Shih-Poo | Shihpoo | Shih Poo Dog Breed Introduction
A Shih Poo( also written as Shipoo or Shih-Poo) is a hybrid dog that was created by crossing a Shih Tzu with a Toy Poodle in North America. It is a versatile pet that makes a great companion for families, singles, and couples. However, some Shih Poos may inherit the independent and stubborn nature of a Shih Tzu. Therefore, they need a firm but gentle guide in training. Shih Poos are also adaptable to small living spaces like apartment living. This crossbreed is popular as a playful, intelligent, allergy friendly, and outgoing pets.
Shih Poo Origin | History
Shih Poos were deliberately developed in the 90s in the North America by crossing a Shih Tzu with a Toy Poodle. However, there is a possibility that natural crossing of these two pure breeds existed before deliberate breeding started. As a crossbreed and not pedigree, Shih Poos are not recognized by AKC. However, they have been recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry and the American Canine Hybrid Club.
Shih Poo Lifespan | Shih-Poo Lifespan
Based on a study that was conducted in 2006, it was verified that crossbreeds tend to live longer for a year or two as compared to the purebred dogs. A Shih Tzu has a lifespan of 10 to 16 years while a Toy Poodle has a lifespan of 14 to 16 years. Therefore, Shih Poos have an average lifespan of 10 to 18 years.
Shih Poo Grooming
Prepare a Shih Poo for a positive grooming process at home or with a professional groomer by getting it accustomed to touch on the paws, feet, ears, face, and body. Grooming offers a great bonding time between the parent and the pet. While grooming, inspect your Shih Poo for signs of parasites like fleas, rashes, and lumps. A Shih Poo may have a silky straight coat, wavy, or curly coat. The silky coat is inherited from the Shih Tzu while the curly coat comes from the Toy poodle. A wavy coat is a combination of both a silky and curly coat.
The straight coat should be brushed on a daily basis using a wire brush to remove dead hair and promote new hair growth. Curly coated Shih Poos also require daily brushing with a slicker and bristle brush to remove dead hairs that results to formation of mats if the coat is brushed occasionally. A Wavy coat requires brushing three or four times a week using a slicker brush. Of the three coat types, a wavy coat is regarded the easiest to manage since it is not prone to matting as compared to a curly coat.
Before brushing the coat, spritz it with a detangling spray or water conditioner solution to prevent hair breakage. After brushing the coat, use a comb to comb the pet down the skin to ensure all tangles are removed. While brushing, pay attention to areas that tends to mat easily including under the chin, ears, armpits, and around the legs and feet. Regardless of the coat type, Shih Poos require a bath every 3 to 4 weeks or as needed depending on the lifestyle of a particular dog. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner to bathe and moisturize the coat.
Always brush the coat first before bathing your pet to remove tangles and mats that tend to get messier when they are wet. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the skin to prevent skin irritation. Clean the corners of the eyes using unscented wipes or a clean damp wash cloth. Remember to brush the coat again with a slicker brush after drying it off to prevent matting. Trim the nails every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers to prevent cracking, overgrowth, and splitting.
Brush the teeth of a Shih Poo at least twice a week if not daily to remove excess tartar using a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush. Excess tartar causes bad breathe in dogs. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess debris or wax. While cleaning the ears, check out for signs of dog’s ear infection such as odor, dark discharge, and redness.
Shih Poo Haircuts | Grooming Styles
For easy maintenance of the coat, owners opt to trim the coat every 4 to 6 weeks to reduce the number of brushings per week. The type of haircut that is suitable for your Shih Poo depends on the type of coat, lifestyle, and the climate that the dog lives in. Some of the suitable haircuts for Shi Poos include:
Puppy cut – this grooming style is suitable for the summer months. To achieve this style, the body fur is clipped to a length of one inch whereas the fur on the face and tail is left a little longer.
Teddy bear cut – To achieve this haircut, the hair on the face is trimmed in a circular shape to attain the teddy bear appearance. The fur on the body s also trimmed to a length of at least 2 inches.
Lion Cut – For this grooming style, the hair is kept longer on the head, paws, chest, and neck to create a mane. The body fur is clipped close to the body to about 1/2 an inch. Poms are also left on the paws and on the tip of the tail.
Practical topknot – This haircut is inspired by the Shih Tzu parent. The facial hair is left longer so that it is tied in a topknot.
Summer cut – the fur is uniformly trimmed to half an inch. This hairstyle is suitable for the summer months.
