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Shih Tzu

SHIH TZU DOG BREE FAQs

  1. Are Shih Tzus hypoallergic?

Answer: Yes! Shih Tzu is a hypoallergenic breed. It rarely sheds its fur and that too in a very limited manner.

  1. Are Shih Tzus friendly with Kids?

Answer: Shih Tzu can be a suitable breed for kids if it’s been properly trained and well-socialized from an early age. Canines that stay and grow up with small kids are more likely to become friends with a young child when they mature than the ones who are not properly socialized with small kids as they develop. The same is the case with Shih Tzus and thus, if you want this cute little pooch to be friendly with small kids, start training and socializing the canine before it reaches adulthood.

  1. Are Shih Tzus friendly with other dogs?

Answer: Yes! Shih Tzus are great with other canines. They love the company of other dogs and are known to make new canine-friends fairly quickly. These pooches are happy to play various games with other dogs and they have no problem in sharing their toys, food or space with other canines.

  1. Are Shih Tzus friendly with cats?

Answer: Yes! Just like dogs, Shih Tzus are very cordial with cats as well. These canines have a healthy relationship with the members of the feline family and are always known to be warm and kind to them.

  1. Do Shih Tzus make good guard Dogs?

Answer: No! Shih Tzus are not known for their guarding abilities. But they can act as great watchdogs and can efficiently alert their owners in case of an intruder or a trespasser. They are also highly territorial in nature, which means they are very protective of their property which includes the house they live in, the yard or the garden and other things that they think belong to them.

  1. Are Shih Tzus apartment friendly?

Answer: Yes! Shih Tzus are awesome apartment dogs. They can adapt and adjust to the apartment lifestyle very quickly and are very happy and active inside the house. Their exercise needs are minimal and they love to spend their time resting and relaxing inside their homes.

  1. How much do Shih Tzus shed?

Answer: Very little! Shih Tzus are known to be minimal shedders. They only shed their body hair in an insignificant amount and are considered to be a perfect breed for those people who might be allergic to canine dander.

  1. Are Shih Tzus good for first-time owners?

Answer: Yes! Shih Tzu is a wonderful option for those people who might not have some prior experience in raising and maintaining a dog. This breed is fairly easy-going in nature and due to its small size, low exercise needs, minimal shedding, decent trainability, and good adaptability, it can be pretty easily recommended to a novice or a first-time dog owner.

  1. Do Shih Tzus bark a lot?

Answer: Yes! Shih Tzus have a habit of expressing themselves with their barks and howls. Whenever they want something from their owners or they want to tell their loved ones about what they are feeling, they tend to use their voice and this happens more frequently than anyone realizes.

  1. How much exercise does a Shih Tzu need daily?

Answer: Not a lot! Shih Tzus were bred to be human companions and house pets and thus, they are happy to stay inside the house for most of the time in a day. They do need some exercise on a daily basis to remain healthy and in shape but it is fairly minimal when compared to many other canine breeds out there. Daily short walks for about 10-15 minutes and a little bit of playing time either inside or outside the house is enough to fulfill the exercise requirements of a Shih Tzu.

  1. Can Shih Tzus live alone for a long time in a day?

Answer: Shih Tzus can live alone for a decently long time in a day, but the important thing is to properly train them so that they do not chew or destroy the random house stuff whenever you leave them for the day. This is a really good breed for those people who have regular jobs and will not be able to spend all of their time with their pets. Shih Tzus can easily live alone for about 6-8 hours in a day, but it is important to leave lots of food and water for the pooch and also its favorite toys so that it can remain distracted and occupied once their owner leaves the house.

  1. Are Shih Tzus easy to train?

Answer: It all depends on the methods and techniques that an owner uses to train his/her Shih Tzu. Shih Tzus are sensitive canines who respond positively when they are being praised or rewarded. Thus, if their owners use techniques like positive reinforcement which can be in the form of both verbal and rewards, then Shih Tzus are able to learn the things which are being taught to them more quickly. They can get trained pretty easily if their trainers/owners are being gentle and nice to them. But, if trained by a strict or stern owner, then Shih Tzus have a hard time learning new things.

