Shichi Dog Breed

The Shichi is a hybrid breed that came about over the last few decades; during this time such mixes dubbed "designer hybrids" have increased in popularity. Members of this breed are solely companion dogs and are very loyal and affectionate, making suitable additions to many types of households.

Pros

• Shichis are perfectly sized for small homes and apartments and do not necessarily need a yard.
• They are alert and will bark at strangers, alerting you to their presence.
• The coat of this breed, although typically long, will not require much more than daily brushing.
• They enjoy being with their owner or family at all times and are typically friendly with other pets.
• Shichis don't require much exercise.

Cons

• These dogs are not meant to live outdoors, nor can they be left alone all day even if inside the home.
• They have a persistent, "yappy" bark that that they may need training to moderate.
• Daily brushing is necessary for their long coats.
• They take time to warm up to strangers.
• These dogs are not an appropriate choice for an active owner looking for an exercise pal.

Information on this Shih Tzu Chihuahua mix should be supplemented by reading up on both parent breeds, as the Shichi will inherit a mix of traits from both parents.

These dogs are known to be excitable, enthusiastic, and even slightly aggressive. They are also loyal and fearless, which often appears to allow them to forget their size; this attribute can lead to small dog syndrome if they are not trained early on. Shichons are difficult to train, especially for the first time owner, as they are curious and said to have short attention spans. It is recommended you either have plenty of patience and commitment or look into professional training programs if you intend to adopt one.

Members of this breed are alert, loyal and possessive of their owners and families. They should be trained early so this does not turn into aggression towards visitors, pets, or even members of the family. They require a large amount of daily attention, and if not given it, may develop behavior problems. A properly trained and socialized Shichon is friendly with other pets and enjoys attention from kids (that have been taught how to properly handle a small pet). They may be suspicious of strangers for awhile until thoroughly introduced and familiar with them.

It is not necessary to have a yard in order to adopt a Shichi as they will get much of their exercise indoors. These dogs are energetic but not overactive, and will be happy to go on short walks, leashed of course. They are active and energetic and love to play with toys as well as their owners.

The most notable variation within the Shichi breed will be in coat length. Although yours will likely have hair that is medium-long, they many also have a shorter length coat. This is largely dependent upon the hair of the Chihuahua parent; if a long haired Chihuahua was used in breeding, this will likely result in a longer haired dog whereas a short haired Chihuahua provides the possibility of a shorter haired puppy.

The ears are also variable among members of this breed as they may be erect like the Chihuahuas or flopped over like the Shih-Tzu's.

The Shih Tzu Chihuahua mix temperament is notoriously excitable and tends to bark a lot at most everything — until (or unless) he's trained to be selective at what startles him. As a somewhat hyper dog, he can also prompt a reaction in small children while playing, so it's best to teach your kids to be careful so that injury of any involved party doesn't occur lest the enthusiasm get overboard.

Properly trained (and socialized), Shichis make great watch dogs, wonderful family pets and good playmates with most other dogs. They may be a wee bit less intelligent than most dogs, too, and as such may be a little more difficult to train as well. They are remarkably loyal, aloof of strangers and can be somewhat jealous, however, so they must be persistently socialized and patiently trained to prevent their devotion from driving them to be aggressive or territorial.

Shichis are small dogs that are as delicate as they appear. That being said, it is important to remember that rough play and handling may hurt them. Make sure children that will be around these dogs understand how to appropriately handle a pet before they are allowed around them unsupervised. Their small size also renders them more susceptible to extreme temperatures so they should not be left outside in extremely hot or, especially, extremely cold temperatures.

Eye diseases are common in both parent breeds. Hypoglycemia, obesity and respiratory issues should also be monitored for the Shichi.

Hybrid dogs, especially first generations, are usually healthier than their purebred parents but they still may inherit certain health disorders. It is important to familiarize yourself with all possible health concerns of both the Shih-Tzu and the Chihuahua before adopting a Shichi. Members of this breed will often live 12-15 years.