The Shih Tzu is a friendly lap dog that was used as a companion for Chinese Royalty. This dog makes a great family dog with it’s unconditional love, devotion and adaptability.
The dog is also known to be sweet, playful and trustworthy. Perfect for supervised play with children. The Shih Tzu can be a good dog for children of all ages, when the dog is properly socialized. But of course, dog and child play should always be supervised by a responsible adult.
Shih Tzu Stats!
Hieght: 20-28 cm (7 – 11 inches)
Weight: 4-7.2kg (8 – 16lbs)
Lifespan: 10-16 years
They require moderate grooming. Most families find it easiest to get the dog groomed with a “puppy clip” or shorter coat for less maintenance. However, only the natural coat is acceptable for show. This is the long, flowing, floor-length hair, requiring moderate, daily grooming. The coat is hypoallergenic, with minimal-moderate shedding.
However, this breed ranks lowest on ‘Stanley Coren’s: The Intelligence of Dogs’ scale. This means that they have less intellect for obedience and working exercises and therefore probably would take longer to learn and be harder to train.
But it depends what traits are most important to you in a family dog. Sometimes the pleasant temperament and delightfully social personality of this campion dog is more important than what the dog can mentally achieve.
Breed History
The Shih Tzu is believed to be a breed that originated in China. Shih Tzu is Mandarin, meaning, “Lion Dog.” Shih Tzu breed was named after Xi Shi, thought to be the most beautiful woman in ancient China. These dogs are one of the most ancient dog breeds.
The breed is believed to be derived from breeding a Pekingese and a Tibetan dog. The Shih Tzu was given as a gift to the Chinese Court during the Tang Dynasty in 618-907 AD. The breed was almost made extinct after the Chinese Revolution, beginning in 1911. There was only seven males and seven females dogs that survived.
Today, all Shih Tzu can be traced back to one set of these parent dogs. The dogs were brought from Tibet to China in the mid-18th century. The breed first arrived in Europe in 1930, to the areas now known as England and Norway. The breed spread throughout Europe with amazing popularity and found it’s way to the United States after World War II, when the military returned home from the war they brought the dogs with them.
The Shih Tzu was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969.
Shih Tzu Health Promotion
Shih Tzu are predisposed to breathing issues because they are brachycephalic (short-muzzled). This also makes them less tolerant to warm temperatures because they are unable to regulate their body temperatures as well as longer-muzzled dogs.
These dogs have difficulty drinking water because their noses are almost level with their face, and they are at risk of choking. Also, water that soaks into their fur around their face can cause skin infections. Some owners have trained heir Shih Tzus how to drink from a water bottle to avoid the risks.
The eyes of this breed are known to tear and therefore will need daily cleaning.
Some dogs develop problems with their liver function. Regular Veterinarian care is recommended for early detection, treatment and follow up with any dog.
All breeds are susceptible to specific disorders. Each breed can be affected to varying degrees. The idea of listing the common illnesses for each breed is not to discourage you from wanting a specific breed if you find it a perfect fit for your family; but to help you better prepare for the future health of your dog. As well as provide you with the knowledge necessary to get a dog in the best optimum health.
I encourage owners to develop a strong relationship with a consistent veterinarian who the owner and dog both can bond with. Adequate medical care is a financial expense, but a necessity for being a responsible dog owner.
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