Please do not support disreputable breeders of Imperial or 'teacup' Shih Tzu… Shih tzus are ( were) one of the healthiest of toy breeds, but this un-natural downsizing is ruining that robust health, in exchange for fashion.
If you want a dog of 4 pounds, get a Chihuahua ( there are gorgeous long haired Chihuahuas) but trying to turn a Shih Tzu into a Chihuahua is absolutely the worst detriment to the breed.
How to find a good breeder, rule number one: If they advertise their pups as 'teacup' RUN.
In our local doggy day care, there are 3 such tiny Shih Tzus, from two local breeders. They are all on daily medications. One is diabetic. ( twice daily insulin shots) One is hypoglycemic, (in day care because she can't be left unattended). Two take heart meds. One also has a liver shunt..Tthat is a LOT of heartbreak for just 3 dogs!
Facts About Imperial or Teacup Shih Tzu> http://www.shihtzu.org/Info/imperial.asp
hope this helps you
http://www.akc.org/breeds/shih_tzu/index.cfm
I would ask a breeder
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Shih Tzus should weigh around 9-16 pounds full grown. NO RESPONSIBLE BREEDER will sell a "teacup" dog. That's a term that irresponsible backyard breeders use to sell extra tiny, unhealthy runts. "Teacup" dogs are MUCH too small for their breed standards, and are very unhealthy because of poor breeding. Imperial Shih Tzus are also a gimmick, not an actualy breed. Please do not buy a "teacup" or "Imperial" Shih Tzu; not only are you getting ripped off, you are also encouraging irresponsible breeders.
I am not sure if they shed, but they need to be brushed daily to keep their long coat from matting. Alternately, a Shih can be kept in a puppy cut (short all over) or lion cut (shaved everywhere except face and tail), but will still need daily brushing.
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Don't get a "teacup" anything. It is a term used by unscrupulous breeders when they breed dogs smaller than the AKC standard because of the demand for very small dogs. These dogs are often frail and unhealthy. Stick with a breeder that breeds to the AKC standard for size.
Shih Tzus do not shed but do need need to be clipped and groomed regularly so that their coats do not become overgrown and matted.
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every dog sheds but only some shed less than others and a Shih tzu's are one of them.
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Imperial and teacup shih tzus are nothing but scam names invented by puppy millers and unscrupulous breeders to sell their pups. Take a look at the AKC standard, and you will see no reference at all to any such thing. They invent cutsie names to sell their unhealthy poorly bred stock.
Yes, shih tzus shed to a certain degree. All dogs do, there is no such thing as a 100% non-shedding dog.
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I haven't heard of a recognized category for large (imperial) or very tiny (teacup) Shih Tzu's. I would steer clear on anyone selling those puppies. The breed standard calls for a dog of Ideally, height at shoulders(from the floor to top of shoulders) 9 to 10½ inches; but, not less than 8 inches nor more than 11 inches. Ideally, weight of mature dogs, 9 to 16 pounds.
The best way to get a really good dog, is to go to a AKC Dog Show and talk to the dog breeders. They are dedicated to their dogs, and to the breed. You will get the best advice from them and they will give you connections to a good breeder of quality puppies who will stand behind their dogs.
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10 Years Groomer, grooming instructor, trainer, handler
There is no such thing as Teacup versions.. It's like in the larger dogs, they sell dogs and call them King Shepherds.. King Dobermans etc.. I am sure other breeds have their words that bybers use to make their over or undersized dogs seem special.
References :
Please do not support disreputable breeders of Imperial or 'teacup' Shih Tzu… Shih tzus are ( were) one of the healthiest of toy breeds, but this un-natural downsizing is ruining that robust health, in exchange for fashion.
If you want a dog of 4 pounds, get a Chihuahua ( there are gorgeous long haired Chihuahuas) but trying to turn a Shih Tzu into a Chihuahua is absolutely the worst detriment to the breed.
How to find a good breeder, rule number one: If they advertise their pups as 'teacup' RUN.
In our local doggy day care, there are 3 such tiny Shih Tzus, from two local breeders. They are all on daily medications. One is diabetic. ( twice daily insulin shots) One is hypoglycemic, (in day care because she can't be left unattended). Two take heart meds. One also has a liver shunt..Tthat is a LOT of heartbreak for just 3 dogs!
Facts About Imperial or Teacup Shih Tzu> http://www.shihtzu.org/Info/imperial.asp
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dog breeder since 1968
"Teacup", "Tiny-Toy"…..etc are all sales pitches! These are dogs that fall way below breed standard and typically have some underlying health issues.
Look at it like this. A litter is whelped, and the breeder (greeder) keeps the smallest or runt of the litter. They get a smaller then standard (runt) from another litter or "greeder" and breed the two runts in hopes of producing a full litter of below standard runts. As I said, these pups usually have more health problems then the standard size of their breed.
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Shih tzus do not shed.
Teacup simply means under 5 lbs in most cases. People have taken small dogs and bred and rebred them to get smaller dogs. They are still part of the same breed. It's just like saying a black poodle or a white poodle. It's still a poodle, but is smaller or a certain color.
So the answer to your question is NO there really isn't a teacup Imperial shih tzu breed. But Yes there are small shih tzus being bred simply for their small size.
The AKC is not God. I know some people in the organization are mistaken about that issue, but they really are not God. When they write a breed standard it's not set in stone like the 10 Commandments. They are just people making up the rules for their own club as they go along. Ignore them if you want.
Smaller dogs have been and are being produced. ANY purebred dog is open to genetic defects the more inbreeding that is done the more defects there will be. Because smaller teacup varieties have an even more limited genepool than the whole shih tzu breed, they would be prone to more genetic defects. That doesn't mean they will automatically have a problem. It just means their is more potential to have one., so be aware of that.
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Not sure just how small they can be. Some Breeders are getting them small usually buy breeding a runt of the litter to another runt. Their is a large disagreement among the standard Shih Tzu breeders and the ones who have what they call tea cup or imperial.
They shed very little, you never get hair all over you when you pick them up.
The standard size is anywhere between nine and sixteen pounds.
I have one, I would consider him on the small side, he's seven months and around twelve pounds. they can always weight more then they look. I think he is just about thru growing. If you want a Shih tzu be careful where you buy. Buy from a responsible breeder and you are able to see both parents.
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Shitzus are usually as small as 2 pounds or they can be 20 pounds. The teacup shitzus are about 2 pounds.
Tea cup Shitzus are real. They have many sizes that they can be.
Shitzu's do not shed. They do have high grooming requirements though. You have to brush there hair every day.
Here are some websites that might help you-
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http://www.puppyfind.com/search/?submit=1&sid=&str=Shit+zu
http://www.puppyfind.com/for_sale/?breed_id=98&back=%2Fsearch%2F%3Fsubmit%3D1%26str%3DShit%2Bzu%26page%3D1
http://www.puppypetite.com/shih-tzu.html
I have 3 shih tzus and I keep their hair long. They are one of a few breeds with actual hair folicles like human hair. You will find a few long strands of hair around but for practicle purposed they do not shed. They have 2 coats of hair. Mine are at the groomers every 2 weeks for a bath, nails, pads, etc but I have never had their hair cut. They are beautiful and we take them out all of the time.
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