The Origins of the Bichon Shih Tzu
Although the exact origins of this hybrid designer breed are unknown, it’s believed to have first appeared in the US around 20 to 30 years ago. The Bichon Shih Tzu is a cross between the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise, both of which were originally bred as companion dogs.
Both parent breeds were favored by the nobility, with the Shih Tzu occupying a special place in the hearts, and palaces, of Chinese emperors, and the Bichon Frise gaining popularity in the European royal courts of the 16th century.
The Bichon Shih Tzu, therefore, is a noble companion dog who’s liable to prove as comfortable in a royal palace as he is in an inner-city apartment.
The Zuchon’s Appearance And Attitude to Life
Descended from the Bichon Frise and the Shih Tzu, there’s no way on earth the Zuchon is going to be anything other than a small, cuddly companion.
Standing around 9 to 11.5 inches tall and weighing somewhere in the vicinity of nine to 18 pounds, the Zuchon is only a little bigger than your standard teddy bear.
There’s a lot of character packed into that compact body, however, making the Zuchon a great companion, family dog, and, would you believe, watchdog!
An energetic little dog, the Zuchon enjoys games of fetch and tug-of-war as much as the next dog but will happily adapt to indoor living, turning the living room into a playground and the bedroom into his favorite place to sleep.
Although you can be sure any Bichon Shih Tzu cross will be small, that’s about as much guarantee as you’ll get regarding its appearance.
As with many designer and crossbreeds, the Zuchon varies widely in appearance, with some sporting curly coats and others the long, flowing locks more commonly associated with the Shih Tzu.
This designer dog also sports a wide range of coat colors, although most are white with flashes of a second color, especially around the ears and eyes. Some Bichon Shih Tzu’s have solid coats in various shades of buff, apricot, and cream, while others will display a mix of three different colors.
The Shih Tzu parent is the one adding the color variations to the breed!