The Shih Tzu breed is blessed with its long mane that truly makes it stand out from other toy breeds. Their hair complements their bubbly and friendly personalities, making them more huggable and kissable. There are few people who can resist the charm of the Shih Tzu.

These dogs don't just have long hair, but they come in different colors. There are a wide range of colors and color combinations that an owner or a dog lover should understand about this breed. Want to know what group your Shih Tzu belongs to? Here are some facts:

1. Solid coats

Black

This coat color is nothing but black. Once you see another color, the Shih Tzu already belongs to the two color combination.

White

Same with the black coat – the whole body should be completely white, like a Maltese.

Gold

This color is not the typical gold as in gold bars. This is more of an orange hue. When under natural lightning, it shows a distinct luster. Thus, this is why it is considered gold.

Silver

This can be confused with the white coat color at first. To recognize the silver Shih Tzu, the coat must be a shade of gray or off-white. When you place the dog under the sun, the coat literally shines.

Brindle

This coat color actually belongs to the combination types. But since brindles look like a solid dark color at first glance, they are classified here. The most common is the black-gold brindle.

2. Combination coats: Double

Double combination coats are commonly white with another solid color. You may see the other shade as patches on the back or on the neck area. Most Shih Tzus have this type of coat. However, double combination Shih Tzus will never look exactly the same. Each type of combination and color distribution is unique to a Shih Tzu.

3. Combination coats: Triple

This is perhaps the most exciting of all the Shih Tzu coat colors. These include any three of the solid colors (black, white, gold or silver) mixed together. Triple combination Shih Tzus may look like double combination at first. But upon close examination, you will see the three colors embedded on the dog’s coat.

Shih Tzu Coat Colors

3. Combination coats: Triple