The Shih Tzu is an incredibly affectionate companion breed with a gorgeous coat and a playful attitude. In short, they’re a wonderful addition to any family.
Their unusual name originates from the Chinese word for lion. They were given this because many believe they have a lion like appearance. Whilst they may somewhat resemble a miniature lion, their personality couldn’t be further from them.
The shih Tzu is believed to be one of the oldest living breeds; Their ancestors can be traced back to ancient breeds, especially in Tibet, and they’re unbelievably a more direct descendant of the wolf than many other dog breeds.
Whilst the Shih Tzu’s origins are disputed, the most widely accepted theory is that they were developed in china by crossing breeds with the Lhasa Apso or Penkinese.
Far from their wild wolf ancestors, they have only ever been bred for one purpose – companionship. This means they’re affectionate, happy, outgoing, and playful and they love nothing more than being around their human.
For thousands of years, they have found themselves warming the laps of Chinese Royalty and perhaps even the Buddha himself. It is even said that a Shih Tzu once changed into a lion and saved the Buddha’s life, after which he kissed the dog on the forehead where many prized dogs now have white spots.
Whilst mainly a companion dog, they’re quite intelligent so it’s not uncommon to see them taking part in dog sports like agility, obedience and rally.
If you’re looking to add a Shih Tzu to your family, don’t get caught out by a breeder trying to sell you a ‘teacup’ or ‘imperial’ Shih Tzu. There is currently no such thing; they will simply be a small or large Shih Tzu that you have been charged extra for. A respectable breeder would not try to sell to you in this way, so you should turn away.
If you’re looking for a loyal dog to shower you in love and affection, you need look no further.
It would seem that a Shih Tzu’s sole purpose in life is to live happily with their human, whether that’s on their lap, by their side, or playing games.
They’re alert, playful and courageous and will treat anyone the same whether they’re a family member or a complete stranger.
Unfortunately, they have a nasty habit of eating faeces and they don’t care whether it’s their own or another animal’s. To avoid this, you must make sure you always clean up after them immediately and do your best to keep them away from poops on walks. You never want this to become a habit, so you need to be on top of this from the moment you have them.
They can be difficult to house train, so it’s important to apply consistent training and don’t leave them unattended in the house, especially as a puppy.
Shih Tzus are wannabe daredevils who will jump from almost any height without fear. This behaviour must be avoided as they can cause serious damage to their small bones and their face which they often land on. You will need to always be prepared to react when they’re on your lap of you’re carrying them. If they start squirming, or it looks like they want to get off, put them down yourself.
The highly adaptable Shih Tzu will happily live in any home environment whether it’s an apartment in the city or a large farm house in the countryside.
Their affectionate, trusting nature means they can live with children and other pets, but owners must take precautions to ensure this vulnerable pooch doesn’t get harmed. Children should be told to never pick them up, to be gentle with them and to keep their fingers aware from their eyes.
If you’re not overly active, the Shih Tzu could be the perfect dog for you as they only require a small amount of exercise each day coupled with some mental and physical stimulation in the house. This stimulation can be simply playing games or teaching new tricks.
Owners must be prepared to provide daily grooming.
Shih Tzus may be small, but don’t let that trick you into thinking they won’t require much grooming.
Unfortunately, the price you pay for having such a beautiful dog with a gorgeous, silky double coat, is they require daily attention to keep it that way.
Many owners turn to a professional dog groomer to provide a regular trim that will match their gorgeous personality. Others choose to cut their coat short, which means they lose some of their beauty but their grooming needs are less demanding.
In between cuts, you may need to regularly trim their facial hair which, if left unchecked, can irritate their sensitive eyes.
Your grooming schedule should include a brush and a comb, to remove dead hair and reduce matting, a bath once a week, dental hygiene, ear inspections/cleansing and nail clipping.
Their ears provide the perfect environment for bacteria, so you must also regularly check their ears for signs of infection which could be redness, sores, or bad odour. Gently wash their ear with a cotton wall bud and cleaning solution, but to avoid damaging the ear canal, only clean areas you can see.
Their faces require more attention than other breeds as they can quickly get dirty and cause irritation and infection. Keep them clean by regularly wiping them with a clean cloth and warm water.
Like many small breeds, they’re particularly prone to dental issues, so you should brush their teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and bacteria. If you can, daily brushing is even better to prevent gum disease. When grooming them, you should also check for any signs of infection which can include redness of the gums and bleeding.
Plan to trim their nails once or twice a month, but always bear in mind that if you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re too long and should be cut immediately. Not only does trimming the nails keep their paws in good condition, it also protects you, your family, and your furniture when they jump up.
As you will be grooming regularly through their whole life, it’s a good idea to get them used to it from a very young age and make it a pleasurable experience for both of you. Shower them in praise, don’t be rough with them, and reward them for good behaviour.
Their flat face means they don’t cope with heat well at all and they’re very susceptible to heat stroke. If it’s hot outside, you must take precautions to avoid their overheating.
They can be prone to dental problems, so it’s important that you regularly brush their teeth and check their teeth and gums for any changes. If you notice anything, contact your vet immediately for advice.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Dogs suffer from allergies in much the same way that humans do with the three main types being food, contact, and inhalant.
As the saying goes – prevention is better than a cure.
Treatment for food allergies is as simple as eliminating certain foods from their diets.
Contact allergies can be anything from shampoos, to flea powders, and other chemicals. If you notice your pet has had a reaction, try a new product with different ingredients.
Inhalant allergies are caused by airborne allergens such as pollen and dust. This is a difficult one to avoid, but you can try to do so with vet recommended medications and environmental changes.
Patellar Luxation is a relatively common problem that occurs when the patella is not properly lined up. This causes the Femur (thigh bone), Patella (kneecap), and Tibia (calf) to slip out of place. When this happens, the dog will generally skip or hop.
There are four grades, ranging from I, an occasional luxation causing temporary lameness in the joint, to grade IV, in which the turning of the tibia is severe, and patella cannot be realigned manually.
The constant rubbing caused by this issue can lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease and severe levels of Patella luxation may require surgery to avoid further issues and pain.
Urinary Stones are stones that form in the bladder of the dog. Symptoms include straining when urinating, passing blood in urine, urinating more often and the urine can be cloudy or foul-smelling.
Most small bladder stones may pass on their own, however it is still recommended to speak to your vet for guidance.
Dietary changes can’t rid the dog of existing stones, but it can be preventative as some manufacturers do provide special food that doesn’t include many of the minerals that are regular culprits for causing stones.
Encouraging water intake is also another prevention method as stones don’t develop as well in diluted urine.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a relatively common disease that is described as when the discs in the spinal column bulge or burst into the spinal cord. Affected discs then press on nerves, causing pain, damage and potentially paralysis.
There are multiple symptoms of IVDD, some more severe than others. They range from unusually unwillingness to jump, crying out in pain, pain and weakness in rear legs, and muscle spasms.
If you know your dog’s breed are predisposed to IVDD, it is very important to take precautions, the most important being discouraging jumping, and keeping their weight down.
IVDD can be diagnosed by a full neurologic exam which will locate exactly which disc is damaged. Special X-Rays may also be suggested, but these don’t show the spinal cord, so a special dye is used. MRI or CT scans may also be necessary.
Treatment depends on the severity of the issue. If the spinal cord is badly damaged, surgery will be needed. For less serious cases, treatment can be purely conservative such as steroids and anti-inflammatories.
Protect them as best as you can with a quote for lifetime cover today
Get a quote