13 Beautiful Shih Tzu Colors Every Owner Should Know

A Shih Tzu’s coat is often the first thing people notice, and the variety of colors makes this breed even more appealing.

Some have rich, solid coats, while others display eye-catching combinations and unique patterns that make every dog look different.

Certain colors are easy to find, while others are much less common and can be harder to identify. Coat color may also change as a puppy grows, which adds another layer of interest for owners.

In this blog, I cover the most common and rare Shih Tzu colors, popular coat patterns, color changes over time, grooming tips, and what makes each shade unique.

You will learn how coat color can affect appearance, rarity, and price, making it easier to recognize and compare different Shih Tzu coats.

Understanding Shih Tzu Coat Colors

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes numerous Shih Tzu coat colors and marking combinations, making this breed one of the most diverse in appearance.

Shih Tzus can have solid, two-color, or multi-color coats, with each combination creating a unique look. Common colors include black, white, gold, liver, red, and black and white, while blue and silver are considered much less common.

Many dogs also have distinctive markings on the face, chest, legs, or tail that add even more variety.

Coat color may change as puppies mature, with some coats becoming lighter or developing different shades over time.

Learning about these recognized colors and patterns helps owners better identify their dog’s coat and understand the wide range of appearances found within the Shih Tzu breed.

Common Shih Tzu Color Patterns

Shih Tzu coat patterns vary from solid to multicolored combinations, giving each dog a distinctive look beyond its individual coat color.

What Determines a Shih Tzu’s Coat Color?

Several factors work together to create solid shades, mixed coats, and unique markings.

• Genetics: Inherited from Both Parents. Puppies inherit coat-color genes from both parents, which help determine their base color and markings.
• Dominant and Recessive Color Genes: Some colors appear more easily because they are dominant, while others need specific recessive genes from both parents.
• Pigment Production: Eumelanin produces darker shades such as black, liver, and blue, while pheomelanin produces warmer tones such as gold, cream, and red.
• Puppy Coat Changes: Many Shih Tzus lighten, darken, or develop new shades as they grow into their adult coat.
• White Markings and Pattern Genes: Pattern genes decide where white patches, masks, blazes, or multi-color markings appear on the coat.
• Environmental Effects: Sun exposure may slightly fade or lighten the coat’s appearance, but it does not change the dog’s actual genetics.

Shih Tzu Coat Colors and Their Appearance

Shih Tzus are known for their wide range of coat colors and striking combinations. Some shades are common, while others are less often seen, giving each dog a unique appearance.

1. Black

A black Shih Tzu has a rich, solid black coat that creates an elegant appearance. True solid-black dogs are less common because many develop small white markings on the chests or paws.

Puppies with black coats may also experience slight fading as they mature, especially after repeated grooming or sun exposure.

Their dark coat highlights the breed’s large eyes and flat face, making this one of the most recognizable Shih Tzu colors. Black noses, eye rims, and paw pads usually match the coat.

2. White

White Shih Tzus have bright coats that give them a clean and graceful appearance. Some have a pure white coat, while others display light cream shading around the ears or back.

White coats require regular grooming because dirt, tear stains, and food stains are more noticeable than on darker colors.

Despite the extra maintenance, this remains one of the most popular Shih Tzu colors.

A healthy white coat should appear soft, fluffy, and evenly colored without yellowing or excessive staining.

3. Gold

Gold is one of the most common Shih Tzu coat colors. Shades range from pale honey to deep golden brown, and many puppies become lighter as they grow older.

Gold coats may appear solid or combine with white markings on the chest, face, or legs.

This warm color gives the breed a cheerful and friendly appearance.

Regular brushing helps maintain the coat’s shine and prevent tangles, especially around the ears, tail, and legs, where longer hair tends to mat.

4. Brown (Liver)

A liver Shih Tzu is identified by more than its coat color. Dogs with the liver gene have a brown nose, brown eye rims, and lighter-colored paw pads instead of black pigmentation.

Their coat may range from chocolate brown to a lighter liver shade and can appear solid or mixed with white. Liver coloring is uncommon, making it highly sought after by some owners.

This distinctive pigmentation is genetically inherited and persists throughout the dog’s life.

5. Red

A red Shih Tzu has a warm coat that ranges from light reddish-gold to deep mahogany. The richness of the color depends on genetics and may soften as the dog matures.

