How long does a Shih Tzu live?

The listed lifespan for a Shih Tzu is 10–18 years.

How tall is a Shih Tzu?

The listed height for a Shih Tzu is 9–10.5 in.

Is a Shih Tzu good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Shih Tzu is 5 out of 5.

When is a Shih Tzu full grown?

The growth size band for a Shih Tzu is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu is a small dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is 9–16 lb, height is 9–10.5 in, and the listed lifespan is 10–18 years. AKC describes the temperament as Playful, Affectionate, Outgoing.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Shih Tzu dog — Photo: H.A.W.C 101 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan10–18 years

Weight9–16 lb

SizeSmall GroupToy Group

Height

9–10.5 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

4 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14 years is about 0.4 years longer than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 12.5 lb is about 3.5 lb lighter than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is China. The coat is described as double, long. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.3 points below the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 4 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 21 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: No recommended health tests. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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