Shih Tzu

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Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu Characteristics

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Good With Dogs:
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Shih Tzu Breed Information

Breed Group: Toy

Weight: 9 - 16 lbs

Height: 8 - 11 inches

Color(s): Any

Overview

The Shih Tzu is often referred to as a "small lion". They originated in Tibet, but are most associated with China where they were highly revered as a palace pet and prized companion. The Shih Tzu is an active, happy, and affectionate breed.

Character

The Shih Tzu is small, sturdy, and intelligent. They carry themselves with a noble and proud posture befitting their aristocratic ancestry. One of their most valued characteristics is the eye, which exude warmth and a human-like quality. The Shih Tzu is the least delicate of the toy breeds.

Temperament

The Shih Tzu is first and foremost a companion. They love nothing more than being indoors with their family. This breed gets along very well with older children and other pets. They are outgoing and self-assured, keen and alert. They make excellent watchdogs. They do not do well being separated from their owners and may become destructive if left alone for extended periods of time. They are docile and quiet, but they also love to play. The Shih Tzu is spunky and can be obstinate at times. They expect to be treated as royalty and are easily spoiled.

Care

The Shih Tzu requires extensive grooming. They need brushed daily to prevent knots, tangles, and mats. They need to be bathed monthly. They are not suited for humid climates. It is important to keep their eyes and ears cleaned. Their eyes are particularly sensitive. They are prone to kidney disease and slipping kneecaps. The Shih Tzu's short muzzle makes it exceptionally prone to snoring and wheezing problems. Dental hygiene is crucial to prevent tooth loss. They tend to gain weight easily and must not be overfed.

Coat

The Shih Tzu has a long, dense, and abundant double-coat. The luxurious and profuse outer-coat often sweeps the ground, and may be slightly wavy. The under-coat is wooly and soft in texture. The long hair on top of the head is typically placed into a topknot to prevent eye irritation. The Shih Tzu coat varies widely in color. They are minimal shedders and are considered hypoallergenic.

Training

The Shih Tzu may be difficult to housetrain. The crate method works best. Although they are eager to please, and quick to learn, this breed's stubborn streak requires persistence and consistency. They do not respond to harshness or punishment. The Shih Tzu does very well in obedience training provided it is low-key and motivational.

Activity

The Shih Tzu enjoys short daily walks or vigorous indoor play sessions and games. They are very well suited for apartment or condominium dwelling. However, they love to play outside, so a small fenced yard is ideal.

Ask a Question Shih Tzu Questions & Answers

QUESTION: can shih tzus from the same parents but not from the same litter breed together?

Anonymous - 5/23/2012 2:19:56 PM

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QUESTION: i have had my Shih Tzu for 3 days now he is 6 weeks old (the runt of the 10 puppies) I don't want to squish him in bed so where do I make him sleep. Also, I tried putting him in a box and he wakes up at 4:00 am and whines what do I do? Also since he is sooooo young what do I feed him? Please help!!

Anonymous - 5/16/2012 9:41:54 PM

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Give your shih tzu soft food. Check with the vet, dont change food often because shih tzus have delicate stomachs. Never over feed him.

Anonymous - 5/19/2012 8:35:20 PM

Let your shih tzu sleep on the floor first. Don't place him on a box, let him sleep anywhere in your room. Eventually he will learn how to go up on your bed and go down when he feels that you'll squeeze them (that's what my dog is doing and she found a place in my bed where she knows she won't be destructed). Regarding with the food, melt the dog food with water first or maybe milk.

Anonymous - 5/19/2012 2:17:24 AM

QUESTION: Is there such thing as a Dutch Shih Tzu and can it look like a lhasa ?

Anonymous - 5/16/2012 5:32:58 PM

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QUESTION: hello my shih tzu follows my husband around, she lays next to him all the time and everytime she hears his voice she gets so happy. its like shes his dog not mine. when I first brought her home he didnt even look at. She gets in our bed and she only lays next to him. I wonder why she speaks to me sometimes but when she sees him. Im not even there.

Anonymous - 5/15/2012 5:08:59 PM

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Shih tzus will select their owners not you. I bought the female and my son bought the male. The male and I created such a strong bond that the female had no choice but to accept my husband as the owner. Now we are at peace. You cannot change who the dog selects. My fathers shih tzu loved him and when he passed away he missed him dearly but then accepted my mom as the chief in command. My sister longs for his love, but it belongs to my mom!

