Are you wondering how many Shih Tzu colors there are? You’re not the only one!
The Shih Tzu is an old dog breed that is well respected in China. It first arrived at the Chinese imperial courts during the Tang Dynasty, and judging by its sassy character, these pups never left the palace.
Next to their long, hypoallergenic coats, adorable underbites, and cuddly personalities, Shih Tzu dogs are known for many different colors of their fur.
Here are 19 official Shih Tzu colors (and one that is unofficial but gorgeous nonetheless), at least according to the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) breed standard:
1. Black Shih Tzus
We’re starting out with the rarest Shih Tzu color of them all: The black Shih Tzus.
Solid color is rare in Shih Tzus as it is, and pure black pups are almost impossible to find. This is due to a specific way color genetics work in Shih Tzus, but I won’t bother you too much with that.
What’s important to note is that black Shih Tzus must be solid black, without even a single hair of some other color on them. Also, the black color must be pure, without any brown or red overlay – although graying that happens with age is allowed.
This includes a black nose, black paw pads, and dark eyes.
2. Black And White Shih Tzus
Black and white Shih Tzus have a black base coat and white markings that can vary in shape, size, and location. The only condition is that the white shouldn’t cover more than 49% of a dog’s fur; otherwise, it is considered faulty.
Most black Shih Tzus are, in fact, black and white Shih Tzus.
3. Brindle Shih Tzus
Brindle is not a true coat color but, rather, a pattern. Do you know those dogs with tiger-like stripes? That’s brindle!
In Shih Tzus, however, the brindle pattern might be challenging to differentiate due to this dog’s long coat. You might simply think that you have a dog with weird, darker markings on it!
Brindle can occur in most Shih Tzu colors, but it is especially common in gold and red.
4. Brindle And White Shih Tzus
Brindle and white Shih Tzus have white markings on their body. Usually, the white is located on the pup’s stomach, chest, muzzle, and paws, but this isn’t set in stone.
Most brindle dogs have at least some markings on them, making this a somewhat common pattern.
5. Gold Shih Tzus
Gold is a common color in some dogs, such as Golden Retrievers, of course! However, solid gold Shih Tzus are pretty rare, and even then, most pups will have a black mask.
This is quite an exotic color, and these pups are highly prized.
If you want one for yourself, make sure to give these pups regular brushing! With such a beautiful dog, nothing is more important than to keep its coat and skin in good health.
6. Gold And White Shih Tzus
Gold and white Shih Tzus are much more common than solid-colored dogs.
Next to white markings, these pups can have a slight black mask. If there is any other black on its coat, the dog will be considered tricolor.
7. Red Shih Tzus
Red Shih Tzus have a coat that can vary in shade from bright ginger to dark chocolate. What’s important is that they have black noses and dark eyes. If their noses were brown or red, these dogs would be considered liver-colored.
It is quite common for red Shih Tzus to be born black. Their true color will show only after a few weeks or even months.
The gene responsible for the red color in Shih Tzus is also the one that causes gold, cream, and tan colored coats – although most of these could be registered as gold or red/
8. Red And White Shih Tzus
Red and white is a common standard color combination in these family dogs, and you can find these Shih Tzus puppies being sold by most breeders.
The markings can be in the shape of a mask, white blaze, paws, chest, and many more. Some might even have a brindle pattern on top. It’s truly amazing how many combinations are there!
9. Silver Shih Tzus
Shih Tzus are among the few dog breeds that come in a silver color. No, this isn’t the same silver that is caused by the dilution gene many other pups come in.
Some of these dogs might appear white at first sight. Upon closer inspection, however, you’ll notice they have a gray overlay, giving them a metallic glow.
In many Shih Tzus, the exact shade of silver will depend on a dog’s age. The older the dog, the darker and more prominent the silver color will be.
Similarly, some black Shih Tzus might become silver in color as they age.
Just as in other solid Shih Tzu colors, finding a silver Shih Tzu without any markings can be challenging.
10. Silver And White Shih Tzus
If you have a dog that is silver and white, you’ll clearly know the difference between the two shades, which confuses many dog owners.
These dogs have white spots and markings all over their bodies. Most will have a tuxedo pattern, although piebald is also quite common.
11. Blue Shih Tzus
No, blue Shih Tzus don’t literally have a blue coat. Their hue is determined by a recessive gene that dilutes the black color, giving it a gunmetal gray color.
Since solid black Shih Tzus are already quite rare, the chances of finding one that also has a dilution gene are extremely low.
It’s important to note that blue and other diluted colors are connected with color dilution alopecia (CDA), a genetic disorder that might lead to hair loss. For example, CDA is one of the leading causes of American Bullies losing hair.
Fortunately, most blue Shih Tzus are healthy dogs, and CDA is quite rare in the breed.
Blue Shih Tzus commonly have blue eyes, giving them quite a unique look not many other color combinations have.
12. Blue And White Shih Tzus
As black and white Shih Tzus are quite common, so are blue and white ones.
