Shih Tzu
The coat is the breed and it is a daily commitment — a Shih Tzu in full coat needs brushing every day or it mats to the skin. Most pet owners keep it clipped short, which is entirely reasonable.
- Group
- Toy
- Weight
- 4–7 kg
- Coat
- long
- Ears
- drop
- Muzzle
- short
- Build
- Longer than tall
- Origin
- Tibet and China
What it looks like
Small and sturdy under a very long flowing double coat, with a broad round head, a short muzzle, large dark eyes and a tail carried curled over the back.
The characters that confirm it
- A very long double coat reaching the floor if left ungroomed.
- A broad round head with a short muzzle and an upward-growing nose hair giving a chrysanthemum face.
- A tail carried curled well over the back.
- Slightly longer than tall, sturdy for the size.
Temperament
Companionable, undemanding of exercise and bred purely for company.
Health
Brachycephalic airway problems, though less severe than in a Pug. Eye ulceration from prominent eyes, luxating patella, and intervertebral disc disease. Ears need regular cleaning under the coat.
Confused with
A longer narrower muzzle and a more independent, guarding temperament. Historically a sentinel rather than a companion.
Pure white, a single coat, and a finer build.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Shih Tzu?
A very long double coat reaching the floor if left ungroomed. A broad round head with a short muzzle and an upward-growing nose hair giving a chrysanthemum face.
What is a Shih Tzu like to live with?
Companionable, undemanding of exercise and bred purely for company.
What health problems do Shih Tzus have?
Brachycephalic airway problems, though less severe than in a Pug. Eye ulceration from prominent eyes, luxating patella, and intervertebral disc disease. Ears need regular cleaning under the coat.