How big is a Shih Tzu?
Up to 27 cm (11 in) at the shoulder, per the FCI breed standard: here it is to scale next to a person, with its weight, how long it lives and when it becomes a senior.
To scale, next to a person
Zoomed ×2: here you see the man up to 95 cm (37 in) off the ground
Photo: Meral YALÇIN (Pexels)
The breed in numbers
- Height
- up to 27 cm
- Weight
- 4.5-8 kg (10-18 lb)
- Median lifespan
- 12.8 years
- Senior from
- 8-11 years
- FCI group
- companion dogs (FCI 208)
- Calories a day
- 440 kcal
In the standard: The standard gives only a maximum height: no more than 27 cm (10.6 in). Weight is 4.5 to 8 kg (10 to 17.6 lb), ideally 4.5 to 7.5 kg.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is a Shih Tzu?
Up to 27 cm (11 in) at the shoulder, according to the official FCI breed standard (no. 208), which gives no minimum. The standard gives only a maximum height: no more than 27 cm (10.6 in). Weight is 4.5 to 8 kg (10 to 17.6 lb), ideally 4.5 to 7.5 kg.
How much does a Shih Tzu weigh?
4.5-8 kg (10-18 lb), according to the official FCI standard.
How long does a Shih Tzu live?
The median lifespan is 12.8 years, from a 2024 study of 584,734 dogs in the UK (McMillan et al.). Half the dogs of the breed lived longer, half shorter.
When is it a senior?
The AVMA says a dog is a senior in the last quarter of its expected life: for this breed’s weight, from 8–11 years old. From then on, a vet checkup at least twice a year.
How much should it eat?
A spayed or neutered adult weighing 6.3 kg (14 lb) needs about 440 calories a day, by the Pet Nutrition Alliance formula. The amount depends on the calories in its food: work it out from the label.
How old is it in human years?
By the formula from a 2020 DNA study: at 1 year it’s like a 31-year-old person, at 3 like a 49-year-old, at 7 like 62, at 12 like 71. The formula was found in Labradors: for other breeds it’s an estimate.
Compare it with other breeds All 42 breeds All the pets next to a person
For your dog
Always ask your vet: this site helps you understand, it doesn’t replace a checkup.
Sources
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), breed standards (checked on October 9, 2026)
- McMillan K. M. et al., “Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death,” Scientific Reports 2024 (CC BY 4.0) (checked on October 6, 2026)
- AVMA, “Caring for senior cats and dogs” (checked on October 6, 2026)
- Pet Nutrition Alliance, “Calculating Calories Based on Pet Needs” (checked on October 6, 2026)
- Wang T. et al., “Quantitative Translation of Dog-to-Human Aging by Conserved Remodeling of the DNA Methylome,” Cell Systems 2020 (checked on October 6, 2026)