  1. What are Shih Tzu's grooming needs?

Answer: Shih Tzus have a long and beautiful coat that requires a lot of grooming to remain neat and good looking. It is important to brush their coat on a daily basis so as to avoid hair tangling and matting problems. The hair around the face and head region should also be combed daily and if it is very long and flowy, then it is better to tie it into a topknot so that Shih Tzu’s eyes are not being irritated by extra hair. These canines should be bathed at least once every three to four weeks so that they remain clean and fresh. Their eyes and ears must also be cleaned regularly to avoid any allergies and their nails should be trimmed whenever it is necessary. Also, if a Shih Tzu’s coat is excessively long, then you can take the help of a professional groomer or can trim down your pooch’s coat by yourself if you have some experience in this department.

  1. What is the Shih Tzu's tolerance to heat?

Answer: Poor! Shih Tzus are not able to comfortably thrive in very hot climatic conditions. Their tolerance to high temperatures and heat is not that great and thus it is highly recommended to keep these dogs inside the house if the outside temperature is very high. Also, it is better to avoid any kind of exercise if the weather is excessively hot.

  1. What is the Shih Tzu's tolerance to cold?

Answer: A lot better than their tolerance to heat. These canines are able to survive quite nicely when the outside conditions are cold and chilly as their tolerance to low temperatures is pretty decent. But, here also, it is important to take care of them if the conditions become overly harsh and unpleasant.

  1. Is Shih Tzu an intelligent dog breed?

Answer: Yes! Shih Tzus are decent learners and are known to be fairly intelligent canines. They can learn various tricks from their owners and are able to understand a lot of difficult commands. Training these canines is also fairly easy.

  1. Is Shih Tzu stranger friendly?

Answer: If trained correctly and socialized properly, then Shih Tzus have no problem in mixing well with the new people. They remain kind and friendly with strangers but only if they are well-trained. Without proper guidance, Shih Tzus might remain reserved and quiet whenever they are around strangers.

  1. Do Shih Tzus drool a lot?

Answer: No! Shih Tzus don’t drool a lot for no reason. They only dribble whenever they are about to eat something or when they want something to eat from their owners.

  1. Are Shih Tzus expensive and high maintenance dogs?

Answer: Shih Tzus are not that expensive (especially in India) when compared to some other popular breeds. They do have high grooming requirements which might increase their monthly maintenance cost but their low exercising needs, low shedding potential, and high adaptability easily makes up for it.

  1. Are Shih Tzus easily available in India?

Answer: Their availability in India is fairly decent. Shih Tzu is a very popular breed in most Asian countries and that includes India as well. And, considering their growing demand in the country, with time, several breeders have started to make sure that they are able to provide this adorable breed to their customers without any problems.

  1. What is the avg price of a Shih Tzu puppy in India?

Answer: The average price of a Shih Tzu puppy in India is around ₹15,000 to ₹20,000. But there are a lot of factors that affect their price in the country and because of that, the cost of bringing a Shih Tzu puppy home can go fairly high.

  1. Do Shih Tzus like to swim?

Answer: Shih Tzus can swim in a pool or in a small lake when given the opportunity but it is not a certainty that they will like it as well. Because of their short muzzle and small legs, many Shih Tzus struggle to swim comfortably in a deep water body and that is why they are not known for their swimming skills.

  1. What Colors do Shih Tzus Come In?

Answer: Shih Tzus are found in a lot of different color combinations. Some of their coat colors are as follows:

  • Black
  • White
  • Brindle
  • Gold
  • Liver
  • Red
  • Silver
  1. What is a Shih Tzu’s lifespan?

Answer: Shih Tzus have a decent lifespan of about 10-16 years and if taken care properly, they can live a fairly long life.

  1. What are the most common health issues for the Shih Tzus?

Answer: Most common health concerns that a Shih Tzu faces during its lifetime are hypothyroidism, juvenile cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, corneal dryness, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia & brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome.