The Shih Tzu is a lively dog bred solely for companionship. These intelligent little dogs come in a vast array of colors, which together with their naturally long flowy coat gives them a whimsical appearance. Their temperament is confident, happy and bold, with a touch of mischief. They are also generally long-lived (14-18 is common) and healthy. Don’t be fooled, however. Shih Tzus are “big dogs in small packages” and think of themselves as much larger than they actually are!
Shih Tzu are masters at manipulation and experts when it comes to making their owners spoil them! This can result in a dog which is a pain to live with. Untrained Shih Tzu who have been given no boundaries or rules are often not completely housebroken, bossy and (on the rare occasion) even aggressive. Obedience training is a must with this breed! Despite the fact that the breed can be stubborn, when the right tactics are used they can also become eager to please. Many Shih Tzu particularly love working for toys.
Most Shih Tzu are incredibly friendly dogs, getting along with strangers, children and other dogs. Howver, despite their sturdy builds they are still tiny dogs that can easily be hurt by either a rough child or an exuberant larger dog. Their extra-large eyes and the shape of their face means that eye injuries are a bigger danger than with other breeds. Supervision is required in both circumstances. They should also be supervised when out in the sun, as their squished-in faces make them more prone to heat stroke. Finally, there should always be a person around when they are around a pool or other body of water. Although some Shih Tzu can swim… it is not the norm.
The long coat of the Shih Tzu must be brushed on a daily basis to keep knots and tangles from forming. In particular, the coat on the face should be given the most attention as mats in that area will be the most uncomfortable to the dog. Some owners go a step further and give the dog water bottles to drink from rather than regular dog bowls, as keeping their face dry can also help the area stay clean and tangle-free. Bathing the whole dog on a regular basis will also help keep the long coat in great shape, as long as the dog is brushed out right before each bath (water will make mats even worse), and then the whole dog is dried completely afterward. It is a lot of work to keep a Shih Tzu in full coat, although most owners feel it is worth it! 
Shih Tzu have hair rather than fur, which means that they lose a little of their coat everyday (like people), rather than dumping a ton of coat all at one time. They have less dander and shed much less. For this reason, sometimes the breed gets lumped into the “hypo-allergenic” category. It’s true that some people with allergies are able to live with a Shih Tzu, although a prospective owner should do their research and test themselves around many Shih Tzus before committing to buy one. Many people are actually allergic to pet saliva and/or urine and therefore a low-shedding animal won’t actually solve their problem.
When it comes to exercise, the Shih Tzu is pretty easy. One short walk a day is usually all that is needed, and some do just fine sprinting through the house or backyard a few times a day. This also makes them easier to keep in apartments. Because of their playful nature, they love it when their owner makes a point to play a fun game with them, which can also serve as exercise! When playtime is over, they are quite content to sit on the couch and watch tv.
One of the most beloved qualities of the Shih Tzu is their extreme devotion to their owners. The “Tzu” is happiest when he is around those he loves, and is an extremely loyal companion. This can translate to separation anxiety in dogs that are left alone all day, every day. This is not a symptom of fear, but rather a symptom of loneliness. In fact, the breed doesn’t tend to be fearful or skittish in general. They will march right up to an aggressive dog 100 pounds larger than them, or will try to cross the street despite cars whizzing by. But they cannot bear to be apart from their owners for long stretches of time.
