--- title: "Shih Tzu Life Expectancy & Age in Human Years | Dog Years" description: "How long do Shih Tzus live? UK median about 12.8 years (Dogs Trust 2024). Convert your Shih Tzu's age to human years with our free calculator." image: "https://dogyears.info/result-image.png?b=Shih%20Tzu&a=5&y=36" url: "https://dogyears.info/shih-tzu-dog-years" --- [Guides](https://dogyears.info/guides) → Shih Tzu # Shih Tzu Life Expectancy and Age Calculator Small Breed Senior From 10 Lifespan ~12.8 yrs A gentle, affectionate companion breed with a flowing coat and a distinctive flat face. Here's how a Shih Tzu's age converts to human years. This page includes an interactive dog years calculator: https://dogyears.info/shih-tzu-dog-years. ## How long do Shih Tzus live? A typical UK life expectancy for the Shih Tzu is a median of about 12.8 years, from a 2024 analysis of UK dog records by Dogs Trust. The median is a midpoint from those records, not a guarantee that a dog will reach it or stop there. In that study, larger dogs tended to have shorter lives than smaller ones, and flat-faced breeds shorter lives than dogs with a typical head shape. [Signs your dog is a senior](https://dogyears.info/signs-your-dog-is-a-senior) covers what to watch for as a dog gets older. Source: [Dogs Trust, longevity of UK dog breeds (2024)](https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/about-us/research-expertise/longevity-dog-breeds), reporting McMillan et al., [Scientific Reports](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w). ## Shih Tzu age in human years | Dog years | Human years | Life stage | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 15 | Adolescent | | 2 | 24 | Adult | | 3 | 28 | Adult | | 6 | 40 | Adult | | 7 | 44 | Adult | | 10 | 56 | Senior begins | | 13 | 68 | Senior | | 15 | 76 | Geriatric | Figures based on The Royal Kennel Club's published small-breed guidance, as tabulated by Purina UK. The same numbers power the widget above and the [main calculator with Shih Tzu selected at 10 years](https://dogyears.info/?b=Shih%20Tzu&a=10). Want an exact figure including months? Use a decimal age in the widget (for example 7.5) or open the full calculator. The Shih Tzu is classified by The Royal Kennel Club within the smaller ageing band, typically weighing 4.5–7.3 kg as an adult, with a median life expectancy of around 12.8 years, according to a 2024 analysis of UK veterinary records by Dogs Trust. Bred in Tibet and China as a companion for royalty, the Shih Tzu is known for its calm, affectionate temperament and long, flowing double coat. That 12.8-year median is a midpoint from real UK clinical records — not a guarantee, and not a maximum. Plenty of dogs live a bit shorter or longer; the chart above is for converting the years you already have, not predicting the years still to come. Larger breeds tend to reach adulthood and old age faster than smaller ones. A 7-year-old Shih Tzu is about 44 in human years on the Royal Kennel Club small-breed table; a 7-year-old large breed is already senior on the large-breed table. See [small vs large breed ageing](https://dogyears.info/small-vs-large-breed-ageing) for why size changes the maths. ## Worked examples using this site's calculator These are the same Royal Kennel Club small-breed figures the homepage uses — not a separate formula. The classic ×7 rule is shown only as a comparison; it is the rule this site exists to replace. More on that in [Is the ×7 rule real?](https://dogyears.info/dog-years-x7-rule-explained) | Your Shih Tzu | RKC human years | ×7 rule | What that stage usually means | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 3 years | 28 | 21 | Adult — ×7 understates the early years | | 7 years | 44 | 49 | Still adult on the small-breed table | | 10 years | 56 | 70 | Senior begins on the small-breed table | | 13 years | 68 | 91 | Around the Dogs Trust median lifespan | Open the [full calculator at 10 years, Shih Tzu already selected](https://dogyears.info/?b=Shih%20Tzu&a=10), or pick another age on this page. Birth-date entry, named results, and the share card live on the homepage, not in this widget. ## What this means for your Shih Tzu Shih Tzus are generally easy-going and sociable, making them well suited to a wide range of households. Their flat face — a brachycephalic skull shape shared with breeds like the Pug and French Bulldog — means breathing can become laboured in hot weather or with excitement, so extra care with exercise timing and temperature matters more as they age. The breed's shallow eye sockets make eye injuries and corneal ulcers more common than in longer-nosed breeds, and dental crowding is a frequent issue given their small jaw. Hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease (a spinal condition affecting the discs between vertebrae) are also worth watching for in older Shih Tzus. None of that is a diagnosis, and this page is not a substitute for your vet. The useful takeaway is practical: twice-yearly check-ups from around 10 dog years, a monthly look at body condition, and catching sudden changes early. That is the unglamorous version of healthy ageing. ## When is a Shih Tzu considered a senior? Under The Royal Kennel Club's size-adjusted guidance, small breeds like the Shih Tzu are generally considered senior from around **10 dog years** old. 10 dog years maps to about 56 human years on the small-breed table. By 13 (about 68), many owners notice a slower rise from the bed and a shorter stride on the second walk. Gradual change is common; sudden lameness, rapid weight loss, or a new lump is the point to read [when to take your senior dog to the vet](https://dogyears.info/when-to-take-senior-dog-to-vet) rather than wait for the next routine slot. Insurers do not have to use the same "senior from 10" line. A 10-year-old Shih Tzu is already in the senior life stage on this site, but a given UK insurer may still treat that dog as mid-life for a new quote — or may already apply a higher excess. If you are weighing cover, read [pet insurance for older dogs](https://dogyears.info/pet-insurance-for-older-dogs) alongside this chart rather than assuming the two clocks match. ## How Shih Tzus compare with other small UK favourites On this site Shih Tzus share the small band with [Pug](https://dogyears.info/pug-dog-years) and [French Bulldog](https://dogyears.info/french-bulldog-dog-years), so the year-by-year human-years numbers are the same. The differences we do publish are lifespan midpoints from that same 2024 Dogs Trust UK veterinary analysis: about 11.6 for Pug. Those are medians, not targets. If you have two of those breeds at home, the [breed comparison tool](https://dogyears.info/compare?a=Shih+Tzu&b=Pug) puts the ageing tables next to each other. It will not invent a different curve than the size-band maths already on each page. ## Common questions ### How long do Shih Tzus live? A typical UK life expectancy for the Shih Tzu is a median of about 12.8 years, from a 2024 analysis of UK dog records by Dogs Trust. The median is a midpoint from those records, not a guarantee that a dog will reach it or stop there. In that study, larger dogs tended to have shorter lives than smaller ones, and flat-faced breeds shorter lives than dogs with a typical head shape. [Signs your dog is a senior](https://dogyears.info/signs-your-dog-is-a-senior) covers what to watch for as a dog gets older. Source: [Dogs Trust, longevity of UK dog breeds (2024)](https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/about-us/research-expertise/longevity-dog-breeds), reporting McMillan et al., [Scientific Reports](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w). ### How old is a 10-year-old Shih Tzu in human years? About 56, using The Royal Kennel Club's small-breed guidance as tabulated by Purina UK. That is also the point this site treats as the start of the senior stage for Shih Tzus. The ×7 rule would say 70 — close at some ages, then it drifts. ### Why does a Shih Tzu count as senior later than a large dog? Small breeds reach old age more slowly than large ones on the Royal Kennel Club tables this site uses. Large breeds are generally treated as senior from around 5 dog years; Shih Tzus from around 10. It is a size-band guideline for care and check-ups, not a switch that flips overnight. See [dog life stages explained](https://dogyears.info/dog-life-stages-explained). ### Can I pre-fill the main calculator with Shih Tzu? Yes. The homepage applies a shared link when an age is present, so use [Shih Tzu at 10 years](https://dogyears.info/?b=Shih%20Tzu&a=10) or [7 years](https://dogyears.info/?b=Shih%20Tzu&a=7), then change the age if you need a different figure. The widget on this page is the same small-breed maths in a shorter form. ### Get the exact figure, to the month Opens the homepage calculator with Shih Tzu selected at 10 years — the start of the senior stage on the small-breed table. Change the age for your own dog. [Open the Shih Tzu calculator](https://dogyears.info/?b=Shih%20Tzu&a=10) Related reading: [Is the ×7 Rule Real?](https://dogyears.info/dog-years-x7-rule-explained) · [Dog Life Stages Explained](https://dogyears.info/dog-life-stages-explained) · [Signs Your Dog Is Entering Its Senior Years](https://dogyears.info/signs-your-dog-is-a-senior) · [Pet Insurance for Older Dogs](https://dogyears.info/pet-insurance-for-older-dogs) · [Caring for an Ageing Dog](https://dogyears.info/caring-for-an-ageing-dog-uk-guide) Compare: [vs Pug](https://dogyears.info/compare?a=Shih+Tzu&b=Pug) · [vs French Bulldog](https://dogyears.info/compare?a=Shih+Tzu&b=French+Bulldog) · [vs Chihuahua]() ![Shih Tzu sitting outdoors on grass wearing a bandana](https://dogyears.info/images/shih-tzu.jpg) Photo: Acabashi, via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shih_Tzu_at_Easton_Lodge_Gardens_open_day,_Little_Easton,_Essex,_England_01.jpg) (CC BY-SA 4.0) ### Got a Shih Tzu? Opens the calculator with Shih Tzu selected at 10 years. Change the age if you need a different figure. [Open the calculator](https://dogyears.info/?b=Shih%20Tzu&a=10) ### Related Breeds [Pug](https://dogyears.info/pug-dog-years) · [French Bulldog](https://dogyears.info/french-bulldog-dog-years) · [Chihuahua](https://dogyears.info/chihuahua-dog-years) · [Bolognese](https://dogyears.info/bolognese-dog-years) · [Cavalier King Charles Spaniel](https://dogyears.info/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-dog-years) · [Coton De Tulear](https://dogyears.info/coton-de-tulear-dog-years) · [Havanese](https://dogyears.info/havanese-dog-years) · [Lhasa Apso](https://dogyears.info/lhasa-apso-dog-years) · [Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)](https://dogyears.info/lowchen-little-lion-dog-dog-years) · [Pekingese](https://dogyears.info/pekingese-dog-years) · [Tibetan Terrier](https://dogyears.info/tibetan-terrier-dog-years) · [Yorkshire Terrier](https://dogyears.info/yorkshire-terrier-dog-years) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Shih Tzu Life Expectancy and Age Calculator","description":"How long do Shih Tzus live? 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The median is a midpoint from those records, not a guarantee that a dog will reach it or stop there. In that study, larger dogs tended to have shorter lives than smaller ones, and flat-faced breeds shorter lives than dogs with a typical head shape. Signs your dog is a senior covers what to watch for as a dog gets older. Source: Dogs Trust, longevity of UK dog breeds (2024), reporting McMillan et al., Scientific Reports."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How old is a 10-year-old Shih Tzu in human years?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"About 56, using The Royal Kennel Club's small-breed guidance as tabulated by Purina UK. That is also the point this site treats as the start of the senior stage for Shih Tzus. The ×7 rule would say 70."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does a Shih Tzu count as senior later than a large dog?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Small breeds reach old age more slowly than large ones on the Royal Kennel Club tables this site uses. Large breeds are generally treated as senior from around 5 dog years; Shih Tzus from around 10. It is a size-band guideline for care and check-ups, not a switch that flips overnight."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I pre-fill the main calculator with Shih Tzu?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. The homepage applies a shared link when an age is present, so open dogyears.info with Shih Tzu and an age (for example 10 years). The widget on the Shih Tzu breed page uses the same small-breed maths."}}]} ```