Standard Auss-Tzu

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Standard Auss-Tzu

20-40 lbs

9-18"

United States

Australian Shepherd

Shih Tzu

The Standard Auss-Tzu is a medium sized breed that was designed to be a companion hybrid dog. His parent breeds are the Standard Australian Shepherd and the Shih Tzu, making him a very unique and intelligent animal. Thanks to the thick and silky fur of both parent breeds, the fur of the Standard Auss-Tzu is beautiful and full with a beard around the muzzle and eyebrows over the eyes. The coat can come in a number of different colors and sheds very minimally. When it comes to personality, the Standard Auss-Tzu has a heart of gold. He is wonderful with children of all ages, very affectionate, intelligent, playful, and very charming. If raised with other pets from a young age, the Standard Auss-Tzu will do well in a multiple animal family. Overall, this is a great breed for those who want a loving and playful house pet, however, he may be a better fit for those who have dog experience in the past. This is due to the fact that he can be a bit stubborn when it comes to training. With a consistent and gentle hand, the Standard Auss-Tzu will have no problem learning manners and behaving well in many different situations. Due to the Auss-Tzu's higher energy level, he may not do well in an apartment setting and typically requires plenty of space to run and play.

Purpose
Companion


Date of Origin
2000's


Ancestry
Australian Shepherd and Shih Tzu

Standard Auss-Tzu Health

Average Size

Height: 11-20 inches Weight: 30-50 lbs

Height: 9-18 inches Weight: 20-40 lbs

Major Concerns

Deafness
Hip Dysplasia
Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome

Minor Concerns

Patellar Luxation
Entropion
Ectropion
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Hydrocephalus
Dermoid Sinus
Brachycephalic Syndrome
Cleft Lip or Palate
Eye Conditions
Kidney Disease

Occasional Diagnoses

Urolithiasis
Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)
Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM)
Pannus

Occasional Tests

Hip X-Rays
Up:Uc Ratio For Kidney Function
Eye Examinations
Blood And Urine Analysis
Full Physical Examination
Hearing and Ear Tests
Knee X-Rays

Standard Auss-Tzu Breed History

The Standard Auss-Tzu is a newer hybrid dog that combines traits from the Australian Shepherd and the Shih Tzu. The Australian Shepherd is a breed that has been around for quite some time. He was actually first developed in the American West as opposed to Australia as his name suggests, with the purpose of assisting farm hands in work such as rounding up stray cattle, pulling carts, fetching game, and helping horses to load and unload from trailers. This breed is extremely intelligent and full of energetic life that makes him perfect for working all of these jobs and many more! Thanks to a great background that is made up of the Collie and a few other types of German sheepdog, the Australian Shepherd is a beautiful hardworking dog that makes for an excellent work dog and an even better companion. He was accepted into the American Kennel Club during the year 1993 and has been popular ever since in sporting events, shows, and rodeos. When it comes to the Shih Tzu, we may not know a whole lot about his origin but we do know that he is one of the more ancient breeds to exist today. His primary job at the beginning of his creation was to serve as companion and guard animals to the monks of Tibet. Eventually, the Shih Tzu was presented to the Chinese emperor as a gift, and from there, the little happy-go-lucky dogs became a staple accessory in the Chinese palaces. There, he was bred to have a more stylized appearance and was described as being part lion, owl, Phoenix, frog, flower petal, and much more! It is indeed true that the Shih Tzu has a very poetic look about him and it is not easily forgotten. Because of this, myths and legends follow the little dog, and when he is presented on the show floor, his grace and uniqueness capture people everywhere. This breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969 and has been popular ever since due to his affectionate, playful, and gentle personality that makes him an excellent companion for people of all ages.

