This page is purely for some fun information, as I get many color questions and color requests, and some things here may provide you with the answers.  While I do not breed specifically for color, my first priorities are to breed for : health, temperment, intelligence and to the standards; I still love the excellent mix of colors!

Everyone who has ever owned a tzu, or wanted one, usually has a certain look in mind.  One you may have seen some where or in a movie, or at a show.  Not to say looks and colors is all one should go by, not by any means... but think about it.  When you go searching for your perfect companion, you have something in mind, no matter the breed.  Way, way  back when, I was a fanatic for huskies (I still have a soft spot for them, but the thought of the shedding and the bigness - ha ha).  I had a certain look in mind.  Blue eyes, black eye mask and  how it should touch, and so on...  When I found the breeders who possessed at one point or another what I was looking for, I further researched them , and wdnt with the most qualified and of course, I had to wait, and wait...

When you find that certain look or quality that you like, you make it a point, and you should, to further seek out information on that specific type.  And to get the best quality, sometimes you will have to wait.  Nothing wrong with that.  We have a particular few tzus that have been many years in the waiting.  We wanted a certain color, but then we also had to have  - just the right qualities, look, pedigree, and conformation all packaged in that one little furball....  The waits were worth it every time.

Back to Shih Tzu :

Here are an idea of some of the colors that a Shih Tzu may be :

http://64.37.122.206/Info/colors.asp?menu=Info

 There are no disqualifications of colors on a shih tzu, all though the names have changed a bit through the years.  The color "grizzle" (brindle containing no white)  is no longer seen.  AKC lists many colors, all though their actual paperwork lists standard colors, their website shows more color combinations listed as alternates.  Chocolate is not listed as an alternate or a standard.  Many breeders call that particular color this, it is actually a variation of liver (same with red liver/blonde liver).  So do not be confused when buying a chocolate or red/blonde liver shih tzu - your papers will be marked as liver.  I am sure in time, "chocolate" will be added as it is becoming a very popular and much desired color.

 Many times when surfing the web looking at dogs - I find some interesting things.  As I mentioned before, "chocolate" is becoming a very popular color.  I have found more often than not, people are selling dogs for outrageous amounts and calling them chocolate when they in fact, are not.  Be wary of this and check it out before you buy!!  Per definition : " Pigmentation - Nose, lips, eye rims are black on all colors, except liver on liver pigmented dogs and blue on blue pigmented dogs."  A chocolate is a liver, and should not have a black nose!  If there is black on a shih tzu, even one strand of hair, bottom line, it is not liver.  Too many times do I see brownish colored dogs with black noses listed as chocolate.  A black dog will NEVER turn to chocolate, though they may have a brownish hue, but it is not a true liver (chocolate).  Some black dogs also fade, appearing to be liver/chocolate...again, a complete untruth.

True "Chocolate" (Liver per AKC colors)  :  Note the Brown Nose

Blue is always a fun color, too.  This is one of the harder ones to figure out from pictures.  Many times these dogs are born gold, silver, or black.  As they grow, they can turn silver, red, gold, grey, powder blue or look black from a far away glance (ex...Skye was grey or pewter, at birth.. her eyes are dilute, her nose is pewter, skin and pads are blue. As I let her grow out, she is an awkward shade of reddy grey, and has grey blue tips).   Through speaking with other breeders who are "pioneers" of this color - the nose is a variation of a pewter, the skin is usually a purplish blue, and the pads are usually purple or blue.  If the nose is black, it is not a blue dog.  Eye color is usually green, grey or blue, as well.  Many blues look blue early on, and some take almost a year for their true color to come completely out.  Yes, a fun color! But one to highly watch out for...  As this color is increasing gaining popularity, as the chocolates... I see more and more listings for "blue", that are nothing more than black and white dogs, or gold ones.  **BLUE DOGS HAVE BLUE PIGMENT IN THE FACE**  Stating that, both black and white dogs, as well as gold and white, and red and white dogs have blue skin pigment on their bodies and in their ears, under the "colored part" of the coat.  This in NO WAY makes a dog "blue" or a carrier of "blue". 

Blue Girl - Skye.. Look at the pigment, it is of a lavander color, not black.  Actual coat color has nothing to do with it.  Her coat color is tan and cream, amongst other variants.

**THE NEWEST RANGE SWEEPING THE "SHIH TZU MARKET"

Everyone has got to love a good scam!  The newest rage is now the dobie or rottie marked type dogs..  These are dogs with color points lighter in areas that you would see on a rottie or dobie.  I have seen them in red, liver, chocolate, and boy, the list goes on!!

THE TRUTH - a true "dobie" or "rottie" marked dog is base color black.  There is no red, no liver, or anything else.  The dog itself will be BLACK!!  The dog will have points on its body in either red, brown, gold or tan (NOT WHITE) in similiar places as the large breeds.  Please do not fall for this SCAM!!!!!!!!!

*The girl above (credit to Stormi for pics) is what some breeders are trying to pass off as "dobie" or "rottie" marked.  She is NOT!!  She is simply a red dog (look at the top of her head, left pic.  You can see she is actually red and not black). 

A white dog is not a rare one, unless all of it's pigment is pink and has red eyes, an "albino".  This is a rare colored shih tzu, and probably the only "rare" color.  It would be disqualified as the pigment would be incorrect, but it is rare.  Do not fall for the "rare" white tzus that have black pigment, or missing a bit, or blue eyed or green eyed colored dogs, whether it is one eye or both,  that are not liver or blue (ie a black and white with blue eyes) , this is nothing more than a genetic mutation, and should not be bred.  On that note, a "bob tailed" shih tzu is also not rare.  Though they can be healthy and have no noticible problems, it is still a mutation. 

In the end, I hope you a choose a perfect, healthy loving companion who will bring you years of happiness, no matter the color.