The Shih Tzu's Physical and Behavioural Characteristics

Shih Tzu’s are sturdy, little dogs with round heads, abundant beards and mustaches, and small, black button-like noses. The hair above their noses grow uniquely upwards and they have large, round wide set eyes which convey a warm expression. Their eyes are usually dark in colour on most but can be light on Shih Tzu’s with lighter coats. Their muzzles are short, flat, squared and mostly never have wrinkles on them while their ears are pendant but since they are covered with hair they easily blend into the body. Shih Tzus have distinguished necks which allow them to carry their heads with pride and confidence. The Shih Tzu has a high-set, thickly plumed with hair tail which curls over their back. Their long, thick coats and heavy under bite are signature characteristics of this breed. Ideally, Shih Tzu’s weight should range from 9 to 16 pounds and the ideal height, for both genders, is from 9 to 10.5 inches at the shoulder but no less than 8 inches nor taller than 11. One thing that is most noticeable in this breed is that their bodies are slightly longer than they are tall; making them look majestic. Shih Tzu’s have “double coats which are made up of thick, woolly undercoats and long, abundant, silky topcoats.” Their coat can be “any colour of the canine rainbow” such as brown, black, white, reddish, blonde, and etc. Their luxuriant, long-haired coats make them look graceful and confident beyond words. For many people, it is a pleasure to see Shih Tzus at dogs shows where their owners parade them around. Due to their thick, double coat, grooming a Shih Tzu is very time consuming and in order to prevent tangles and mats from forming it is necessary to brush them on a daily basis as well as bath them weekly or else their hair will look like a mess. The positive side of grooming Shih Tzus is that they love being groomed and tend be really patient throughout the whole process, which generally takes fifteen to twenty minutes everyday.  Most importantly, the Shih Tzu is one of many hypoallergenic dog breeds.

The Shih Tzu dog breed is meant to be a companion before anything but they also have many wonderful behavioural aspects. Like many toy dogs, Shih Tzus are outgoing, affectionate, friendly, loyal, and trusting to everyone. Their temperament is also very playful, loving, and gentle. They tend to be stubborn and resist commands so when training them it can become a challenge but it is a necessity. Most Shih Tzus do not like being left alone because they love human company and as a result when they are left alone, they spend most of their time waiting for their owner to get back home. Shih Tzus need human companionship for their emotional well-being so one thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that if you travel a lot or take long vacations away from home, you must be willing to take your dog with you or find somebody to take care of it while you are on vacation. If the dog is left alone for long periods of time they might just get into a depression or become emotionally unstable so this should be taken into consideration when planning to travel for long periods of time. Shih Tzus generally carry themselves with a proud and almost arrogant bearing and at times they can be extremely self-centered. Many would say that these behavioural aspects, being self-centered, proud, and arrogant, “seem undog-like and are a lot more on the lines of being a spoiled child.” Due to this many people refer to the Shih Tzu’s personality as human-like. The Shih Tzu is not the kind of dog to be left outside, it is an indoor dog that needs to be held, petted, cuddled, and pampered. Shih Tzus are the happiest when they are napping on the couch or bed with its owner but they can also be lively, energetic, and at times a bit spunky. Shih Tzus love to play and roll on the carpet with its squeaky toys, they enjoy playing outside, and even though they need minimal exercise, they actually do enjoy going on daily walks. Shih Tzus generally do a lot better with older children rather than younger, rougher children who might cause them to get jealous or at times snappish. Shih Tzus also make great watchdogs because they bark very loud at strange noises and people. One very important trait Shih Tzus possess is their complete devotion to you and your needs. Shih Tzus are great listeners and somehow they always know when something is bothering you, and thus Shih Tzus mostly just think about you. All these irresistible, characteristics just show how great of a companion Shih Tzus are; they end up fulfilling a special role in the family and become just like another family member.

Physical Characteristics