BoShih

10-20 lbs
12-16"
United States
Boston Terrier
Shih Tzu
Bo-Shih

The Boshih is a hybrid breed combining the Boston Terrier with the Shih Tzu. The Boston Terrier is an All-American dog; he was bred in Boston, Massachusetts only within the last 150 years. He is an intelligent and highly energetic dog. The Shih Tzu hails from China. He is a dog that has entertained nobility and served as a companion for centuries. The Boshih has long, silky hair, and is a lively, alert dog. He is an excellent watchdog. He can suffer from separation anxiety and may not do well with children. He may be stubborn, and will take over as “pack leader” if his owners do not exhibit consistent, firm leadership over the dog.

purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Boston Terrier and Shih Tzu

BoShih Health

Average Size
Male BoShih size stats
Height: 12-16 inches Weight: 10-20 lbs
Female BoShih size stats
Height: 12-16 inches Weight: 10-20 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Reverse Sneezing
Minor Concerns
  • Allergies
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Deafness
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • CT Scan
  • Physical Examination
  • Allergy Testing

BoShih Breed History

The Boston Terrier is known as the “American Gentleman.” This nickname is attributed to the fact that the Boston was bred exclusively in America. In fact, he was bred in Boston, Massachusetts in the late 1800s. A Bostonian named Robert C. Hooper owned a dog named Judge; Judge’s exact origins are not known. Some people say Hooper imported Judge  from England or that Hooper purchased Judge from an acquaintance in Boston. Whatever the case, we do know that Judge is the ancestor that Boston Terriers can safely say is their own. Judge was bred only once to a white dog (she weighed about twenty pounds) named Kate. Amazingly, one puppy came from this union, Well’s Eph. Eph was widely bred due to some respected characteristics he possessed. Eph was bred to a female known as Tobin’s Kate, and it is thought that one of their offspring was later mated with a French Bulldog, and this is the lineage from which the modern day Boston came. At one time the Boston was called the American Terrier or the Boston Bulldog. Silent film star Pola Negri owned a Boston that she took everywhere. In 1976, the Boston Terrier was named the Bicentennial dog of the United States. Today, Rhett the Boston Terrier is the mascot for Boston University. He is truly an American dog. The Shih Tzu has roots in China, where he is depicted in artwork as far back as the 16th century. Some experts believe he is related to the Lhasa Apso, and perhaps is a descendant of the royal breed. The Chinese valued the Shih Tzu as a royal dog, and for many years, the Chinese refused to export the dog out of their country. In the 1930s, a pair was exported to England and from there made their way to America. The BoShih is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Designer Breed Registry, the  Designer Dogs Kennel Club, the Dog Registry of America, and the International Designer Canine Registry. 

BoShih Breed Appearance

The Boshih is generally a small dog, usually under twenty pounds. He will have a curly tail and a face that is somewhat flat with upright ears. His head will be round with a small body and legs that are proportionate to his size. The coat will vary in length and color but is often long and silky. Typically the Boshih is brown, white, black, or tricolor. A few Boshih have beards on their chins. Sparkling dark brown eyes give an insight to the perky personality of this hybrid.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown BoShih eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black BoShih nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
red BoShih coat
Red
white BoShih coat
White
gray BoShih coat
Gray
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
BoShih straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

BoShih Breed Maintenance

The Boshih will have fairly high demands when it comes to grooming. He may shed frequently; he will require daily brushing with a soft bristle brush. The Boshih is not recommended for people with allergies due to the potentially high amount of shedding. Bathe only when necessary. His ears will need weekly cleaning with a dog cleaning solution and a cotton ball. You should brush your Boshih’s teeth at least three times a week as small dogs often have dentition problems and their teeth are prone to decay. Make sure your pet's nails are checked and trimmed on a regular basis; this should be included in the grooming routine twice a month.

Brushes for BoShih
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
BoShih requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

BoShih Temperament

The Boshih is alert and inquisitive. They are generally playful and happy dogs. They are kind and intelligent. Most sources warn that the Boshih is not a good dog with children; however, they do state that with early socialization, the Boshih will do fairly well with both kids and other animals. Otherwise the Boshih is a great family dog. He loves cuddling and is eager to please his family. The Boshih will need a family who will be home often as they do tend to suffer from separation anxiety.

