Shih Tzus were bred for one job: to be a companion. They are good at it — affectionate, sociable, adaptable, happy in a flat, and generally friendly with everyone.
The work is in the coat and in managing a flat face.
The coat
A Shih Tzu in full coat has long, dense, double-layered hair that grows continuously and does not shed much — which means it mats rather than falling out.
In full coat, this is a daily commitment. Not a weekly one.
- Line brushing every day. Part the coat, brush the exposed line from the skin outwards, move up a centimetre
- Metal comb afterwards, as the honest test. If the comb will not pass from skin to tip anywhere, the coat is matted regardless of how it looks
- Friction points: behind and under the ears, armpits, groin, between the back legs, and under a harness
- Topknot to keep hair out of the eyes, tied loosely with a soft band. Never tight
- Professional grooming every four to six weeks
The sensible alternative: a puppy cut. A short all-over clip, maintained every six to eight weeks. It removes most of the daily work, it is entirely respectable, and it is far kinder than a matted full coat.
Be honest with yourself about which you will actually do. A great many Shih Tzus are clipped off after their owners discover what a full coat involves.
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Earth Rated Dog Wipes
For the facial folds, the beard after meals, and around the eyes daily. A Shih Tzu’s face needs wiping more often than most people expect, and the drying afterwards matters as much as the wiping.
Eyes
Large, prominent eyes in shallow sockets, with hair growing towards them. A predictable set of problems follows.
- Corneal ulcers, which can progress quickly
- Proptosis — the eye displaced from the socket after head trauma. An emergency
- Dry eye
- Entropion and distichiasis — lid and lash problems rubbing the cornea
- Progressive retinal atrophy — DNA test available
Daily care: keep hair trimmed or tied away from the eyes, wipe discharge from the corners with a clean damp pad, one per eye, wiping away from the eye.
Any squinting, redness, cloudiness, discharge or pawing is a same-day vet visit.
Breathing
Shih Tzus are brachycephalic, though generally less extreme than Pugs or French Bulldogs. Many are affected by some degree of airway obstruction.
- Noisy breathing at rest, fatigue on short walks, gagging and heat intolerance are signs of a problem, not breed character
- A BOAS assessment is worth asking for if your dog is noisy
- Never a collar — always a harness
- Heat is dangerous. Short walks, cool parts of the day, never left in a car
- Most cannot swim well. Supervise near any water
Other health
Dental disease. Small crowded mouth with an undershot jaw. Brush several times a week — this breed needs it more than most.
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An enzymatic paste most dogs accept as a treat. Small breeds develop periodontal disease early and severely, and daily brushing is the only home measure proven to prevent it.[/portion]
Patellar luxation.
Intervertebral disc disease, and hemivertebrae in some lines.
Ear infections, from hairy narrow canals. Check weekly.
Skin fold dermatitis in the facial folds.
Renal dysplasia, a kidney condition seen in the breed.
Obesity, which worsens breathing and joints.
Day-to-day
Exercise: 30 to 60 minutes a day, split, on flat ground, in cool conditions. They are adaptable and will happily do less, which is part of the obesity problem.
Weight: feel for ribs monthly. Under all that coat, weight gain is genuinely invisible.
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
Choose a shallow-pattern bowl — deep channels are awkward for a flat face. Slowing a small dog’s meal makes a measured portion feel substantial, which is most of how weight is held.
Feeding: the beard collects food and water. Wipe after meals, and consider a shallow wide bowl.
Nails every two to four weeks, including dew claws.
Ears weekly, with hair kept trimmed around the opening.
Temperament
Genuinely good. Friendly with strangers, tolerant of children, sociable with other dogs, and not especially yappy compared with many small breeds.
Where they need work:
- House training is often slow. Small bladder, small dog, and a marked dislike of going out in the rain. Be patient, use a schedule, and consider a covered area outside
- Being handled. Given the grooming requirements, handling tolerance is the most valuable thing you can teach. Thirty seconds a day from puppyhood — paws, ears, mouth, being brushed
- Small dog syndrome, which is really an owner problem: rules that would be enforced with a Labrador get waived for a 6kg dog, and the dog behaves accordingly
- Separation. Bred to be companions, and many struggle when left for long periods
They are stubborn in training and respond to food and patience rather than pressure.
Who they suit
People who want an affectionate indoor companion and are home a good deal. Flat dwellers, older owners, and families with children old enough to be gentle.
They do not suit households who cannot commit to either daily brushing or six-weekly grooming appointments, people who want a hiking companion, or anyone who will leave them alone all day.
The honest summary
The temperament is close to ideal for a companion dog. The costs are the coat and the face.
Decide the coat question early — full coat with daily line brushing, or a puppy cut every six weeks. Either is fine; drifting between them is how dogs end up matted.
And treat the eyes as fragile, because they are.
