Shih Tzu is one of the cutest dogs, according to many people. We do agree with their claim. This dog looks pretty loving. The dog is small in size, sturdy and lush, having two hair coats. Shih Tzu is better if you look forward to having a lovely dog.
The Shih Tzu breed is not something pretty new. We’ll cover more about that here in this article. The dog is, however, affectionate with the families. This means you can have a better companion. Unfortunately, people often consider this type of dog as a toy dog.
If you own a comparatively short apartment, you can adopt this type of dog. The dogs are pretty social as well. If you can train the Shih Tzu enough, it can bring a lot of joy to you.
Shih Tzu: Dog Breed Overview
- Group: Toy
- Height: 8 to 11 inches
- Weight: 9 to 16 pounds
- Coat: Long double coat
- Coat Color: Found in nearly any color, most commonly in black, white, blue, gold, liver, or combinations
- Life Span: 10 to 16 years
- Temperament: Friendly, intelligent, playful, alert, loyal, lively
- Hypoallergenic: Yes
- Origin: Tibet
Characteristics of the Shih Tzu
As we mentioned, the Shih Tzu is one of the most loving dogs. Therefore, you won’t feel any hesitation while meeting strangers with it. However, they are social enough to cope with different types of surroundings.
You will find this tiny little dog feels delighted during the day. But, when it comes to getting in touch with other dogs, you won’t find any issue with the Shih Tzu. These dogs like to get in touch with other dogs. They can live more than 15 years with happy temperaments if nurtured properly.
Now, let’s look closely at the table below to get more information about the Shih Tzu.
| Affection Level | High |
| Friendliness | High |
| Kid-Friendly | High |
| Pet-Friendly | High |
| Exercise Needs | Low |
| Playfulness | High |
| Energy Level | Medium |
| Trainability | Medium |
| Intelligence | High |
| Tendency to Bark | Medium |
| Amount of Shedding | Low |
History of the Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu has a rich history. However, the name originated from a Chinese word that means lion in English. You may relate the name here because the dog looks like a small lion from some viewpoints. The rich people of Tibet adopted this type of dog.
According to many kinds of research on the Shih Tzu, experts have found that the Shih Tzu is one of the oldest breeds of dogs in the ancestor’s time.
But they can’t find an exact date when the dog first came to light. Then, however, Shih Tzu was regarded as one of the noble dogs of China. Besides, the important fact here is that people of that time who adopted Shih Tzu didn’t want to export it anywhere in the world.
But, as the day progressed, they became open-hearted and wouldn’t mind shipping the dog outside their country. So, you can have an idea about the significance of this dog. Impressive, right?
Shih Tzu was first imported in 1930 in Europe, and history says that the demand for Shih Tzu is still the same. People want companionship, and when it comes to a loving pet to meet that, Shih Tzu is always a better choice.
Shih Tzu Care
You don’t need to spend a long time caring for Shih Tzu at your home. They are somehow too easy to clean and train because of their friendly nature. You can groom the dog in your comfort. But don’t do the hard cleaning, as the dog’s fur is soft and light.
However, it will be much better to establish a healthy routine for grooming the Shih Tzu.
Exercise
You do not need to face a lot of trouble when it comes to the exercise of Shih Tzu. This dog is always playful, so you need to give your companion. However, like general caring, it will be better if you schedule your time to provide that scope of having a good exercise period.
They like to play and walk. Besides, they are more like to cope with all sorts of environments. So, you shouldn’t mind coming out of your home with the Shih Tzu in front of you and having a morning walk.
Grooming
Like other dogs, the grooming process of the Shih Tzu dog is the same. However, you can perform the task of grooming the dog when you feel at ease. But it is important to groom the dog regularly.
The Shih Tzu comes with a double-long coat. So, you need to be extra careful in this sense. The choice is up to you. You can keep the dog coat long or can trim it a bit. But we recommend you not let the fur around the face of the dog grow too long. The dog feels irritated if the fur around the face grows too long.
Besides, the Shih Tzu has the fastest-growing nails. So, you need to cut or trim the nails whenever they grow too long. However, it will be better if you cut the nails at least once a month. Don’t forget to bathe the dog regularly. The dense coat needs better bathing.
Another important thing is brushing. You should brush the dog’s teeth regularly.
Training
Training is pretty important for any dog. However, the thing will remain the same regarding the Shih Tzu; you should dedicate some time from your daily task to performing the dog’s training session. Training helps the dog to master social behaviour.
You may think that the Shih Tzu is small and doesn’t need proper training. However, this is a wrong conception. You need to start with simple training in this case.
You should try to ensure your dog that it can eat alone and behaves better with guests or unknowns. So, you start training the dog with the dog toys. Besides, it will be better to train the Shih Tzu to behave friendly with the children.
Common Health Issues
Heath issues are common for any dog. However, you may need to face some minor health issues with the Shih Tzu, though this breed of dog is known as the healthiest dog breed. However, the most common heath issues you may find are;
- Brachycephalic Syndrome
- Intervertebral Disc Disease
- Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)
- Distichiasis
To keep your dog from these diseases, you need to take care of the dog perfectly.
Diet and Nutrition
To be frank, you don’t worry a lot about the diet and nutrition of the Shih Tzu dog. As the pet dog is comparatively smaller in size, it will only need 1 cup of dry food daily, which is pretty enough.
But what you should try to do is to provide the dog with quality food regularly. However, the food you will provide will largely depend on the dog’s size, age, and other physical conditions.
Where to Adopt or Buy a Shih Tzu
Here’s the most important part. Where do you get the Shih Tzu, and what is the price range? However, the price ranges always vary. But, in general, you can buy the Shih Tzu by spending around $800-1660. You will get the better Shih Tzu in this price range.
The next thing is to find the best Shih Tzu agency to adopt the dog. Then, it will be better to check the following Organization.
- Shih Tzu Rescue
- American Shih Tzu Club
We hope you’ll get better solutions from these Organizations while buying the Shih Tzu.
Shih Tzu: Dog Breed Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affectionate and friendly
- Great with families and children
- Low-shedding coat (hypoallergenic)
- Adaptable to apartment living
- Low exercise needs
Cons
- Requires regular grooming
- Prone to dental issues
More Dog Breeds and Further Research
You can have the luxury of researching more about different types of dogs. However, we highly recommend you do enough research before adopting any dog. But where will you find authentic sources to know more about the dogs?
You can follow the sources below;
- Silky Terrier Dog Breed Profile
- Maltese Dog Breed Profile
- Bolognese Dog Breed Profile
Shih Tzu: Dog Breed FAQs
1. How do you groom a Shih Tzu?
The process is simple. Brushing the Shih Tzu 3-to 4 times a week will be better. However, it is Okay to bathe and groom every week.
2. How many puppies can a Shih Tzu have?
Though it depends on some factors, the Shih Tzu can have around 3-4 puppies at a time.
3. How do you train a Shih Tzu?
You can apply many methods to train the Shih Tzu, but you must start with the basics. Then, you do it yourself or can hire a trainer in this sense.
Conclusion
Now you have pretty crystal clear information about the Shih Tzu. If you want to adopt this dog, this article will greatly help you. However, if you live in a small compartment with your family and want a pet dog, the Shih Tzu is one of the best choices.
However, the dog won’t charge you much money to adopt it. The thing that you need to do is to choose the best Organization to adopt the Shih Tzu. If you train the dog well, you can get more pleasure from the dog.
