Shih Poo size: how big do shih poo get?

Shih Poo size chart

If you have ever thought about adding a Shih Tzu Poodle mix to your life, you have probably also wondered about the average Shihpoo size. “How big do Shihpoos get?” is an important question to ask before deciding if they are right for your life and your family. And if you have a Shihpoo pup currently, you might like to know the average size of a full grown Shihpoo.

When Is A Shih Poo Fully Grown?
When Is A Shih Poo Fully Grown?

There are generally two Shihpoo sizes: the Toy / Teacup Shihpoo size and the Mini Shihpoo size. If you would like to find out how big each type gets, read on to get the answer to that and other questions, such as, “when do Shihpoos stop growing?”

Shih Poo Growth Chart – Size & Weight Chart
Shih Poo Growth Chart – Size & Weight Chart

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Teacup / Toy Shihpoo Size Full Grown

  • Toy Shihpoos, also known as Teacup Shihpoos, are the smaller of the Shihpoo sizes. The Toy Shihpoo size comes from breeding a Toy Poodle with a Shih Tzu.
  • The Toy Poodle stands around 10 inches in height and is between 6 and 9 pounds in weight. The Shih Tzu is typically close in height, averaging 9-10.5 inches in height and weighs slightly more at 9-16 pounds.

How Big Do Toy Shihpoos Get?

How big do Toy Shihpoos get? On average a Toy Shihpoo size will be around 8-10” and weigh 8-15lbs.

Mini Shihpoo Size Full Grown

The Miniature Shihpoo is a bit larger than the Toy Shihpoo. The Mini Shihpoo size comes from breeding a mini poodle to a Shih Tzu.  Mini Poodles are around 15 inches high and 12-20 pounds in weight, while the Shih Tzus are about 9-10.5 high and weigh 9-16 pounds

How Big Do Mini Shihpoos Get?

How big do Mini Shihpoos get? An adult Mini Shihpoo size is usually around 10-13” in height and 15-20 pounds.

What Impacts the Size of a Shihpoo?

There are a lot of elements at play that will determine the adult Shihpoo size. This includes their gender, the size of their parents and which generation your Shihpoo is. It is a puzzle without an exact picture, but put all of these pieces together and you may have a general idea of how large your dog will be.

Gender is one of the first aspects to consider. Many people wonder, “should I choose a male vs. female Shihpoo?” Usually the male Shihpoos will be larger than the female Shihpoo, but only slightly so. Males tend to be about 10% larger, so in smaller breeds like the Shihpoo, it may not be as noticeable. This means the Toy Shihpoo size difference is only a difference of about 1 pound. The Mini Shih poo size difference is about 1-2 pounds.

The size of your puppy’s parents can also help predict how big your Shihpoo puppy will get. Parents will pass down their genetics to their pups. The smaller your pup’s parents the more likely it is that your pup will also be on the smaller side as well. Genetics is not an exact science though, so while it is one aspect we look at, it does not guarantee the size your dog will reach when fully grown.

Which generation your Shihpoo is should also be something you look at while trying to determine their adult size. A “generation” is the theoretical genetic makeup of your dog. You basically want to look at how close your dog is genetically to a Shih Tzu or a Poodle. Generations can be very confusing, so read our article on generations of doodles if you want to learn more about it.

Put simply, the closer your Shihpoo is to the larger breed in their genetic makeup, the more likely they are to be slightly larger. For Teacup Shihpoos, the larger breed is the Shih Tzu, so a dog with more Shih Tzu than Toy Poodle could be slightly larger than. If you have a Miniature Shihpoo, the larger breed is the Mini Poodle. So if there is more Miniature Poodle in your Mini Shihpoo, it could make them slightly larger.

Of course, these breeds do not have a huge size difference, so the difference this makes would be slight especially when considering all other contending criteria that could affect your dog’s size.

The Different Types of Shihpoos

If you’re looking for a small dog with plenty of personality, then you might consider the Shihpoo. Also known as Shi-Poos and Shoodles, these new but increasingly popular ‘teddy-bear’ dogs are a cute and cuddly combination of the loyal and adorable Shih Tzu and the intelligent and sophisticated Poodle.

Confident, playful, and affectionate, Shihpoos have all the looks and the character of perfect little lapdogs. Falling somewhere between the toy and small breed standards, these teeny pups just love to be pampered and cosseted. They will thrive in a household where they receive plenty of love and attention.

Beyond that, Shihpoos are quite adaptable dogs. They have a moderate energy level and can quite happily fit in with their owner’s exercise habits. For this reason, Shihpoos do well in active and sedentary homes alike. However, be warned, Shih Tzus are known to have a bit of a stubborn streak that your dog could very well inherit.

