14-23 lbs
10-11"
United States
The Jack Russell and Shih Tzu are two small dogs with remarkably different personalities — the former is a tenacious ball of energy, while the latter is loved for their adorable looks and penchant for napping on parents’ laps.
When bred together, you get the Jack Tzu, a hybrid with a combination of their parent’s best features. This makes them great family pets who will get along with virtually everybody who crosses their path.
Be aware that just because this dog is small, they’re no pushover — they do have a little bit of a stubborn streak when it comes to being trained. Someone with a bit of canine experience already under their belt will be able to bring them under control, though.
In this guide to the Jack Tzu dog, you’ll learn:
Those looking for a pocket-sized pup to introduce into their lives would do well to consider a Jack Russell mixed with a Shih Tzu. Even though this hybrid is a relatively new face in the canine world, it would seem that the parent breeds make for a good match.
This is a surprisingly active dog given its size and needs lots of time racing about in the great outdoors. This is important, as they have a tendency to put on weight if not exercised enough. Once a Jack Tzu is suitably worn out, they don’t mind being left alone for short periods of time.
Like lots of small dogs, they have big personalities — sometimes, you might find this a little too big when it comes to training and getting them to learn commands. If you’re new to dog ownership, you might be better off finding a less stubborn breed to begin with and coming back for a Jack Tzu when you’re more experienced.
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Although dogs will have been crossbred for centuries, the craze for hybrid canines really took off at the tail end of the 20th century — particularly with the creation of the Labradoodle.
The Jack Russell Shih Tzu mix would have emerged during this time, although scant documentation means where and when this happened is a little hazy. What we do know a lot more about, however, is the respective histories of the parent breeds.
The Jack Russell Terrier takes its name from a vicar and dog breeder who lived in Southwest England during the 19th century. While studying at Oxford, it’s said he bought a terrier that caught his eye and called him Trump. This dog joined Russell on his fox-hunting trips and proved to be perfectly sized for diving down holes — so much so that Russell used Trump as the foundation stud for a new breed.
After Russell’s death in 1883, several figures continued his work in refining the breed and numbers of the working dog have remained steady since. A close relation with a slight difference in appearance — the Parson Russell Terrier — was also created by breeders.
The history of the Shih Tzu stretches a lot further back. This ancient dog breed was thought to have first been bred by Tibetan monks, most likely as a hybrid of a Tibetan Lhasa Apso and another small dog, possibly a Pekingese. They were given a name translating as ‘little lion’ for their impressive mane and big personality, and would find popularity among the Chinese nobility.
Over the course of the following centuries, the Shih Tzu was embraced by all stratas of Chinese society. However, the breed almost went extinct after the Communist Revolution of 1949 and their population had to be regrown elsewhere in the world from just seven breeding pairs. The American Kennel Club (AKC) first recognised the breed in 1969 and today, Shih Tzus regularly rank in the top 20 most popular US breeds.
Like many hybrids, there’s usually some variation in the appearance of a full grown Jack Russell Shih Tzu mix — sometimes even within the same litter. However, the majority have the solid build of a Jack Russell Terrier, although they’re usually smaller in height. The legs are also normally longer than your typical Shih Tzus.
When it comes to the coat, the Jack Tzu tends to resemble their Chinese ancestors more, with long and soft fur. Some, however, have short hair with a mixture of soft and rough texture. Common colorways include a mixture of white, black, brown, cream or pied.
On the Jack Tzu’s head, the ears are usually folded over, and a trademark beard and mustache combination decorates their playful face. The eyes of this breed are always alert and intelligent, either being dark or light brown. The nose is small and usually black.
Bad news for parents with allergies — the Jack Tzu sheds quite a lot. Tending to their coat three times a week with a bristle brush and comb should be enough to keep this down to a manageable amount and the Jack Tzu’s fur looking great. Because of their long and thick coat, they can overheat easily and tend to prefer cooler temperatures.
Bathing only really needs to happen whenever your dog gets really dirty or every few months if not — thankfully, this breed isn’t renowned for having a bad odor. After bathing them, be sure to dry their ears thoroughly as the Jack Tzu’s folded over ears can trap excess moisture very easily, leading to ear infections and irritation.
Besides brushing and bathing, be sure to trim your dog’s nails every few weeks and brush their teeth several times a week as well.
As a toy breed, the Jack Tzu has a quite impressive life expectancy, sometimes reaching 15 years old or even more. However, there are a few health conditions to which they’re more genetically predisposed. The main concerns can include:
When it comes to joint problems, larger dogs tend to be affected by Hip Dysplasia, while small or toy breeds are more likely to develop Patellar Luxation. This happens when the kneecap regularly dislocates, leading to a distinctive hopping motion and pain.
Depending on the severity of the case and age of the dog, Patellar Luxation can often be treated with surgery and medication. Parents can often expect their dog to make a full recovery.
Jack Russell Terriers are one of the breeds more likely to suffer from congenital deafness, so it’s no surprise that Jack Tzus have a higher incidence of hearing loss. Unfortunately, there’s very little that can be done to reverse this, unless it’s caused by an obstruction or infection.
Often, a Jack Tzu will inherit a Shih Tzu’s adorably round eyes. Unfortunately, this feature makes them prone to developing Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome (EKS), which presents itself as a dog’s eyes becoming either red, cloudy, or itchy, or ulcers developing on the cornea.
If left untreated, EKS can cause a dog to go blind. Depending on the severity of the case, vets might prescribe medicated eye drops to soothe the immediate symptoms, as well as recommend surgery to reduce the size of the surface of a dog’s eye opening.
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Unsurprisingly, the Jack Tzu doesn’t have the biggest appetite in the canine world. As portions will be smaller in size, parents should look for high quality dog food packed full of protein, vitamins and minerals to feed them.
They should also consider formulas designed for toy breeds — these will be more nutritionally dense and kibble will be appropriately sized for little mouths. Jack Tzu puppies should also be given recipes tailored around their specific nutritional needs.
Avoid recipes that include lots of carbohydrates or other filler ingredients, as these could cause a Jack Tzu to put on weight.
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There’s no denying the Jack Tzu is an intelligent dog, but they also have a stubborn streak. This adds an extra challenge when it comes to training and socialization. Fortunately, they’re not much of a barker and take well to other dogs and strangers.
Shih Tzus have been used throughout time as watchdogs and Jack Tzus can be protective around family — you might judge this to verge on overprotectiveness if you don’t like being followed around the house constantly.
That being said, they don’t mind when parents are out of their sight temporarily and can cope well with being left alone for short periods of time.
Exercise is important, as this little dog has a surprising amount of energy. If they’re not sufficiently worn out, a Jack Tzu can become destructive.
Their Jack Russell Terrier lineage shines through in their love of digging, so give them a space to do this in your yard if possible.
Written by Joe Holyoake
Published: 10/30/2017, edited: 02/22/2024
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Hello, May l ask if there are amy Jack Tzu breeders in Swizerland or France. We live in Geneva. Many thanks!
My dog is 10 months old and will play with other males dogs of all ages but when a female dog is introduced he submits puts his tail down and will lay on the floor he doesn't bark or act aggressively towards the other dogs. He has played with a female 10 month pit bull staff mix but female dogs his size he won't play with.
Facts about them it’s a jack tzu
