Care of Shih Tzu Dogs

Shih Tzus are charming little dogs of Chinese extraction, valued by their admirers as fine companions. A male Shih Tzu that meets the breed standard stands between eight and 11 inches high at the shoulder and weighs between nine and 16 pounds. Well-bred Shih Tzus have round heads with widely spaced eyes and a sweet, trusting expression. Probably the breed's most obvious characteristic is the long, silky, double coat. Despite their girly-girl looks, Shih Tzus are compact, sturdy little dogs, but like all dogs, they require care to keep them feeling and looking their best.

  1. Controlling Weight

    • Shih Tzus can be gluttons, ballooning up into roly-poly pups almost before you notice, so it's important to offer them only as much food as they really need. Your veterinarian can calculate for you how much food your dog should get each day, based on its size and level of activity. Overweight dogs are prone to all kinds of health problems, so try to keep your Shih Tzu at its proper weight.

    Exercise

    • Although they are small dogs that can be perfectly happy living with you in a tiny apartment, Shih Tzus need regular exercise just as much as you do. Put your pup on a leash every day and get out of the house for at least one walk. Even a short promenade around the block will improve how your dog feels and may reduce behavior problems.

    Brushing and Bathing

    • Probably the biggest issue with owning a Shih Tzu is keeping it properly groomed. Regardless of whether you decide to let your dog's hair grow long or to keep it cut short, you should brush your Shih Tzu with a soft bristle brush every day. Longtime Shih Tzu breeder Susanne Matthews suggests you start doing this right after you bring your puppy home, so it will get used to being handled.

      Unless you keep your dog's hair long, or let it spend a lot of time charging around in muddy fields, Williams advises you to bathe your Shih Tzu only every couple of weeks. Start by soaking the coat thoroughly with warm water and then wash the dog using a mild dog shampoo. Be sure to wash the soap out completely and dry your dog well. Then brush its coat out to eliminate tangles.

      If you use a blow dryer on your dog, Matthews suggests you keep the temperature on low and brush the hair out as you dry it, which will shorten drying time.

    Grooming

    • Although the traditional haircut of a Shih Tzu trails the ground on all sides, you can have your dog's coat clipped quite short if you just don't want to deal with all that hair. Regardless of how you keep your dog's coat cut, however, Matthews says you should start taking it to the groomer when it's three or four months old, so it can get used to the experience. Once you start having the dog clipped, you should keep getting it clipped every eight to 12 weeks. Be sure to keep brushing and bathing your dog in between trips to the groomer.

    Genetic Problems

    • Shih Tzus are genetically prone to various eye ailments, allergies, and, in some cases, kidney disease. When you're considering buying a Shih Tzu, talk to the breeder about such problems. Any reputable breeder will be open and honest with you about these issues (many of which are described on the American Shih Tzu Club website).