Anonymous - 5/19/2012 8:38:31 PM

QUESTION: hello, i have a seven week old shih tzu, and when we brought him home he ate, and pooped well. now he is eating less and pooping less as well. should i take him to the vet, should i be worried, is this normal????

Anonymous - 5/9/2012 12:23:44 AM

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This is the biggest issue i have with my two shih tzus. Its not the og, its how we train them. I can compare with my sisters shih tzu who is well trained. See the differences below: Me: i never confined them to a tight space, i felt sorry for them and let them loose. My sister: she confined the dog to a small space. Took him to regular walks and was never run around. Me: i hated walking the og so i installl a doggy door since no one wanted to walk them My sister: no matter the day or time, the dogs routine never changed. She was strict Now my dogs peep and poop at any given time, when you least expect it. One is 10 yrs old the other 6. I say they are stupid dogs. My sisters dog will never poop inside, he can stay up to 6-8 hrs withou being taken out. I think my training was very poor

Anonymous - 5/19/2012 8:44:42 PM

QUESTION: how long will my shih tzu bleed for while in heat

Anonymous - 5/7/2012 1:42:15 PM

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how long will my shih tzu bleed for in heat

Anonymous - 5/8/2012 9:10:20 PM

QUESTION: my shih tzu is dragging his hind legs, panting, and not eating, any questions, we called the vet, she said ibuprophen, heat on back,

Anonymous - 5/6/2012 11:01:32 AM

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QUESTION: my shihtzu is scatching himself consantly i use a special shampoo for the itch it dont help i bath him i bruch him please someone help

Anonymous - 5/4/2012 7:50:18 AM

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He/she might have fleas so I use frontline on my shihtzu just try it

Anonymous - 5/22/2012 8:53:28 AM

Ours has done the same for years. Finally put him on a generic brand of Atopica that the vet prescribed. He's like a brand new dog!! Good luck!

Anonymous - 5/10/2012 3:35:52 PM

QUESTION: One more question....i notice my dog has little piddles here and there on the carpet. I am getting so frustrated...I mean I just took him for a walk...he peed ...pooped now we came in I turned my back and bang...little puddle in the middle of the room.....this happens often...he is 10 weeks old....I hate the smell of pee in my house...and i have the most sensitive nose and can smell it...

Anonymous - 5/4/2012 7:08:31 AM

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make sure use always have a puppy pad ready and praise him when he done a wee outside and give him a treat after he done one it that how i trained my 2 shih tzus

Anonymous - 5/12/2012 2:34:08 PM

QUESTION: I bought a puppie which i thought was a Shih Tzu....he is now almost 10 weeks old. I emailed the person I got it from and asked him again what kind of dog this is. This is what his response was...Dad is a japenese shih tzu and the mom is lhaso apso shih tzu ..I have never heard of such a mix. is this dog going to stay small at least? I mean not mini just a fair size...would you be able to tell me anything about the dogs temperment?

Anonymous - 5/4/2012 6:59:16 AM

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QUESTION: how can i tell if my shih tzu is pregant anad how long do they carry their puppies?

Anonymous - 4/29/2012 9:11:56 PM

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QUESTION: i have a 10 or eleven year old shih tzu and she has kidney problems, cataracts and has stopped barking to let me know when she has to potty; has had major dental work and now just paces in circles towards right only. First time pet owner. what is going on?

Anonymous - 4/24/2012 1:28:55 AM

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QUESTION: I have a two year tri color shih tzu and on a high pollen day she came in and sounded like whooping cough she had just had her annual shots and one was for kennel cough. The doctor said because of her short snout these dogs suffer allergies and gave her a antihistimine which makes her very sleepy can this be caused by the shot and will this go away or be a chronic thing She has no fever and acting nornal but sometimes sounds like a frog

Anonymous - 4/23/2012 2:18:24 AM

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We have a 6 month old male shih tzu who also seems to suffer from "hay fever". We cannot identify any specific culprit as an attack of your well described "whooping cough" varies widely in time of day and location.Attacks are predominently outdoors when damp but indoors is not unknown.We comfort him and pat his back firmly and there is no lastiing ill effect. We assume the short nose is mainly to blame. The animal is very lively and not scared of anything so we do not think it is a nervous reaction. 32 quid at the vets was money down the drain producing the "gallic shrug" and an invitation to come back. Probably more work needs to be done on this issue but currently we are not keen on poking junior human cures down his throat. Good luck.J.E.D.

