Are there teacup shih tzus

Brachycephalic breeds such as the shih tzu that have a shortened skull and a flat snout still have the same sized palate as if they had a longer snout. This means that some of the fleshy part of the palate partially obstructs the entrance to the throat, causing breathing difficulties.

This problem is further exacerbated for the teacup shih tzu with his even shorter skull and flatter snout. Breathing will be particularly labored at times if he also suffers from another common problem, stenotic nares , a constricted opening of the nostrils. The bones that form the skeleton of a shih tzu under 7 pounds 3. If you have adopted your shih tzu from a reputable breeder, then you will already know the state of his general health from the information given to you by the breeder.

However, if you have already bought a very small, 5 pound 2. This way any underlying health issues can be discovered and treated early. Teacup shih tzu are even more sensitive to extremes of temperature than their standard sized counterparts. On hot summer days and during heat waves, avoid taking the dog out during the middle of the day and early afternoon when temperatures are at their peak. Instead, take him out for walks and exercise early in the morning and late in the evening when the air is cooler.

If you live in an extremely hot climate, consider buying a raised bed to allow cooling air to circulate underneath. In cold weather, dress your little one up in a fleece or waterproof jacket and booties when going out for walks.

Place his bed in a warm place away from drafty air currents and provide extra blankets. During the first few months after first adopting your puppy you will probably have to give him much attention to prevent the onset of separation anxiety. Only leave him on his own for very short periods of time at first, then, as he gets used to being on his own, you can gradually increase the amount of time you are away from him. Check out my piece on separation anxiety in the link below:. Teacup shih tzu can and will happily get all of the exercise that they need from running around, perhaps chasing a ball, indoors.

However, they also like to be outdoors and will benefit from two short walks of around 20 to 30 minutes per day. Try to include one short training session on one of these walks. This link takes you to the TrainPetDog website where you will have the opportunity to sign up for a free email shih tzu training course. Children love small dogs and teacup shih tzu generally love playing with children. Be careful at first and supervise the interaction between the dog and the children.

Similarly, if the dog is handled in a way that he feels endangered, he may react badly. So until the children do know how to handle a small dog, be on hand to teach the correct way. A shih tzu below the minimum AKC standard size can never be a show dog so, unless this is the look that you are going for, there is no need to grow the hair down to the floor. This is a style that is time consuming to maintain as it necessitates almost constant brushing throughout the day to prevent knots and mats forming.

Weight can vary, from around eight-and-a-half pounds up to roughly seventeen pounds. All things considered, this is still a very small breed of dog. They have to pump their little legs just to keep up with you, so about fifteen minutes is all the hardcore exercise that a shih tzu needs even when fully matured. Mini shih tzus actually come in at less than half the maximum probably weight of a fully grown shih tzu.

At most, they will be about seven pounds to be classified as a mini or teacup shih tzu. These mini shih tzus can be just six inches tall instead of the standard eight inch minimum. This is still within the acceptable range by the AKC, but there are some stipulations to keep in mind. Some breeders have the best of intentions, and try to produce mini or teacup shih tzus in the safest manner possible. As a general rule, a dog under four pounds has a difficult time surviving. Breeders find smaller shih tzus dogs, and breed them together.

Breeders cannot control the exact, specific outcome, no matter how hard they try. The goal is to make a smaller shih tzu. Teacup and mini shih tzus are around six inches tall, and rarely over seven pounds. Teacups are usually classified as five to seven pounds, and never get over eight inches tall. Shih Tzu dogs are already small, but they are also relaxed, affectionate, and loving. Tiny Dog Popularity With their flowing hair and small size, the Shih Tzu is one of the most recognizable dog breeds.

They are known for their calm, loving nature and unique appearance. The Appeal of the Teacup Shih Tzu Though the Shih Tzu is already quite small itself, there are many reasons why someone might want an even smaller version of this dog.

Secondly, smaller dogs are far more transportable than larger dogs. Thirdly, smaller dogs usually require less exercise and maintenance than larger dogs. Their smaller stature also means that they have less hair to brush. What About Their Appearance? Lastly, many people just find smaller dogs cuter than larger dogs. They tend to look like puppies for longer and initiate our natural caring instincts. Not all small dogs are the same. This method might seem fool-proof, but like the others, it also has its drawbacks.

Mixing with a Smaller Breed This method is one of the easiest and most common ways of creating a teacup Shih Tzu. When you breed two dogs together, they inherit traits from both parents.

What This Means Odds are, the puppy will inherit a mix of traits from both parent breeds. But it will produce a unique mixed puppy that might be smaller than a Shih Tzu. They are prone to a few health problems but are generally healthier than a purebred Shih Tzu.

Their personality might be laid-back and calm, or excitable and reserved. Puppies of this mixed breed can be more excitable and hyper than your average Shih Tzu. Introducing the Dwarfism Gene In many cases, breeders will attempt to make a dog smaller by introducing the dwarfism gene.

However, this is not possible in the Shih Tzu because the breed already has the dwarfism gene. All teacup Shih Tzus are created using one of the other methods. Breeding from Runts This is a reasonably straightforward way to create a teacup-sized version of a dog breed. Do you have a Shih Tzu? Let us know about her in the comments! There are plenty of other small breeds you can consider. It is quite amazing since the dog simply does not exist.

It is ONLY a marketing term. There is no separate variety that is referred to as the Imperial There are no dogs with royal bloodlines. Unfortunately, people see the term used SO much, that many think that it must be a real term, that those dogs must exist It is not true. Either the term is being used indiscriminately Or they pups are being bred to be smaller than nature intended, which is very dangerous for both dam and for all puppies. Purposely breeding for puppies that fall under 5 lbs.

While Mother Nature has the final say and all ethical, loving breeders will sometimes have pups that are smaller than their littermates These very tiny dogs are so fragile and usually have a lifetime of health issues. The life span of these dogs is usually much shorter, as well. Liver shunts can be one of the problems of these dogs that are undersized.

Are These Dogs Healthy? Is it Okay to Purchase One? If a Shih Tzu is unnaturally tiny due from unethical breeding, the dog can have many health issues. If two un-naturally tiny dogs are bred together, this causes the problems. This will cause calcium deficiency. Vital internal organs will be affected. This can cause everything down the road from liver failure to heart disease.