Shih Tzu Colors Explained

One of the Most Colorful Breeds in the Dog World

One of the most delightful things about Shih Tzus is the incredible variety of coat colors and patterns the breed naturally produces. Unlike some breeds where only a handful of colors are recognized, the AKC breed standard for Shih Tzus accepts all colors and markings — meaning any color combination is equally valid and showable.

This variety makes choosing a Shih Tzu puppy an especially personal and exciting process. Whether you're drawn to the classic gold-and-white look, a striking solid black coat, a silvery-white beauty, or a richly colored liver-and-white parti — there's a Shih Tzu out there for every aesthetic preference.

At Royal Shih Tzu Puppies, we breed a variety of colors. Browse our Shih Tzu puppies for sale to see what's currently available, or contact us to join a waitlist for a specific color. Keep in mind that coat color has no effect on Shih Tzu temperament — personality is shaped by genetics and socialization, not color.

AKC Recognized Shih Tzu Colors

The AKC lists the following as recognized colors for the Shih Tzu breed. These are the base colors that appear, often in combination with one another:

Parti-Color Shih Tzus

A "parti-color" Shih Tzu is one with a coat featuring two or more colors, with white always being one of them. Parti-colors are extremely common in the breed and include some of the most recognizable looks:

Parti-colors are the most commonly seen Shih Tzus. The distribution of colors in a parti-colored coat is unique to each individual dog — no two parti Shih Tzus have exactly the same markings, which gives each dog a one-of-a-kind appearance.

Solid-Colored Shih Tzus

A solid-colored Shih Tzu has a coat of a single color with no other color markings (though a small white marking on the forehead or chest is common and acceptable). True solids are less common than parti-colored Shih Tzus and are often considered especially striking.

Common solid colors include all-white, all-black, solid gold, solid red, and solid liver. Solid black is the rarest, as the genetics required to suppress all other color expression are uncommon in the breed.

How Shih Tzu Colors Change with Age

Here's something many new owners don't realize: Shih Tzu puppy colors are often quite different from their adult colors. The breed is well known for dramatic color changes as the puppy coat is replaced by the adult coat, typically between 10 and 24 months of age.

This is not a flaw — it's a natural and beautiful characteristic of the breed. A reputable breeder with experience can give you a reasonable prediction of how a puppy's color may evolve, based on the parents' genetics and the puppy's current coat characteristics. We're always happy to share our best estimate with you.

The Basics of Shih Tzu Color Genetics

Shih Tzu colors are determined by a combination of genetic factors:

• Base color genes (B and E loci): Determine the primary color — black (B) vs. liver/chocolate (b), and whether pigment is expressed at all. The E locus controls whether yellow/red is expressed versus other colors.
• Dilution gene (D locus): A dilution gene turns black into blue (grey) and liver into isabella (pale tan). Dogs with two copies of the dilution allele express the diluted color.
• Parti gene (S locus): Controls the distribution of white in the coat. Dogs with two copies of the parti allele have large white patches — the classic parti-color pattern.
• Greying / Silvering gene: The progressive greying gene is responsible for Shih Tzus darkening as puppies and lightening as adults. Many Shih Tzus carry this gene, which explains the dramatic color changes seen in the breed.
• Brindle gene (K locus): Produces the characteristic striped brindle pattern when present. A brindle dog will have dark streaks over a lighter base color.

Color genetics can get highly complex, and the interaction of multiple genes produces the enormous variety seen in the breed. The good news: for most buyers, the important thing to know is that all colors are healthy and AKC recognized, and color choice is entirely a matter of personal preference.

Colors at Royal Shih Tzu Puppies

At Royal Shih Tzu Puppies, we produce a beautiful variety of colors across our litters. Our breeding program includes gold and white, black and white, tri-color, solid gold, and silver parti combinations. We occasionally produce liver and other rarer colors depending on the genetics of our breeding pairs.

If you have a color preference, let us know when you reach out. We can tell you what colors are available in our current litters or alert you when a color you're interested in becomes available in an upcoming litter. We're always happy to keep you on our waitlist.

One thing we always emphasize: please don't let color be the only factor in your choice. Temperament, health, and fit with your household are what will determine how happy you are with your puppy five and ten years from now. A dog's color is beautiful, but their personality is what you'll fall in love with every single day.

Frequently Asked Questions