Team My Angel Shih Tzu
When adopting a toy breed as a pet, owners should be aware of all the breed information related to the furry fellow. Shih Tzus, Chinese lap dogs, are the cutest breed of dog. These dogs have grabbed pet parents ‘ attention with their innocent faces, cute eyes, and long, shiny hair. Shih tzu dog breed information is very versatile, as these dogs have been known since ancient times and have a good reputation as the best cuddling companions.
Here’s some quick information about the Shih Tzu breed in the table below:
| Origin | Tibet |
| Size | Small size, approximately 8-16 pounds in weight |
| Lifespan | Lives for 10-16 years |
| Nature | Loyal, loving, and affectionate nature |
| Breed Group | Toy Breed |
Shih Tzus are masterpieces of nature! Let’s learn about their history, training, and characteristics!
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Among small dog breeds, the Shih Tzu is the most popular. Its history lies in the era of Chinese royalty (1368-1644) when they were known as royal dogs. This nature’s masterpiece breed has been known in China as the Tibetan breed, a dog like a lion.
These shih tzu dog breeds are unmatched in beauty, but at the same time, physically, they are not as strong as adult breed dogs. Their flat face, cute features, bulging eyes, and beautiful hair are the physical features that add to their beauty. Other physical traits such as muscle build-up, body weight, and growth factor, these factors vary in every dog, but some physical characteristics are found in every dog, which are as follows:
The small dog breed Shih Tzu is also known as the Brachycephalic breed. This toy breed has
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Due to all these features, this small breed dog can also be called Brachycephalic. Remember that this feature causes these dogs a lot of respiratory issues in winter. Their elongated soft palate makes it very difficult to breathe.
As shih tzu are small breed dogs, so they have
Their size varies according to age and body weight.
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The AKC recognizes that the shih tzu has eight basic colors, while the Shih Tzu Club of America said there are 11 coat colors of Shih tzu, including AKC colors:
Adult Shih Tzu dogs have white patches on their chests and paws. They have double coats without fur containing long, thin hairs.
The most special thing about these Shih Tzu breed dogs is that they have a very loving and affectionate nature, which is why they are called their owner’s best companion. They love to cuddle with their owner, and their Cool temperament makes them unique from other dogs. However, if these dogs are not properly cared for, they can quickly become prone to anxiety and depression.
| Companion dog traits | Due to their human-loving nature, these small and cute dogs have excellent companionship qualities. |
| Playfulness and affection | Shih Tzus loves to play, and they soon become familiar with children and other animals. Their affectionate behavior wins everyone’s hearts. |
| Independent nature | One of the best qualities of these dogs is that they always have a cool temperament, and it is very difficult to distract them from their daily routine. |
Picture Credit: Dailymail – Yandex
Shih Tzus are beautiful dogs, but grooming them becomes difficult. Their grooming demand is very high compared to other dogs. You have to complete their grooming two to three times every month; otherwise, these dogs suffer from many skin allergies and rashes.
These small breed dogs are very picky eaters; they do not like every food. Therefore, their nutrition has to be taken care of. If your dogs have any nutritional deficiency, they will soon fall ill.
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.
Toy-breed dogs are very sensitive, with an average lifespan of 10 to 16 years. However, because of their compact bodies and small organs, they are susceptible to any genetic or environmental disease.
Common health issues that occur in these dogs are
Because of their large size, these dogs’ eyes interact with the environment a lot, so any allergen can easily affect them. To keep your canines safe from any contagious disease, try to follow preventive care and Make sure your dog gets all the vaccinations recommended by your veterinarian!
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Training your pet is a chore, but training and socialization are very important to make your dog well-behaved and well-adjusted. Try to start training this small breed puppy between 10 weeks of age. For basic commands, teach him to get up, walk, eat, drink, etc. Use positive reinforcement; do not force rules. Be calm and patient during training sessions.
Do basic practice with your furry fellow so he can wear a harness and walk on a leash confidently.
Socialization of small-breed dogs is very important, so try to introduce your puppy to different environments, take him to other places, and collect positive experiences so that he is not afraid of people, crowds, and loud noises.
Many pet parents like me are worried about whether this small breed dog can be kept at home as a safe pet. Yes, of course. If you provide these dogs with the best living conditions, then they can lead a better life. As these dogs have a friendly and loyal nature, they fulfill the criteria of family compatibility well.
One problem that must be considered is that these dogs are prone to allergies very quickly. Sometimes, pet parents think that Shih Tzu allergies can be transferred to humans, but that is not the case at all. So, it is the responsibility of a pet parent to take care of their dog’s health and make it suitable for apartment living conditions.
Finally, if you want to adopt an excellent companion and loving dog, then there is no other option than a shih tzu breed dog. These mini companions are the stars of pet parents’ eyes due to their loving nature, beauty, and adorable traits.
These royal dogs have been known as cuddling dogs since ancient times because they are very small in size and weight, so it feels great to cuddle them, hold them in your lap, and have fun with them. Please pay special attention to grooming your beloved Shih Tzu dog, trimming it, and bathing it once a week to prevent your dog from getting sick.
Visit our website for more information on the Shih Tzu breed!
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