Breed Profile – Shih Tzu

General Information

The Shih Tzu (pronounced shidzoo) enjoys a good walk and a good talk with its people. Bred as a companion for at least 2,000 years, this little "lion dog" is happy and outgoing, with a friendly, trusting attitude beneath the slightly arrogant appearance. Their origin is unknown, but Shih Tzu were developed in China, where they were favorites at the imperial court. During the 1920s, the first pair was brought to England. More imports followed, and the breed became well established there. Its popularity spread to continental Europe and to North America, where it now enjoys a tremendous following.

The Shih Tzu is described as being intelligent, active, alert, friendly and independent. Shih Tzu are undoubtedly alert to sounds and happenings around them, but they may or may not decide to take an active part in the goings-on—that is their personality. This is neither a snappy nor an excessively noisy breed, though a Shih Tzu, like other dogs, will usually enjoy a good bark when the fancy takes him.

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Physical Characteristics

This is an elegant, long-coated breed measuring about 11 inches at the shoulder. All colors are acceptable, but a white forehead blaze and tail tip is highly prized. The Shih Tzu is a fairly small breed, though not as small as some of his fellow Toy breeds. The ideal height is not more than 10.5 inches and the ideal weight ranges between 10 to 16 lbs, although some Shih Tzu are a little heavier. A “chrysanthemum-like face” undoubtedly helps to give the Shih Tzu his delightful expression.

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Health and Training

The Shih Tzu is a hardy little dog and usually a fairly healthy breed. Although the majority of Shih Tzu have wide-open nostrils, tight nostrils do appear to be an inherited condition in this breed. At birth, nostrils can be so tight that they are effectively deformed and curve inwards. In other cases, the nostrils are sufficiently wide at birth but tighten soon after, probably because of varying growth rate in the puppy. If left to his own devices and the problem does not correct itself, such a puppy will probably grow weak and die as a result. A teaspoon of brandy added to each cup of feed has been found to help, as has keeping the puppy’s environment at a constant temperature. Heart disease has been cited with reasonable frequency in the Shih Tzu, and this is not just limited to older dogs. However, there are many forms of heart disease and by no means are all inherited. Obviously, any sign of such disease should be checked out thoroughly by a vet, but it should be noted that many Shih Tzu live to a ripe old age with no heart problems at all. Because of the breed’s fairly prominent eyes, it is easier for a Shih Tzu to damage his eyes than it is for some other breeds. An ulcer on the eye may be caused by a scratch or a knock that may have gone unnoticed. At the first sign of eye trouble, a vet should be contacted because early treatment increases the chance of complete recovery. Eye problems, even those that seem small, could result in impaired vision or even loss of sight if left untreated.

Shih Tzus are an intelligent breed, but they can be stubborn when it comes to training. Training will actually go very well if you rely on consistency, praise, and food rewards. The most difficult thing to teach a Shih Tzu is housebreaking.

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Crossing with Other Breeds

Dogs were often crossed in hopes of creating kin with desirable qualities from each parent, but when two different breeds are mixed, there is no way to know which traits will be inherited from each parent. For pet dogs such as the Shih Tzu, crosses are done to enhance the marketability of puppies, resulting in "Designer Dogs" with portmanteau names, such as Shih-poo, a crossbreed with a toy Poodle, and Shinese, a crossbreed with a Pekingese.

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