Crochet a Realistic Shih Tzu Dog – PDF Pattern for Dog Lovers and Yarn Addicts

Finished Shih Tzu amigurumi made with crochet, featuring realistic fur texture, a white and reddish-brown coat, and a signature topknot tied with pink thread.

There’s something about a Shih Tzu that feels like pure magic. With those soulful eyes, soft silky fur, and that little topknot that’s always stealing the spotlight… how could I not turn it into a crochet pattern?

If you’ve ever dreamed of stitching up your own fluffy pup, this is your moment — the Shih Tzu crochet pattern is completely free here on the blog 🧶💛

But wait, there’s more! If you prefer working from a beautifully formatted, ad-free PDF (or you just like to support independent designers like me), you can also get the pattern:

 

Access to 50+ exclusive crochet patterns – monthly subscription banner

 

This little Shih Tzu is part of my Crochet Dog Breeds Collection, and possibly one of my favorites so far. There’s something so sweet about bringing a dog to life with yarn and a bit of patience. Each one I make feels like a tiny tribute to the love we share with our pets — even the imaginary ones 🐶✨

The free pattern includes:

  • Step-by-step written instructions,
  • Photo guides for shaping and fluffing that adorable fur,
  • Customization ideas so you can match your own pup or favorite Shih Tzu style ✂️

It’s designed for intermediate crocheters, but ambitious beginners are more than welcome — I believe creativity always finds a way, especially when yarn and love are involved.

👉 Scroll down for the free pattern
Or grab the printable PDF version here if you'd like to crochet offline, cozy and focused.


What You’ll Need

You’ll need your usual amigurumi suspects:

  • Cotton or acrylic yarn in Rust, Whie, Anthracite and Black (I used Yarn & Colors "Must-have" in 124 Chestnut, 100 Black, 102 Marble and 98 Graphite)
  • 3 mm crochet hook (or whatever you’re comfy with)
  • A pair of 6 mm Safety eyes 
  • Stuffing
  • A tapestry needle

Stitches and Abbreviations:

  • ch = chain
  • sc = single crochet
  • 2sc = increase (2 sc in the next stitch)
  • sc2tog = decrease (single crochet two stitches together)
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • st(s) = stitch(es)
  • BLO: back loops only

Pattern notes:

Skill level: Intermediate

Sizing: Using the mentioned materials the Shih-Tzu measures approx. 3x4 inches (8x10 cm): If you prefer a smaller or larger plush you can use a different hook size and yarn.

Copyright: This pattern is an original design by Birdsandcrickets. You may not copy, rewrite, redistribute, or resell this pattern in any form, this includes making video tutorials. You may not translate this pattern to another language and publish the pattern or any parts of it.

Finished Shih Tzu amigurumi made with crochet, featuring realistic fur texture, a white and reddish-brown coat, and a signature topknot tied with pink thread.



SHIH TZU PLUSH CROCHET PATTERN:

 

HEAD:

Start with Anthracite:

 

R1: Magic ring. 6 sc in ring (6 sts)

Change color (White)

R2: 2sc, sc in the next 3 sts, 2sc in the next 2 sts (9 sts)(pic.1)

R3: * sc in next 2 sts, 2sc * 3 times (12 sts)

R4: sc in the next 3 sts with White, sc in the next 2 sts with Rust, sc in the next 2 sts with White, sc in the next 2 sts with Rust, sc in the next 3 sts with White (12 sts)(pic.2)

R5: sc in the next 3 sts with Rust, 2sc in the next 2 sts with Rust, 2sc half with Rust/ half with White, 2sc half with White/ half with Rust, 2sc in the next 2 sts with Rust, sc in the next 3 sts with White (18 sts)(pic.3)

R6: * sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc * with White, * sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc, sc in the next 2 sts * with Rust, * 2sc, sc in the next 2 sts * with White, * 2sc, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc * with Rust, * sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc * with White (24 sts)

R7: sc in the next 4 sts with White, sc in the next 6 sts with Rust, sc in the next 4 sts with White, sc in the next 6 sts with Rust, sc in the next 4 sts with White (24 sts)

R8: sc in the next 4 sts with White, sc in the next 6 sts with Rust, sc in the next 5 sts with White, sc in the next 6 sts with Rust, sc in the next 3 sts with White (24 sts)(pic.4)

Step-by-step photo tutorial showing the crochet process for the Shih Tzu amigurumi head, featuring color changes for the snout, face, and markings using white, dark gray, and brown yarn.

R9: sc in the next 4 sts with White, sc in the next 6 sts with Rust, sc in the next 5 sts with White, sc in the next 6 sts with Rust, sc in the next 3 sts with White (24 sts)

R10: sc in the next 5 sts with White, sc in the next 5 sts with Rust, sc in the next 6 sts with White, sc in the next 5 sts with Rust, sc in the next 3 sts with White (24 sts)

R11: sc in the next 6 sts with White, sc in the next 4 sts with Rust, sc in the next 7 sts with White, sc in the next 4 sts with Rust, sc in the next 3 sts with White (24 sts)

Insert the safety eyes between R6 and R7 (between the 7th and 8th st and the 12th and 13th st of R6)(pic.5).

Embroider the nose with a strand of Black yarn: From inside the head, pull the needle out of the center of the magic ring. Insert the needle in the middle of the face, between R6 and R7 (pic.6). Tie the two ends by making a knot inside the head. Pull the needle out of the following st on the left, and insert the needle in the center of the magic ring. Do the same on the right side. Now you have 3 lines (pic.7). Keep doing the same until all spaces are filled with yarn. Tie the two ends by making a knot (pic.8).

Step-by-step photos showing how to embroider details on the crocheted Shih Tzu amigurumi head, including adding safety eyes, nose shaping, and black yarn embroidery for facial features.

R12: with White, * sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog * 6 times (18 sts)

R13: * sc, sc2tog * 6 times (12 sts)

Fill the head with stuffing.

R14: * sc, sc2tog * 4 times (8 sts)

Cut the yarn and fasten it off.

 

EARS (make 2):

With Rust

 

R1: Ch5, sc in the 2° ch from the hook, sc in the next 3 ch, turn (4 sts)

R2-R3: Ch1, sc in the next 3 sts, turn (4 sts)

R4: Ch1, skip the first st, sc in the next 3 sts, turn (3 sts)

R5: Ch1, skip the first st, sc in the next 2 sts, turn (2 sts)

R6: Ch1, skip the first st, sc in the next st (1 st)

Cut the yarn and leave a long strand. 

Insert the strand in the needle and pass the needle though the side of the ear (pic.9-10).

Attach the ears to the head. (pic.11-12)

Crochet tutorial images showing how to make and attach the ears to the Shih Tzu amigurumi head, including close-ups of the ear shape, sewing process, and final placement on the crocheted dog.

 

FRONT LEGS (x2):

With White

 

R1: Magic ring, 6 sc in the ring (6 sts)

R2: * sc, 2sc * 3 times (9 sts)

R3: BLO, sc in each st (9 sts)

R4: sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog 3 times, sc in the next st (6 sts)

R5-R8: sc in each st (6 sts)

Cut the yarn and fasten it off. Fill with stuffing. (pic.13)

 

BODY:

With White:

 

R1: Magic ring, 6 sc in the ring (6 sts)

R2: 2sc in each st (12 sts)

R3: * sc, 2sc * 6 times (18 sts)

R4: * sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc * 6 times (24 sts)

R5: * sc in the next 3 sts, 2sc * 6 times (30 sts)

R6-R8: sc in each st (30 sts)

R9: * sc in the next 3 sts, sc2tog * 6 times (24 sts)

R10-R11: sc in each st (24 sts)

Finished Shih Tzu amigurumi made with crochet, featuring realistic fur texture, a white and reddish-brown coat, and a signature topknot tied with pink thread.

R12: sc in the next 5 sts of the first front leg (making sure that the paw is positioned straight forward), skip 1 st of the body, sc in the next 4 sts of the body, sc in the next 5 sts of the second paw (making sure that the paw is positioned straight forward), skip 1 st of the body, sc in the next 16 sts of the body (32 sts)(pic.14)

R13-R16: sc in each st around (32 sts)

R17: * sc in the next 3 sts, sc2tog * 6 times (26 sts)

R18: sc in each st (26 sts)

R19: * sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog, sc * 6 times (20 sts)

R20-R22: sc in each st (20 sts)

Fill with stuffing. (pic.15)

Attach the head to the body. Use the long tail to sew the head onto the body securely (pic.16).

Insert some more stuffing in the front legs from the two openings below, to make the plush fuller and more stable, and then close the openings by sewing them with a needle and a strand of White yarn .

Step-by-step crochet tutorial showing how to create the legs and body of the Shih Tzu amigurumi, including assembling the front legs (13), crocheting the body (14), attaching the legs (15), and joining the finished head to the body (16)

 

HIND LEGS (x2):

With White:

 

R1-4. same as the front legs.

R5: sc in each sc around (6 sts)

Break the yarn and leave a long strand. Fill with some stuffing. 

Attach the hind legs to the body. Position the legs evenly on the body and sew them in place.

 

TAIL:

With White

 

R1: Magic ring, 4 ch in the ring (4 sts)

R2-R9: sc in each st (4 sts)

Cut the yarn and leave a long strand.

Attach the tail to the body.

 

Finished Shih Tzu amigurumi made with crochet, featuring realistic fur texture, a white and reddish-brown coat, and a signature topknot tied with pink thread.

Embroidering the long fur:

 

Thread a tapestry needle with a long piece of Rust yarn. Insert the needle into the plush starting from R5, between the right leg and the tail, pulling through the stitch to leave a short yarn tail outside. Pull the needle a second time through the same stitch and pull gently to secure (pic.17). Pull the needle a third time through the same stitch and leave a loop (a larger loop if you’re making a long haired Shi-Tzu, and a smaller loop if you’re making a short haired one)(pic.18-19). Pull the needle through the next stitch and pull gently to secure. Pull the needle through the next stitch and make a loop. Keep alternating the two stitches (1 loop, one securing the thread)(pic.20).

Photo tutorial showing how to attach the back legs to the Shih Tzu amigurumi body using brown yarn, including step-by-step positioning and stitching from different angles (steps 17–20).

 

Continue until you’ve reached the left leg. Do the same for other 6 rows (pic.21). Embroider the fur also on the legs and the rest of the body, but with White yarn (pic.22-23). Embroider the head, starting from the first st of R2 of the head (pic.24).

Tutorial images showing how to add loop stitches to the Shih Tzu amigurumi to create realistic fur texture, including attaching brown loops to the back (21), white loops to the legs (22), full fur coverage on the back (23), and loop stitches on the face for the beard and mustache (24).

Use White yarn on the White areas and Rust yarn on the Rust areas (pic.25). Embroider the tail with White yarn and the ears with Rust yarn (pic.26).

Cut all the loops in half (pic.27-28), and then brush the strands with a dog brush and shape the fur to your liking, giving the Shih Tzu its characteristic long, fluffy coat. If you’ve made a long haired Shi-Tzu, you can bind its hair in a ponytail above the head with a short strand of yarn. (pic.29)

Photo tutorial demonstrating how to complete the Shih Tzu amigurumi by adding loop stitches on the head (25–26), and trimming the loops with scissors (27) to shape the fur around the face and ears (28) for a realistic finish.
Finished Shih Tzu amigurumi made with crochet, featuring realistic fur texture, a white and reddish-brown coat, and a signature topknot tied with pink thread.

Can’t wait to see your version! Don’t forget to tag me or send me a photo — it truly makes my day to see these little pups come to life in your hands 🧵💫

With yarn tangled in my fingers and joy in my heart,

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