Many red Shih Tzus also have white markings on the chest, paws, or face, creating an attractive contrast. Their vibrant coat often stands out in natural light, giving them a distinctive appearance.

Regular grooming helps preserve the coat’s texture and keeps the color looking healthy and even.

6. Blue

Blue is one of the rarest Shih Tzu coat colors. Despite the name, the coat is not bright blue but appears as a soft gray with a bluish tint.

Blue Shih Tzus also have blue-gray noses and lighter pigmentation around the eyes and lips. This unique appearance is caused by a dilution gene that affects black pigment.

Because the gene is uncommon, true blue Shih Tzus are much harder to find than traditional-coat Shih Tzus.

7. Silver

Silver Shih Tzus usually begin life with darker coats that gradually lighten as they mature. Their adult coat develops a soft silver or light gray appearance, especially around the face and body.

The change often becomes noticeable during the first year of life, although every dog develops differently. Silver coats can appear solid or combined with white markings.

Frequent brushing helps maintain the silky texture and keeps the changing shades clean and well-defined.

8. Brindle

A brindle Shih Tzu has a striped coat pattern rather than a single solid color. Dark streaks run through a lighter base coat, creating a tiger-like appearance that makes every brindle dog unique.

The stripes may appear on gold, brown, or other base colors and vary in intensity. Some brindle coats become more noticeable as puppies mature.

This pattern is admired because no two brindle Shih Tzus have exactly the same markings.

9. Black and White

Black and white is one of the most recognizable Shih Tzu color combinations. These dogs usually have a black coat with white patches on the face, chest, legs, or tail.

The amount and placement of white vary greatly, giving every dog its own unique pattern. This combination creates strong contrast and highlights the Shih Tzu’s facial features.

Routine grooming helps both colors remain bright and prevents the white areas from becoming stained or dull.

10. Gold and White

Gold and white Shih Tzus combine warm golden shades with crisp white markings across the body.

Some dogs have mostly gold coats with small white patches, while others display an even balance of both colors.

This combination remains one of the breed’s most popular because it gives the coat a bright, soft appearance.

Many puppies with this coloring become slightly lighter as they grow, although the overall pattern usually remains the same.

11. Liver and White

Liver and white Shih Tzus display chocolate-colored patches paired with bright white areas, creating a distinctive contrast.

Their brown nose, eye rims, and paw pads clearly identify the liver pigmentation. White markings commonly appear on the chest, face, legs, or tail, although every pattern is different.

Since liver coloring is relatively uncommon, this combination is seen less frequently than black-and-white or gold-and-white.

Regular grooming helps both colors remain clean and clearly defined.

12. Blue and White

Blue and white Shih Tzus feature a diluted gray-blue coat combined with white markings that add contrast and definition.

Their lighter nose and facial pigmentation distinguish them from black-and-white Shih Tzus.

Because the blue dilution gene is rare, this color combination is uncommon and often attracts attention. Puppies may appear darker at first before developing their adult shade.

Consistent grooming keeps the lighter coat areas clean while maintaining the coat’s soft texture.

13. Tri-Color

A tri-color Shih Tzu has three distinct coat colors, most commonly black, white, and gold or tan. The colors appear in different proportions, making each dog’s pattern unique.

Some have darker faces with lighter bodies, while others display evenly distributed patches across the coat.

Tri-color Shih Tzus are popular because their varied markings create an eye-catching appearance.

Although the color arrangement varies among dogs, regular brushing and grooming help keep all three shades vibrant and well-maintained.

What Is the Rarest Shih Tzu Color?

Among all Shih Tzu coat colors, blue, pure black, lavender, and liver are considered the rarest.

Blue Shih Tzus are especially uncommon because the color comes from a recessive dilution gene that lightens black pigment into a smoky blue-gray shade.

Pure black Shih Tzus are also difficult to find since many develop small white markings as they mature.

Lavender Shih Tzus are even rarer, resulting from a combination of liver and dilution genes that create a soft grayish-lavender coat with light-colored eyes and nose.

Liver Shih Tzus have a recessive gene that turns black pigment brown across the coat, nose, eye rims, and paw pads.

These colors require specific genes from both parents, making them rarer than gold, white, or black-and-white coats.

Common Shih Tzu Coat Markings

Coat markings add even more variety to Shih Tzu appearances beyond their base colors and patterns. These markings can occur on many different coat colors and are simply part of the breed’s natural genetic diversity.

