Shih Tzu Breed Standard

General Appearance - Sturdy, abundantly coated dog with distinctly arrogant carriage and chrysanthemum face.

Characteristics - Intelligent, active and alert.

Temperament - Friendly and independent.

Head & Skull - Head broad, round, wide between eyes. Shock headed with hair falling well over eyes. Good beard and whiskers, hair growing upwards on the nose giving a distinctly chrysanthemum effect. Muzzle of ample width, square,short, not wrinkled, flat & hairy. Nose black but darl liver in liver or liver marked dogs and about one inch from tip to definite stop. Nose level or slightly tip tilted. Top of nose leather should be on a line with or slightly below eye rim. Wide open nostrils. Downpointed nose highly undesireable, as are pinched nostrils. Pigmentation of muzzle as unbroken as possible.

Eyes - Large, dark, round, placed well apart but not prominent. Warm expression. In liver or liver marked dogs, lighter eye permissible. No white of eye showing.

Ears - Large, with long leathers, carried drooping. Set slightly below crown of skull, so heavily coated they appear to blend into hair of neck.

Mouth - Wide, slighlty undershot or level. Lips level.

Neck - Well proportioned, nicely arched. Sufficient length to carry head proudly.

Forequarters - Shoulders well laid back. Legs short, and muscular with ample bone, as straight as possible, consistent with broad chest being well let down.

Body - Longer between withers and root of tail than height of withers, well coupled and sturdy, chest broad and deep, shoulders firm, back level.

Hindquarters - Legs short and muscular with ample bone. Straight when viewed from the rear. Thighs well rounded and muscular. Legs looking massive on account of wealth of hair.

Feet - Rounded, firm and well padded, appearing big on account of wealth of hair.

Tail - Heavily plumed carried gaily well over back. Set on high. Height approximately level with that of skull to give a balanced outline

Gait/Movement - Arrogant, smooth flowing, front legs reaching well forward, strong rear action and showing full pad.

Coat - Long, dense, not curly, with good undercoat. Slight wave permitted. Strongly recommended that hair on head tied up.

Colour - All colours permissible, white blaze on forehead and white tip to tail highly desirable in parti - colours.

Size - Weight 4.5 - 8.1kg
                         Ideal weight - 4.5 - 7.3kg

Height - No more than 26.7cm or 10.5in at the withers. Type and breed characteristics of the utmost importance and on no account to be sacrificed to size alone.

Lhasa Apso Breed Standard

General Appearance - The Lhasa Apso should give the appearance of a well balanced, solid dog.

Characteristics - Gay, assertive, but chary of strangers.

Temperament - Refer characteristics.

Head & Skull - Heavy head furnishings with good fall over the eyes, good whiskers and beard. Skull moderately narrow, falling away behind the eyes in a marked degree; not quite flat, but not domed or apple shaped. Straight foreface, with medium stop. Nose black. Muzzle about 3.8cm long, but not square; the length from tip of nose to be roughly one-third the total length from nose to back of skull.

Eyes - Pendant, heavily feathered. Dark tips an asset.

Mouth - Upper incisors should close just inside the lower, i.e a reverse scissor bite. Incisors should be nearly in a straight line. Full dentition is desirable.

Neck - Strong, well covered with a dense mane which is more pronounced in dogs than bitches.

Forequarters - Shoulder should be well laid back. Forelegs straight, heavily firnished with hair.

Body - The length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks greater than height at withers. Well ribbed up. Level topline. Strong loin. Well balanced and compact.

Hindquarters - Well developed with good muscle. Good angulation. Heavily furnished. The hocks when viewed should be parallel and not too close together.

Feet - Round and cat-like, with good pads. Well feathered.

Tail - High set, carried well over back and not like a pot-hook. There is often a kink at the end. Well feathered.

Gait/Movement - Free and jaunty in movement.

Coat - Top coat heavy, straight and hard, not woolly or silky, of good length. Dense undercoat.

Colour - Golden, sandy, honey, dark grizzle, slate, smoke, parti-colour, black white or brown.

Size - Ideal height : 25.4cm /10in at shoulder for dogs; bitches slightly smaller.