Pros and cons of the Shih Tzu breed

Dogs of the Shih Tzu breed for many years lived exclusively with the Chinese emperor, it was strictly forbidden to export them outside the country. Over time, the bans weakened, and pets won the hearts of people around the world. Some evidence suggests that a dog of this breed was a favorite of Buddha. Nowadays, making Shih Tzu is quite simple. The main thing is to weigh all the pros and cons of the breed.

Aristocratic and graceful dogs are distinguished by a harmonious and proportional physique.

The international standards of the Shih Tzu breed are as follows.

1. With a weight of 4-6 kg, the dog grows 20-25 cm at the withers. Boys are always bigger than girls.
2. Short and strong paws. Pet bones are strong and muscles are well developed.
3. The round head looks quite large in relation to the body. The short and flat muzzle is covered with long hair, like the whole body.
4. The eyes are set wide and covered with hair that falls from the forehead and eyebrows. Usually it is collected in a ponytail so that vision does not deteriorate. The iris has a dark color.
5. Big ears hang, however, because of the long hair they are almost invisible.
6. The tail is often compared to chrysanthemum. It is completely covered with thick hair and bends to the back.
7. The hair of the representatives of the breed is very long and thick, descends to the very bottom.

Shih Tzu color can be absolutely anything. The most common are white dogs with gold strands. Black color paints only the nose. To rare and unusual colors include silver-white. In this case, the nose can be not only black, but also dark gray.

The breeders of the breed talk a lot about the positive qualities of small dogs. Pets have a sharp mind, devotion. Due to its small size, the dog can be kept even in a small apartment. Pets easily get used to the tray with the filler, so you do not need to walk regularly with them for a long time. Shih Tzu can be a suitable companion for retirees.

The main advantages of the breed are as follows.

1. Dog hair does not cause allergic reactions in humans.
2. Natural cleanliness and love of water procedures. Dogs do not have a specific smell.
3. You can feed both dry food and natural food. Dogs are unpretentious and have a good appetite.
4. Dogs make almost no sounds, have no habit of barking loudly.
5. Easy to train thanks to an innate mind and ingenuity.

Representatives of the breed very quickly become attached to their family. Devotion is expressed not only in relation to the owner, but also to all people who live with the dog. They are happy to participate in human activities, love to play and frolic. Dogs have a sensitive dream, they are always ready to wake up to spend time with the owner.

In the latter case, the dog is able to become the best friend for the baby. Surprisingly, Shih Tzu is more interested in humans than in other animals. You can keep these dogs together with pets of any size, they will not cause special emotions in shih tzu.

The breed, like any other, has negative sides. Breeders and owners identify such main disadvantages of Shih Tzu.

1. Security qualities are absent. Dogs are good to all people, do not divide them into "friends" and "strangers." Leaving such a dog as a guard does not make sense. Moreover, it is worth making sure that strangers do not take away the pet itself.
2. The pet needs a lot of care and attention from people. In the absence of the owners begins to yearn.
3. It is necessary to conduct water procedures quite often. The dog needs both regular combing and grooming. For the latter, it is recommended to invite professionals.
4. The dog needs protective clothing while walking. This is especially true in spring and autumn, when there is dirt and water on the street. Be sure to purchase overalls and raincoats. Some owners even accustom pets to shoes.
5. Allergic reactions possible for hair care products and some food products. The health of this breed is a weak point.
6. Dogs do not understand the difference between adults and young children.Therefore, playing with babies can be quite dangerous.
7. You can’t walk with Shih Tzu in the summer heat. High temperatures are very harmful to dogs.

Dogs live standard for about 15-17 years. There are quite serious diseases, so the pet needs constant monitoring and prevention. Some diseases are quite difficult to treat, and they can not only worsen the quality of life of the dog, but also lead to death.

Weaknesses are as follows.

1. Short paws in combination with an elongated body give a large load on the dog's spine. Unfair and playful behavior can result in personal injury. It is necessary to ensure that the dog does not fall from a height and does not hit.
2. Otitis occurs in Shih Tzu quite often. It is necessary to regularly clean the auditory canals. The hair on the ears must be sheared during grooming.
3. Dog teeth are endangered due to the flat structure of the muzzle. There are quite serious diseases of the oral cavity and tooth loss. If dogs develop tartar or plaque, you should immediately contact your veterinarian for treatment.

Most owners claim that the representatives of the Shih Tzu breed are quite affectionate, loyal and loving. Be sure to wash your dog after eating, if you feed it with natural products. Representatives of the breed have a habit of smearing the whole face in food.A specific dog smell is only from the muzzle, the dog itself does not smell.

Combing is necessary daily. If you skip a couple of procedures, then wolves are formed. Dogs shed much, so this manipulation is also necessary in order to protect furniture and things from wool. Many hosts trim their pets in the summertime to make grooming easier.

Breeders assure that dogs are really unpretentious when choosing food. Dogs often “cheat” and pretend to be hungry even after feeding.

The owners note that some representatives of the breed eat their own excrement. In most cases, the dog can be easily weaned from such an unpleasant habit.

In this video you will learn all about the characteristics of the Shih Tzu breed.