Shih Tzu puppy growth: milestones and weight estimates
How fast a Shih Tzu puppy grows, illustrative weight estimates and the limits of predicting adult size.
Shih Tzu puppies grow quickly and finish early. Most reach about half their adult weight at 16 weeks and are close to full size by 9 or 10 months. Between roughly 7 and 12 months the fluffy puppy coat changes into the adult coat, and mats can form almost overnight. This is the stage when many owners give up on long hair and book a clip.
Adult teeth arrive between 4 and 6 months, and in such a small jaw baby teeth sometimes stay put, leaving two teeth crowded into one spot. Look in the mouth weekly while your puppy is teething, and ask your vet about any baby tooth still sitting beside its replacement at 6 months. A puppy that is much smaller than its littermates or tires very quickly also deserves a vet opinion.
Shih Tzu puppy growth in numbers
Illustrative size-based model for a male Shih Tzu, in kg, by age in months
| Age | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 2 kg | 2 kg |
| 3 months | 2.9 kg | 2.9 kg |
| 4 months | 3.7 kg | 3.7 kg |
| 5 months | 4.4 kg | 4.4 kg |
| 6 months | 4.8 kg | 4.8 kg |
| 7 months | 5.1 kg | 5.1 kg |
| 8 months | 5.3 kg | 5.3 kg |
| 9 months | 5.4 kg | 5.4 kg |
| 10 months | 5.5 kg | 5.5 kg |
| 12 months | 5.5 kg | 5.5 kg |
This is an editorial model scaled to a typical adult weight, not an observed breed average, a validated growth standard or a healthy-weight range. Do not adjust food to make a puppy follow this line. Discuss actual growth measurements with your vet.