Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Mix: Meet the Cheerful Playful Dog

Have you searched for a sweet, lovable, intelligent, and energetic canine companion? Do you love small dogs with long, soft coats?

If so, you may want to check out the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix! This unique and adorable crossbreed will bring joy to the right family.

The Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu hybrid combines the popular Shih Tzu breed with the lesser-known Japanese Spitz dog. Not to be confused with the Japanese Chin, the Japanese Spitz is a small, fluffy white dog with a keen intellect and an appearance similar to an American Eskimo.

A Spitz Shih Tzu hybrid will be affectionate and moderately energetic. These dogs are often small in stature, weighing no more than 25 pounds, with fluffy, soft coats.

About the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Mix

The Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix is a small dog with a friendly disposition. This is because both the Shih Tzu and Japanese Spitz can be outgoing dogs with affectionate personalities.

When combined, this mix is more easily trainable than the Shih Tzu, with a slightly calmer disposition than the Japanese Spitz.

This would be a good dog for families with older children or single people who need a constant canine companion. These dogs do well in small spaces and apartments.

Japanese Spitz dogs are known for being easy to train, playful, and obedient. The Japanese Spitz has medium to high energy levels and requires lots of socialization from an early age.

The Shih Tzu is undoubtedly one of the most affectionate toy dog breeds. Shih Tzus are often very loving and enjoy being pet and cuddled.

Shih Tzus are popular because they do well with children, families, and other pets. However, the Shih Tzu can be difficult to train.

History of the Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz was created in the 1920s. This dog was originally bred by combining German Spitz dogs and other toy breeds. From 1925 to 1936, many white Spitz breeds were imported and crossed to create the final Japanese Spitz breed standard.

In appearance, the Japanese Spitz is similar to an American Eskimo. However, the Japanese Spitz is much smaller, with more delicate features.

This breed was accepted by the Japan Kennel Club sometime after World War II and is recognized by the AKC.

History of the Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is a toy dog breed with roots stretching back to ancient China. This canine is often associated with a specific royal Chinese Dowager Empress. Shih Tzus are depicted on tapestries dating back as far as 2,000 years!

Although the origins of this canine are not completely clear, many assumed that it was bred by combining the Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, and Pug breeds.

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu

The Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix isn’t ideal for everyone. This dog is prone to barking and can be difficult to deal with if not trained properly.

Also, the coat of the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix will require lots of care. This dog will need brushing daily and may also require frequent grooming appointments.

Moreover, this mix may be prone to tear stains. Tear stains develop when a dog’s eyes water frequently. This can cause reddish discoloration around the eyes.

Additionally, the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix is not well-suited for families with very young children. Since they are such a small breed, they could accidentally get hurt by rough play.

Reasons to Avoid the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Mix

• Could be yappy
• Not ideal for families with small kids
• Requires lots of grooming
• May develop tear stains

Reasons Why You Should Get a Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu

There are many reasons that the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix could be a good choice for your family. First of all, this dog is easier to train than a purebred Shih Tzu.

After all, the Japanese Spitz is highly intelligent and eager to please. Since this mix will be 50% Japanese Spitz, you can expect it to learn tricks with minimal difficulty.

Once you have trained and socialized your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu hybrid, it should adjust easily in various environments.

This dog is great for small spaces, townhouses, and even apartments. It can be exercised with a simple daily walk.

Also, this is an adorable and energetic dog that is likely to be accepting of strangers and other pets. Last, this breed is fairly healthy and has a long life span.

Reasons to Own the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Mix

• Long life span
• Adaptable
• Good for small spaces
• Easy to exercise
• Energetic and friendly
• Adorable appearance
• Comparatively healthy

The Appearance of the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu

This is an adorable dog with a small body, big eyes, and a fluffy coat. Many Japanese Spitz Shih Tzus look similar to Maltese dogs.

They have a balanced look, combining athleticism with cuddliness. These pups are undeniably cute! As puppies, they look like tiny teddy bears with rounded ears that lie flat.

In adulthood, their ears may be triangular and erect, floppy and round, or somewhere in-between.

Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Coats and Colors

A Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu hybrid could have various coat colors and lengths. The coat of this dog could be straight, curly, or something in-between.

One thing is for certain, this dog will have a long, fluffy coat. The fur could be single or double layered, depending on the genetic traits of the parents in each litter, respectively.

Most likely, the majority of the dog’s body will be white, with brown, black, gray, or tan patches.

