Shih tzu (Dog standard)

Shih tzu is a sturdy, abundantly coated dog with distinctly arrogant carriage and chrysanthemum-like face.

FCI-Standard N° 208 / 20.04.1998 / GB

SHIH TZU

ORIGIN : Tibet.

PATRONAGE : Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 24.06.1987.

UTILIZATION : Companion dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs.
Section 5 Tibetan breeds.
Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Sturdy, abundantly COATed dog with distinctly arrogant carriage and chrysanthemum-like face.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Intelligent, active and alert. Friendly and independant.

HEAD : HEAD broad, round, wide between the eyes. Shock-HEADed with HAIR falling well over eyes. Good beard and whiskers, HAIR growing upwards on the nose giving a distinctly chrysanthemum-like effect.

CRANIAL REGION :
Stop : Definite.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black but dark liver in liver or liver marked dogs. Top of nose leather should be on a line with or slightly below lower eyerim. Downpointed nose highly undesirable. Wide open nostrils. Pinched nostrils highly undesirable.
Muzzle : Of ample width, square, short, not wrinkled, flat and HAIRy. Length about one inch (2,5 cm) from tip to stop. Bridge of the nose level or slightly tip tilted. Pigmentation of muzzle as unbroken as possible.
Lips : Level.
Jaws/Teeth : Wide, slightly undershot or level.
Eyes : Large, dark, round, placed well apart but not prominent. Warm expression. In liver or liver marked dogs, lighter eye COLOUR permissible. No white of eye showing.
Ears : Large, with long leathers, carried drooping. Set slightly below crown of skull, so heavily COATed they appear to blend into HAIR of NECK.

NECK : Well proportioned, nicely arched. Sufficient length to carry HEAD proudly.

BODY : Longer between withers and root of the TAIL than height at withers.
Back : Level.
Loin : Well coupled and sturdy.
Chest : Broad and deep.

TAIL : Heavily plumed carried gaily well over back. Set on high. Height approximately level with that of skull to give a balanced outline.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Legs short and muscular with ample bone, as straight as possible, consistent with broad chest being well let down.
Shoulders : Firm, well laid back.

HINDQUARTERS : Legs short and muscular with ample bone. Straight when viewed from the rear. Legs looking massive on account of wealth of HAIR.
Thighs : Well rounded and muscular.

FEET : Rounded, firm and well padded, appearing big on account of wealth of HAIR.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Arrogant, smooth-flowing, front legs reaching well forward, strong rear action and showing full pad.

COAT

HAIR : Long, dense not curly, with good underCOAT. Slight wave permitted. Strongly recommended that HAIR on HEAD tied up.

COLOUR : All COLOURs permissible, white blaze on foreHEAD and white tip to TAIL highly desirable in parti-COLOURs.

SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height at the withers : Not more than 26.7 cm (10 1/2 ins), type and breed characteristics of the utmost importance and on no account to be sacrificed to SIZE alone.
Weight : 4.5 to 8.1 kg (10-18 lbs). Ideal weight 4.5-7.3 kg (10-16 lbs).

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Source: FCI >>>