Shih Poo Shedding
A Shih Poo sheds at low levels all-year round. The shed hair is barely noticeable unless while brushing the coat.
Shih Poo Hair | Coat
A Shih Poo may either have a straight, wavy, or curly coat. The straight coat is inherited from the Shih Tzu parent while the curly coat is from the Poodle. The wavy coat is a combination of both curly and straight coat.
Shih Poo Hypoallergenic
A Shih Poo are considered hypoallergenic pets or allergy friendly dogs. This is because they shed at low levels all-year round. Therefore, they release little dander and fur into the environment. They are also toy-sized pets that release few allergens as compared to large sized dogs. However, there is no 100% crossbred or purebred dog that is truly hypoallergenic. Therefore, owners should spend lots of time with the Shih Poos before adopting to determine whether the dogs aggravates their allergies.
Shih Poo Training | How To Train A Shih Poo
A Shih Poo is an intelligent, eager to please, affectionate, loving, and charming dog. This makes training a bit easier. However, the same doesn’t apply to a Shih Poo that inherits the independent and stubborn nature of a Shih Tzu that makes obedience training difficult. However, use of positive reinforcements methods such as petting, treats, and toys will encourage positive behavior. Owners should start training immediately the Shih Poos come home. This is because puppies absorb everything taught which will shape how they behave after they mature.
Late training allows the dog to incline to bad habits which may be difficult to correct later on. Avoid use of harsh correction methods such as shoving, kicking, or use of choke collars if the pet is not responding to your cues. Harsh correction methods strain the relationship between the owner and the pet. These methods also result to development of fear aggression. To raise a well-mannered and adjusted Shih Poo, start socialization training immediately the pups comes home from the age of 8 weeks.
This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while Shih poos puppies are with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after they have settled in their new homes. To socialize a Shih Poo, expose it to a wide range of people, places, surfaces, animals, sights, smell, and sounds such as sirens, whistles, washing machine, lawn mowers, baby crying sounds, and vacuum cleaners. This training may still continue after the age of 16 weeks to ensure the pup grows into a well-rounded dog that is adaptable to any situation. Enrolling Shih Poos in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes enables the canines to interact in a controlled environment.
Puppy classes also empowers the owner to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Teach Shih Poos for a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction. Keep the training sessions upbeat, challenging, engaging, and short. Start teaching basic commands words that are potentially lifesaving immediately the pup joins you home from the age of 8 weeks. Some of the basic command words that a Shih Poo can learn include come, sit, lie down, stay, heel, leave it, etc.
Teach one basic command at a time until the pet is well acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Use treats or clicker training to encourage positive results. Avoid issuing a command word while too frustrated or excited since it does not sound the same for your Shih Poo. Effectively housebreak a Shih Poo by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training. A Crate is an invaluable tool that helps the pup to build confidence in staying alone for a while. This device also reduces the severity of separation anxiety if used properly. Avoid crating a Shih Poo for more than 4 hours at a time.
Shih Poo Potty Training | How To Potty Train A Shih Poo
A Shih Poo can be effectively housebroken after consistent daily training for about 2 to 4 months. Before bringing a pet home, choose a designated area where it will be doing its business. General rule of thumb when potty training is understanding that the bladder and bowel muscles of a pup strengthens as it matures. Shih Poos are toy breeds with small bladders and will require to go for frequent potty breaks as compared to large breed dogs while potty training. Basically, a dog is able to hold for 2 hours at the age of 8 weeks before eliminating and for 3 hours at the age of 12 weeks. Therefore, a Shih poo will be able to hold for a period of 1 to 2 hours at the age of 8 weeks and 2 to 3 hours at the age of 12 weeks.
Before housebreaking your pet, decide whether you want it to eliminate outside or inside. Indoor potty training is especially recommended for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing a yard or street. This training utilizes litter boxes and puppy pads that are available for retail from the puppy store. However, a pet parent should not start indoor potty training if eventually he or she will want the pup to eliminate outside and vice versa. For outdoor potty training, choose a designated area that is far from the patio deck and BBQ spot.
A crate is an indispensable tool while potty training a Shih Poo. It allows the parent to closely monitor the pup for signs that it wants to eliminate such as sniffing, circling, squatting, restlessness, whining, and lifting a leg against the crate door. However, Shih Poo should not spend more than 4 hours in the crate at a time. The crate should be big enough to hold a mature Shih Poo. Owners may also use a crate divider where they will adjust it gradually as the pet matures. This ensures that the crate is not too big to offer enough space for a pup to eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other corner.
