Teacup Shih Tzu - Look Before You Buy

Teacup Shih Tzu dogs are also called "Imperial Shih Tzu" and "small glass of water. These are the little bitty dogs in small sizes. The terms "Imperial" or "teacup" used interchangeably by some breeders. Some growers use "Imperial" for the smallest dogs in the 3 to 5 pound category, and "teacup" for something bigger dogs in the 5 to 6 pound size.

These dogs are, because there is a demand for them. Do you know why you are interested in these little dogs. The size is cute and allthis attitude in a small package is part of the complaint. The story is that the smaller dog is really a descendant of the dogs from the Chinese Royal Palace, so that the "imperial" description. The idea is that these are really the descendants of the royal line.

The fact is that the official American Kennel Club and the American Shih Tzu Club standards call for a weight 9 to 16 pounds. The breed is classified as a toy breed and is already a small dog, when they bred the breed. In thisstandard weight matches closely the weight of the standard dog as described by the Peking Kennel Club in 1938. The breed standard describes a rugged, stocky little dog that is small, but not at all fragile.

So, the really tiny teacup dogs do not meet the breed standard and are really a fad dog created to please a market looking for a dog that is not really a Shih Tzu. Now that would be OK as long as the dog itself is not harmed by this move. But in fact breeding for extreme small size may be harmful for the dogs in several respects. Think about how you develop a very small dog in a short period.

To make a really small dog, you come quickly, there are only a few options. The first is because the parents choose the smallest dogs available and breeding these dogs. Then drive the selection for small dogs over a longer period in the following pairings. The problem with this approach is that if size is the most important selection criteria other characteristics are ignored. This ruleResults of health problems, because your unbalanced selection procedures are almost always unhealthy at the end of breeding dogs just because they are small. A dog may be small and healthy or unhealthy, a dwarf with physical problems.
Also small Females fight with birth and have very small litters as a rule.

Another approach is to breed a standard size Shih Tzu a small dog of another breed. This can produce a smaller healthy dog but the dog will lack some of the characteristics ofthe parents. Even the descendants of the half-breed dog show large differences in the properties. You will not get offspring as the parents.

The standard Shih Tzu is a small stable, balanced dog. They are healthy, active dogs with good form and strength. Be careful when you choose a small teacup dog. It might be better to choose a different race, if you want a really small dog.