The Shih Tzu is a 9 to 16 pound companion dog with a long double coat and a short muzzle. It was never bred to herd, hunt or guard anything — it was bred to keep people company, which is why it has almost no prey drive and very little interest in running.
Crossing a Shih Tzu with another small breed tends to do one of two things: change the coat, or change the face. Both matter more than people expect. A purebred Shih Tzu’s double coat will tangle if it is not combed every two or three days, and its short muzzle makes Georgia’s July heat a genuine planning problem. Some crosses on this page ease those things. One of them makes the face shorter, not longer.
CavatzuMeet them
French Bull TzuMeet them
Hava TzuMeet them
Malti TzuMeet them
Pom TzuMeet them- ShichonMeet them
- Shih PooMeet them
- ShorkieMeet them
Tap any breed to see which puppies are in the Lawrenceville showroom right now.
What each Shih Tzu mix is like
Cavatzu (Shih Tzu and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) — The Cavalier’s longer muzzle usually opens up the face, and the coat comes out silkier and less dense than a purebred Shih Tzu’s. Roughly 10 to 18 pounds and the best walker on this page.
French Bull Tzu (Shih Tzu and French Bulldog) — The heaviest and most solidly built, often 15 to 25 pounds, with a short smooth coat that needs the least grooming here. It also has the flattest face on the page, because both parents are short-muzzled. Read the section on being realistic about a Shih Tzu mix before you fall in love with this one.
Hava Tzu (Shih Tzu and Havanese) — The Havanese brings a lighter, wavy coat that combs out more easily than the Shih Tzu’s dense double coat. Usually 8 to 15 pounds. Typically the most outgoing and the most fun to teach tricks to.
Malti Tzu (Shih Tzu and Maltese) — The Maltese contributes a single-textured coat with no undercoat, so the coat hangs straight and fine. Around 7 to 14 pounds, generally quiet and very lap-focused, with a pale face where tear staining shows.
Pom Tzu (Shih Tzu and Pomeranian) — A stand-off double coat and a plumed tail set this one apart visually from everything else here. Roughly 6 to 14 pounds, the most watchful, and the most likely to announce the mail carrier.
Shichon (Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise) — The Bichon curl gives the round, soft-edged head people recognize immediately. Generally 10 to 18 pounds, bouncier and more playful than a straight Shih Tzu, and light-shedding.
Shih Poo (Shih Tzu and Poodle) — The quickest learner of the group. Coat varies the most, from loose wave to tight curl, sometimes within a single litter, and size runs 8 to 18 pounds depending on the Poodle parent.
Shorkie (Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier) — The smallest and boldest, usually 6 to 12 pounds. The Yorkie’s terrier side adds confidence, opinions and more barking than a Shih Tzu would offer on its own. Fine silky coat that mats behind the ears first.
Being realistic about a Shih Tzu mix
Coat care is the daily cost. The Shih Tzu double coat mats in two or three days without combing, and the crosses that keep it — Pom Tzu, and any Shichon or Shih Poo with a heavy coat — need real maintenance. A puppy cut every four to eight weeks makes it manageable. The French Bull Tzu is the exception and needs almost no coat work.
Heat is the honest Georgia conversation. Short-muzzled dogs cool themselves less efficiently than longer-nosed dogs, and that goes double for the French Bull Tzu, which has two short-muzzled parents. Plan on early-morning and after-dark walks in summer, indoor air conditioning, and no unattended time in a hot yard or car. Ask your vet what heavy panting or noisy breathing should prompt a call.
Ears need attention too. Hair grows in the Shih Tzu ear canal, so ear checks belong in your regular grooming rhythm.
None of these dogs are athletes. They will happily walk a mile and then be finished. If you want a hiking companion, be upfront about that with us and we will point you elsewhere.
Seeing them in Lawrenceville
Our puppies come from trusted local Georgia breeders, spend time in our family home nursery, and grow up around children, adults and other pets. Our on-staff veterinarian gives every puppy a complete health check, and puppies are up to date on shots. The showroom is open Monday through Saturday 12 to 7 and Sunday 2 to 6. Call (678) 253-4081 with questions, ask about grooming and financing, and if the cross you want is not in the showroom today, we will add you to the waitlist.
Frequently asked questions
Which Shih Tzu mix is easiest to groom?
The French Bull Tzu, by a wide margin — its short smooth coat needs brushing and not much else. After that, the Hava Tzu and Malti Tzu comb out more easily than the rest because their coats are lighter and less dense. The Pom Tzu is the one to think hardest about: a double coat should be brushed rather than clipped short, so it is more work at home. We offer grooming here, and most families settle into a cut every four to eight weeks.
Are flat-faced puppies a bad idea in Georgia?
Not automatically, but they need a household that plans for it. Short-muzzled dogs handle heat less well than longer-nosed ones, so summer walks move to early morning and evening, the dog stays in air conditioning during the day, and hot cars and unattended yards are off the table. The French Bull Tzu needs the most care on this front. If your life is mostly outdoors in July and August, the Cavatzu or the Shih Poo is a fairer match.
Which one is best for a first-time dog owner?
The Hava Tzu and the Shih Poo tend to be the most forgiving, because both are quick to learn and easy to motivate. The Shorkie is the one we would steer a first-timer away from unless they want to train: the terrier side is confident and will test a soft handler, and its small size makes it fragile around toddlers.
Do Shih Tzu mixes shed?
The Poodle, Bichon and Maltese crosses generally shed less. The Pom Tzu sheds the most. Low-shedding never means allergen-free, though — no dog is. If allergies are a factor, come spend time with the specific puppy in the showroom and talk to your doctor before making the decision.
The mix I want is not in the showroom. What now?
Call us at (678) 253-4081 or stop in and we will put you on the waitlist for that cross. We work with local Georgia breeders, so availability shifts week to week. We would rather have you wait for the right puppy than talk you into one that does not fit your household.
Come and meet a Shih Tzu mix
Every puppy here is health-checked by our on-staff veterinarian, raised in our family home nursery, and waiting to say hello.
1848 Old Norcross Rd, Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Mon–Sat 12:00–7:00 PM • Sun 2:00–6:00 PM