Anonymous - 4/28/2012 6:48:54 AM

QUESTION: Do shih tzus lose their baby teeth? If they are not supposed to then what do I do? I think mine has lost three.

Anonymous - 4/21/2012 11:46:56 PM

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yup, it's normal for shih tzus to lose them in their puppy stage [3-8 months old]. Baby teeth fall out usually when there's a new one ready to come out. You don't need to worry if they accidentally eat the small ones 'cuz it's just calcium, but it's better if they don't swallow the big sharp ones as it may be a choking hazard.

Anonymous - 5/16/2012 11:09:10 PM

QUESTION: How long does it take to house break a shih tzu

Anonymous - 4/21/2012 1:13:48 AM

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I don't think that's really true....I got my shih tzu when my brother and sister were about ages 3&6 ....he never displayed any violence towards them....but of course like any other dog they do get aggravated when someone pulls on their hair...or is rough with them. If treated with care by younger kids there seems to not be a problem (speaking from personal experince). Hope this helps!

Anonymous - 4/23/2012 5:15:06 PM

QUESTION: Hello, our family is considering adopting a shih tzu. I have two daughters, ages 5 and 2. I have read that shih tzu dogs are not ideal for younger children. Why is that? My girls are actually very gentle with puppies and small dogs, and their interactions with the dog will be supervised.

Anonymous - 4/19/2012 1:46:56 PM

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Some people say that shih tzu's are not ideal for younger children because the dog often gets the raw end of the deal. Adult human supervision is key for extremely young kids to interact with STs because rough play could result in poking the dog's eyes or choking on small toys. Once both of them learn what's ok & you've set some ground rules, everything should be ok. Enjoy your new pet!

Anonymous - 5/16/2012 11:16:32 PM

Thank you all for answering, and the responses were very helpful. We will be picking up our new addition next week! :)

Anonymous - 4/25/2012 12:45:44 PM

my shih tzu loves our 2 year old even as much as she tugs on her and sqeezes around on her, she lets her do whatever she wants though we dont condone it. she is also very protective of her and sleeps at her feet every night.

Anonymous - 4/24/2012 5:37:43 PM

My parents adopted a Shih tzu when my sister and I were just over 1 and 3. He was a great dog and let us do anything to him (putting dresses on him before they made pet clothes, carry him in a doll basket, put a pacifier in his mouth). Now I have a 20 month old niece and a different Shih tzu and she is just as wonderful with my niece as my first Shih tzu was with us.

Anonymous - 4/23/2012 8:47:44 PM

QUESTION: how long can a shih tuz hold his poop

Anonymous - 4/16/2012 7:16:29 PM

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I have to say my puppy who is 10 weeks old...his last poop and pee will be around 8:30-9 in the evening and he falls asleep withme in my bed around 10-10:30 and we get up around 6-6:30 so he has gotten so good ...he can last all night no poop or pee..but i have to say I get him out as soon as were up and he walks about 20 seconds and does both the deeds fast....then i feed him at 8:00a.m. then i take him back out around 9-9:30 and he poops again. So yes he lasts all night but mornings are double poops (lol)

Anonymous - 5/4/2012 10:54:03 AM

My shih tzu can go outside but prefers to go for his walk and he has held it for at 9 hours or more if I go to the store after work.

Anonymous - 4/27/2012 1:44:21 AM

QUESTION: what about imperial shih tzus, i heard they are smaller, how much smaller? My is a regulaar one & 17 lb, would like one day to get one that stays small.

Anonymous - 4/16/2012 6:38:20 PM

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i have an imperial shih tzu she is black and white she weighs about 8 lbs.the vet told me not to let her gain too much weight when she went she weighed 7lbs

Anonymous - 4/28/2012 9:28:04 PM

QUESTION: My shih tzu is 7 years old. I have noticed she sticks her tongue out like something is bothering her. This goes on for several minutes. Should I be concerned?

Anonymous - 4/16/2012 10:24:38 AM

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QUESTION: I have a 6 month old shih-tzu, he has an ear infection, what can i do to make it better? The vet gave him trizultra+keto but its not working. Please give me any suggestions.