Standard Auss-Tzu Breed Appearance

The general appearance of the Standard Auss-Tzu may very greatly from dog to dog due to him being a hybrid breed. However, typically he will have thick and silky fur that can come in a range of colors; from white with multiple colored markings, to tan with with and black markings. He has the traditional (and well loved) lion face of the Shih Tzu, with fur around the muzzle and eyes. With sturdy legs, a small muzzle, and a curled tail, the Standard Auss-Tzu will most likely look like a larger Shih Tzu with the coloring of the Australian Shepherd. His ears are folded and his eyes are a beautiful shade of brown that are full of mischief, intelligence, and love. Due to his thicker coat, the Standard Auss-Tzu doesn't mind colder weather, but will most likely prefer mild climates.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

Gray

Brown

White

Pied

Blue

Red

Cream

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Standard Auss-Tzu Breed Maintenance

Although the Standard Auss-Tzu does not tend to shed often, he is considered moderate maintenance due to the longer, silky fur. In order to keep this fur free of tangles and clean, regular brushing should take place two to three times a week. Ear cleanings should occur half as often as brushing in order to keep any foreign objects or excess moisture out of the ears. This will help to avoid any ear infections or irritations that may occur otherwise. Bathing only needs to occur bi-monthly, unless the fur gets especially dirt. Trim your dog's nails twice a month to keep the paws healthy, snag free, and scratching to a minimum. If you brush his teeth thoroughly three times a week, tartar will be kept at a minimum.

Brushes for Standard Auss-Tzu

Pin Brush

Comb

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Standard Auss-Tzu Temperament

The Standard Auss-Tzu is a very loving dog. Due to the loyalty and affection that is found on both sides of his ancestry, it comes as no surprise that this dog is a people's dog. However, it is important to note that the Standard Auss-Tzu doesn't have a primary goal of pleasing his owners, no matter how much he loves them. This can make training a bit difficult, but he will respond well to consistency and a firm, yet gentle, hand. Additionally, the Standard Auss-Tzu does very well with children of all ages and gets along decently with other dogs as long as supervision is present. He is not a barker and is perfectly content to spend time on his own; so although he is a primary companion, he can be left alone for a while without too much worry about separation anxiety. Overall, this breed is a very happy-go-lucky, easy going, playful dog who would make a great companion for anyone.

Standard Auss-Tzu Activity Requirements

Thanks to the high energy of the Australian Shepherd, you can expect that your Standard Auss-Tzu will need around two solid hours of play time a day. This can include activities such as agility training, a long walk, fetch in the yard, or obedience training. When it comes to any kind of training, this is a key element to keeping your dog both mentally and physically tired. The Standard Auss-Tzu is not the easiest dog to train, but with persistence and patience, he can learn many tricks and obedience cues that will make both of your lives easier. Although the Standard Auss-Tzu is not a very large dog, it is his high energy that makes him unsuitable for apartment life. He needs a yard to play in and daily exercise to keep him out of trouble.

Activity Level

Low
Medium
High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
12 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
120 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Standard Auss-Tzu

Similarly Sized Breeds to Standard Auss-Tzu

Standard Auss-Tzu Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2 cups
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00

Standard Auss-Tzu Height & Weight

6 Months

Height: 11.5 inches
Weight: 30.0 lbs

Height: 10.5 inches
Weight: 25.0 lbs
12 Months

Height: 15.0 inches
Weight: 40.0 lbs

Height: 13.5 inches
Weight: 32.5 lbs
18 Months

Height: 18.5 inches
Weight: 47.5 lbs

Height: 16.5 inches
Weight: 37.5 lbs

Written by a Siberian Husky lover Lyndsie Harris

Published: 12/28/2017, edited: 02/24/2021

Standard Auss-Tzu Owner Experiences

Remy

3 Months

4 People

House & Yard

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Chase

Fetch

Play

Hurdles

Remy is a very sweet girl with lots of energy. She loves to play fetch, and chases after anything that moves. Remy has a long, smooth coat with a variety of colors, including white, black, blue, gray, and brown. Her eyes are both half blue and half brown.

5 years, 10 months ago

Teddy

5 Months

3 People

Apartment

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Fetch

Tug-of-war

Run

Walk

Hide & Seek

Teddy is a sweet, energetic, and strong puppy. He is a little slow to house training. He hates having his nails trimmed.

5 years, 6 months ago

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