Shih Tzu -
AKC Toy Dog Group

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The Shih Tzu, a very popular breed in ancient times is still treasured among those dogs affectionately referred to as "lap" dogs.

Shih Tzu dogs are thought have originated in Tibet and China. Breed lines involved in its development are believed to include the Lhasa Apso and the Pekingese, though some think it to be a dwarf Tibetian Terrier. This little dog wasn't bred for a particular purpose, other than to be enjoyed as a companion to the wealthy classes.

Being a very pretty and compact dog, the breed is surprisingly sturdier than it looks. Its abundant and flowing coat is carried with an aristocratic air - perhaps a trait carried over from its days as a highly valued and favored pet of the Chinese court around the 7th century!

Appearance:

Height: 8-11 inches, Weight: 9-16 lbs.
Colors are many and varied, including Silver, apricot-fawn or black, but its white blazed tail is very desirable.

Coat and Care:

The coat is luxurious, long and dense with a considerable undercoat. The Shih Tzu does require extensive grooming to maintain his signature good looks and to avoid mats and tangles. Shedding is about average for this breed.

Personality and Traits:

The Shih Tzu enjoys the creature comforts, is a very friendly and assertive dog, but can at times be a bit aloof. Overall though, it is resilient, fun, playful and looks very much the spoiled lap dog.

The breed is affectionate and thrives on lots of people contact. Can be a little more difficult to train - likes to be in charge, so training should begin early to establish your alpha status. Plus it is important to be consistent in your methods. As a watchdog, this breed has a good reputation for alerting you to unusual activity, or approaching visitors - similar to other small dog breeds. But they are generally not nuisance barkers.

Activity Level:

Although they do like being in your lap, they also enjoy getting out for a daily walk. A short one is usually sufficient. Likes to play outside and does not need a lot of additional exercise.

 

Space Needs:

The beauty of this breed is that it is adaptable to any environment, not requiring a lot of space, but a yard is always a welcome addition for play time, training sessions and potty breaks. They are not very active in the home, except for following you around and checking out the arrival of visitors.

Children:

A fun family pet. They can be a little wary of small children and do better if you can get a puppy and raise them together. Or, if the children in the family are older and have shown that they are considerate with pets.

The best policy, no matter what breed of dog you have, is to favor caution and always have adult supervision when kids are interacting with pets.

Elderly:

Shih Tzu dogs are ideal companions for the elderly or more sedentary family. They are happy little dogs and enjoy a lot of attention. Exercise requirements are modest, but for the sake of mental and physical stimulation, they do need to get out.

Share Your ShihTzu Pictures

Whenever you have cute dog pictures you'd like to email to family and friends, I encourage you to try a "Free" state of the art photo sharing system called Smilebox. It's a creative and unique way to share your pics - and very easy to use. Here is the link for Smilebox.

With this system you'll create amazing dog ecards greetings or invitations, announce a new dog with a slideshow or e-postcard, make dog e-scrapbooks, send dog e-birthday cards, thank you cards, and much, much more. Use it for family photos and occasions as well. Give it a try - you'll be glad you did!

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