Shih Tzu - Facts, Pictures, Puppies, Temperament

January 12, 2016

The Shih Tzu is a small sized dog breed and is said to be originated in the Tibet and then it was developed in the China, but some says it was originated in China (Exact origin was not known). It is also said that it was developed using Pekingese and Lhasa Apso (a Tibetian dog).

The Shih Tzu dog – Facts, Information and Characteristics

The other names for this dog are Chinese Lion dog and chrysanthemum dog.
The temperament of the dog is said to be outgoing, friendly, loyal and active.
It is a small sized dog and belongs to toy breed.
This dog is easy to train but sometimes the dog may become stubborn. So, training in early stage is preferable for this dog and crate training is also advisable.
It becomes friendly with cats in a very short time.
It makes other dogs as friends in a sort time.
The Shih Tzu dog is Hypoallergenic.
The price of the Shih Tzu puppies range in between $600 to $1200.
The Shih Tzu dog is considered as the good watch dog.
It is not well suitable for the families with younger children.

Appearance

The Shih Tzu is a small-sized toy dog breed and has a short muzzle in a square shape. The head of the dog is round and it has large dark eyes. This dog has a double coat which is long, dense and flow down the body. The hair on the heap will be tied up and gives beauty for the dog. Generally, the Shih Tzu dog is seen in many colors like white, black, blue, grey, gold, brindle red and dark brown.

Also the dog is seen in combination of the colors like black, white and gold (tricolor), red and white. The male and female dogs weigh about 8.8-16 lb (4-7.25 kg) whereas the height of both the male and female dogs is about 7.9-11 inches (20-28 cm).

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Behavior

The Shih Tzu dog is said to be an active, friendly, gentle, loyal, outgoing and alert dog. It may not perform well with the kids and so owner’s supervision is required whenever the dog is with younger kids. It is also said to be a good watchdog with its activeness. If it is trained well in the younger stage, then it becomes obedient very soon and becomes friendly with all the family members.

Health Issues

In general, the Shih Tzu dog is healthy but it may prone to certain health disorders and some of the health issues also occur through hereditary. The common health disorders seen in the Shih Tzu dogs are intervertebral disk disease, hypothyroidism, eye problems, breathing problems, reverse sneezing, umbilical hernia, ear infections, allergies, juvenile renal dysplasia, patellar luxation, canine hip dysplasia and bladder infections. So, this dog should be raised with good care so as to avoid the health problems. In case of any emergency situation, consult the vet and take the required precautions.

Shih Tzu Diet

No special diet is required for this dog and it is advisable to feed the dog with good quality dog food. It is better to prepare a food schedule for the dog to avoid the over feeding. For drinking, use clean drinking water and quality milk.

Habitat

This dog suits well for apartment living and plays actively indoors. A house with small-sized fenced yard will also do well for the dog and it helps the dog to be active all the time.

Lifestyle

The Shih Tzu dog is very active and it needs daily walks. It is said to be the good partner for the owners in the daily walks. It is very playful and needs little exercise; it loves to play all the time and entertains the family members with its funny attitude and beautiful appearance.

Lifecycle

The Shih Tzu dog can give birth to 1 to 8 puppies. If the dog is raised with proper care and attention, it gives birth to healthy puppies which are fit.

Predators

As this dog is small in size, it may grab the attention of the other big animals which can harm the dog. So, owner should supervise the dog properly whenever it is outdoor and don’t let any other big animals to come near the Shih Tzu dog.

Breeding

The breeding for this dog should be done upon attaining the proper age. It is suggestible to have the professional breeding for the dog.

Life Span

The Shih Tzu can live up to an average of 13 years and the average lifespan of this dog is said to be 10 to 16 years.

Images, Pics, Photos and Pictures of Shih Tzu :

Grooming

This dog needs to be brushed twice a week and knot the hair on the head to keep the hair out of eyes. Regularly check and clean the ears, and trim the nails as needed. If there is any difficulty in grooming then approach the professional groomer to meet the grooming requirements of the dog.