The Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is basically almost considered a pure female dog. This breed is often described as bitchy and moody, yet these little four-legged creatures are different from their reputation at the bottom of their hearts. They are indeed good family dogs, they are lively and active, although they are not necessarily one of the enduring breeds.  Nevertheless, these active dogs like to be out and about and are great friends and companions, especially towards children. For a long time this breed was considered to be a fashion dog, they were styled and people went to celebrate with them.  Even today the Shih Tzu can be found at various shows, where he is brushed to a high gloss before being judged. If you love this breed and want to call it your own, you have to be prepared for an intensive and time consuming coat care. Of course the dog can also be shorn, but this beautiful and long coat is basically the trademark of these dogs.  Because of his especially friendly nature and the fact that he is easy to train, these dogs are not only well suited for beginners but also for older people.  In today's breeding, the Shih Tzu presents itself in different colors, so that also here the suitable dog for every taste can be found.

The essence of the Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is a friendly and affectionate dog, who knows how to present himself and who also shows a good portion of pride. In addition, the Shih Tzu is also very flexible and adapts to almost every living situation.  He has a moderate temperament and is reserved towards strangers, but in no case aggressive.  These friendly and extremely playful dogs like to be close to their owner and enjoy every cuddle round to the fullest. In addition, the Shih Tzu has also only a very low hunting instinct, which makes the walks to absolutely relaxed hours. As a family dog and in contact with children, the Shih Tzu is especially affectionate, but it is important that he has a place where he can withdraw from the children and enjoy his peace and quiet. Because of his friendly and intelligent nature, this dog is easy to train and therefore also very suitable for beginners. In contact and living together with other dogs there are absolutely no problems. Because he is a quite active dog, he can also feel very well in the agility area and besides that tricks and tricks or even dog dancing are suitable to make these dogs happy and to use their full potential.

The historical background of the Shih Tzu

These dogs, originally from Tibet, were already found in various monasteries in the 7th century. The monks attached great importance to the fact that the dogs looked like little lions.  According to tradition, Buddha is said to have possessed such a dog, which turned into a lion. From this tradition comes the name of this breed. Translated from the Chinese the name means nothing else than lion. But apart from this fact, they were so popular because of their particularly fine hearing. They served besides in the monasteries namely also as a watchdog, that was able to warn in time of intruders.  So they were also allowed to move freely in the temple. Other types of guard dogs or also herding dogs were simply too big for the monks on the other side. Only in the 17th century the Shih Tzu came to China, where it quickly became the favorite in the palace. In the 20th century, however, with the seizure of power in China by the communists, the interest in these dogs was lost and so the breeding was not continued. This was taken over by lovers of this breed from America as well as from Europe.

Which demands does the Shih Tzu 

The Shih Tzu is basically a rather undemanding dog. Not shorn, however, it would like to enjoy its daily fur-care. That is also a reason why so many Shih Tzu are shorn again and again. Just however older people leave its splendid hair-dress to it, since they don't lack the necessary time for the intensive fur-care. Due to their small size, these dogs are able to get along very well even in smaller apartments and prove to be very flexible with regard to the respective living situation.  However, the play instinct of these dogs should be taken into account in any case. They always want to be with their humans and preferably always be with them. Although this wish can be fulfilled in most cases due to the small size, the Shih Tzu can also be left alone.  Otherwise these dogs would like to live as a full member of the family and like to go with them on the couch or even into bed. To what extent this is allowed depends of course on each individual.

The Shih Tzu and his health

Because of the rebred nose, the Shih Tzu is also to be counted among the brachycephalic breeds, which however have only relatively small breathing problems compared to other breeds.  In many small breeds, like the Shih Tzu, there are problems during the birth process and often a caesarean section is performed. Another problem with this breed are the eyes. They often water quite strongly and must be cleaned regularly.  Otherwise the Shih Tzu presents itself as very healthy and quite robust compared to other breeds. In any case you should pay attention to a balanced and high quality diet, because some dogs of this breed tend to have problems with metabolism and digestion.

The perfect person for a Shih Tzu is....

Loving and always ready for cuddling. He brings a lot of time into this dog-human relationship and can fully appreciate the devotion of these dogs. He also offers the Shih Tzu the optimal combination of long walks and intensive relaxation phases while cuddling. A responsible owner should also consider the tendency to play. As well as the fact that the Shih Tzu is a breed that not only has pride but is also intelligent. Here everyone will soon realize that the Shih Tzu is also a dog that demands his attention by playing the clown. So if he thinks that he is missing out, he will think of ways and means to make up for this deficit. With such a dog there is always something to laugh about.

Conclusion

A Shih Tzu is not only an optimal dog for beginners, it is also very well suited as a family dog.  He brings cheerfulness and fun into life and is also especially suitable for older people. With a Shih Tzu you have a faithful, loving and funny companion at your side, who is always available for fun.  However, you have to be prepared for a very time-consuming coat care if you want to bring a Shih Tzu into your home. Of course you can let the dogs be sheared, which many do, but then they lose exactly what makes them so special.