A little Shih Tzu with a pink hairband

Shih Tzu Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The appearance of the Shih Tzu shouts out “high maintenance”, and it’s definitely true that they demand their fair share of grooming! That said, living day-to-day with this breed can be an absolute pleasure. Lively, playful and social by nature, they can make special companions for the entire family.

Now, their name means “little lion”, and with that long silky mane and impressive moustache, there’s something very regal about this little guy. So it’s no surprise you’re possibly thinking about buying or adopting a Shih Tzu. Good news is, you’re in the right place to find out everything you need to know about Shih Tzu care and maintenance.

Shih Tzu Facts

Dog breed type icon
Type
Toy
Dog breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
8 - 10 years
Dog breed size icon
Size
Small
Dog breed weight icon
Weight
4.5 - 8 kg
Dog breed height icon
Height
20 - 27 cm
Dog breed temperament icon
Temperament
Affectionate, cuddly, playful
Dog breed exercise icon
Exercise
30 mins per day
Dog breed grooming icon
Grooming
High maintenance

Is a Shih Tzu Right for Me?

This is a very intelligent breed with lively, playful, sociable personalities. They love nothing more than to run around for fun and games. They love people and will follow you around wherever you go so make perfect companions. Shih Tzus are also very affectionate, and love cuddles which makes them great lap dogs too.

Shih Tzus love kids too, so if you have a household full of children, they’re a great breed to have around the family.

a cute little Shih Tzu looking for love

What Are Shih Tzu Puppies Like?

Shih Tzu puppies can be a handful and are known for being stubborn little things. But they are intelligent, so start their training early to avoid problems later on down the line. They’re energetic little balls of furry fun when they’re puppies, so be prepared for lots of chaos and play time with these cheeky characters. If you have kids, they’ll be entertained for hours.

Shih Tzus are a small breed, so your pup won’t take very long to mature to full size. They usually reach adult size around 10 months of age.

A Shih Tzu being groomed

Life with a Shih Tzu

Although friendly by nature, the typical Shih Tzu can be a little stubborn. Right from puppyhood, it’s important to focus on consistent, positive reinforcement and a little-by-little approach (especially when it comes to house training).

For sleeping at night - and for times during the day when you’re not on hand to provide supervision, a Shih Tzu can benefit a lot from crate training, as it provides them with a cosy, comforting place to hang out - and helps to prevent any destructive behaviour. You can get the full lowdown on crate training in our dedicated guide.

This smart little pooch tends to be ‘into everything’ from puppyhood right through to adulthood, so it’s important to puppy proof your home and to make sure it’s generally clear of choking and other hazards from then on in.

Caring for Your Shih Tzu

This breed can be tricky to feed! Some are greedy, some are picky. If you have a greedy pooch, don’t be tempted to cave into their big puppy dog eyes! They’re only little, so don’t need huge amounts of food to keep them fit and healthy. A small cup of dry food a day, split into two meals, will usually do the trick.

If you have a picky eater, you might have to experiment with a few different types of food before you find one your dog is happy with. If you’re ever unsure about what, when and how much to give your Shih Tzu, your vet will be more than happy to give you some advice.

As flamboyant dogs go, Shih Tzu’s are up there. If how to groom your Shih Tzu is keeping you up at night, don’t panic. To keep this breed looking fabulous, a lot of owners opt for professional grooming. It keeps their coat in the right shape and condition and makes it easier to keep your buddy clean in the meantime. This is generally needed every six to eight weeks.

Grow out their coat to the max and it’s especially important to keep it free from tangles. Cutting the fur back can make routine grooming easier, but you’ll still need to brush their hair thoroughly every day and clear out any matting. If a smell develops - or if the coat looks obviously dirty, it’s time for a bath!

The areas around the nose and mouth, the corners of the eyes and inside the ears should also be inspected a couple of times a week for a build-up of dirt and for the signs of infection (redness or discharge).

Depending on their age, around 30 minutes of exercise a day is usually sufficient for a typical Shih Tzu. A short walk in the morning and a slightly longer one later in the day usually works best. Puzzle and fetch games - along with a supervised run about the garden (if possible) can also go a long way to burn up any pent-up energy between walks.

Shih Tzu Pet Insurance

If one of these “little lions” is prowling your home, it’s wise to consider a little protection. Not for you, you understand, for your Shih Tzu! That’s where Everypaw’s Dog Insurance can help protect those precious paws.

