Introduction:
It is very difficult to come up with something original to say about shih tzu as there are already so many excellent websites available that contain very good information about the history of the breed, toilet training, health problems etc, etc.
So instead of duplicating the articles already written, I will focus instead on providing some basic information for the pet owner.
Where do you purchase a Shih Tzu puppy?
I DO NOT RECOMMEND buying a puppy from a pet shop. By doing so you are only encouraging people to breed dogs in order to make a quick dollar to meet the demand. Purchasing your puppy from a reputable and registered breeder has numerous advantages over pet shop purchases. For example
1) You can usually see either both or at least one of the parents
2) You have contact with the breeder and can phone back asking questions or discussing anything as necessary about your puppy and build a very good and ongoing relationship with your puppy’s breeder.
3) You will usually get a list verbal or written of instructions on what to feed your puppy, their grooming and training requirements from puppy hood up till an adult dog.
4) Purchasing a purebred dog will guarantee you know what that dog is going to look like and what the puppies temperament be like
Essentially very little. The New Zealand Kennel Club has an official ‘standard’ of requirements that make an ideal shih tzu. These requirements include height, weight, length of nose, front and back leg placements, and eye colour, to name but a few. The shih tzu breeder then tries to breed to produce a puppy that adheres to this set standard, in order to produce a show quality shih tzu that will hopefully do some winning in the show ring.
Obviously it is impossible to attain a ‘perfect’ dog or bitch that has all of these requirements. So the breeder will select a puppy that they think most likely to meet these requirements and therefore do well in the show ring. The remainder of puppies are sold as pets to pet homes. I.e. people who have no interest in showing dogs
This does not mean that you the pet owner, are getting a substandard puppy, rather, you are purchasing a puppy that has usually come from excellent lineage which has had considerable thought and research put into its breeding programme to attain the best the breeder can obtain with the parents that they have. The only difference between the ‘pet puppy’ and the ‘show puppy’ is “show quality.”
The pet puppy may be deemed unsuitable for the show ring compared to it’s litter mates simply because it’s nose is a bit longer than it should be, or it is mismarked, or it may have a little white in the corner of its eye, or it may be a little small for the show ring. Its tail could be too curly or not curly enough. Trivial matters for a puppy that is otherwise fit, healthy and sound with a good temperament. In fact none of these cosmetic faults are going to detract from the pleasure that the pet owner will get from their dog, or contribute to ill health of the puppy in any way.
Are Shih Tzu for everyone?
Shih Tzu are real characters. If you want to walk, they will walk. If you want to sit, they will sit. They are not demanding of attention like my aunties Maltese, nor scatty or flighty like some poodles. They are a sturdy little dog who are just as happy to play and run around the farm, as they are to sit inside and be a housedog. They get on with other dogs or with people equally well.
They travel very well in cars, have hair not dog fur, adapt well to being rehomed and have very distinct personalities. I describe them as part cat, part dog and part human.
So are they suitable for everyone? Yes, except for one vital element. Grooming!!
A long coated shih tzu looks lovely, but the lovely long coast must be washed and conditioned and blow-dried at least weekly. With a long coat you must check their bottoms daily to make sure that they haven’t’ poohed and then sat in it, thereby getting their bottom’s blocked so they can’t poo.
Shih Tzu MUST be brushed and combed every day. And a long coated Shih Tzu and wet weather make a terrible combination. Even letting the long coated dog go outside in the wet to go to the toilet creates a wet dripping mess on your clean floor when they come back inside. Not to mention a wet soggy dog which will then have to be dried.
If you don’t want to keep your dog in a long show coat, it will need to be clipped every 3-4 months. However even when clipped, THEY STILL NEED TO HAVE THEIR FACES COMBED AND WASHED EVERY DAY. And they will still need to be combed every couple of days.
This doesn’t need to be a tedious task, you can train your dog to lie on your lap to be brushed and combed while you are watching T.V. Then it’s relaxing for both you and the dog.
However if you do not have the time for daily grooming, the Shih Tzu is probably not the breed for you.
What colour?
Colour is a personal preference, however colour should never take precedence over temperament. Personally I love a nicely marked black and white, they are so striking. However the majority of people seem to want a gold and white. Rather than colour, it is much more important to get a healthy, happy well adjusted and socialized puppy that is going to fit in with your family situation, than place pre-eminence on a particular colour.
What Sex?
Many time people request a female shih tzu not because they want to breed them, but because they think they will be nicer and friendlier than a male. In this instance, it pays to know a little of the Shih Tzu history and breeding program
Most dogs have been bred for a particular purpose. Hounds for hunting and scenting, collies for herding, other breeds for guarding, etc, etc. Shih Tzu has been bred to be companion dogs. As such, it is often the male who is more affectionate and loving that the female. Many Shih Tzu breeders will attest to this. My entire males are much much more affectionate than any of my bitches. If you do not want the leg lifting and scent marking associated with males, modern veterinary practices will now neuter a male puppy at 3 months of age, well before they lift they leg.
So if you do not want to breed, I recommend a male puppy, neutered at 3 months of age as being the preferable choice.
Recommended Reading:
The Essential Shih Tzu by Ian Dunbar
The World of Dogs Shih Tzu by Audrey Dadds ISBN no: 1-85279-005-9
A New Owners Guide to Shih Tzu by Jo Ann White
Websites: