Shih Tzu or Chameleon, The Many Color Changes of the Breed

by Katie
(Tennessee)

CoCo was a little black mop of a puppy with an under
colouring of white, buff and gray. Her first grooming she completely lost all of her black hair except her face. Now that she has turned 8...all of a sudden she is starting to turn black again! It's mostly in patches, but just since her last grooming she is very noticeably turning darker. I decided to check online to see if this was normal and was so happy to find it is!!😉😊

----------------------------------------
Hi, Janice Here From Miracle Shih Tzu
-----------------------------------------

After living with Shih Tzu dogs for over 40 years, they never fail to amaze me. They keep us guessing with their antics and attractive personality traits. The most significant mystery by far, however, is how they tend to change colors over time. You'd think that they were part chameleon!

Your little Coco is perfectly normal and sounds beautiful with all those colors. Amazing. Sometimes darks get lighter, and light coats darken.

There are few colors that I have never seen change such as the black mask that many Shih Tzu dogs have, and many dark blacks will remain that way throughout the entire lifespan of the dog.

Other than that, the colors of this breed can seem mysterious, but it is all in the genes. Unless we do extensive genetic testing, we don't know what to expect. Even with that, the state of our knowledge of color genetics is still in its infancy. So....

We are left having to accept our babies for whatever color they are and enjoy their beautiful personalities. This, of course, is not that hard to do.

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Shih Tzu Coat Colors.

"Hi, I'm Janice Jones, a former veterinary technician and Shih Tzu expert with over 40 years of experience with the breed. Through Miracle Shih Tzu, I combine my medical background and extensive breed knowledge to provide reliable, practical advice for Shih Tzu owners. My mission is to help you give your Shih Tzu the happiest, healthiest life possible through evidence-based information and real-world solutions. Whether you're new to the breed or a seasoned owner, you'll find trusted guidance here for all aspects of Shih Tzu care.

I hold an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a Master's in Mental Health Counseling.