Moreover, your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu’s coat may change colors as it ages, lightening or darkening to the final, adult shade.

Grooming Your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu

This mix will require regular grooming from an early age as its adult coat develops. To ensure that your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix enjoys the groomer, proper socialization is key.

It is also wise to acclimate your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu to the sound of clippers and blow dryers during puppyhood.

This will make it easier to groom and blow-dry your dog after a bath. This dog will require daily brushing to keep its coat in optimal condition.

Finally, you will want to watch out for tear stains. Since this dog is likely to have white fur and large, round eyes, tear stains could become a big problem. Once they develop, they can be quite difficult to get rid of.

To prevent tear stains, ensure that your dog is drinking purified water. Select water that is free of metallic deposits.

Also, avoid using metal water bowls. Opt for porcelain, ceramic, or glass water dishes instead.

Finally, keep the area around your dog’s eyes clean, dry, and free of irritating hairs. This will help prevent bacterial growth and tear stain development.

Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Life Spans

The Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu is a relatively healthy dog with a long life expectancy. You can anticipate that your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu hybrid will live anywhere from 10 to 17 years! To prolong the life of this mix, proper dental hygiene, exercise, and a good diet are helpful.

Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Mix Health Problems

This dog does not suffer from many health issues. Though Shih Tzus are prone to ocular problems and dental deterioration, when they are mixed with other breeds, these health problems are usually reduced.

The Japanese Spitz is one of the healthiest small breed dogs out there. This breed integration goes a long way toward improving the mix’s health.

So what can you do to solve dental issues with a Shih Tzu mix? It all comes down to preventive care for your dog’s teeth.

Be sure to offer your dog plenty of dental chews and teach them to enjoy having their teeth brushed from an early age. This can help to prevent bad breath and digestive issues.

Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Food Requirements

This dog should do well on just about any healthy small-breed diet. You can choose wet food, dry food, or a raw diet for the Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix.

Feed your dog balanced puppy food when they are young. This will help to ensure that it gets the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs.

Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Exercise Requirements

Your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu will likely need moderate daily exercise. It will all depend on the energy levels of your unique dog. Luckily, this dog can be exercised inside your home with a simple game of fetch or tug-of-war.

This dog will also benefit from brisk walks. Some Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mixes are very energetic.

Other pups prefer to lay on the couch with you all day. Be sure that your dog is getting enough exercise every day so that they not do not become overweight.

Keep in mind that this dog may require lots of mental stimulation. If your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix is overly energetic, anxious, or yappy, consider playing games that engage their brain. There are many great puzzle toys that this dog could benefit from.

Traits and Personality of Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Mixes

This dog is likely to have an outgoing, energetic, friendly personality. Most Spitz dogs are active and enjoy spending time with you.

Shih Tzu mixes are particularly affectionate and will want to follow you around all day long. So, don’t leave this dog alone all day while you go to work.

With that being said, your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix could eventually be trained to stay in the kennel periodically while you are at work.

Just remember that this dog will not be able to hold its bladder for more than about an hour until it is at least six months old.

The Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu in Families

This can be a great family companion if you have older children. With smaller children, a Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix will need supervision. This is because such a small dog could be injured if a child accidentally falls on or drops it.

Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Mixes and Other Pets

This dog can do fine with other pets, provided that it is socialized with other animals from puppyhood.

Proper socialization involves positive reinforcement and happy experiences when near other animals.

Be sure to watch your Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mix with larger dogs. Larger dogs could easily injure this petite hybrid.

Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Training Tips

Some Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu mixes are highly motivated by food and treats. Others are less interested in food and tend to be more motivated by positive reinforcement such as play or praise.

Keep this in mind during training sessions as you figure out what works for your individual pooch.

Shih Tzus are considered hard to potty train. Not to worry, once this dog learns to defecate outside, it will likely do just fine.

Spitz dogs are known for being clean and easily housebroken. As long as you reinforce training with positive experiences, this intelligent hybrid can learn a range of tricks easily.

Finding Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu Puppies for Sale

Do you want to adopt a Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu puppy? If so, look for someone that specializes in toy breeds. Be sure that your puppy is well-socialized and healthy as a puppy and never buy from a puppy mill.

This dog also does well when adopted at an older age. So, you may want to consider rescuing a Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu hybrid from a shelter!

Although it could take a while to find a Japanese Spitz Shih Tzu puppy for sale, these dogs are a great choice for almost anyone. They truly are wonderful pets!