Papastzu

4-16 lbs
8-11"
United States
Papillon
Shih Tzu
Papi Tzu
The Papastzu is a hybrid mix of the Papillon and the Shih Tzu.  This canine mix has created an adorable, loving companion and furry family member who will quickly become the apple of your eye. This spunky, little hybrid has some of the breed characteristics of the parent breeds in that she is loving, playful and spirited, frequently forgetting that her small size can work against her in some situations.  This little cuddle bunny of a canine is a great mix of laid-back personality and affection with just the right touch of liveliness to capture your heart!
purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
1990s
ancestry Ancestry
Papillon, Shih Tzu

Papastzu Health

Average Size
Male Papastzu size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 4-16 lbs
Female Papastzu size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 4-16 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Brachycephalic Syndrome
  • Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome
  • Mitral Valve Dysplasia
Minor Concerns
  • Cataracts
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Familial Nephropathy
  • Eyelid Defects
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Follicular Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
  • Invertebral Disc Disease
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Deafness
  • Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)
  • Retinal Dysplasia
  • Congenital Heart Defect
Occasional Tests
  • Eye Examinations
  • Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
  • Internal Imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc.)
  • Blood And Urine Analysis
  • X-rays of various parts of the skeletal system
  • Dental and Oral Examinations
  • Echocardiography (ultrasound)

Papastzu Breed History

The Papastzu, a hybrid mix of the Papillon and the Shih Tzu, is a breed developed in the United States in the late 1900's to the early 2000's for what appears to be solely for purposes of companionship and family pet. Beyond this place and approximate date of origin, there is little to no other history available about the hybrid itself.  In order to get an idea of what the hybrid is and what it can be in your home and family, we will need to look at the histories of the parent breeds.  The Papillon is one of the oldest of the spaniel-type breeds, its name being a French word meaning "butterfly".  This particular moniker really fits the breed, describing the striking similarity of its ear set to the shape of a butterfly.  This toy breed can be found in paintings, drawings and other recordings that go back at least 700 years in Europe. This breed, going back to the 1200's, has been pictured sitting in the laps of the female rich and famous of Spain, France and Italy all through the Renaissance periods, later becoming popular also in England and Belgium.  Some believe that the ancestry of the Papillon included some Asian toy spaniel breeds like the Japanese Chin, while others believe its small size was obtained by breeding the smallest Papillons to reduce the original size.  Regardless of which breeding theory  you buy into, the earlier versions of the breed had dropped ears and was called the Phalene (meaning "moth"), however, over the centuries, the breeding changes which took place changed the ear set to the erect, fringed ears that resemble the butterfly that we see in the breed today.  Thus the name Papillon describes the erect, fringed ear version while the dropped ear version is called the Phalene.  The American Kennel Club recognized the Papillon in 1915 and it became eligible for full registration in the Toy group in 1935.  It remains a quite popular lap and companion canine, especially for the ladies and elderly.  The Shih Tzu breed also goes back many centuries, believed to have been bred in China and Tibet from the mixing of miniature Chinese breeds with smaller Tibetan breeds.  Early on in its breed life, it was quite popular among the Chinese emperors, being given to other royalty as gifts.  In the 1600's, small lion dogs began coming from Tibet and are said to have become part of the stock used to create the Shih Tzu we know and love today. In the early 1900's, a few of the breed made its way to England, then to Norway and eventually North America.  In 1949, due to Communist intervention, the breed was almost made extinct.  Were it not for a few brave breed fanciers who kept their dogs, this breed would have been eliminated.  It is believed that 14 dogs became the foundation of the Shih Tzu breed of today.  The Shih Tzu breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969.  The Papastzu hybrid is recognized by the following organizations: American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Designer Breed Registry, Dog Registry of America, Inc. and the International Designer Canine Registry.

Papastzu Breed Appearance

The Papastzu is a hybrid mix of the Papillon and the Shih Tzu and, as such, can take on the breed appearance traits of one or both of the parent breeds.  The Papastzu hybrid is small, standing 8 to 11 inches tall at the withers and weighing 9 to 15 pounds.  They generally have the butterfly ears and the curled up tail, which is contributed by the Papillon, while the body usually favors the Shih Tzu breed parent.  The Papastzu has black eyes and a short muzzle like her Shih Tzu parent. She'll have straight long hair and will come in colors most commonly of brown, white and black.  Her bite can be a scissors bite or undershot, the feet most likely hare-like and thickly padded.
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Papastzu eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Papastzu nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Papastzu coat
Black
brown Papastzu coat
Brown
white Papastzu coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Papastzu straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Papastzu Breed Maintenance

Your Papastzu hybrid will require moderate maintenance, brushing her coat daily to remove the loose hair and remove tangles.  She needs to be bathed only when absolutely necessary so as to avoid the removal of the oils needed for her coat.  She is considered in the moderate category for shedding and she may or may not be hypoallergenic, as the Shih Tzu parent contributes this trait.  She will need to have her ears checked and cleaned weekly using an ear cleaning solution and a cotton ball.  Weekly checking of her toenails, trimming when needed, is also recommended.  This can be done at the same time you're performing the ear cleaning regimen.  The teeth of this canine, as with many other canines, need brushing two to three times a week at a minimum to avoid the development of periodontal disease and its associated tooth loss.  Keeping up with those dental examinations and cleaning with your veterinary professionals will also work together with your home care to achieve this dental goal.
Brushes for Papastzu
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Papastzu requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Papastzu Temperament

