Shih Poos are among the most stunning designer dog breeds! They will fill your time with tons of love and affection. But which of the Shih Poo sizes is right for you?
Shih Poos are available in four main sizes: toy, teacup, mini, and standard. Breeders pay specific attention to ensure they carefully craft Shih Poos of all sizes to exhibit the breed’s best traits.
Read on to learn more about Shih Poos and how big – or small – they can be!
Before scrolling down this guide “Shih Poo Sizes: Toy, Teacup, Mini, and Standard,” check out these other Shih Poo-related guides: Best Shih Poo Haircut Styles and Are Shih Poos Hypoallergenic?.
What Is a Shih Poo?
A Shih Poo, like other doodle dogs, comes from crossbreeding a Poodle. A Shih Poo’s other parent is the Shih Tzu, a smaller dog breed that contributes to the Shih Poo’s equally tiny size.
Let’s learn some more about the two breeds that make up the active and energetic Shih Poo!
Poodle
Poodles are active dogs that love to spend time outside. With a high level of intelligence and a proud sense of self, these dogs adore spending their time playing, going on adventures, and cuddling with their owners. They’re also cheerful, gentle, and highly intelligent.
Standard Poodles generally weigh between 40 and 70 pounds and can grow as tall as 15 inches. Meanwhile, Miniature Poodles and Toy Poodles are significantly smaller and weigh much less.
Miniature Poodles weigh up to 15 pounds and grow no taller than 15 inches. And Toy Poodles are even smaller, weighing only about five pounds and growing to 10 inches. The Miniature and Toy Poodles are most commonly used for breeding Shih Poos.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are playful and fun-loving dogs who adore affection. They are outgoing and love meeting new people. Like Miniature and Toy Poodles, Shih Tzus are small dogs.
Shih Tzus will not grow more than 11 inches tall and weigh no more than 16 pounds. Some may even weigh less than 10 pounds – especially the runts of the litter.
Shih Tzus are perfect for homes with young children and other dogs because they are so playful and loving.
Different Shih Poo Sizes
There are four types of Shih Poos, each ranging in size and weight. Further, each type of Shih Poo varies in temperament, social behavior, attitude, and genetics.
Teacup Shih Poo
Breeders achieve petite teacup dogs by breeding the smallest dogs in a litter, often referred to as the runts of the batch. When two runts have a litter of puppies, they will likely pass down their genes and create dogs equally as small as them (or even smaller).
For example, Teacup Shih Poos are a crossbreeding of the runts in a Mini or Toy Poodle litter and a Shih Tzu litter. Teacup Shih Poos typically measure less than eight inches tall and weigh less than eight pounds.
Teacup Shih Poos have friendly and playful temperaments, but they may be yappy and bark often. This small breed is especially at risk for joint and hip dysplasia and cardiovascular conditions.
Toy Shih Poo
Toy Shih Poos can grow to 10 inches tall and weigh up to 10 pounds. These dogs are only slightly larger than their teacup cousins, but they inherit similar positive traits as well as their penchant for yapping and barking.
Toy Shih Poos might yap a little less than their teacup counterparts. They are also easier to keep track of and offer a good mix between size and portability.
One benefit of owning a Toy Shih Poo is how adorable they are! With the right haircut, they can look just like a teddy bear. Additionally, the smaller the dog, the less hair you’ll find around the home!
Mini Shih Poo
Miniature Shih Poos weigh up to 15 pounds and grow to around 12 inches tall. They are the perfect size for a family road trip! All a Miniature Shih Poo needs to be happy is a warm lap to sit in and plenty of its favorite food.
Miniature Shih Poos don’t bark much and will give you the peace you need to gather your thoughts. They are confident, intelligent, and won’t make a mess of your home.
Standard Shih Poo
Standard Shih Poos are small dogs, but they are the largest Shih Poo you’ll find. They can weigh up to 18 pounds and grow up to 15 inches tall. Standard Shih Poos are still small enough to travel without much struggle or fuss.
This breed doesn’t shed much either, meaning it won’t require much cleanup. However, a Standard Shih Poo does have more hair, so you’ll need to take them to the groomers more frequently.
A benefit of owning a Standard Shih Poo is that they don’t bark as much. These dogs don’t feel the need to announce their presence because they aren’t as low to the ground as the other types of Shih Poos.
Like all hybrid dogs, Shih Poos are at risk of certain conditions like periodontal disease and intervertebral disc disease. Consult a veterinarian if you note your Shih Poo acting strangely, losing their balance often, or exhibiting symptoms of pain.
How Long Until a Shih Poo is Full-Grown?
Like most dogs, a Shih Poo will reach its full-grown size at around 12 months. However, some dogs might reach their full-grown size a month earlier or later.
Environment, diet, and gender are some of the biggest factors that can contribute to the size of your dog. Dogs without access to a steady supply of nutritious food might be smaller than others. Furthermore, depriving a Shih Poo of food and nutrients can have a detrimental effect on its internal organ function, skeleton, and other bodily operations.
Gender also plays a role in determining the size of your Shih Poo. For example, female dogs are usually less heavy and shorter than their male counterparts.
Shih Poo Size Predictions
There are several methods that can predict how tall and heavy your Shih Poo will grow. However, these numbers are general estimations and may not be accurate.
Use Math
You can use a formula to calculate the size your puppy should grow to as an adult. However, this method isn’t an exact science. There are multiple ways to calculate a puppy’s full-grown size.
One method involves doubling your puppy’s weight at four months. For example, if your dog weighs 20 pounds when it is four months old, you can expect its full-grown weight to be (2 x 20) 40 pounds. On average, this offers a close estimation of your dog’s full-grown size, but it may not be as accurate.
Look at The Paws
If your Shih Poo has paws that look too big for its body, it may have some more growing to do. A puppy’s paws are a good indicator of its full-grown size because they grow much faster than the rest of the body. When your Shih Poo reaches its full-grown size, its paws will start to look proportional to the rest of its body.
Use a Chart
The best way to monitor how your Shih Poo is growing is to keep a record, log, or chart of its development. This data will help you understand how they are progressing and give you an idea of when growth spurts are hitting or when growth begins tapering.
You can also chart their height on a doorframe or other location to see a physical representation of how their development.
Look at Your Shih Poo’s Parents
One of the best predictors of how big your Shih Poo will be is to look at how large its parents are. Your Shih Poo is likely to grow to a size averaging the two sizes of its parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Teacup Shih Poos are the smallest Shih Poo available. They typically weigh less than eight pounds!
Shih Poos are highly affectionate dogs that love spending time with their owners. Because of this, we don’t recommend leaving your Shih Poo alone for long stretches of time.
The majority of Shih Poos are fully grown once they reach 10 to 12 months.
Shih Poo Sizes: Toy, Teacup, Mini, and Standard!
Shih Poos are stunning dogs who love to bark to make their presence known. They are also super affectionate and will gladly spend all their time with their owners.
Although these dogs are all pretty small, a teacup or toy Shih Poo may weigh less than 10 pounds! Every Shih Poo makes the perfect companion for adventure, road trips, or other outings.
Shih Poos are designer dogs who greet everyone you pass on the street and have no problem introducing themselves to other dogs at the dog park. They are the perfect dog for families who value adventure, fun, and affection!
For more guides similar to this list of Shih Poo sizes, check out:
- Bordoodle Sizes: Mini, Medium, & Standard
- Sheepadoodle Sizes: Toy, Miniature, & Standard
- Westiepoo Sizes: Teacup, Toy, Mini, & Standard
You can learn more about this breed by watching “Shih Poo – Top 10 Facts” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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