Introduction

Shih Tzus are good-natured, loyal and affectionate. They enjoy being with their owners, but are not overly demanding.

Temperament

Shih Tzus are good-natured, loyal and affectionate. They get along well with children and other pets. They enjoy socializing with people, but they can be somewhat reserved if they don’t know you well.

Shih Tzus are also prone to stubbornness and independence; it’s important to establish yourself as the alpha dog from the moment you bring your Shih Tzu home. You’ll need to train him consistently and enforce rules before he takes over your household!

Shih Tzus love being around people, but they’re also very vocal dogs—so if you’re looking for a quiet lap dog who will lie at your feet all day without making a peep, this isn’t it!

Characteristics

Shih Tzus are small dogs with long, flowing double coats and a short muzzle. They have large, dark eyes that are almond-shaped and slightly slanted upward at the outer corners. The Shih Tzu’s ears are set high on their head and come to a rounded point, while their tail is thick at the base and tapers to a point at the end.

Their double coat consists of a harsh outer coat with soft undercoat that keeps them warm in cold weather but doesn’t shed excessively or mat easily; this helps keep them cool in summer months. The Shih Tzu comes in numerous colors including black, white, chocolate brown, fawn (golden brown), red (a shade between orange/red), sable (blackish gray with darker reddish highlights), brindle (dog which resembles tiger stripes), blue merle (grayish blue with darker gray areas) or cream.[2]

Training

• Training should start at an early age. Shih Tzu puppies can be trained to do tricks just like any other breed of dog, but they won’t learn them as easily if you wait until they’re older. If you start training your Shih Tzu when he’s a puppy, he will be more willing to listen and obey your commands throughout his life.
• Training should be fun and positive. Dogs respond better when they feel like they’re being rewarded for their good behavior instead of being punished for bad behavior, so make sure that every time your dog does something right—like sitting down or coming when called—you give him lots of praise and affection!
• Training should be consistent. The best way for a dog to learn new things is by practicing the same thing over and over again until it becomes second nature to him; this means that if there are certain behaviors that you want your dog to perform regularly (such as walking on a leash), then those behaviors need

Grooming

Shih Tzu’s are known for their long, silky coats. These coats require a lot of attention to keep them looking beautiful and healthy. Grooming your Shih Tzu should be done about once a week, as needed for shedding.

To groom your Shih Tzu you will need:

• A comb or brush to remove tangles from the coat
• A bath towel or plastic mat to lay on when bathing your dog (to protect against water damage)
• A shampoo made specifically for dogs
• Conditioner for dogs with dry fur

To start grooming you should first brush out any loose hair from their undercoat with a pin brush or slicker brush. Next use a dematting tool if there are any mats in the coat of your dog. After this use scissors to clip away dead ends on the tips of their paws and tail if they have been neglected over time, but otherwise do not trim off anymore than 1/4 inch at one time! Now is also when you would start brushing out tangles with either a wide tooth comb or rake brush depending on how tangled up they are, but be careful not too pull hard because this can cause pain! When finished blow drying them dry with an attachment that fits into most standard attachments like those found on blow dryers sold in stores today (if possible).

Health Problems

• Shih Tzus are prone to allergies.
• They can have eye problems and heart problems.
• They can suffer from hypothyroidism and epilepsy, which is a form of seizure disorder.
• They can also have trouble breathing and arthritis as they age, so you need to be prepared for this if you adopt a puppy or older dog into your home!

Shih Tzus are good-natured, loyal and affectionate.

Shih Tzus have a gentle disposition, are friendly and affectionate towards their owners. They get along well with children. These little dogs get along quite well with other dogs, including the family’s dog or cat. Shih Tzu’s are also good with strangers that come to visit the home, but it is best to make sure that your Shih Tzu has been properly socialized before leaving him alone in public places such as parks or restaurants where there may be many uninvited visitors who might want to play with him.

Shih Tzus also do well around horses if they are raised since a young age around them. In fact, some people keep Shih Tzus in stables for companionship for the horses because they like being around them so much! Similarly these little dogs will be content living on farms where there are chickens running around too!

Conclusion

Shih Tzus are a great addition to any family. They’re sweet and playful, but also very loving and affectionate. They make for great companions that will always be there for you when you need them most!