Essential Guide to Shih Tzu Mating: Health, Timing, and Care

The shih tzu is a Chinese dog believed to be descended from the crossing of a Pekingese and a Lhasa apso or Tibetan mountain dog. It is a small dog with long and dense hair. Shih Tzus are a popular breed to mate, if you're educated about the dog's cycles and gestation period.

In a Shih Tzu, menstruation happens as it does in all other dogs. When a Shih Tzu dog is in heat, her temperature rises and there will be a red or pink colored discharge from her swollen vulva. Other signs of being in heat include fatigue, restlessness, increased urination, and mood changes. When she is ready to mate, she will attract more interest from male dogs and in turn be more attentive to them.

Sexual maturity of stud Shih Tzu

A male breeding Shih tzu is called a stud Shih Tzu. A male dog is ready to mate any time after it reaches sexual maturity. A large dog breed can take as long as 18 months to reach sexual maturity, but a male Shih Tzu reaches sexual maturity around eight to nine months of age. A male Shih Tzu can smell a female dog in heat from as far away as three miles and might become very aggressive in trying to reach and mate with her.

Shih Tzu gestation period

A female Shih Tzu will be receptive to a male's advances when it wants to mate. Signs that point to her being pregnant are behavioral changes, swelling of the vulva without bleeding, increased nipple size, and a swollen stomach. The gestational period lasts between 56 to 63 days. A typical litter size is four puppies.

Importance of vet visits

As with any animal you are planning to breed, always take your male and female dogs to a veterinarian prior to breeding. The American Shih Tzu Club strongly recommends vet checks before breeding, along with conducting testing for issues common in Shih Tzus including progressive retinal atrophy in the eyes, juvenile cataracts, renal dysplasia, and hip dysplasia,

Also, some veterinarians recommend spaying a female dog after she has been bred because a female will continue to go through an estrous cycles until the end of her life. This puts additional stress on the body, if she's not spayed.