Team My Angel Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu is a wonderful Chinese breed, also known as a Tibetan breed. While these dogs are called royal lap breeds, they are also highly alert and active. Have you ever wondered, like me, how their brain works in such a small skull, how they perceive dangers, and how they alert their owners? How big is a Shih Tzu’s brain? Of course, you thought about it!
The cephalic density of these dogs is very high, and their brains, which weigh 70-80 grams, are well-developed. Their memory is very strong. Research shows these small breed dogs always remember past events and bad behaviors.
These small breed dogs have a compact skull and brains compared to other breeds, but nature has placed receptors in their brains that are present in different dogs. They detect threats and enemies in exactly the same way as wild dogs, and this feature makes this furry fellow distinctive.
Their beauty and brains, including the Shih Tzu’s intelligence and IQ, also make them unique. According to an estimate, these dogs grow up to about 10 inches and weigh nine to 16 grams, with a beautiful small compact skull on top. Here are some more amazing facts about the Shih Tzu brain!
| Brain size | 2.5-3Oz |
| Receptors | 250-600 |
| Parts |
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Picture Credit: Wallpapercave – Yandex
Flat-face dogs are very loyal, affectionate, and loving, as all their body parts are very small. Similarly, their brain is 70 to 80 grams, which is very small compared to other breeds. But yes, when it comes to intelligence, these dogs are very intelligent and remember things, so here are some interesting facts about the size of a dog’s brain!
Intelligence never depends on the weight or volume of the brain; it is a genetic factor that every dog inherits from its ancestors.
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Naturally, these dogs’ brains are smaller than those of other breeds, but this does not mean that they are behind in intelligence. These dogs are fully intelligent and have excellent understanding.
Picture Credit: Baltana – Yandex
Small-breed dogs have very small skulls, and their brain size is very small compared to other breeds, but this does not mean that these dogs are not comparable to other breeds. Rather, their intelligence, IQ, and memory enable these dogs to participate in championship competitions.
Picture Credit: Ruimages – Yandex
| Breed | Brain size |
| Shih Tzu | 70-80 gram |
| Poodle | 80-90 gram |
| Golden Retriever | 150-170 gram |
| German Shepherd | 180-200 gram |
| Chihuahua | 60-70 gram |
Picture Credit: Youtube – Yandex
I love these small-breed dogs because of their beautiful, shiny eyes, flat faces, and small heads. They are very fun to cuddle. Cranial capacity means the space where the brain fits. The cranial capacity of these dogs is less, about 50 to 70 cubic centimeters, while the cranial capacity of large-breed dogs is 150 to 200 cubic centimeters. But these dogs still need to catch up in any field!
Shih tzu are very playful and love to do activities. The funny thing is that they develop such a strong emotional connection with their owner that sometimes, if their owner is busy with some work, they become anxious and depressed. Although Shih Tzu’s brain size is small, these dogs show a very positive outcome in training, are highly intelligent, fast learners and have excellent IQ levels. Let’s check out some information about how brain size impacts their behavior!
If you adopt a small breed dog, you should have information about its cognitive function and IQ level.
Brain size does not significantly impact behavior, but it has been observed that dogs with larger brain sizes are fast learners, follow game-solving strategies, have strong memory, and socialize a lot. As these small breed dogs, Shih Tzu are loyal and friendly best companions, but yes, they sometimes have problems in problem-solving and memory storage, which is their genetic problem and cannot be solved.
If your little dog is stubborn and resists everything, positive reinforcement, and the best training can help keep its emotions and behavior on track.
The training sessions are started in eight to ten-week-old dogs to make them emotionally strong and follow obedience commands. There are different types of training, such as
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Picture Credit: Dailymail – Yandex
It will be very interesting to learn all about the function of the brain and the structure of brain parts. Shih Tzu has the same anatomy as other breed dogs like:
| Brain Parts | Function |
| Cerebrum | It is the largest part of the brain that helps transmit sensory information, control movement, and keep emotions at a certain level. |
| Cerebellum | The cerebellum is important in maintaining the balance and posture of the muscular body. |
| Brainstem Amygdala | The brainstem is responsible for all the major body functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and maintaining blood pressure. This part of the brain controls emotions like fear, happiness or sadness. |
| Hippocampus | The hippocampus is responsible for storing long-term and short-term memory. |
| Olfactory bulb | These receptors help the dog detect smells. |
| Lobes | A dog’s brain contains several regions called lobes, such as the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe, which are responsible for processing related information. |
If Shih Tzu dogs do not exercise, the chances of weight gain in this breed are very high, along with diabetes and heart problems. So, it would help if you tried to involve your dog in any playful activity or muscle-strengthening exercise for two to three hours daily.
A healthy brain and relaxed mind profoundly affect your dog’s health, so try to provide your dog with an environment in which he can grow happily with peace of mind. Toy Breed dogs are prone to many other diseases, including Common brain-related health issues
This disease is common in dogs, also known as brain inflammation.
This disease is very dangerous. In it, fluid accumulates inside the cranial region, causing extra pressure in your dog’s head.
Note:
Preventative measures and care can save your canine from severe brain problems. Brain-related issues are very severe little negligence will be life-threatening. If your dog has a head injury, you must visit a vet!
Picture Credit: Pupvine – Yandex
The process of brain development is very interesting in these small breed dogs. Let’s see what stages the Shih Tzu’s brain develops through!
| Neuroplasticity and Growth | It is the growth phase between 0 and 12 months in which puppies’ brains absorb information, and their neural cells multiply. |
| Sensory Development | Period 3-16 weeks of activation of sensory receptors. |
| Socialisation | This is the best learning period from 3-12 weeks. |
| Juvenile Stage | This stage starts from 4-6 months, during which puppies learn perfect social skills and behaviors. |
| Adolescence | A well-developed, solid brain is ready to accept all challenges in this stage. |
Finally, these shih tzu dogs are exemplary in their companionship abilities, as well as in their beauty and intelligence. Of course, the Shih Tzu’s average brain size is small, 2.5-3 Oz, compared to other breeds of dogs, but their IQ level and understanding are very good.
Moreover, Shih breed cranial density is low, and this is a genetic factor because their skulls are very compact, but through good positive training, these dogs can be taught many excellent commands.
Interestingly, these toy dogs generally participated in various competitions and played games after the twentieth century. If you want more information about this bread, please visit our website!
Team My Angel Shih Tzu
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