Your Papastzu hybrid is a mix of the Papillon and the Shih Tzu and can take on the temperament qualities of one or both of the parent breeds.  Breeders and owners of this hybrid are describing this tiny treasure as very lovable, sweet, loyal, gentle, playful and energetic.  She is less yappy than her parent breeds, being quite joyful, obedient and full of personality.  Her personality combines a perfect mix of calmness and liveliness to create a furry family member that will melt the heart of anyone within licking distance.  She can be high-spirited and spunky and more than a little bit curious, sometimes forgetting that she is small or she can be that sweet, cuddly lap companion that has been depicted in artwork for centuries.  She gets along well with children and other animals, the occasional chasing of the family cat breaking up the monotony of her day.  Supervision when your small children are playing in the vicinity of your hybrid is highly recommended since this canine is so small and can be easily hurt.  Early socialization is recommended to assure her acceptance of children and other animals.  She'll abandon her normally quiet and laid-back persona when strangers are afoot but is not usually aggressive once she is assured of the safety of her human family.  Her high intelligence level makes her fairly easy to train using positive reinforcement and training methods.

Papastzu Activity Requirements

Your Papastzu hybrid is an energetic mix of the Papillon and the Shih Tzu, getting large amounts of energy from each side of the bio mix.  She loves her long daily walks but, the good thing for you is, she doesn't need to walk more than 10 or 15 minutes a couple of times a day because she is so small.  Couple these "long" daily walks with playtime inside and some romping off leash outside in an enclosed or fenced area on a daily basis and you'll have a happy and healthy family pet.  Due to her small size and exercise needs, she'll make a great pet for those living in apartments or condos, as well as for those living in family homes with and without a fenced yard.  She can live in an urban or rural setting but she doesn't tolerate temperature extremes, so moderate temperatures will suit her much better.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
3 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
30 minutes
activity minutes

Papastzu Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.80 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Papastzu Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Papastzu size stats at six months
Height: 7.0 inches Weight: 7.5 lbs
Female Papastzu size stats at six months
Height: 7.0 inches Weight: 7.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Papastzu size stats at 12 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 10.0 lbs
Female Papastzu size stats at 12 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 10.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Papastzu size stats at 18 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 10.0 lbs
Female Papastzu size stats at 18 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 10.0 lbs

Papastzu Owner Experiences

Mina
2 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Laying in the sun
Eating Snacks
Bath time
Tag
Fetch
Chase
Tug-of-war
Nap
Play
Learn a new trick
Groom
Look out the window
Yoga
Run
Walk
Playdate
My pookie forever <3
12 months ago
Mina
2 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Laying in the sun
Eating Snacks
Bath time
Tag
Fetch
Chase
Tug-of-war
Nap
Play
Learn a new trick
Groom
Look out the window
Yoga
Run
Walk
Playdate
My pookie forever <3
12 months ago
George
7 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fun and merry because he’s lovely but didn’t see his parents when he was a puppy he was 5 weeks when I first had hom
2 years, 10 months ago
Bond
1 Year
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Tag
Fetch
Chase
He is my best friend, my motivation, best dog I have ever had ❤
2 years, 11 months ago
Diesel
5 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Love him so much. He is my baby.
3 years ago
Tank
10 Years
1 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing fetch with streaky toy; brushing hair
Sweet, loving, and spirited. Best dog ever!!!
3 years, 2 months ago
Finn
10 Months
7 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks
Play
My Papastzu loves treats,going on walks,and LOVES to play!!!
3 years, 3 months ago
Jacoby
10 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I love my Papastzu. He is extremely loyal and loving. Great temperament and easily trainable.
6 years, 8 months ago
Ingga
2 Months
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
A very quiet and calm super loving and friendliest breed of all
6 years, 6 months ago
Rosario Maria
4 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Car rides
Walk
go visiting
she is a rescue and I love her and my boys to pieces
5 years, 11 months ago
Lady Bug
10 Years
6 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Lady loves to dance and she loves running
we rescued lady from a man who had 5 large dogs that were aggressive with her, she was shy and introverted. Today lady loves everyone, she especially loves my 9 yr old granddaughter they are best friends. Lady has 4 children with Chi, (a silver chihuahua). We have one of her sons. Lady contracted pyometra a uterine infection last February, she had a complete hysterectomy and is back to her normal happy self now.
5 years, 9 months ago
Mandy
13 Years
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is the perfect family pet. Loves being close and snuggling
4 years, 10 months ago
Arla
1 Month
7 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
When I got her I was afraid at first because this is my first time having a papastzu mix, but as soon as we came home she’s so jolly, she literally loves playing with us. What a cute adorable puppy she is☺️❤️
3 years, 11 months ago
Jasper
2 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Playing fetch
Throwing a ball
Playing with a rope
Running on the beach
swimming
Very pleasant, the dog is playful, affectionate, funny and clever.
3 years, 4 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - My pet
Question

How much should I feed my 15 week Papastzu 🐶 since I can only feed her twice a day?

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd