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If you’re planning to buy or adopt a Shih Tzu, you’ve chosen one of the popular toy dog breeds with a regal bearing. This dignified presence, or the way this breed carries itself, is one reason it’s also called the Shih Tzu. As a companion pet, however, it is a superb one.

The tests to restore the original function of different dog breeds

Over the years, there’s been much discussion about holding tests to see if various dog breeds live up to original expectations. There are specific tests for herding dogs, hunting dogs, lure tests for sight hounds, grounds tests for terriers, stamina tests, and water and draft tests. Dogs that pass the tests assigned to the breed they belong to were judged adequate to expectations associated with their breed.

These test may be fine and well for how certain breeds “perform,” but as a set of expectations they do not apply to the toy dog breed, because people expect differently of them. Many toyy dog breeds perform well in the job they are expected to do, namely, be great companions, lively pets, and healthy company.

Treating the Shih Tzu like a king - because that dog expects you to

This breed is often outgoing and friendly, but it’s got a brat persona that wants only to be spoiled. Because of this accentuated sense of self, it’s not often good to have Shih Tzu in homes with small children - it might snap at them, owing to a jealous streak. To kids who adore the Shih Tzu’s long coat and love to comb it, that dog will obviously love.

Shih Tzu make good watchdogs, being often active and alert. If a Shih Tzu is prone to snapping at other people, it may not be of a pure breed or may not have been trained well to avoid excessive barking. A smart dog, the Shih Tzu can be trained, although not as easily as other dogs. You need to be persistent when training it, as it can be stubborn. Punishment, as a training technique, doesn’t always work with this breed, since it can shut down and be less social - or do the complete opposite of what you punished it to avoid doing.

Taking care of your Shih Tzu - health problems with this toy dog breed

As with any dog, there are health problems the Shih Tzu is prone to, including a kidney disease (renal dysplasia), slipped stifles or kneecaps, and injured large eyes (because they protrude slightly). Its short muzzle usually has slight wheezing problems. The Shih Tzu’s coat, or poor maintenance of it, results in other health problems - the badly maintained coat shows tangles, hot spots, skin infections, painful mats, and (in the worst case) maggot infestation. You have to establish a grooming schedule - groom your Shih Tzu everyday to prevent coat problems. You need to reconsider getting another breed if you cannot commit to this everyday grooming.

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