Brindle Shih Tzu
What the color is, how it changes as a puppy grows, and what it means for you.
Brindle is a striped pattern rather than a single color, and a brindle Shih Tzu has dark streaks running through a lighter base, often gold, red or tan. It can look very different from one dog to the next.
This page explains what brindle is, how a brindle and white Shih Tzu looks, why brindle puppies change as they mature, and how the AKC standard treats the pattern. We also cover care and black brindle.
Looking for a Puppy? See the Other Colors
There are no brindle Shih Tzu puppies available right now. The brown and gold puppies are ready to go home, or tell me what you are hoping for.
What Does a Brindle Shih Tzu Look Like?
Brindle is a tiger-stripe effect. Dark hairs mix with lighter hairs, so the coat looks streaked or flecked rather than flat. The base can be gold, red or tan, with black or dark brown running through it.
The stripes are easiest to see on a puppy or on a dog in a short cut, where the hair lies close to the body.
Ask for photos taken outside if the pattern matters to you. Nose, lips and eye rims are normally black on a brindle dog, as the standard describes for most colors.
What Is a Brindle and White Shih Tzu?
It is a brindle dog with white markings, such as a blaze, a white chest, feet and tail tip, or larger white patches. The striped patches sit on a white coat the way color sits on any black and white parti.
Brindle and white is described as a pattern rather than a shade. The standard says all colors and markings are permissible and to be considered equally.
Some brindle and white dogs have brindle only on the head and a patch on the back, while others have brindle across much of the body. There is a lot of variety, and that is part of why people enjoy this pattern.
What Is a Black Brindle or Dark Brindle Shih Tzu?
That describes a brindle where the dark stripes dominate, so the dog looks nearly black with lighter streaks showing through. In some lights it reads as black, and the streaks show most clearly in sunlight.
Compare it with a solid black Shih Tzu, where the coat is dark throughout. The pigment is usually dark either way, with a black nose and eye rims.
Do Brindle Shih Tzu Puppies Change Color?
They can. Stripes that show strongly on a puppy may soften or blend as the adult coat grows in, and the base shade can shift. Some dogs hold a bold pattern and others look plainer.
Any change is usually done by about a year. Because it is hard to predict, a brindle puppy photo shows today's coat, not the adult. If the stripes matter to you, ask for recent photos and picture the grown dog.
Is Brindle Treated Differently From Other Colors?
No. Under the standard, brindle is treated equally with every other color. It is a less common pattern, and that says nothing about how good the dog is.
If you are comparing patterns, the gold Shih Tzu page is close in base shade, and the colors hub lists the rest.
A brindle Shih Tzu is the same breed with the same needs, and the stripes are simply a different way for the coat to carry color.
How Do You Care for a Brindle Coat?
Just like any Shih Tzu: brush every day to the skin, bathe regularly and keep the face tidy. The streaked coat hides small bits of dirt well, but tangles still form behind the ears and under the legs.
A shorter cut shows the pattern best. The haircuts page and the grooming guide cover what suits the coat.
Does Brindle Affect Health or Personality?
No reliable evidence suggests it does. A brindle Shih Tzu is as affectionate, curious and stubborn as any other, and its personality comes from the individual dog and how it is raised.
At Royal Silk Shih Tzus puppies are raised in the home and go to their new families from eight weeks old. See the available puppies page for who is here now.
Food, grooming and company count for far more than color does.
What Should I Know Before Choosing a Brindle Puppy?
Think about how much the pattern matters to you. Brindle can fade or blend as the adult coat comes in, so a dog that looks strongly striped at 8 weeks may look much plainer at a year. If you would be happy with either, brindle is a lovely choice. If you want stripes to stay bold, ask for recent photos and talk it through before deciding.
Look at the whole dog as well: the face, the eyes, the coat and the way the puppy behaves. The available puppies page shows who is here now, and the delivery page explains how a puppy gets home.
Brindle Shih Tzu Questions
01Is brindle an accepted Shih Tzu color?
Yes. The AKC standard says all colors and markings are permissible and to be considered equally.
02What does brindle look like on a Shih Tzu?
Dark streaks or flecks over a lighter base, usually gold, red or tan.
03Will my brindle puppy keep its stripes?
Not always. Stripes can soften or blend as the adult coat comes in, and any change is usually done by about a year.
04What is brindle and white?
A brindle dog with white markings, such as a blaze, chest, feet or tail tip, or with larger white patches.
05Does brindle cost more?
Each puppy has its own card on the available puppies page, and the price page explains what a puppy costs.
Hoping for a Brindle Shih Tzu?
Tell me what you are looking for, and ask about the puppies available now.