Shih Tzu dog and Chihuahua dog — The Shi tzu cross Chihuahua is small, loyal and very playful
© Shutterstock

The Shichi: Shih Tzu cross Chihuahua

By Nick Whittle Author

Updated on the 03/05/2022

The Shichi is a cross between two larger-than-life personalities: the Shih Tzu and the Chihuahua. Thus, this crossbreed will be small and feisty.

Let's meet the Shichi parents breeds

The Shih Tzu

The Shi Tzu dog — The Shi Tzu ©Shutterstock

This breed is a trustful kind and although initially wary of strangers easily makes friends. A Shih Tzu is an adaptive animal capable of finding peace and comfort in any type of living space, especially where there is warmth and company. Contrastingly, she will not be happy to be left in a cold room or outdoors and will be especially unhappy about being left alone.

The Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is one of the most popular dog breeds. They are know for being loyal and excellent watch dog has they are very alert and will bark to let its owner know if there is a problem. In fact, the Chihuahua is known for being a barker and that can be a problem sometimes. Therefore it will be important to start education at an early stage. Because of its size, they tend to become a little bit aggressive with other dogs, therefore they will need to be socialised early. They are also very needy and love to get all the attention from its owner.

The physical characteristics of the Shih tzu cross Chihuahua

Of which genes are the more dominant it is hard to say. The Shichi resembles more often than not the Shih Tzu parent breed but her coat has more in common with the Chihuahua. She is however always small: the Shichi is a toy dog. The Shi Tzu cross Chihuahua measures around 10 inches at the shoulder and weighs no more than 4 kilos.

The Shichi will either have the fox-like ears of the Mexican or the floppy ears of the Chinese. This mix breed will generally have a round head, a black muzzle and dark-brown eyes, and she is altogether a handsome dog. Although their fur colour may change with age, most Shichis wear fur that is a mixture of black, brown, white and cream; the fur tends to be both long and short and is not prone to excess moult.

The temperament of the Shichi

The temperament of the Shichi bears some resemblance to that of the Shih Tzu parent breed. The cross is known to be playful, adaptable and calm. However, the addition of the Chihuahua’s fearsome loyalty and overly cautious attitude to new experiences should raise a degree of concern of families with young children.

Training your Shih Tzu cross Chihuahua

Regardless of the size of your dog, it is your responsibility to train this dog breed. Small dogs especially will exhibit ‘small dog syndrome’ if they are left to their own devices instead of being trained and stimulated. A toy dog, after all, is not a toy.

Consistent training of your Shichi puppy will pay dividends in the future. A well-taught and well-rounded dog will be one that is a pleasure to have around even in the presence of new faces. Both parents breeds of the Shichi are intelligent animals and will respond well to friendly and confident discipline. Puppy training classes are especially worthwhile to be considered by new and first-time owners. Here your dog can learn what behaviours are acceptable to both human and canine.

Without proper training the following poor behaviours may be exhibited of your Shichi:

Separation anxiety
Excessive vocalisation
Protective / defensive aggression
Attempts to dominate the 'pack'

Shichis require companionship and do not do well when they are left alone for long periods of time. A companion dog ideally of similar heritage would make the perfect housemate for a Shichi. If this is not a practical move for the family, you should be mindful of her dislike of being by herself. Avoid shutting her in a room by herself (even as a punishment) or spending a long time away from her.

Health issues of the Shih tzu cross Chihuahua

Because the Shichi is a crossbreed it is likely to inherit the health problems associated with the parents breeds. However, some illnesses specific to the Shih Tzu cross Chihuahua are:

Corneal ulcers: The Shih’s congenital bulging eyes are likely to become infected or irritated, and untreated inflammations can lead to corneal ulcers.
Cataracts: A cataract occurs when the lens of the eye (through which light passes) becomes cloudy and imperfect. The condition affects the dog’s eyesight and will eventually cause her to be blind.
Entropion: Entropion is another word for the curling in of an eyelid towards the eye. The condition is often seen of squashed-face dogs. If untreated the eyelashes of the eye lid can cause irritation of the eyeball.
Epiphoria: This condition is also common of squashed-face dogs. The tear film that lubricates the eye runs off onto the face rather than channelling into the dog’s tear duct.
Breathing problems: Respiratory complaints are common of both the Shih Tzu and the Chihuahua. The Chihuahua is also prone to tracheal collapse. Neither breed tolerates heat especially well.
IDD: Toy breeds such as the Pekingese and Shih Tzu are especially susceptible to intervertebral disc disease: the degeneration of the intervertebral disks of the spine.
Pancreatitis: Digestive enzymes begin to irritate the pancreas and may cause extreme pain if untreated.

How to get a Shih Tzu cross Chihuahua

Before you buy or adopt a Shichi you should ask the breeder to provide you with the history of the Shichi’s parents’ health; a reputable breeder will be able to provide you with this information. You should avoid dealing with a breeder who has scant detail of the parentage. Nor should you approach a breeder who is only contactable online or is asking what appears to be a premium price for the Shichi. Unscrupulous breeders will breed dogs only for profit and with little concern for the dog’s health.

What did you think of the Shichi? And what about these other mixed-breeds?