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Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu Means "Lion Dog"

The Shih Tzu originated in China over one thousand years ago and there is evidence of his appearance as early as the seventh century. He was a prized companion dog, descended from even older breeds like the Lhasa Apso and the Pekingese.  He is a very friendly, affectionate companion who loves to be cuddled and petted and to be involved in everything that goes on around him.

The Shih Tzu is quite a small dog, standing about ten inches tall at the shoulder and weighing between ten and sixteen pounds. He is an ideal pet for a small apartment, because he does not need much exercise and he sheds hardly any loose hair.

The Shih Tzu is also a very good watchdog, because he barks loudly at the sound of anyone approaching but he is not aggressive to visitors once they are inside the home.

He is a very popular dog, being ranked thirteenth in the 2010 breed registrations for the American Kennel Club out of a total of 157 breeds.

Grooming The Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu has a long, luxurious double coat and the amount of grooming will be determined by whether you wish to maintain the dog's coat in show condition or whether you  are happier wilth a shorter, more easily maintained cut. The show coat is long and silky and reaches the floor. It requires daily brushing to avoid mats and tangles.

Because the coat is fast growing, regular grooming is necessary which may turn out be a costly expense as professional clipping may be required. You may prefer that the coat is clipped short to simplify care

The Shih Tzu is a very minimal shedder.

Training The Shih Tzu

Because he is such a friendly, gentle little dog, the Shih Tzu doesn't need a great deal of training, which is just as well, because he is not easy to train. Having been bred as a companion dog for centuries, obedience and responsiveness to commands was never a high priority in his make-up and this shows today. He is not an intelligent dog, being in the lowest group of all breeds. He is ranked 70th out of 79 breed groups and shows "The Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence and Understanding of New Commands". He is difficult to Housetrain.  

Get This Free 6 Day Course on Training your Shih Tzu

 The Shih Tzu's Temperament

The best indicator of the temperament of the Shih Tzu is the opinion of the American public. In 2010, they voted  him the tenth most popular dog, out of a total of 157 breeds, based on the breed registrations for the American Kennel Club. He is a good watchdog but he is not aggressive and makes friends with people and other animals. If he is in a family with very young children, it is important that they understand how small and fragile he is, because he will not tolerate rough or boisterous handling.

Need To Learn More?
We can recommend this excellent downloadable eBook, written by Mike Mathews, who has over thirty years experience and extensive research into how to choose the ideal small dog breeds for your own individual lifestyle. This book carries a 60-day money back guarantee.