Shih Tzu — Complete Breed Guide

Budget roughly $80–$160 a month for the ongoing side: food, routine vet care, grooming, and insurance. Larger breeds and heavy groomers sit at the higher end.

The purchase price itself is a different question, and there's no single honest number — it swings with breeder reputation, health testing, pedigree, and where you live. What actually drives it: documented health screening of the parents, a breeder who answers hard questions, and your region.

Run your own numbers with our monthly dog cost calculator before you fall in love with a puppy.

Puppyhood is the expensive, exhausting, wonderful part. Plan for a first vet visit within days of bringing yours home, a vaccine series over the first few months, and training that starts the day it arrives — not at six months.

The first year costs more than the monthly estimate above suggests: vaccines, spay/neuter, a crate, and chewed shoes add up. Socialize early and widely; the temperament scores on this page assume a well-socialized dog.

Designer mixes get a lot of searches, so here's an honest map: a mix inherits unpredictably from both parents — no guarantees on size, coat, or temperament. If a mix catches your eye, read both parent profiles where they exist and judge the dog in front of you.

• Shih Tzu × Maltese — read the Maltese profile too; a mix can inherit either parent's traits.
• Shih Tzu × Chihuahua — read the Chihuahua profile too; a mix can inherit either parent's traits.
• Shih Tzu × Yorkshire Terrier — read the Yorkshire Terrier profile too; a mix can inherit either parent's traits.