BoShih Activity Requirements

The Boshih will do well in an apartment or home with a yard. He will not require a great deal of exercise. However, owners should provide daily exercise for the Boshih. Daily walks will keep the Boshih from becoming destructive due to boredom and also help to maintain a healthy weight. The Boshih may be difficult to housebreak; however, if housetraining proves difficult, start off training the Boshih in a crate and you will soon see a difference in bathroom habits. Remember that the Boshih can be a very determined little dog; training must be firm and consistent but also gentle.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
6 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
30 minutes
activity minutes

BoShih Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.75 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

BoShih Owner Experiences

Max
3 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We have had Max ever since he was 3 weeks old. He doesn’t like to meet new people he usually barks whenever someone knocks on the door, but overall he is a really good dog
4 years, 11 months ago
Boss
3 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is an amazing little companion. We love him to death. The only issue were experiencing with him is the potty training issue, but were working on it.
6 years, 4 months ago
Boshie
3 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Relatively good at this time... no tantrums...just eats, runs around and sleeps all day.
6 years, 6 months ago
Moxie
5 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking,
Playing
Agility training
Running
Moxie has been a wonderful addition to the family! We adopted her from a local shelter when she was approximately 5-6 months old. I was not intending to adopt a puppy but my 3 year old daughter saw this little fireplug in a pink sweater and once we saw how well Moxie interacted with both the preschooler and our senior "corgle" it wasn't a difficult choice. I'm partial to the personality plus of terrier mixes anyway and I have to say that this dog is the most naturally intelligent and responsive pet I've had.
5 years, 11 months ago
Batman
1 Year
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Road trip
Learn a new trick
Catch treats
Play
Nap
Tug-of-war
High Five
Hide & Seek
Brushing
Bath time
Eating Snacks
Dressing up
Playing in the snow
We have had our Boshih, Batman, for one month today! He is the sweetest, affectionate boy and loves nothing more than receiving praise! In one month he has been trained to sit, jump, shake, and walk(on his hind legs!) He does well with all animals as well as children. All around you couldn't imagine a greater companion.
5 years, 8 months ago
Twiggy
9 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing ins
Explore the woods
Sleeping
treats
Cuddl
Look out the window
Dog-friendly events
Brushing
Short walks
Greenies
Laying in the sun
Twiggy is well tempered and very stubborn. It’s her way or no way. A very amazing mix
5 years, 7 months ago
Vivian
4 Weeks
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Camping
Cuddling
Playing fetch!
Vivian is a delight! Her personality is joyful and a bit ornery. She loves all her toys. Fetch is her favorite activity.
5 years, 4 months ago
June Bug
7 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
treats
Walking
Sleeping
Playing with toys
I've had my dog since she was two months old. She's very bossy to other dogs in the house, but gets along very well. She's definitely the alpha, even to our big dogs. She doesn't bark a ton, but she will bark at strangers. She certainly likes humans better than dogs to the point I think she thinks she is a human. She's extremely intelligent to the point where she knows it's useless to "sit" or "stay" for treats but will know what "bed?" or "go get your toy" means. She loves walking, but puts on weight very easily. She knows where all her toys are in the house and will get a specific one when asked. She sleeps a lot during the day, but when she wants to play she will PLAY. When she was born, she did not have any dip in her bones for her kneecaps to sit, she had two (very expensive) surgeries to fix that. Vets from around the country came to watch her surgery it was such a big deal. I love her a lot and already plan to get another BoShih in the future if possible.
5 years, 3 months ago
Rose
5 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is very stubborn, and has a lot of energy, loves her toys and almost all people! I'm surprised tho because she is brown with green eyes and a brown nose, which isn't a characteristic of her breed!
4 years, 9 months ago
Fred
4 Years
3 People
Studio
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Just
Just playing, yay!
Awesomely fun always there
4 years, 5 months ago
Chance
1 Year
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He does have seperation anxiety, but is getting better as he gets older. Has not done well with children or strangers, but improving. High energy, loves to play, and is an alpha dog.
4 years, 2 months ago
Scarlett
7 Weeks
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Learning a new trick
Only had her for 3 days and in love with her.
4 years ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd