Facts & Origin
Origin and history
The Skip-Shzu is an elegant and charming designer dog, a cross between the Belgian Schipperke and the Chinese Shih Tzu. Both breeds have a long and fascinating history.
The Schipperke was originally bred as a guard dog on Belgian canals, while the Shih Tzu has a royal past and was highly favored by Chinese emperors. The exact origin of this mix is unknown, but this hybrid breed certainly inherited some of its best traits from its parents.
Husbandry and Suitability
Skip Shzus make grateful pets and are a good fit for many different households. They are known for their sociable, loyal, and loving nature and get along well with children and other animals. They are also very intelligent and easy to train, making them a particular favorite for first-time owners.
| Alternate Name | - |
| Origin | Belgium - Tibet |
| Life expectancy | 10 - 18 years |
| Care requirements | high-maintenance |
| Activity level | average - low |
| FCI group | not recognised |
| AKC group | not recognised |
| KC group | not recognised |
More Schipperke mixes
Attitude, character and temperament of the breed
Characteristics and features
This mixed breed dog enjoys growing popularity and scores particularly well with its outgoing nature and energy. The Skip-Shzu is active, curious and playful, which makes it an excellent companion for dog lovers of all ages.
The Skip-Shzu is characterized by its friendliness, attentiveness and intelligence. They are very willing to learn and adapt well to different lifestyles.
Training and socialization
Because of their intelligence and willingness to learn, Skip-Shzus are easy to train. They respond well to positive reinforcement and benefit from regular socialization. Their affectionate and loyal nature makes them excellent family dogs, and they also get along well with other pets.
Character
Usage
Health and breeding information
Care of the Skip-Shzu
Grooming a Skip-Shzu can vary depending on which breed they inherit their traits from. Still, regular coat care is necessary as both parent breeds tend to have long, dense coats. Therefore, brushing should be done at least weekly to prevent matting and keep the coat shiny and healthy. In the case of inheriting the longer Shih Tzu coat, they may need to be professionally trimmed.
Bathing should only be done when necessary to avoid stripping the natural oils in the coat.
Dental hygiene is also important as small dogs can be prone to dental problems. Because of this, teeth should be cleaned regularly.
Health of the Skip-Shzu
While the Skip-Shzu is generally a healthy mixed breed dog, they can be hereditarily prone to certain health problems. These include hip dysplasia, eye disease, and respiratory problems. Regular veterinary checkups are essential to detect and treat these conditions early. In addition, it is also recommended to keep your Skip-Shzu on a balanced diet to maintain a healthy body weight.
Breeding the Skip-Shzu
Breeding of the Skip-Shzu should be done by responsible and professional breeders. Both parent breeds should be in good health and tested for hereditary diseases before breeding. Since this is a mixed breed dog, the expression of characteristics may vary from litter to litter. Therefore, it is important to educate potential owners about the possible risks and benefits of owning such a mixed breed.
What does this mixed breed look like?
A small to medium sized dog, the Skip-Shzu has a coat that is dense and medium in length , with colors that can range from black, brown, white to a variety of mixed colors. His eyes are usually dark and his ears medium size and drooping. A well groomed Skip-Shzu is characterized by its shiny and silky coat.
| Fur length | medium |
| Fur | flat coated |
| Ear shape | Standing Ears - Floppy Ear |
| Tail | rolled up |
| Anatomy | rugged, strong, rugged |
| Size ♀ | 20 - 30 cm |
| Weight ♀ | 3 - 8 kg |
| Size ♂ | 20 - 33 cm |
| Weight ♂ | 3 - 8 kg |
| Suitable For | Children, Beginner, Seniors |
Known Diseases
Cataract
Cataracts are still one of the most common causes of blindness, even in dogs.
Diabetes
The metabolic disease diabetes often occurs in overweight dogs.
Overweight
Often, unfortunately, the dogs very much under excess weight. But the dogs themselves are never to blame!
Metabolic diseases (cystinuria)
Cystinuria is a hereditary metabolic disease. Affected dogs lack a transport protein for certain amino acids (protein building blocks). In the kidney, the task of this transport protein is a return transport of amino acids from the urine into the bloodstream.
Eye infections
Chronic eye infections can be very painful in dogs and can be treated with medication. In rare cases, the cornea must be treated.
Breathing problems
Dogs with shortened muzzles can often experience respiratory problems.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation is the term used to describe a displacement of the kneecap, which is one of the most common causes of lameness in dogs.
Knee injuries
Some breeds, unfortunately, especially suffer from knee injuries of various kinds.
FAQ
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A Skip-Shzu is the cross between a Schipperke and a Shih Tzu.
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Skip-Shzus are affectionate, playful and intelligent. They are very loyal and love to be the center of attention.
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This mix requires regular grooming as well as eye, teeth, ear and claw checks.
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Yes, he can be susceptible to the diseases that are also present in his parent breeds. Therefore, it is advisable to make regular visits to the veterinarian.
