One of the first things people notice about a Shih Tzu is that beautiful face. The second may very well be the coat. Few breeds offer the incredible variety of Shih Tzu colors and markings found within this tiny companion breed.
Shih Tzus can be deep black, warm gold, brilliant red, chocolate-toned liver, silvery gray, white, brindle, or combinations of several colors. Add distinctive markings such as masks, blazes, saddles, and tuxedo chests, and two Shih Tzus can look dramatically different while still belonging to the same wonderful breed.
At Divine Pups, color is something we certainly enjoy. Watching a puppy’s coloring develop is one of the beautiful parts of raising Shih Tzus. However, we also believe families should understand what those colors mean and what they don’t mean.
Color may catch your eye, but health, temperament, structure, and responsible breeding should always matter more when choosing your puppy.
Why Are There So Many Shih Tzu Colors and Markings?
The Shih Tzu has an unusually broad range of coat colors. You may encounter black, black and white, brindle, gold, gold and white, red, red and white, silver, silver and white, blue, liver, liver and white, white, and beautiful combinations of multiple colors. Part of what makes Shih Tzu colors and markings so fascinating is that color isn’t limited to the hair you see. Pigment matters too.
The color of the nose, eye rims, lips, and paw pads can tell us important information about a dog’s underlying pigmentation. This becomes especially important when discussing liver and blue Shih Tzus, because these colors are not determined simply by looking at whether the coat appears brown or gray.
If you would like to explore even more examples of the colors and patterns found within the breed, the Little Red Shih Tzu Shih Tzu Colors Guide offers a helpful visual overview of Shih Tzu colors, patterns, pigment, and markings.
Understanding the Most Common Shih Tzu Colors and Markings
Although there are countless combinations, there are several Shih Tzu colors and markings prospective families encounter more frequently. And even within the same named color, there can be tremendous variation from one puppy to another.
Gold Shih Tzus
Gold is one of the classic colors associated with the Shih Tzu. Gold can range considerably in appearance. One puppy may have a deep honey or caramel coat, while another appears much lighter and creamier. Gold is also frequently combined with white.
A gold and white Shih Tzu may have a beautifully symmetrical face, white chest and paws, with contrasting gold across the ears and body. One of the interesting things about gold puppies is how much their appearance can change as their adult coat develops. A puppy that begins life quite dark may become considerably lighter with maturity. This ability to change is something families should keep in mind when comparing Shih Tzu colors and markings in very young puppies.
Red Shih Tzus
Red Shih Tzus can range from rich, deep shades to brighter red-orange coloring. Some retain substantial intensity as adults, while others soften over time. Red may occur as a solid coat or alongside beautiful white markings. When looking at Shih Tzu colors and markings, remember that the color you see in an eight-week-old puppy is not necessarily the exact shade you will see when that puppy is two years old. The Shih Tzu coat can be wonderfully dynamic, and watching those colors develop can be part of the fun of raising one.
Black Shih Tzus
A true solid black Shih Tzu can be striking. Solid black means exactly what it sounds like—the coat is black without another coat color mixed throughout it. Black Shih Tzus normally also have black pigmentation around the nose and eyes. Black can also occur with white, creating everything from small white markings to dramatic black-and-white parti coats.
Some dark puppies may eventually develop silver or lighter coloring as they mature, which is another reason predicting adult Shih Tzu colors and markings from puppy photographs alone can sometimes be difficult.
White Shih Tzus
White is frequently seen in combination with another color, although predominantly white Shih Tzus also occur. Interestingly, white hair doesn’t tell you everything about the dog’s underlying color genetics. A mostly white Shih Tzu could still have black, liver, or other pigmentation influencing the nose, eye rims, and any colored markings.
This is where understanding pigment becomes especially helpful. Two Shih Tzus that both appear primarily white, for example, may have very different pigmentation when you look closely at their noses, eye rims, lips, and paw pads.
Liver Shih Tzus: It’s About Pigment, Not Just Brown Hair
Liver is one of the Shih Tzu colors and markings that creates the most confusion. People commonly assume that “liver” simply means a chocolate-colored Shih Tzu, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Liver refers primarily to pigmentation, not simply coat color.
A liver Shih Tzu has brown or liver-colored pigment rather than black pigment. This can usually be seen most clearly on the nose and may also be reflected around the eyes, lips, and paw pads. The coat itself can vary tremendously.
A liver-pigmented Shih Tzu might have a rich chocolate appearance, while another may be considerably lighter. Liver pigment can accompany shades ranging from deep chocolate to cream, red, gold, or parti combinations.
This is one reason we pay attention to more than coat color when discussing our puppies at Divine Pups. Sometimes the nose and skin pigment tell you more about a Shih Tzu’s true color than the coat itself.
If liver coloring is what first captured your heart, you can learn more about our Liver Shih Tzus and see some of the beautiful liver colors and combinations that are part of our Divine Pups program.
What Is a Blue Shih Tzu?
Blue is another frequently misunderstood color.
A blue Shih Tzu isn’t literally bright blue. Instead, the term refers to diluted black pigment. Depending on the individual dog, this may create an appearance ranging from dark charcoal or slate to lighter gray or lavender-toned pigmentation.
A true blue Shih Tzu will show corresponding diluted pigment, particularly on the nose and often on the paw pads and other pigmented areas.
Blue is among the less common Shih Tzu colors and markings, which naturally makes it interesting to many families.