Anonymous - 4/15/2012 3:19:46 PM

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I have spent over $300.00 and still my shih tzu reeks I don't think it will ever get any better its been 3 months I'm so frustraded and running out of money fast. If you find a answer please let me know

Anonymous - 4/27/2012 1:47:14 AM

QUESTION: MY 8 YR OLD SHIH TZU HAS EXTREME SHIVERS

Anonymous - 4/11/2012 2:49:53 PM

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QUESTION: my shih tzu has just had a poo and it had blood in it

Anonymous - 4/10/2012 4:24:45 PM

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maybe parvovirus if the dog isnt eating or drinking, in that case you should quarantine the dog and get it to a vet. in most cases with a healthy dog it ends up being something it has eaten.

Anonymous - 4/24/2012 5:33:38 PM

QUESTION: I have a two year old shit zu and I wish to mate her - when can I know she's ready?

Anonymous - 4/9/2012 11:21:52 AM

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She will flag and stand.and permit males to mount her for a tie and copulation to produce the future litter.

Anonymous - 4/11/2012 6:21:55 PM

QUESTION: Are Shih Tzu's as a breed, extremely intelligent. Or does this depend on the individual dog? My 8 month old male has really impressed me with his cunning and his ability to solve problems without help. He figured out how to let me know when he needs to go outside, to the washroom, when he was only 4 months old.Shih Tzu's are a wonderful and entertaining pet to own.

Anonymous - 4/5/2012 1:25:59 AM

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Amazing I ran across your question about your problem-solving Shih Tzu just as I was telling a friend about my 3-month-old male pulling his bed in front of a floor fan so the wind would blow on him. I'm beginning to notice similar behavior and am stunned at his brilliance. I'm beginning to think they have extreme intelligence; never owned a dog so smart and anxious to learn.

Anonymous - 4/6/2012 6:25:48 PM

QUESTION: I have an 8 month old male Shih Tzu, who never comes when called, by anyone. He seems to be conflicted on what to do as he tries to approach you but then pulls back. Also he will not jump on the couch when called or climb stairs, is this normal?

Anonymous - 4/5/2012 1:16:16 AM

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the dog may be deaf.

Anonymous - 4/21/2012 6:19:44 PM

My year old female Shih Tzu cannot jump onto the couch or bed she does manage the stairs comfortably I assumed it was due to the long body and short legs.......................But she know how to get my attention to be picked up onto the bed and couch.....very clever...

Anonymous - 4/18/2012 10:50:40 PM

QUESTION: Hi, my female shih tzu is almost 6 months old and weighs 5lbs. Any idea how much she will weigh as an adult? And also when can I expect her to go into heat? Thank You, Melissa M

Anonymous - 4/2/2012 7:52:38 AM

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QUESTION: when is it safe to give a puppy dewormer

Anonymous - 4/1/2012 3:47:45 PM

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Dog must be dewormed every three months.

Anonymous - 5/19/2012 2:34:04 AM

QUESTION: how long does it take for a shih tzu to have its babies?

Anonymous - 4/1/2012 12:30:21 PM

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QUESTION: what can i do my shih tzu he has a dandruff

Anonymous - 4/1/2012 3:25:21 AM

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QUESTION: I have a Shih Tzu that is 4 years old, and has started shivering lately and she doesnt have much of an appetite. Does anyone know what might be causing this? When she sees other animals outside and on tv she gets up running and barking like nothing is wrong.

Anonymous - 3/31/2012 11:32:46 AM

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Did you get help about shivering shih tzu? I've been a shih tzu owner for the last 8 years and shivering is always how I know my dog has an infection somewhere (eye, ear, anything- it doesn't matter) just whatever infection she has makes her shiver and eat less. With antibiotics she stops shivering within a few hours.

Anonymous - 4/2/2012 2:25:30 PM

If you are looking for Shih Tzu puppies for sale from reputable Shih Tzu breeders or to adopt a Shih Tzu from a Shih Tzu rescue then make sure you understand as much about the dog breeds you are interested in as you can. Every puppy breed is different. Begin your research by reading the breed information about the Shih Tzu puppy above. Search our dog breeds section to find Shih Tzu puppies, dogs and puppies that make great pets.