These beautiful pups are among the most sought-after color varieties, and it’s easy to see why. Just look at that adorable face!
13. Liver Shih Tzus
Liver Shih Tzus look just like red ones. So, what’s the difference? Their nose color!
The color of the nose indicates that this coat color isn’t caused by the same genetics as the standard red.
Instead, just like blue, a liver dog’s coat color is caused by a dilution gene that turns black pigment into a reddish liver color – although some pups might have a shade of lighter chocolate.
These doggies will typically have amber or hazel eyes, but green eyes are also possible.
14. Liver And White Shih Tzus
You already know the deal about dogs with white patterns, so I won’t bother you that much. The only thing I’ll say is that this might be the most beautiful Shih Tzu color out there.
Don’t take my word for it – the dog pictured above should speak for itself.
15. White Shih Tzus
White is a somewhat tricky color, as it is recognized by the AKC, but it is not considered standard.
In other words, while a white Shih Tzu can be registered and he is most likely purebred, this color is considered a fault, and you won’t be able to participate in conformation shows.
On the other hand, white in combination with any other color is typically rather desirable.
Fortunately, you should be able to register most white Shih Tzus as silver dogs, even though they don’t have that gray glow silver Shih Tzus have.
Don’t confuse white Shih Tzus with dogs with albinism! The two are caused by entirely different genetic conditions.
Albino Shih Tzus have a slightly pink tint on their coats, and their eyes will be pale.
Intentional breeding of Shih Tzus with albinism is frowned upon. Even most irresponsible breeders will avoid breeding this one.
16. Black Gold And Silver Shih Tzus
Finally, we have the tricolor Shih Tzus.
These dogs aren’t considered standard by the AKC, but no one can deny just how beautiful they are.
Black, gold, and silver Shih Tzus are among the most requested colors in recent years, and they are also the most common tricolor combination.
Most of these doggies have black and gold bodies with white markings. Some, however, might have gold bodies, white markings, and a black mask. Both of these variations are considered black, gold, and silver tricolor Shih Tzus.
17. Black White And Silver Shih Tzus
Black, white, and silver Shih Tzus are not as common as the previous combination, but they aren’t that rare, either.
This pooch has an elegant look that makes it easy to believe these pups used to be treated as part of the royalty.
18. Silver Gold And White Shih Tzus
Now, this is a rare one! Silver gold and white Shih Tzus are the rarest of all tricolor combinations.
Sometimes, an owner will bring home his new puppy that is in black, gold, and white. However, once the color changes, the pup will become dark gray.
Of course, it’s possible for pups to simply be born that way.
19. Black Gold And White Shih Tzus
These are black and gold Shih Tzus, but with white markings on their bodies.
This is yet another quite common tricolor combination. In fact, the only reason why it might not be the most popular one is because many owners don’t like the color white when it comes to Shih Tzus – at least not by name.
20. Lavender Shih Tzus
Lastly, we have lavender Shih Tzus, also known as Isabella Shih Tzus.
Lavender Shih Tzus are very similar to blue ones. The only difference is that the dilution gene affects the red pigment instead of the black one. As a result, a dog will have a slightly purple tint.
Some of these dogs will have dark blue eyes. Others might have hazel or even green ones. The only eye color that isn’t likely to be seen in these beautiful pooches is dark brown.
These are the only dogs on my list that aren’t recognized by the AKC. In other words, if a breeder is selling lavender Shih Tzus, chances are there’s something fishy.
However, you might be able to register a few lavender pups with the AKC under the name “blue Shih Tzu”. It all depends on how closely the color resembles blue doggies.
Do Shih Tzus Change Color?
Many times, you’ll see an adult dog who was registered as a certain color while he was a puppy, but now, it doesn’t seem to look the part.
This change in coat color usually happens around a dog’s first birthday, though for some dogs and colors, it might occur a bit later.
This happens due to several genetic factors that cause fading and graying. A Shih Tzu’s coat colors might fade over time and become lighter or become more gray.
If a Shih Tzu carries a so-called G gene, his color will fade as he grows older. Sometimes, even very young puppies might experience graying!
Graying, on the other hand, occurs due to the Chinchilla or CH gene. A dog that carries this gene will have a coat that turns into a lighter, silvery color.
Some puppies might also be born with sable coats, but the black tips will disappear with the first haircut.
These color changes don’t mean a dog is less worthy. All Shih Tzu colors are equally beautiful, and there is something truly special about watching your dog change over time.
If anything, it allows us to appreciate the moment, knowing that its coat might look entirely different this time next month.
Vanja’s passion for writing started at an early age, which is why she pursued Journalism as her college degree. She can research any topic and find all the information before you bat an eye, which is a great thing for her job but a terrible one for her husband.
Even as a young child, she fell in love with everything fluffy – but dogs have a special place in her heart due to her childhood companion, a Corgie named Archie.
Motivated by her experiences and driven by a desire to give back to her four-legged companions, she spends her free time volunteering at a local dog shelter.