Shih-Poo

The Shih-poo is a designer breed that developed from the ‘Shih Tzu’ and the ‘Miniature Poodle’. These small, long-haired dogs have a round face, rounded button eyes, a long nose, hanging ears and a triangular muzzle, giving it a very close resemblance to teddy bears. Unlike many other crossbreeds, their tail is usually not docked but left long. Their little size and obedient nature make them an ideal family dog, perfect for apartment life.

Shih Poo Pictures

Temperament and Personality

Basically, Shih-poo is a quiet, obedient dog. Although the shihpoo has a bark louder than the shih-tzus, yet they are not typical ‘yappers’. The tiny size of the shih-poo has made them typically shy towards strangers. However, having a friendly disposition, they are keen in pleasing their owners.

They know how to socialize with children and other pets. It is pretty easy for the owner to train this intelligent, alert pet. They are loyal, loving and affectionate, enjoying attention and spending time caressed, sitting on the laps of their family members. This makes them a good companion dog to families with elderly people.

Care

• Exercise

• Grooming

• Health Problems

Shipoos enjoy outing, and require a moderate amount of exercise. Take them out for a medium to short walk every day. Since they also love playing, allow them to play without a leash if you have an enclosed yard space.
Shihpoos also get a fairly good amount of exercise, shedding calories while playing around all day.

The coat of the shihpoo is wavy to curly that needs regular brushing. This is to avoid their long hair from getting matted. Brush it with a soft brush with special attention to its hindquarters, behind the ears, and beneath the shoulders. You can also seek for professional help every 3 to 4 months.

Being a cross breed, they are not much vulnerable to catching diseases, except for the general health problems.
Since their inner ear temperature runs more than normal because of their floppy ears, they are much vulnerable to ear infections. To avoid this, keep their ears dry, especially after bath. Also insist on a good dental health regimen since they might as well be susceptible to dental issues.

Training

The ready-to-please attitude, along with loyalty and intelligence have made the shihpoos easily trainable. Socialize them from their puppy-days, and train them get used to strangers and be tolerant with other pets. Crate training is also easy, since this dog loves to poop and pee in such places that are away from their sleeping place.

Like many small dogs, this breed tends to act stubborn at times. So be sure to be strict and authoritative while training so that they understand the rule that it is you who is the leader of its new pack. But never be rude, since these dogs do not respond well to harsh training techniques.

Diet/Feeding

The Shih-poo is essentially an over-eater. Hence, monitor its dietary habits and calorie intake.

Like most other dogs of the size, insist on raw meat diet, and try avoiding foods not good for dogs in general. But, to be specific, dry foods like kibble is advisable for this breed, since they are prone to develop issues with teeth and might very easily suffer from premature loss of teeth. This should also keep it safe from gum infections and bad breath.

Interesting Facts

• The Shih-poo is mostly a mixture of a shih-tzu and a mini Poodle. A shih-poo having a standard Poodle is extremely uncommon.
• These small dogs are bred in three ‘cute’ variations: the Mini, the Toy and the Standard.
• If healthy, these dogs do very well in dog sports like agility, obedience, and rally.