If the owner has no crate, he or she may use the umbilical cord method. This is where the leash end is attached to the pocket or belt of the owner. Therefore, the puppy is closely monitored within a 6-foot-range. A Shih Poo that is not fully housebroken should not be allowed to roam freely in the house to minimize accidents. To get positive outcomes when potty training, take a Shih Poo to the delegated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 1 to 2 hours, after naptime, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, and before bedtime. From the age of 8 months, a Shih Poo should go for potty breaks every 6 to 8 hours.
Once you get to the toilet area, issue the command word “potty” or “toilet” to give the pet the cue to eliminate. Avoid using the two commands words interchangeably to prevent confusing your pet. Stick to one command word. Remain in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the bladder and bowel muscles to relax for a pee and/or poo. If the Shih Poo fails to eliminate, take it back to the designated area after a period of 15 minutes. Prior to full housebreaking a Shih Poo, it may experience accidents. If you get your pet in the act, clap your hands to distract it and immediately take it to the elimination area. If the pup eliminates there, give it a treat so that it may associate elimination with the delegated spot.
Remember to clean the mess using an enzymatic detergent or iodine solution to get rid of the odor. If the odor is retained, it will encourage future accidents since the pooch will sniff and eliminate in the same spot. Before the age of 16 weeks, set an alarm to take your pet to the toilet area at least once during the night.
Shih Poo Temperament | Personality | Traits
- Intelligent.
- Loving.
- Charming.
- Affectionate.
- Versatile.
- Playful.
- Friendly.
- Loyal.
- Attentive.
- Outgoing.
- Sweet-natured.
- Mild-mannered.
Shih Poo Exercise
These hybrids have moderate energy levels and like to play. Shi Poos are not exactly coach potatoes. They need walks and playtime sessions to stay happy and healthy.
Shih Poo Barking
A Shih Poo may not be as vocal as the Poodle parent but it will bark to alert the owner of any displeasures such as a missed meal with a single bark until its needs have been met.
Shih Poo Height
A Shih Poo has a height of 8 to 18 inches ( approx. 20 to 46 cm ).
Shih Poo Weight
A Shih Poo may possess a weight of between 7 to 20 pounds ( approx. 3 to 9 kg ).
Shih Poo Size
A Shih Poo is a toy-sized dog with a height of 8 to 18 inches ( approx. 20 to 46 cm ) and a weight of 7 to 20 pounds ( approx. 3 to 9 kg ).
Shih Poo Separation Anxiety
A Shih Poo is an affectionate, loving, outgoing, and playful dog that suffers from separation anxiety if left alone for long hours. Crate training is recommended in order to teach the pet to stay alone for a few hours.
Shih Poo Eye Problems
A Shih Poo may suffer from certain eye disorders as discussed below:
Cataracts – This eye condition results to whitish and cloudy lenses that eventually lead to blindness.
Progressive retinal atrophy – This eye issue is caused by a group of inherited degenerative diseases that affects the photoreceptors of a Shih Poo eventually leading to vision loss.
Dry eye syndrome – This is the inadequate production of tears that causes inflammation of the conjunctival tissue and mucous discharge.
Shih Poo Health Problems | Issues
As a crossbreed, a Shih Poo benefits from hybrid vigour that lowers the chances of susceptibility to diseases and reduces the risk of inbreeding depression. Some of the health issues that a Shih Poo may suffer from include eye disorders like PRA, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome, allergies, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, Addison’s disease, and Cushing’s disease.
Shih Poo Names
A Shih Poo pet parent may decide to find a name for the pet before it gets home from the breeder or a few days after the pet joins them home so that they may understand better the personality of a particular dog. Shih Poo owners may get their name inspirations from the size of the dog, coat color, personality, celebrity Shih Poos, movies, songs, books, nature, and historical figures.
Regardless of where you source the name, ensure the name chosen will not make you embarrassed if uttered out loud in the public places such as malls and parks. Shih poos and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion.
If a pet parent settles with a long name, he or she should find a cute nick name for the dog. If a Shih Poo shares a name with any family member or guest who frequent your home, it may result to confusion.
Shih Poo Names Male
- Nathaniel.
- Blake.
- Goofy.
- Rascal.
- Poppy.
- Marshall.
- Preston.
- Knight.
- Kooky.
- Stormy.
- Theo.
- Leo, etc.
Shih Poo Colors
A Shih Poo may have a chocolate, liver, brown, yellow, cream, white, gray, or black coat colors.