When it comes to size, variations in how the Shihpoo was bred could impact their final size. Perhaps the most significant of these is the type of Poodle used. As you likely know, Poodles come in three sizes: Toy, Miniature, and Standard. However, the latter is much too big to be bred naturally with Shih Tzus, so the parent will either be the smaller Toy or the slightly larger Miniature.

As a relatively new Doodle type, most Shihpoos are first-generation – their parent dogs are Shih Tzu and Poodle. However, as the world catches on to these sweet, little canines, there will likely be further variations of these dogs as shown below:

1st Parent 2nd Parent % Shih Tzu* % Poodle*
F1 Shihpoo (first-generation) Shih Tzu Poodle 50% 50%
F1B Shihpoo (first-generation backcross) F1 Shihpoo Poodle 25% 75%
F1BB Shihpoo (first-generation backcross backcross) F1B Shihpoo Poodle 12.5% 87.5%
F2 Shihpoo (second-generation) F1 Shihpoo F1 Shihpoo 50% 50%
F2B Shihpoo (second-generation backcross) F1 Shihpoo F1B Shihpoo 37.5% 62.5%
F2B Shihpoo (alternate cross) F2 Shihpoo Poodle 25% 75%
F3 / Multigen Shihpoo F1B Shihpoo or higher F1B Shihpoo or higher Varies Varies

Shihpoo Size Predictions

Understanding a dog’s potential adult size is really important for ensuring that they mesh well with your family. It’s also crucial for several other reasons, such as anticipating what they will eat and how much room they will require about the house.

While genetics can be unpredictable, especially when it comes to newer dog breeds, the similarity in sizes of the Shih Tzu (8 to 11 inches and 9-16 pounds) and both the Toy (Less than 10 inches and 4-6 pounds) and Miniature Poodle (11 to 15 inches and 15-17 pounds) means that we can make a very reasonable prediction about your Shihpoo’s adult size.

Shihpoo Size Charts and Growth Patterns

These are the emerging standards for this breed:

Small Shihpoo Standard Shihpoo
Weight 5-13 pounds 8-17 pounds
Height 6-10 inches 10-15 inches
Age at Adult Size 6-10 months 7-12 months

No matter the breed, most dogs do the most significant portion of their growing in the first six months of their lives. Smaller dogs naturally finish growing much faster than larger ones. Some Shihpoos might even have reached their adult height by this time.

Speaking of, we’ve been collecting weight data from our Doodle Weight Prediction Calculator. The below Shihpoo size chart / graph shows the average weights by age (in weeks), per size of dog.

As of October 24, 2022, we’ve received over 1,600 accurate Shih Poo weight submissions through our calculator.

Small Shihpoos

Small Shihpoos (the ones with the Toy Poodle parent) will likely get to half their full weight around 3-4 months and their adult weight between 6-10 months.

You can calculate their potential adult size at 15 weeks by taking what they weigh at that age and multiplying it by two.

What About the Standard Shihpoo Size?

Standard Shihpoos (the ones with the Miniature Poodle parent) will likely get to half their full weight around 4 – 5 months and their adult weight between 7 – 12 months.

You can calculate their potential adult size at 18 weeks by taking what they weigh at that age and multiplying it by two.

A different formula you could use is:

Alternative Doodle Weight Formula

When Do Shihpoos Stop Growing?

  • Puppyhood will seem to fly by! And it won’t be long until that little bitty puppy is adult-sized! Now that we’ve answered “how big do Shihpoos get?” you might be wondering how long it takes them to get to this adult size. So when do Shihpoos stop growing?
  • Smaller breeds such as Shihpoos tend to grow quicker, reaching their adult size faster than a larger breed would. You can estimate that both a Toy Shihpoo and a Mini Shihpoo will be done growing in 6-9 months though some may grow a bit after that.
  • To get these answers we looked at the breeds that make up the Shihpoo. Both Toy Poodles and Mini Poodles are generally done growing in around 6 and 8 months of age. Some might continue to grow for up to one year.  Shih Tzus take about 10 months to fully grow.

  • Final Thoughts

    • It is always incredibly important to know what to expect when you are adopting a dog of any breed, Shih Poos included.
    • Consulting with a Shih Poo weight chart is a good way to understand how big your dog should be, how healthy his weight is, and it will allow you to see your dog’s growth curve and whether he is staying on it.
    • Shih Poos are such a sweet breed to adopt. With their small and easily portable size, they make excellent companions.
Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.