Brindle Shih Tzu

Overview

While the Shih Tzu can be found in a wide range of colors, both solid, double, and tri, one of the most interesting colors is brindle.

Brindle is a standard color, AKC code S 057; brindle and white is also standard and is AKC color code S 059.

It is not unusual for owners of brindle Shih Tzu to be a bit confused about this color since it is actually a pattern consisting of several colors and it looks differently on very puppy and dog.

This article will cover facts to know about brindling and then show some really cute examples.

Brindle Shih Tzu Facts

Here are some facts to know:

Brindle itself is not a color. It refers to a certain pattern in which color falls on the coat.

The pattern of brindle is a striping effect.

The colors that make up brindle on a Shih Tzu include whites, creams, golds, browns, grays, and black.

Brindle may be 'loose'; this means that stripes will be spaced apart or it may be 'tight', which means that the stripes are very close together.

'Regular' brindle (the common type) consists of dark stripes over a light base. 'Reverse' brindle (very rare) is light-colored stripes over a dark base.

Brindle may be light or heavy; light brindling allows for color underneath to show through; with heavy brindling it will be difficult to see the base color underneath.

Brindle may appear over a Shih Tzu's entire body or may appear as patches on certain areas of the body, such as the head and/or down the back.

Unless there is liver or blue in the coat, brindle Shih Tzu dogs will have black noses and other skin points (eye rims, lips and paw pads).

Brindle color can change as a Shih Tzu matures. What you see when you have a brindle puppy will most likely not be what you'll see when your dog is an adult. In many cases, the brindle will fade off to some degree as the adult coat grows in and in some cases it does remain similar or comes in heavier.

Brindle can be seen on other dog breeds such as the Boxer and Boston Terrier and is also seen on other animals including horses and Guinea pigs.

Brindle is a K locus recessive gene, however the extent of the brindling (light or heavy) will depend on the A locus gene.

Some brindle Shih Tzu dogs also carry a graying gene; for those that do, darker hairs can transition to gray starting at 7 years and progressively from that point on.

Examples of Brindle Shih Tzu

Here, we'll take a look at all of the beautiful ways in which brindle can be expressed on this breed.

Heavy, tight brindle:

With this Shih Tzu, brindle covers the entire body from head to paw and the stripes are tight together.

Ake, at 18 months old, photo courtesy of Johanna

Age-related grayed brindle:

As Shih Tzu dogs age, gray hairs can come in. This senior was once a dark brindle all over and now has noticeable grays throughout the coat, concentrated on the main body.

Oreo, at age 13, (right before he passed over; RIP Oreo),

photo courtesy of Heather S.

Moderate brindle, moderate tight:

Brindle covers most of the body; there is a small white patch on the chest and legs; brindle is a bit looser on the front legs.

Rugby, at 4 years old,

photo courtesy of The Funkhouser Family

Loose brindle:

The striping effect is dark, yet the bands of color are loose, allowing for white bands as well. Very cute!

Captain Jack Swan, at 3 months old

photo courtesy of Madison Swan

Dark vs light brindle:

Brindle, not being any particular color, but rather a pattern, appears differently on every Shih Tzu. No two brindled Shih Tzu will ever look exactly the same; but, this is an awesome example of just how varied brindle can be. On the left is Min Su with super-heavy brindling, in fact this Shih Tzu almost appears to be black. And on the right is Je Ju with very light brindling.

Photo courtesy of Ron Hamilton

Brindle Care Tips

1) If you have a heavily brindled Shih Tzu the coat will be exceptionally tricky at hiding dirt and debris; it is practically camouflage for dogs. So, do be sure to still follow grooming guidelines of bathing your Shih Tzu once every 3 weeks, even if the coat looks clean.

2) Brindle is also sneaky in regard to hiding issues such as split ends. And while this can make the coat appear to be nice and healthy, there can actually be damage throughout the coat.

Even if unseen on a brindle, dry, split or unhealthy hairs should be resolved. So, be sure to always use the best shampoo for your Shih Tzu, taking care to follow up with a quality wash-out conditioner and a leave-in conditioning spritz for in between bath protection.

Example of How Brindle Can Change

Little Maggie here is a brindle Shih Tzu.

The 1st photo (below on mobile) shows her at 8 weeks old. As you can see, she had heavy brindling. The second photo shows her at 6 and 1/2 months old, right after a haircut. Some of the brindle was clipped off, revealing a softer, lighter pattern. And some transitioned lighter as she matured.

Maggie

Photos courtesy of Linda Kirkham