Not only are there a variety of Lifetime cover levels to choose from, but every policy comes with a range of additional benefits to look after you and your dog. From online policy management with the Everypaw Pet Portal to 24/7 access to a vet team with Petcall to cover for complementary treatment. Everypaw can have your Shih Tzu’s insurance all wrapped up.

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Common Shih Tzu Health Problems by Vetstream

Shih Tzus suffer from several inherited conditions, as well as other problems too. We have joined up with veterinary experts Vetstream to give you an overview of the sort of problems your Shih Tzu might run into.

Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS) is a condition only found in brachycephalic breeds. Shih Tzus are one of these breeds. They have particularly flat faces with short noses, making breathing difficult. It’s an inherited condition which means they’re born with the condition.

Brachycephalic dogs are often noisy breathers and sometimes snore loudly when they’re sleeping. In severe cases, they may even struggle to do gentle exercise because they’re not getting enough oxygen into their lungs. Surgery is possible to cure this condition, but it’s a risky operation. Your vet will be able to advise you of the best way of treating your dog.

Unfortunately, because this condition is inherited, it’s important not to breed from animals that suffer from it, even if they have had surgery, as their offspring will also be affected.
 

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited condition of the eyes. Unfortunately, most dogs with this problem eventually go blind. If your dog develops PRA, you might notice them struggling to see properly in either poor light or in the dark. You might also notice your dog’s eyes start to look cloudy. PRA is often seen in dogs around 3-8 years old but can also develop later on in life.

It’s a really common cause of blindness and is seen in over 100 different breeds. There are no treatments for this condition. Affected dogs can still live normal happy lives and they soon learn to adapt if they do go blind.

Kidney Dysplasia is an inherited condition where the kidneys don’t develop properly. Unfortunately, there aren’t any treatments for this condition and the damage is irreversible. Dogs with this condition might drink lots and go to the loo more often than normal too. You might also notice other things like weight loss or poor growth in younger pups.

When you buy a puppy, it’s a good idea to find out if their parents have had tests to make sure their kidneys are normal. This will hopefully lower the chances of your puppy inheriting the condition.
 

Proptosis is a condition where the eyeball detaches from the eye socket causing it to bulge out. It can be caused by trauma, like being held by the scruff of the neck, by a dog attack or being hit by a car. The eye bulges because of bleeding behind the eye. It’s a serious condition and in severe cases it can cause blindness.

If you catch it early, your vet may be able to gently push the eyeball back into the socket. But in severe cases, surgery might be needed to remove the eye. Prevention is the name of the game. Care should be taken when handling your dog and when introducing it to other pets.

Quick Shih Tzu Q&A

The Shih Tzu is a toy breed, meaning it is very small compared to other breeds. It’s a pure breed dog that originally came from China. They’re also known as the Lhasa Lion dog.

They’re well known for being loving lap dogs and they make great companions. They’re good with children too. Being small makes them ideal for owners that have small houses or live in the city. But don’t be fooled, they still need their exercise so they don’t pile on the pounds!

Shih Tzus don’t weigh very much, but for a small dog, that’s not surprising. But they can soon become overweight if they don’t get the exercise they need. A healthy weight for a Shih Tzu is around 4.5-8 kg.

If you’re unsure if you’re pooch is the correct weight or not, your vet will be able to advise you and recommend any diet or exercise changes if needed.

All breeds shed to one degree or another. Luckily Shih Tzus don’t shed as much as some other breeds despite their long hair.

They’re considered light shedders, so you won’t be forever hoovering or washing hairy clothes. This means they’re more allergy-friendly than other heavy shedding breeds too, so if you suffer from allergies, a Shih Tzu would be a good choice.

You’ll notice them shedding more in the Autumn and Spring when they change their coats.

This is a small breed so they don’t eat much. A small cup of dry food, split into two meals each day, will be plenty to keep your Shih Tzu happy and healthy. They can be a greedy breed, so make sure you don’t overfeed.

Ask your vet for advice if you’re unsure about what, when and how much to give your Shih Tzu.

The average lifespan of a Shih Tzu is typically between 10 to 16 years. With proper care, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and routine veterinary check-ups, some Shih Tzus can live even longer, often reaching 15 years or more.

That’s All You Need to Know About Shih Tzus

If you’re looking for a small, companion dog, the Shih Tzu could be the breed for you. They make great family pets - they’re intelligent, sociable, lively and love cuddles! However, these small dogs can be stubborn and need grooming every day. Regular trips to the groomer may also be needed to keep their coats looking fabulous. Their exercise needs are low – 30 minutes a day is usually all they need.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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