Shih Tzus are smart, but they do boast a bit of an independent side to their characters, which means that training and socialization must begin as soon as possible. They could also be quite stubborn at times, and often gives owners the impression that they have been asked to do certain things.
With this in mind, a lot of consistency and patience is needed when training and educating Shih Tzu to be obedient, even though they tend to have a mind of their own and often choose to ignore a command because they think they know better.
From time to time, these dogs are called “Tibetan lion dogs” and were given as presents for Chinese emperors, where they were kept in the imperial palace.
Both males and females grow 20 to 28 centimetres, weigh in just four to seven point two five kilos. The Shih Tzu is a sturdy little dog boast a silky luxuriously long coat, they are to be a bit arrogant look about them which usually makes these dogs even more appealing.
The Shih Tzu has a long, dense outer-coat and a gentle under-coat that should never be woolly in form; some dogs have a dainty wave in their coats, which is authorized under the KC breed standard.
It is worth understanding that the length of the Shih Tzu’s coat should never be that long that it interferes with their actions nor should affect the dog’s vision, either which is why it is common practice to see Shih Tzu’s have a top knot.
They come in just about any color and color sequence, with partly colored Shih Tzu’s having a white blaze on their foreheads and white tips on their tails.
So, in conclusion, the positive is that they’re totally people-oriented, great first-time dogs for novice owners, and they get along well with children of all ages.
They’re social in nature and make wonderful companions because they’re so kind. Negatives can include high-maintenance grooming in front. They hate to be left on their own and suffer from separation anxieties.
They can bark excessively when left alone and can sometimes be a bit stubborn, they are also known to suffer from quite a few hereditary health issues.
