Shih Tzu Colors: Everything You Need To Know About Your Canine's Coat

Emanating from Tibet, the Shih Tzu is a dog breed that makes for one of the best house dogs and comes under the group category of 'toy'.

In contrast to the translation, there is nothing ferocious or menacing about them. This canine is endearing and you will stand in awe of them.

The best part? They can adapt to any environment and have a fun personality, so if you are looking for a family dog, your search ends here.

As for their features, Shih Tzus stand 8-11 in (20-28 cm) tall and weigh anything between 9-16 lb (4-7.2 kg), with a life span of 10-16 years, with the average being 12 years.

Additionally, they are often called Chrysanthemum Dogs, due to the growth direction of the hair on a Shih Tzu’s face. While the history of the Shih Tzu breed is traced back to some 2000 years ago, they gained widespread popularity only after the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed in 1969.

Also, it once used to be a high-priced dog of some Chinese Emperors, and it seems like there have not been many delegations to their status.

They already sound lovely, don't they? However, there is more in store for you.

Read on for fun facts on Shih Tzu coat colors and afterward be sure to also check out our answers to how often to trim dog nails and how to clean dogs' eyes?

Shih Tzu Dog Colors And Markings

Apart from the dog’s exuberant, high-spirited, playful, and frivolous attributes, the color and markings of Shih Tzu’s make them stand out. Their coat might be a solid color or a combination of colors.

You will rarely come across two Shih Tzu who look alike; they are notable for assorted Shih Tzu coat colors and markings. Their thick double-flowing Shih Tzu coat is part of the reason why they are now the 20th most loved dog breed in the U.S.

Though available in different colors, Shih Tzu’s are most commonly seen with white coats and hints of gold.

As per the American Kennel Club, its breed standard states that all colors of Shih Tzu are authorized and similarly the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and the United Kennel Club (UKC), too, have no strict regulations towards Shih Tzu’s colors.

Further, due to the color combinations of the dog changing over time, AKC permits the registration for the dog to be done by its skin color instead.

Shih Tzus come in both solid and multi-colors:

Black: Though not a common color, black Shih Tzus mostly have a hint of blue and chocolate intertwined in their coats and some also have white markings.

A Shih Tzu who is black and has golden hairs visible on its face, paws, or tail is called a black and tan dog instead of a black Shih Tzu with tan markings.

Blue: The coat of Shih Tzu is not necessarily going to be blue but its skin is. This shade of blue might appear to be grey and even seem black in certain light but the color of its nose and lips act as a source of its true coloration.

White: Choosing a white dog can be confusing and deceptive due to its lack of pigmentation. Many health-related problems, like albinism, can be confused with the color white. Being a receding and recessive color, white Shih Tzus are not particularly common, unlike the black or red ones. 

Gold: Frequent in multicolored or part-colored canines, a gold Shih Tzu with a pure gold color is rare. At birth, it has what looks like a vivid coat, but with age, it turns into pale yellow.

Red: Rich colors such as orange and deep auburn are mixed with a red Shih Tzu.

Chrysanthemums that have a black nose and deep red coats are considered as truly red but the red dogs with a brown nose are registered as a liver Shih Tzu and not red, similarly dogs with white markings are not taken as red but a Shih Tzu with hints of black or a black mask is acceptable.

Liver: A liver-colored breed is generally considered undesirable, but this is not so true about the liver-colored Shih Tzu. Many breeders who own a Shih Tzu are proud of it and command a higher price than a standard colored puppy.

Silver: A Shih Tzu with sleeve color is acceptable by the AKC, but it's difficult to distinguish the silver from the white. While these silver Shih Tzus are pale in appearance, their coat contains a silvery sheen. Similar to the white ones, a silver Shih Tzu has black pads, eye rims, and lips, as well as a black nose.

While the above seven colors of Shih Tzu are registered by the AKC, lavender, Isabella, and albino Shih Tzu puppies are also available. All in all, the most common Shih Tzu puppies are those with a black and gold body with white patches or markings.

Do Shih Tzu colors affect health?

The Shih Tzu breed of dogs comes in varying options. While this might give you a plethora of options to choose from, you must know that their color might be associated with their health.

There is no scientific evidence to back these claims but there has been some research that proves otherwise. So, the information on this subject matter is limited, but whatever little detail about Shih Tzu dogs is at hand and obtainable, we have culminated it here.

A black coat color is not suitable for dogs living in hot and humid areas, and whilst not a significant health issue, hot weather can make a black Shih Tzu puppy lazy, and leave it not wanting to come out of a cool room.

In addition, there is some speculation among breeders regarding a blue Shih Tzu puppy. They think that dogs with this coat color are at high risk of defects but you are again cautioned that this information is not scientifically backed and it might not be any less healthy than its other counterparts.

Additionally, the health of a dog is also contributed to by the quality of the breeder.

