typically small dogs but it’s impossible to say exactly how small or large they will be since any variety of Poodle can be crossed with the Shih Tzu to produce the Shih Poo. Shih Tzus stand up to 11 inches tall and weigh up to 16 pounds which is somewhat comparable to the Miniature Poodle.

Before getting a Shih Poo puppy it’s recommended that you see the puppies in person so you can know in advance what your puppy will be like. Otherwise, there can be a wide variety in the puppies.