• Mask: A darker area of fur covering the muzzle, sometimes extending around the eyes or toward the ears, creating a distinct facial contrast.
• Blaze: A vertical stripe of white or another contrasting color that runs from the forehead down between the eyes. The width and length of the blaze can vary.
• Saddle: A large patch of contrasting color across the back, giving the appearance of a saddle resting over the dog’s body.
• White-Tipped Tail: A white tip at the end of the tail, often seen alongside a white blaze in parti-colored Shih Tzus

How Does Coat Color Affect Shih Tzu Price?

Shih Tzu coat color can influence price, with rare colors often commanding higher prices because they are less common and harder to breed.

Does Coat Color Change as a Shih Tzu Grows?

Yes, a Shih Tzu’s coat color can change as it grows from a puppy into an adult. Many puppies are born with darker coats that gradually lighten during their first one to three years.

Some black, gold, or brown coats fade naturally, while others develop silver or gray tones through a process called silvering.

These changes are mainly controlled by genetics, especially genes that affect pigment production over time.

Sun exposure can also slightly lighten the outer coat, particularly in dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, although it does not permanently change their genetic color.

Regular grooming may make color changes more noticeable, but the biggest factor is the dog’s inherited genetics rather than age alone.

How to Identify Your Shih Tzu’s Coat Color?

Identifying a Shih Tzu’s coat color is easier at considering both the coat and the dog’s natural pigmentation. Some colors also become clearer as the puppy matures.

• Examine the Main Coat Color: Look at the body, not the ears or tail, to identify the dominant shade.
• Check the Nose Color: Black noses are common, while liver or blue noses usually indicate those specific coat colors.
• Look at The Eye Rims and Paw Pads: Their pigmentation often matches the dog’s coat genetics and helps identify rare colors.
• Observe the Coat in Natural Daylight: Indoor lighting can make gold, silver, blue, or cream shades appear different.
• Identify White Markings: Notice whether white appears as patches, a blaze, a chest marking, or part of a parti or tuxedo pattern.
• Watch for Color Changes: Puppies may lighten, darken, or develop silver tones during their first one to three years.
• Compare with Breed Examples: Comparing your dog’s coat to recognized Shih Tzu colors and patterns can make identification easier.

Shih Tzu Coat Care Tips by Color

Different Shih Tzu coat colors have unique grooming needs. Proper care helps maintain coat health, color, and overall appearance throughout the year.

How to Choose the Right Shih Tzu Color?

Choose a Shih Tzu color that fits your preferences and lifestyle, but always prioritize the dog’s health, temperament, and responsible breeding.

• Match Your Lifestyle: White coats may need more frequent cleaning, while darker coats can show dust and lint more easily.
• Consider Grooming Needs: Every Shih Tzu requires regular brushing, but lighter coats often need extra care to keep stains and discoloration under control.
• Pick a Color You Genuinely Like: Coat color does not affect personality, so choose the shade or pattern that appeals to you most.
• Know Your Purpose: Show-quality dogs must meet breed standards, while pet owners have more flexibility in choosing any color or pattern.
• Ignore Shedding Myths: Coat color does not determine how much a Shih Tzu sheds. Grooming habits and coat maintenance matter far more.
• Put Health First: A healthy, well-socialized Shih Tzu from a responsible breeder is always a better choice than selecting a puppy based only on a rare coat color.

Conclusion

Shih Tzu coat colors range from classic black and white to rare shades like blue and lavender, but every color has its own appeal.

While coat color often catches attention first, health, temperament, and proper care matter far more than appearance alone.

Learning how colors, patterns, genetics, and grooming needs differ can help when choosing or caring for a Shih Tzu.

From solid coats to mixed markings, each shade adds to the breed’s unique look. Understanding these details makes color selection and daily care easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Toys Do Shih Tzus Like?

Shih Tzus usually enjoy soft plush toys, small squeaky toys, puzzle toys, and gentle chew toys. Toys that match their small size help keep them active and mentally engaged.

Are Carrots Good for Shih Tzus?

Yes, carrots are a healthy, low-calorie treat for Shih Tzus. They provide fiber and vitamin A, and crunchy raw carrots may also help support dental health when served safely.

Are Girl or Boy Shih Tzus Better?

Neither is better overall, because personality varies more than gender does. Proper training, socialization, and care have a greater impact on behavior than sex.