What is shih tzu imperial

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I am at least 16 years of age. You may be tempted, as many people are, to buy a miniature Shih Tzu, believing that it's exactly the same dog as the purebred in a petite, precious package. While the two dogs do share many similarities, Imperial Shih Tzu have a few critical differences that need to be seriously considered. Standard Shih Tzu are between 8 and 11 inches in height and between 9 and 16 pounds. This leads to a very significant difference between the two dogs types.

The tiny Imperial Shih Tzu are susceptible to major health issues and weakness due to their small size.

This is especially true for those dogs that are bred to grow no larger than 5 pounds. Standard Shih Tzu, in comparison, are considered to be sturdy and reasonably healthy dogs. Although Standard Shih Tzu are prone to several health conditions , including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, collapsed trachea and breathing problems, as well as a number of eye, ear, and teeth issues, this does not mean that all Shih Tzu will get these problems.

It simply means that the breed tends to see more of these issues than other conditions. There are some Imperial Shih Tzu that may be slightly under the breed standard weight of 9 pounds. These dogs can still generally be found to be in good health and live the average life of a Standard Shih Tzu which is approximately 12 to 16 years.

Standard Shih Tzu are bred by crossing two purebred, healthy Shih Tzu dogs. Imperial Shih Tzu are bred to intentionally be smaller than the breed standard. This is not necessarily wrong if it is done in an ethical way. The main problem is with breeders that strive for micro-mini pups or dogs that come in at five pounds or less. These poor pups, although super cute, are most likely destined for a future of numerous vet visits and problems. Click here for more interesting information about Shih Tzu dogs.

Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions. Home About Contact Menu. July 16, Advices. Share This Post:. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on pinterest. Share on email. Share on linkedin. Imperial Shih Tzu — Characteristics Imperial Shih Tzu dogs are ideal for indoor and apartment living because of their size but it is still advisable to choose a Shih Tzu breed standard and not buy any dogs advertised as the fake Imperial Shih Tzu breed.

Imperial Shih Tzu — Just Like Other Dogs Although they have health issues and have shorter than average life expectancy, Imperial Shih Tzu dogs are still like other dogs who expect affection from their owners. Next Shih Tzu Seizures Next. In this case, these Tzu are dubbed "Imperials". While these dogs will not fit AKC conformation, when bred ethically, they will be as healthy as a standard size. Even a wonderful breeder who breeds to stay within the AKC standards, will always have a few puppies every so often who are smaller than expected.

Even with careful breeding, Mother Nature has the final say. In these cases, a breeder may refer to those smaller than planned dogs as "Imperials". However, when a Shih Tzu is purposefully bred to be under 5 pounds 2. Shih Tzu are not meant to be that tiny! The pups will most likely have many health issues. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between a breeder who uses the word "Imperial" to simply mean "small" and others who use the word to mean the dog is much, much smaller than nature intended What is the Imperial?

When bred and dubbed correctly , the term Imperial, Teacup, Toy and Miniature are not nouns. Do keep in mind that a Tzu under 9 pounds in size will not fit AKC breed standards. The dog may be AKC registerable, however. It is easy to fall prey to marketing schemes, especially when you see it all over the place.

The web is filled with sites that talk about the Imperial Shih Tzu It is quite amazing since the dog simply does not exist. It is ONLY a marketing term. There is no separate variety that is referred to as the Imperial There are no dogs with royal bloodlines. Unfortunately, people see the term used SO much, that many think that it must be a real term, that those dogs must exist