However, rarity alone should never determine the value or quality of a puppy.
A beautiful or unusual color can certainly be exciting, but responsible breeding, genetic health, structure, temperament, and the overall quality of the puppy should always come first.
Brindle and Sable: Shih Tzu Colors That Can Transform
Some of the most fascinating Shih Tzus are puppies whose coats seem to transform as they grow. Brindle creates an intermingling or striping of colors rather than one uniform shade. Depending on the colors involved, brindle can produce incredible depth and richness in a puppy’s coat.
Sable describes a coat in which hairs may have darker tipping over a lighter base color. A sable puppy can appear quite dark when young because those dark tips are prominent. As the coat grows, is trimmed, and matures, those darker tips may become far less noticeable. This means some Shih Tzu colors and markings can look dramatically different at eight weeks, six months, and two years old. For us, that’s part of their charm. You aren’t simply watching your puppy grow. Sometimes you’re watching an entirely new coat emerge.
Shih Tzu Markings: Blaze, Flare, Saddle, Tuxedo and More
Color is only half the story. The placement of that color creates the patterns and markings that make each Shih Tzu unique.
Blazes and Flares
A blaze is typically a strip of white running between the eyes and upward across the head. A wider version may sometimes be described as a flare. These facial markings can create the beautiful, symmetrical expression many people associate with traditional Shih Tzus.
Saddles and Tuxedo Markings
A saddle describes an area of color positioned across the dog’s back somewhat like a horse’s saddle.
Tuxedo markings generally describe contrasting white on areas such as the chest, often combined with darker coloring across much of the remainder of the body. The contrast can create the appearance of a little dog dressed for a formal occasion.
Other Shih Tzu colors and markings can include white collars, white or contrasting feet and legs, facial masks, patches, and areas of color distributed throughout the body. No two patterns have to be exactly alike—and that’s part of what makes each puppy so individual.
The Kiss of Buddha: A Beloved Shih Tzu Legend
Perhaps no Shih Tzu marking has a sweeter story attached to it than the white marking sometimes found on the forehead. It is often affectionately called the Kiss of Buddha or Star of Buddha.
Shih Tzus have a long history connected with Tibet and China and are famously associated with the “lion dog.” Over generations, a beautiful legend developed around these little companions.
According to the traditional story, Buddha traveled with a small dog. When danger approached and robbers threatened Buddha, his tiny companion transformed into a mighty lion and frightened the attackers away.
After the danger had passed, the lion returned to the form of the little dog. Buddha picked up his faithful companion and kissed him on the forehead. Tradition says the white marking seen on the forehead of some Shih Tzus represents the place where Buddha kissed his loyal little lion dog. Some versions of the legend also associate saddle-like markings across the dog’s back with the place where Buddha rode upon the transformed lion.
Of course, this is folklore rather than documented breed genetics or history. But it has become a beloved story surrounding Shih Tzu colors and markings, and it beautifully represents qualities people have treasured in this breed for centuries. Companionship. Devotion. Courage. And an extraordinary personality tucked inside a very small body.
Why Shih Tzu Colors and Markings Can Change
One of the most important things prospective families should understand about Shih Tzu colors and markings is that they may change. Sometimes, they change considerably. Dark puppies can lighten. Black tipping may become less prominent. Gold can soften. Sable coats can transform as darker hair tips grow out. Puppies that look dramatically patterned at eight weeks may appear much softer as adults.
Genetics determines the possibilities, but coat growth and development influence how those genetics appear visually throughout a dog’s life. Grooming can make the changes seem even more dramatic. A long puppy coat containing darker tips may look completely different after being trimmed. For this reason, choosing a Shih Tzu solely because you want an exact adult shade can lead to disappointment. We encourage families to appreciate the puppy in front of them rather than becoming overly attached to one precise future shade.
Do Shih Tzu Colors Matter When Choosing a Puppy?
Yes—and no.
We understand why families fall in love with particular Shih Tzu colors and markings. Maybe you have always dreamed of a rich chocolate liver puppy. Perhaps you love traditional gold and white, dramatic black, brindle, or a beautiful puppy with a perfectly placed Kiss of Buddha.
Color can absolutely be part of what draws you toward a puppy. There is nothing wrong with having a preference. But it shouldn’t be the most important part of your decision.
At Divine Pups, we believe the puppy underneath that beautiful coat matters most. Health, genetics, structure, temperament, social development, and thoughtful breeding are far more important than producing a puppy simply because a particular color is popular or unusual. We want to produce beautiful Shih Tzus, but we also want that beauty to be so much more than skin deep.
Finding the Shih Tzu That Is Right for You
Exploring the many Shih Tzu colors and markings can be one of the most enjoyable parts of beginning your search for a puppy. You may discover colors you didn’t even know existed or find yourself falling in love with something completely different from what you originally imagined.
That’s okay. A beautiful coat may be what first catches your attention. The little dog inside it is who will become part of your family.
Whether your heart is drawn to rich liver chocolate, gold, red, black, brindle, parti, or a puppy wearing a beautiful little Kiss of Buddha, we encourage you to look beyond the color. Look at how the puppy was bred. Look at health and genetics. Look at temperament. Look at how those first weeks of life are being intentionally shaped. Then, enjoy the color as the beautiful finishing touch. Because at Divine Pups, we believe the most beautiful Shih Tzu isn’t simply the one with the rarest coat. It’s the one who grows into exactly the companion your family was hoping to find.
