I have a female Shih Tzu who at 4 months is 5.6 lbs. Is there any way to estimate from this how big she will be as an adult?

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Note, part of my answer was left off, see below.

Im sorry. I fail to see where your answer has anything to do with my question.

My vet told me to double the weight at about 13 weeks for a rough estimate, it seems to be pretty close in my case!

At 12 weeks she was 4 lbs. and at 15 weeks she was 5 lbs. I hope your assessment is accurate but I have a feeling she is going to be bigger. Either way we are going to love her just fine.

Somehow most of my answer didn't get posted, only the important link on avoiding overfeeding.

There seems to be number of different rules that dogs haven't read and don't follow. My guess is that she will end up less than 8 pounds. That assumes you maintain the same body condition as she has now. It is very easy to over feed a small dog, shortening its life. See

Thanks. I am careful how I feed her. I probably actually feel less than what is recommended on the bag. I tend to want to pick up the bowl when they walk away the first time.

Cindy1074: WE have had Shih-tzu 's for the past 9 years , Gotten as very small puppys from pet store, One is short hair ,8years old ,the 9 years old , has hair comes off center of back 16 to 18 " long He weighs about 15lbs. Has won several blue ribbons. The youngest weighs about 9lbs. Has some ribbons also . I would est. that your puppy will weigh about 9 to 12lbs .I let my 2 eat when they are hungry, I leave their feed bowls out with food in them . Our vets say that they are very healthy. They are very good companions And good with children.. ::::F.B.E.

I have a female Shih Tzu who at 4 months is 5.6 lbs. Is there any way to estimate from this how big she will be as an adult?
I've never heard of the ability to do that. Shi Tzu's, pure breds that is, are typically 8-12 pounds, can be more with a bad diet, or more if it is a mixed breed and it isn't always easy to tell if your's is a pedigree puppy.

She is a pure bred. Standard is actually 9-16 lbs but that is quite a range. So called Imperials are 3-9 lbs. I just thought there might be others who had weights recorded from different ages of their Shih Tzus or that there might be some kind of formula for calculating.

Some have said double their weight from 12 weeks. Others have said double their weight at 13 weeks plus 20%. Big difference between the two. One would say adult size would be 9 lbs and the other would say around 14.

Earlier this year there was a big discussion of adult size on a dog forum with many experience people. No 2 of us seemed to have the same experience. I don't think anybody reported a dog doubling its weight at 4 months. Labs seldom do. Smaller dogs tend to slow their growth sooner than larger breeds. I would love to see updates from you reporting your dog's current size when it is older.

If they didn't report doubling at 4 mo. What did they report? Could you share this thread with me please?

I would be glad to share progress reports. I have a pet shot at the corner that has a nice scale.

The reports varied, but none of them had the dogs doubling their 4 month size or more. Since it was on another site, I don't feel right about using AMHD to direct people to it.

This is just an update. She is now 20 weeks and weighs 6.5 lbs

Ok, at 6 months she is 8 lbs.

I tend to think no one is reading this.

I had read you last up date, but didn't have anything to add. I am surprised she has reached 8 pounds. You aren't letting her become too fat?

Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest.
You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them. Each dog is
Different. Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog
Must have its food adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide,
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Cindy1074- I answered this question back at the bigining. I was and still am Saying from my experience about the two that we've had from 8 weeks old.( there are different kinds ,and blood lines, just like there are black ,brown & gold labs( Oh labman they are regerest with papers, and both have good blood lines).There are different kinds of ( Shih Tzu's , just like there are different kinds of (LABS), black, brown, & gold. Cindy I hope You get to read this. I don't know about yours (BUT MY TWO ARE VERY SPOILED) they are very good watch dogs also,they are very good with children also, My youngest grandson is as of Nov 19 , bas been buddies wiyh my two , they love him very much,and he loves them. When he was just starting to sit up they would go and lay across his lap, he would pull their hair, ears, hit down on them, and to this day we have not heard the first growl or atempt bite him . But there size and weight has not changed,in all these years, I will say that I saw one about 4 years ago that was good size, I guess it weighted about 15 lbs. She will make you a good companion, and want a lot of attention, and love Good luck & enjoy, GOD BLESS. ;;;;; F.E.B.

> You aren't letting her become too fat?

Are you kidding? She is skin and bones. Has yet to fill out.

I think she is right on course. My other one is 12.8 lbs at 4 years. She was 9 lbs 8 oz at 6 mo so this one I expect is going to be about 10 or 11 lbs.

Flying Blue Eagle, thank you for sharing.

And the final answer is: at one year and one month she weighs 10 lbs. She may still fill out a bit but not much.

Cindy1074 - I have wondered a few times lately what had happened to you and how the babies were( HA HA. ) My oldest one has since he was just a very young puppy - love to come running into the bedroom in the morings after my wife has let them out to do their duty, jump up into the bed with me and get right on my chest and his little tongue will start to lick on the tip of my nose and wake me up, and he still loves to, it seems like it just makes his day. When I was sick it was hard for the wife to keep him so as not to brother me , he is laying right at my feet right now and will stay there till I get up,the other is about 3 ft. behind me, AS I said before , I leave their feed bowls out and let them eat when ever they want to , they have remained the same weight over the last several years and just as LOVEABLE,And healthy. The vet tells us to not change their routene . So we will conti. Doing as he says. Everyone around this will say he's a very good vet. He has been one for at least 50 years. And at least when you have to call him he will meet you at his office as soon as you can get there and it don't matter time of day ,night ,day of the week or even a holiday, and charges are always the same, he's very good with the animales all love him. Lots of luck, they are very good dogs, I will say 12 to 13 lbs. GOD BLESS < KEEP IN TOUCH> F.B.E.

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like you have some great dogs.

I doubt this one will get as large as 12-13 lbs. 11 max. I have another one who is 12.8 lbs and she is just a bigger dog. Stockier. When she was a 7 months she weighed 10 lb 12 oz. So the little one is 1 year 1 mo and barely makes 10 lbs.