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Age progression photos

Shih Tzu Age Progression Photos:
Puppy to Adult

Overview

Shih Tzu puppies grow up fast; in just one year they mature from teeny pups into full-grown adult dogs. This article explores and celebrates the many changes that occur during that first year. Join us to read about what to expect and see some amazingly adorable photos of Shih Tzu as puppies and then again as adult dogs.

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Physical Changes that Happen During the First Year

Weight:

Newborn Shih Tzu puppies are just mere ounces (under a pound). By the time an 8-week old is ready to transition to their new home, they are generally between 1 and 3 pounds (.45 to 1.36 kg). Many reach their full adult size by the 9 to 10-month mark. The AKC standard for weight calls out for 9 to 16 lbs. (4 to 7.3 kg) which is realistic (some breed standards are not);however, a more accurate range for pets (not those in show) is between 7 and 20 lbs. (3.2 to 9 kg).

Height:

Shih Tzu dogs will, of course, also sprout up in height. The height of an 8-week-old Shih Tzu puppy is generally in the range of 3 to 4 inches (8.89 to 10.16 cm) as measured from the floor to the withers (which are the top of the shoulder blades).

When a Shih Tzu reaches their full adult size around the 10-month mark, the typical height is a range of 8 to 11 inches (20.3 to 27.9 cm) as measured from the floor to the withers. As per the AKC breed standard, the 'ideal' height for the conformation show ring is 9 to 10.5 inches (22.86 to 26.67 cm).

Overall Body Shape and Fat Distribution:

Young puppies have rather round bodies with short limbs and a moderate amount of fat stores. Adults are longer and leaner, though they are considered to be a compact, sturdy dog. The breed in general is slightly longer (from withers to the root of the tail) than they are tall (floor to withers).

Coat Color:

This breed can be found in such a wonderful range of colors. But, don't fall in love with the color of your new 8-week-old Shih Tzu puppy since there can be lots of changes that take place over the first year or so. In many cases, colors will fade down (though in some instances it can deepen) and patterns or markings (like brindle or spotting) will decrease, sometimes to the point of completely fading off (though in some cases, this can intensify).

By the 1-year-mark, what you see will most likely be a Shih Tzu's final coloring and markings; but UV sun exposure can also affect the coat, causing colors to fade over time.

If you want to prevent color fading that's due to the sun (and not genetics), you can use a leave-in product like Chris Christensen Ice on Ice Conditioner with Sunscreen (which also keeps hair healthy and tangle-free).

And if you want to try and revive the color a bit, Earthbath All Natural Coat Brightener Shampoo can help to a certain degree when used for a few shampoos in a row (this is an all-natural formula that is good for the coat).

Skin Point Pigmentation:

Skin points on a dog are the nose, paw pads, eye rims, and lips. Typically, these are all one certain color (for example, you will not commonly find a black nose paired with liver-colored paw pads). But, the intensity of the color can vary from point to point.

With the Shih Tzu breed, skin pigmentation can be black (very common), liver (the second most common), or blue (rare). There are also parti-noses that have varying levels of pink along with another color (spotted) and this can look super-cute (but is considered a fault in the show ring).

As a Shih Tzu matures from a puppy into an adult, their nose and other skin points can change to a certain degree. This can be due to genetics, to environmental factors, or a combination of both.

In regard to genetics, there is a limit to the changes that can occur. A liver can change from a deep dark liver that appears dark brown to a light liver that has a pink or light purple sheen or vice-versa; but, that liver could not transform into a blue or black nose. And the same goes for the other possible skin pigmentation hues.

In regard to environmental factors, a few things can cause the nose to lose it's deep color or become spotty. A common cause is long-term contact with plastic bowls (even those that are BPA-free). Numerous times, when an adult Shih Tzu's nose has become discolored or faded, and owners switch to a a good stainless-steel bowl, things move into the other direction and eventually color comes back.

Another common factor is outdoor exposure. Too much sun can cause a burn and cold winds can cause chapping. Both of these things can lead to peeling skin. When the top layer peels away it can expose a lighter (or pink) layer. This can also be very tender.

If your Shih Tzu's nose needs protection, you can dab a bit of balm like Natural Dog Company's Snout Soother onto it every 2 to 3 days (and every day to help heal issues like peeling or cracking).

Alternatively, not enough sun can cause winter nose (AKC snow nose), a common issue seen with dogs in the wintertime when there are fewer daylight hours. Typically in these cases, once spring and summer come around, the nose darkens up again.

Adorable Age Progression Photos of Shih Tzu Puppies Maturing

There are a lot of changes that happen as Shih Tzu puppies mature into adults. Let's look at some awesome puppy-to-adult photos.

First, here are several cutie pies that had very noticeable color changes as they matured from puppies to adults... and, as expected, they sprouted up from round pups to leaner, longer, and taller adults.

Mini Mae at 3 months old (and 1.5 lbs.):

And look at her now! This is Mini Mae at 11 years old and 12 lbs.:

Photos of Mini Mae courtesy of Ross Merel

Lucy at 6 weeks old:

And, believe it or not, this is Lucy at 7 years old (and 17 lbs.):

Photos of Lucy courtesy of Deanna Blanchard

Lacey as a tiny 8-week-old puppy (red and white):

And here is Lacey again at 24 months:

Photos of Lacey courtesy of Daphne Looper

Coco Puff at 2 months old (and 3 lbs.) (heavily brindled):

And look at Coco Puff as an adult at 22 months old and 12 lbs.:

Photos of Coco Puff courtesy of Lucille Tillotson

Below is Teddy, at 4 months old. As you can see, his coat appears nearly black.

His human, Karen, refers to him as her chameleon Shih Tzu, and she's definitely not exaggerating! It may appear as if he's some sort of magician but take a look at Teddy below at almost 2 years old, he's now a light-coated dog with silver, white, and gray.

Photos of Teddy courtesy of Kim LaFleur

Now let's take a peek at 3 cuddle-bugs that matured quite a bit but kept most of their coloring. These are excellent examples of how this breed looks very different as they get older even if the coat does not have a dramatic transition.

The first (Alfie) faded down a bit but placement stayed relatively the same, and the second (Bella) kept her beautiful black coat but matured quite a bit in just 11 months time!

Alfie at 8 weeks old:

And Alfie at 22 months old (and 20 lbs./9 kg):

Photos of Alfie courtesy of Tammy from Bristol, England

Bella at just 4 weeks old:

And Bella at 12 months old (and 13 lbs.):

Photos of Bella, courtesy of Christine

And this is Jazzy. This darling is 3 months old in this first pic:

And below is Jazzy again as a 15-month-old adult. This Shih Tzu is a liver and you can see that the liver coloring around the lips has increased and it appears as if the cute liver nose has lightened a bit. The brown in his coat has only faded to a small degree:

Photos of Jazzy courtesy of Michael Corsetto

And last but not least, let's take a look at 3 sweetie pies who kept their colors (for the most part) but look extremely different due to the remarkable transition from short puppy coat to long adult show coat.

Maggie at 8 weeks old and (less than 2 lbs.):