Shih Poo Names Female
- Stella.
- Cuddly.
- Stella.
- Blondie.
- Amber.
- Isabel.
- Rose.
- Marie.
- Christie.
- Maggie.
- Sweetie.
- Tawny, etc.
Shih Poo Dog Food | Food | Feeding Chart
The amount of food that a Shih Poo feeds on depends on its size, age, metabolism, and activity level. Puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adult and senior dogs. Therefore, a pup should eat 3 or 4 meals a day until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Shih Poos should feed twice a day for the rest of their lives.
For optimal health, a Shih Poo should feed on vitamins, proteins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and water. This breed may feed on dry, wet, home-made or raw food depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. For commercial food, ensure the first three listed ingredients are proteins from a known source. Avoid purchasing dog food that has fillers, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, preservatives, and chemicals. Once the Shih Poo comes home, chances are that the owner will want to switch to another quality food than the one it was previously feeding on.
They should gradually do this by mixing 3/4 old food with 1/4 new food during the first week. On the second week, the dog should feed same amount of old and new food. During the third week, the pet will feed on 3/4 new food and 1/4 old food. On the fourth week, totally switch to new food. Feed a Shih Poo food formulated for toy-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on the age of your pet.
Apart from Shi Poos, other crossbreeds include:
Shih Poo Allergies
A Shih Poo is susceptible to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergies – Shih Poos are predisposed to skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin. This crossbreed may also suffer from sebaceous adenitis that also affects the Poodle parent. This is a rare inflammatory disease that results to hair loss as well as a dry, scaly, and itchy skin that makes this dog predisposed to secondary skin infections.
Food allergies – Although rare, Shih Poos may also suffer from a true food allergy that results to an immune response that is normally accompanied with skin issues and gastrointestinal symptoms. Skin issues symptoms that a Shih Poo may manifest while suffering from a food allergy includes hives, sores, crusting lesions, pruritus, and dermatitis. Whereas gastrointestinal stress includes acute diarrhea and vomiting, weight loss, and bloating.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Shih Poos include plastics, bed linens, lawn chemicals, grooming products, latex, carpet cleaning detergents, and medications.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergens that affect Shih Poos include flea that causes flea allergy dermatitis. Fleas normally bite the back legs and underneath the tail resulting to intensive scratching until the skin around the bite area is raw. Other environmental allergens that affect Shih Poos include mites, grass, ragweed, house molds, dust and dust mites, and pollen. Symptoms of environmental allergens in this crossbreed includes nasal discharge, congestion, sneezing, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, feet, ears, face, around the ears, groin, muzzle, belly sides, and between the toes.
Shih Poo Tail
A Shih Poo may either have a curly or straight tail. The curly tail resembles the Shih Tzu and curls up and over the back while the straight tail reaches the hock.
Shih Poo Teeth
At birth, a Shih Poo is born with no teeth. However, the deciduous teeth start growing in from the age of 2 to 3 weeks until the dog has a total of 28 milk teeth between the age 6 to 8 weeks. From the age of 12 weeks, the deciduous teeth starts falling out as the permanent teeth erupt beneath them. At the age of 6 months, Shih Poos should have a total of 42 permanent teeth.
Are Shih Poos Hypoallergenic
Yes. Shih Poos shed at low levels all-year round hence regarded hypoallergenic. However, dog experts and AKC argue that there is no truly 100% hypoallergenic crossbreed or pure breed. Therefore, owners should spend lots of time with a particular dog before adopting to ensure it does not aggravate their allergies.
Are Shih Poos Smart
Yes. Shih Poos are smart, loyal, friendly, and outgoing dogs that are easily trainable.
Are Shih Poos Hard To Train
It may be hard to train Shih Poos if they inherit the stubborn and independent temperament from the Shih Tzu. This makes obedience training a bit difficult.
Are Shih Poos Good Dogs
Yes. Shih Poos are versatile dogs that make good pets for singles, families, seniors, and families.
Do Shih Poos Shed
Yes. However, Shih Poos shed at a minimal level all-year round. The shed hair is noticeable when the owner is brushing the coat.
Do Shih Poos Bark A Lot
No. Shih Poos are not vocal. They will only bark to alert the owner if they are in pain or experiencing any displeasure.
Shih Poo Quick Facts
- They are crossbreeds developed by crossing a Toy Poodle with a Shih Tzu.
- Shih Poos have a low-allergen coat hence considered good for people who suffer from mild allergies.
- These are versatile dogs may also live in apartments.