Parti & Solid Colors for Shih Tzu
Parti - Color ...... always have white as the dominate color on the dog; and may including some sort of at least one other color or two.
Pigment (color of the nose) plays the most important part of how a Shih Tzu's color is named. It can take several weeks to know what it will become and what color it will stay, as he or she matures. Eyes develope slow so when young they look cloudy.
#1 Most Popular Color
Black and White
Nose is Black.
These colors represent the Yin (Black) and Yang (White). These two energies work together to cause everything to happen.
Thus keeping the world at balance.
#2 MOST POPULAR COLOR
Gold and White
Nose is Black.
Dark Gold- a puppy can start out with black tips. At birth the puppy looks Black and white, after a few weeks gold color seems to emerge. Golden gets more and more noticeable.
Light gold - the puppy is born looking golden already.
Brindle & White All colorings and marking are acceptable in Shih Tzus
The dog is white with two other colors-making it a brindle.
Also known as a Tri- color which is a mixture of three colors usually gold, liver and black. Brindle will usually turn to dark silver as it mature or Fade to a lighter.
Saddle (back of pup) is liver & black, along with ears and mask.
Brindle can have any or all of the royal markings.
Liver & White
Nose must have liver pigment
Parti-colored-dogs main color is White.
Can range from light to Dark all shades of a Faint golden to Dark Chocolate Can also include:
Royal Markings-White blaze, crown, beard, feet and white tip on tail are all classic marking and are considered desirable giving it's owner good luck.
Silver & white
True silver starts at birth. However, it's extremely rare to see it at birth! Parents that carry the blue gene, can also have a silver offspring. Silver at birth can stay the same or change to a getting lighter with age and sometimes even turn white or a liver sheen.
Shih Tzus born with any color may turn as they age to silver.
Red & White
Easily looks like brindle and white, but should have a diffident black on face near nose or muzzle. Must have a black nose. pigment on nose can take weeks to develop.
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Blue & White
Usually has a small patch of blue that will lighten, so the dog looks like a cream. The nose will still look egg plant colored.When the pup turned two or older it will have a blue shine in the sun or can have alot if silver starting to come threw.
Parti- colored Shih Tzu are the most popular. White blaze, crown, beard, feet and white tip on tail are all classic marking and are desirable providing it's owner with good luck all year long. The reason is because they are the keeper of balence in thier family.. We produce all colors and maintain the qualities that A.K.C. has set. We only breed the best of the best, so you get great temperament, healthy and all colors.
Solid - Colors for Shih Tzu
One color is the dominate
Solid Colors: one color on the dog. However, one or two, Royal Marking dog can have a different colored mask or a few small marking of white. If white is not the main color dogs can lose a white chest, paws, belly markings and dash here or there of white.
Solid White
Extremely rare in Shih Tzu
no any color or markings......Pure White
Livers
Liver nose- dog is liver colored. Nose determines it's color.
Shades of liver: * Dark looking like Chocolate
* To very light almost a Cream. The contrast of a parti- colored Shih Tzu is the most popular of Shih Tzu coloring. The solids have been coming out more in recent years. Since they where so rare, there is an ongoing high demand for the exotic colors. So breeders met that demand; by produce more solids and rare colors. At Sonshine Shih Tzu we know our heritage for the past 52 years. We produce all colors and maintain the qualities of the Shih Tzu.
Reds
Reds must have a Black Nose, Red is a solid color even thou there is a black face.
Most Reds will have a dark mask*.
Shades of Reds: * Dark to Light
Black Tips are common on most Reds and other colors Black face is not on A.K.C papers; so black mask is used. Individuals like their black face because it hides the eye stains.*Recently more breeders are breeding for more darker faces.
Black
Black solid can have spot of other color or be completely Black.
Some may have royal marking in white, (below explained) Some may lose some markings as matures. Should stay Black.
Silver
Born blue silver coloring. True Blue means the nose is bluish. Nose is a Light blue or gray. If had black face can have a black nose. Extremely rare at birth. There are many different shades of Silver.
Shades of Silver: * Dark to Light
Usually have a black face and hair will grow into a beautiful Silver gray. There may be some liver highlights creating the color.
Blue
At birth they look Black, may take up to 8 months to see it change to Blue.
Nose will have a purple or blue shine (eggplant coloring).
In the sunlight you see a haze of blue. It's beautiful color and rare. We usually have several every year.
Shades of Blue:
*Eggplant to Blue.
Brindle
Mixture of at least two colors usually black and liver. Puppy can turn liver, or stay dark keeping some of it's black hairs. Most keep a black face.
Shades of Brindle: * Dark To Light
Color can change many times throughout a Shih Tzu's Life
The solids have been coming out more in recent years. Since they where so rare at one time. People didn't realize Shih Tzu can be one color. There has been an ongoing high demand for the solid exotic colors. Breeders met that demand; by produce more solids and rare colors. Brindle and Blue are pretty close when the puppies are young, but as the pup grows so will it's coloring be more seeable. I recommend getting a puppy you will enjoy no mater what the color. It's the sweet temperament, independent, self confident, lap warmer and companionship that will stay with the puppy forever Some fade as they get older, some get darker.
* Fading -Dog gets lighter as it matures
* Darkening -Dogs gets darker as it matures
* Shading -Dog gets light then dark or visa versa.
Royal Markings
Mask
Crown
Crown
dark color around eyes- usually black, not always.
Crown
Crown
Crown
white on top of head surrounded by any color. Also called the Kiss of Buddha
Blaze
Crown
Blaze
a white strip that connects the crown to another section of white on the face or the beard.
Beard
Saddle
Blaze
bottom lip usually is white, but can be any color. (chin)
Shawl
Saddle
Saddle
is marking in white that usually are around the neck; may drape down the front paws.
Saddle
Saddle
Saddle
coloring over the back of the dog, behind the two front paws.
White Tip
White Tip
White Tip
Usually on the tip of the Tail with another color on tail before white.
Sock
White Tip
White Tip
Paw or Paws have white on them.