Shih Tzu: weight, feeding and growth
Published size figures for the Shih Tzu, with the calculators on this page bounded by that breed range instead of running free.
| Weight | 4–8 kg (9–17 lb) |
|---|---|
| Height, male | 20–28 cm (8–11 in) |
| Height, female | 20–28 cm (8–11 in) |
| Size class | Small (under 10 kg) |
| Resting energy across the range | 198–317 kcal/day |
Figures adapted from the English Wikipedia article on the Shih Tzu (revision 1372201751), used under CC BY-SA 4.0. They describe breed-standard ranges, not any individual dog.
Calorie calculator, pre-set for this breed
Enter your dog's actual weight.
Reading the range correctly
A published range of 4–8 kg (9–17 lb) is a description of the breed, not a target for your dog. The span exists because it covers both sexes, different lines and different frame sizes. A dog at the bottom of the range is not underfed and one at the top is not overweight; both can be in perfect condition, and both can equally well not be.
Weight on its own cannot answer the question owners are really asking. The body condition method assesses the dog by feel and is what actually settles it.
Puppy growth check for this breed
Enter your puppy's weight and age in weeks.
Crate and airline sizing: measure this Shih Tzu for a crate or air container. The calculator checks your shoulder-height measurement against this page’s published 20–28 cm range; it is a reasonableness check, not a claim that every dog is identical. Compare food costs using this dog’s actual weight.
Feeding a Shih Tzu
Across the published weight range, resting energy requirement for this breed runs from about 198 to 317 kcal per day. The figure you feed to is that multiplied by a life-stage factor — typically 1.6 for a neutered adult, which puts a mid-range Shih Tzu near 416 kcal per day before any adjustment for how much this particular dog actually moves.
To convert that into a portion of the food in your kitchen, you need the kcal/cup figure from the bag: the portion calculator does that step.
Sources: Breed figures: Wikipedia — Shih Tzu (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Energy formula: WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines