Shichon Size Guide How Big Does a Shichon Get

Are you planning to adopt the adorable Shichon? If your answer is yes, you’re here for a good reason – to find out more about the Shichon size and growth patterns. Naturally, any future dog owner would want to be fully aware of their future fur baby’s characteristics and traits, and their size is equally important to their looks and personality. After all, knowing what to expect gives you a great advantage in terms of your pup’s care throughout their lifetime. Additionally, in this article you’ll also find our interactive Shichon size chart and growth calculator, which is a must-have tool for anyone who has adopted a Shichon puppy. Let’s get started! 

A hybrid cross between the Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise, this mixed breed dog is also called Zuchon or the Shichon Teddy Bear. The Shichon is a portable-sized pup that has the happiest, most loving personality in a tiny package. They’re fluffy, gentle, and sweet little beings with a playful personality, making them the perfect fit for almost any household or family. 

Shichon
Photo by Nikolay Tchaouchev on Unsplash

Our handy interactive puppy growth chart and calculator takes all the hard work out of predicting your puppy’s potential adult size. This helps you to know exactly what you are in for.

Psst! Check Out These Awesome Puppy Things!

Shichon Size Predictions: How Big Do Shichons Get?

Whenever we try to predict a mixed breed dog’s size, we must take into account their lineage. Firstly, the Shih Tzu weighs between 9 and 16 pounds with an average height of 8 to 12 inches at the shoulder. On the other hand, the Bichon Frise weighs between 12 and 18 pounds with an average height of 9 to 12 inches. Based on that, we can expect Shichons to be similar in size to their parent pups. As both parents are toy-sized breeds of very similar sizes, our guesswork isn’t as difficult as with some other hybrid breeds. 

So, what is the average Shichon size and how big do they get? Like the parents, the Shichon is a toy-sized hybrid breed that weighs between 9 and 16 pounds. The Shichon is about 9 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder. Of course, there might be some fluctuation in their size. Some pups are a bit taller and heavier, whereas other Shichons are smaller than the usual estimates. It’s important we note that although there can be slight variations, you should keep an eye on your puppy’s growth and development at all times. If your pup is too small or is gaining weight too quickly, we recommend you consult with your veterinarian to rule out any possible health issues. 

Shichon

In addition to that, your dog’s diet and how much they exercise can also affect their size and growth a great deal. Feeding your dog too little can lead to malnourishment and feeding them too much can, of course, lead to obesity. For this reason, make sure your pup gets the correct amount of food and plenty of daily exercise. And for toy-sized pups like the Shichon, we recommend you opt for dog foods that are specially formulated for small-sized breeds.

Are There Different Sizes Of Shichons?

Although Shichons technically come in one size, there can be some fluctuation in terms of their height and weight. However, we can usually expect Shichon puppies to be similar in size to their parents. For instance, if a smaller Shih Tzu is crossed with a smaller Bichon Frise, it’s likely that the puppies are on the lower end of the scale. Likewise, if a larger Shih Tzu is crossed with a larger Bichon Frise, we can expect the Shichon puppies to also be larger once fully-grown. 

Shichon Size Charts & Growth Patterns – Month Wise

Like other breeds, the Shichon generally grows fastest in its first 50% of adult weight. For small-sized breeds like the Shih Tzu Bichon Frise mix, this usually correlates to their first 4 months. After that, their most rapid growth spurts have passed and they’ll continue to grow in height and weight at a slower pace until they reach their full-grown size around 8 to 11 months old.

Shichon
Photo by Dieny Portinanni on Unsplash

Let’s take a look at the average Shichon size predictions by age:

Age3 months6 months9 months1 year 
Weight4-7 pounds6-11 pounds9-15 pounds9-16 pounds
Height5-8 inches8-11 inches9-12 inches9-12 inches

* A dog’s height is measured from the withers, which is the highest part of their shoulder blades.

As we can learn from the Shichon size chart above, by 3 months old they’ve already reached slightly less than half of their adult weight and about half of their adult height. By 6 months old, Shichons are nearing their full adult height, some pups even reach their adult height as early as that. However, they will still continue to gain more weight and fill out over the next few months. At the 9 month mark, a Shichon puppy has most likely reached its full height and oftentimes their full adult weight as well. For larger pups, it might take up to a year to fully mature. 

Additionally, this is why it’s particularly important that your Shichon puppy gets the correct nourishment he needs to grow that adorable little body into a healthy adult one. Check out these guides on best dog food for puppies here.

Tip for all Shichon puppy parents: If you’d like to predict your Shichon’s full-grown weight and track their growth from birth to adulthood, you’re in for a treat. We’ve created an interactive Shichon size chart and growth calculator, which takes the guesswork out of your hands. Simply enter your puppy’s current weight and current age in weeks, and see for yourself!

Shichon Size: Frequently Asked Questions

How Big Is An Adult Shichon?

Full-grown Shichons usually weigh between 9 and 16 pounds and have an average height of 9 to 12 inches measured at the shoulder. The Shih Tzu Bichon Frise mix is a toy-sized breed that can very well thrive in apartments and less spacious households. 

Shichon
Photo by Varun Kumar e.k on Unsplash

You can calculate their potential adult weight at 23 weeks by taking what they weigh at that age and multiplying it by two.

A different formula you could use is:

  1. Growth = current weight / current age in weeks
  2. Adult weight = Growth x 52 (number of weeks in one year)

So, for example, if your 12-week old pup weighs 18 pounds. You simply divide the current weight by their age in weeks and multiply the result with 52:

18/ 12 = 1.5
1.5 x 52= 78 pounds

78 pounds would be the expected weight of your adult-sized Shichon.

At What Age Are Shichons Fully-Grown?

Depending on their size, Shichons usually reach their full-grown size anywhere between 8 and 11 months old. A general rule of thumb is that smaller Shichons tend to grow up faster than larger Shichons. Therefore, you can expect a larger Shichon to finish growing around 11 months of age and smaller pups around 8 to 9 months old. 


To conclude, the Shih Tzu Bichon Frise mix is a happy-go-lucky hybrid breed with a loving, affectionate personality. Even though they look miniscule, they’ve got lots of personality and even the smarts. They’re eager to please, intelligent, and sometimes exhibit a stubborn streak. Nevertheless, Shichons are extremely loving and loyal companions. Pair this with their plush and cushy fur, and you have the most precious little companion you could ever wish for. We hope you learned some interesting facts about the Shichon size and growth patterns. After all, you’d want to know exactly what you get when adopting this beautiful little dog. 

Parents of Shichons: How big is your pup? Let us know in the comments below!

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