Shih Tzu Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em
By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010
Carrying himself with a proud, arrogant bearing, yet possessing a happy, sweet-natured temperament, the Shih Tzu is less demanding and less yappy than most other toy breeds.
Though he is solidly built and lively and loves to play in the yard, he doesn't need much more exercise than that. A lover of comfort and attention, he enjoys cuddling on laps and snuggling into soft pillows. He makes a terrific pet for senior citizens.
Most Shih Tzus are friendly (or at least polite) with strangers, though socialization is necessary to develop this trusting temperament. Shih Tzus are also peaceful with other pets.
Though he has an aristocratic demeanor, a stubborn streak, and definite likes and dislikes, the Shih Tzu doesn't tend to get into much trouble, and even when he doesn't obey very quickly, he's easy to forgive. 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.
If you want a dog who...
A Shih Tzu may be |
If you don't want to deal with...
- An independent "What's in it for me?" attitude
- Notorious housebreaking difficulties
- Frequent brushing and combing, or regularly shearing the coat short (which looks adorable)
- The health problems resulting from their unnaturally short face
A Shih Tzu may not be right for you.
If I were considering buying or adopting a Shih Tzu
My major concerns would be:
- Minimizing the problems that can be caused by their short face. Read about these special health problems and make sure you're willing to take extra steps to care for your Shih Tzu:
- His respiratory system is compromised, so don't smoke near him, don't use chemical cleaning products, and keep him away from allergenic pollen and freshly-cut grass.
- Make sure your vet uses only the most modern anesthetics (such as isoflurane) and insist on a heart and blood pressure monitor. Many vets are NOT careful enough when anesthetizing short-faced breeds.
- In hot or humid weather, minimize his outdoor activity and keep him in an air-conditioned home. Short-faced dogs have a high risk of heatstroke because they can't pant vigorously enough to lower their body heat.
- Walk him in a Y-shaped harness that wraps around his chest, not his throat. A collar puts pressure on his windpipe and makes it harder for him to breathe.
- Wash and dry the folds of skin on his face after every meal.
- Stubbornness. Most Shih Tzus are at least mildly stubborn and can be manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. (Food is a great motivator with Shih Tzus, but if you give too much and don't provide commensurate exercise, you'll end up with a fat, unhealthy Shih Tzu.)
- Housebreaking. Like most small breeds, Shih Tzus have a small bladder that takes a long time to develop. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training.
To learn more about training Shih Tzus to be well-behaved, consider my dog training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words.
It's a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will make your Shih Tzu the smartest, most well-behaved companion you've ever had.
Teaches your dog to listen to you, to pay attention to you, and to do whatever you ask him to do. - Grooming. Without regular brushing and combing, Shih Tzus become a matted mess. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming/clipping to keep their coat short, sanitary, and healthy. Personally I love this sheared cut -- it makes a Shih Tzu look like a perpetual puppy.
- Finding a healthy one and keeping him healthy. Shih Tzus can suffer from serious kidney and liver diseases, knee joint problems, eye diseases, and more.
My dog buying guide, How To Buy a Good Dog, will teach you everything you need to know about finding a healthy Shih Tzu. Health problems have become so widespread in dogs today that this book is required reading for ANYONE who is thinking of getting a purebred, crossbred, or mixed breed dog.
If you'd like to consult with me personally about whether a Shih Tzu might be a good dog breed for your family, I offer a Dog Breed Consulting Service.
Once you have your Shih Tzu home, you need to KEEP him healthy -- or if he's having any current health problems, you need to get him back on the road to good health.
My dog health care book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy is the book you need. Raise your dog the right way and you will be helping him live a longer, healthier life while avoiding health problems and unnecessary veterinary expenses.
Please consider adopting an ADULT Shih Tzu...
When you're acquiring a Shih Tzu PUPPY, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important.
But when you acquire an adult dog, you're acquiring what he already IS and you can decide whether he is the right dog for you based on that reality. There are plenty of adult Shih Tzus who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics that are "typical" for their breed. If you find such an adult dog, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. Just be happy that you found an atypical individual -- and enjoy!
Save a life. Adopt a dog.
Adopting a Dog From a Dog Breed Rescue Group
Adopting a Dog From the Animal Shelter
Copyright © 2000-2010 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved.
No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website,
or distributed in any way without the express permission of the author.