Dog
Group:
Toy 
Shih-Tzu Champions
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Pronunciation:
shee dzoo
Breed Description:
The Shih Tzu breed of dog is a toy sized dog that should be compact and robust. This is a sturdy dog that has a level top line and a slightly longer than tall build. The long tail shoudl be curled over the back. The head of the Shih Tzu should be round with a brachiocephalic muzzle that is short and square. The ears of the Shih Tzu should be long and should hang.
The coat of the Shih Tzu should consist of two coats. The undercoat should be dense and short and it should have a soft texture. The top coat should be very long, reaching the floor and it should be abundant. There should be a silky texture to it and even the hair on the head should be long with a beard and mustache as well. The Shih Tzu can be a range of colors including black, red, white, cream, brown and gray. They can be solid in color as well as multi-colored, tri-colored and shaded.
Temperament:
The Shih Tzu breed of dog is a sweet little breed that is friendly and loyal. They are a companion in the true sense of the word and are always happy to fit into any lifestyle, whether it is active or not. The breed does very well with children of all ages and is usually gentle with them. They love being with their owners and are usually very cheerful. They are always happy to make their owners smile and despite their small size, they can be quite protective of their family. The breed is usually friendly with strangers and they can do well with other dogs and pets.
Height:
The average height for a Shih Tzu is between 10 to 11 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Shih Tzu is between 9 to 16 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Shih Tzu breed of dog is considered to have average health but they do have a number of health concerns that can affect them. Many of their health problems are linked to their brachiocephalic muzzles, which makes them prone to heat exhaustion. Some health problems that affect the Shih Tzu are Umbilical hernia,Retained baby teeth, Allergies, Bladder Stones, Bladder Infections, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, Hip Dysplasia, Snuffles, Ectopia Cilia,Distichiasis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Reverse Sneezing, Juvenile Renal Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, Ear infections,Proptosis, Keratitis and Portosystemic Liver Shunt.
Living Conditions:
The Shih Tzu breed of dog is versatile when it comes to living conditions and they can live in both apartments and homes with yards. They should not live outdoors and do best when they are inside with their family as a companion dog.
Exercise:
The Shih Tzu breed of dog has a very versatile exercise need. They tend to adapt to their owners lifestyle so if their owners are active, they will be as well and will keep up to any exercise requirements that you put on them. However,regardless of their owners energy, the breed should get one or two good walks a day to keep them fit. Care should be taken with the Shih Tzu in hot weather since they can be prone to heat exhaustion.
Life Expectancy:
15 to 17 years
Grooming:
The Shih Tzu breed of dog can be difficult to groom depending on whether you keep them in their full coat or not. Generally, most pet owners will clip the coat and give them a puppy clip to make grooming easier. If they are clipped, the coat only needs to be brushed weekly and the hair should be clipped once every six to eight weeks, which is when they would be bathed as well. If you keep them in a full coat, you should brush the coat daily to remove mats and dirt and you will need to hand strip any mats that you do find. In addition, the coat should be bathed on a weekly basis to keep the hair silky and the face should be cleaned on a daily basis. You will also need to put the hair in a top knot to keep it out of the dog's eyes. Some trimming may be needed around the paws, ears and anus to prevent matting. The Shih Tzu should have their nails trimmed once or twice a month and they should have their ears cleaned on a weekly basis.
Origin:
The Shih Tzu breed of dog is an ancient breed of dog and is actually considered to be one of the oldest breeds. In fact, there has been evidence that the Shih Tzu is over 10000 years old and may even have around as early as 8000 BC. Because of this, the actual origin of the breed is unknown and is often debated. It is believed that the breed was developed in Tibet and then brought to China as gifts, however, many people feel that the Shih Tzu originated in China by crossing the Lhasa Apso and the Pekingese. Regardless of where they were developed, we do know that the breed was a favorite amongst Chinese royalty and were even a cherish breed kept by Empress T'zu Hsi in the late 1800's. It is actually Empress T'zu Hsi that refined the breed, however, much of her breeding was done in secret by palace eunuchs. After her death, the secrets were shared by only a few and it wasn't until 1928 that the breed was first imported into England. Lady Brownrigg and later a Mrs. Hutchins both imported dogs and began to breed their stock to create a much loved breed. Very shortly after their arrival in England, the Shih Tzu was imported to the United States and quickly grew in popularity. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