Talking about the albino Shih Tzu, it is said that the original and true ones only have a small chance of surviving due to their weak genetic makeup which in turn weakens their immune system, consequently making them unable to fight infectious diseases.

Do Shih Tzu colors affect behavior?

As stated above, there is not any scientific proof to answer this question but we can have an idea about the whole subject by taking some learnings from general research.

It has been claimed by some experts that the two dominant genes for merle, double Merlo genotypes, can cause eye defects, such as blindness and they can also cause deafness in an Australian Shepherd.

Further, according to some studies, chocolate Labrador Retrievers are said to have a shorter period of life than their black or yellow-colored counterparts.

Do Shih Tzus change color as they age?

Yes, they do. Born with slushy fur, Shih Tzu’s begin to lose their true color or coat by the time they reach the age of 6-12 months.

How deeply their hair color changes depends on their genetic makeup, but with the development of their mature coat, the change is inevitable. For instance, with age, the color of a gold Shih Tzu is likely to change into pale yellow, a silver dog becomes grey and black ones find their hair turns silver.

Due to this change, with time it becomes arduous to identify their literal color, leading to the misregistration of some dogs.  Some of this change might be caused by the shampoo you are using to wash the dog.

Shih Tzu Unique Markings

Along with their vast pool of colors, Shih Tzu also has a varied range of markings, with the most common two colors combinations being white -black, and black-red. This is only peripheral, however, and they have many other combinations of markings as well.

Some say the more, the better and Shih Tzu also exist in a tricolor variant but this is comparatively rare. In some of these rare dogs, combinations of three colors may not be visible, while in others you can clearly distinguish the three colors, as is the case in a black, gold, and silver combination.

The Brindle Shih Tzu is what is often called 'tiger-stripped'. Brindle Shih Tzus have rays and stripes of light and dark colors running through their body, which may seem like a multi-colored intertwined shade, and which might include gold or tan brown and black.

Brindle Shih Tzu dogs may fade with age and the density of these stripes also varies. Awesome, right?

Unusual Shih Tzu Colors

The Shih Tzu is one of the breeds that comes in many different forms of color combinations, making them stand out from the bunch. Along with having colors as common as black, they come with patterns and colors that are extremely rare.

Among this breed, a solid black dog without any white markings is the least recurrent one. Likewise, a Shih Tzu with a completely white coat color is infrequent and a white Shih Tzu with black markings is as scarce as hens' teeth.

If there is even the slightest trace of any white marking on a completely black Shih Tzu's fur, it is considered to be a two-colored dog.

Next in line are liver Shih Tzus who are also more expensive than their counterparts.

Furthermore, the lavender or Isabella Shih Tzu varieties are considered unusual to the extent that the AKC has not registered them but some breeders still sell them for a higher cost than others.

This lilac hue in Isabella Shih Tzus is formed by the MLPH gene, the same gene that is also responsible for a blue Shih Tzu, the sole variability being that in lavender puppies, it dilutes the brown pigment and the black one in blue dogs.

Additionally, some of these lavender lapdogs are said to bear the dilute for life, giving them amber or hazel eyes. You will have to spend anywhere between $2,200-$2,700 for these lavender puppies. Then there's the tricolored Shih Tzu which lures you in with its awe-inspiring coat.

What is the most common Shih Tzu color?

There appears to be some concurrence in respect of the most orthodox color among Shih Tzus. From the above matter, we have learned that solid Shih Tzu dogs are few and far between.

Inevitably, the ultimate denouement is that double-colored Shih Tzus are more frequent, the classic black and white being the common combination.

In the tri-colored category, the most common combination is black and gold with white markings. All in all, the doubled-color coat is the most common.

What is the rarest Shih Tzu color?

What might be the most apparent color among other breeds, a solid black Shih Tzu is considered to be the rarest Shih Tzu color.

Likewise, a solid white Shih Tzu is not common at all. Even a streak of another color on a solid puppy causes them to be considered as a double-colored Shih Tzu.

If a solid-colored puppy is to be registered with the AKC, it should have no other color, which is extremely rare. A black puppy is one with black eye rims, black paw pads, and a black nose.

Taking Care Of Your Shih Tzu's Coat

Also called royal lapdogs, Shih Tzus require you to take good care of them but it's not too expensive or tiring.

As a young dog, it is essential you groom the dog's coat regularly. Also, bathing them every one to two weeks is suggested. Brushing over them where their coat is dry is not advised but you can spray a light amount of water with a hydrating spray or a dog detangling spray, and then brush.

To remove any tangles, you can use a fine-tooth brush, for a finishing touch. Also, while bathing a dog, remember to use a downward motion instead of a circular motion so as not to create any more tangles. To keep your little lions fresh and joyous, use shampoos made especially for their coat.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Shih Tzu colors then why not take a look at are snake plants toxic to dogs, or Shih Tzu facts.