Shih Tzu
Pronunciation
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Americans commonly pronounce the
Shih Tzu as SHEET-zoo; however, the actual original Chinese translation is,
"sure-ds."
In the Chinese pronunciation the
"ds" is pronounced the same as the "ds" at the end of the
word "words." It is Chinese Mandarin, and translates directly to
"lion." That is where the term "lion dog" comes from. The
moniker "chrysanthemum dog" and "sheet-sue" are common in
America, but are both inaccurate American renditions of the original Chinese.
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Description
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The Shih Tzu is a small, sturdy dog with a body that is
slightly longer than it is tall. The head is round and broad, and wide
between the eyes. The square muzzle is short, with an inch or less from the
tip of the nose to the defined stop. The nose is broad, with well-open
nostrils. Nose, lips and eye rims are liver on liver colored dogs, blue on
blue dogs and black on all other colors. The teeth meet in a level or under
bite. The large, round eyes are dark in color, but lighter on blue and liver
dogs. The large, pendant, low-set ears hang down and are covered in abundant
hair. The back is level. The muscular legs are straight and well-boned. The
high-set tail is carried over the back and is covered in abundant hair.
Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat is dense and long, flowing
down over the dog. The hair above the eyes is often tied in a topknot. There
is a profuse beard and mustache and the hair on the muzzle is short. Coat
comes in all colors.
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Temperament
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The Shih Tzu is
an alert, lively, little dog. It is happy and hardy, and packed with
character. The gentle, loyal Shih Tzu makes friends easily and responds well
to consistent, patient training. It makes a very alert watchdog. It
is courageous and clever. Playful and spunky, this affectionate little
dog likes to be with people and is generally good with other pets. Some can
be difficult to housebreak. The Shih Tzu needs all of the humans in the house
to be pack leaders, with the rules of the house made consistently clear.
Owners who allow their dogs to take over may find them to be snappish if they
are surprised or peeved. Because of this dog’s small size and its adorable
face, it commonly develops Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors where
the dog believes he is the boss of humans. This causes a varying degree
of behavioral issues, such as, but not limited to separation anxiety,
guarding, growling, snapping, and even biting. These dogs may become
untrustworthy with children and sometimes adults, as they try and tell the
humans what THEY want THEM to do. They will be obstinate as they take their
stand and defend their top position in the pack. They may bark obsessively as
they try and TELL you what they want. These behaviors are NOT Shih Tzu
traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way they are treated by people
around them. Give this dog rules and limits as to what it is and is not
allowed to do. Be its firm, stable, consistent pack leader. Take it for
daily pack walks to burn mental and physical energy. Its temperament will
improve for the better, and you will bring out the sweet, trustworthy dog in
it.
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Height, Weight
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Height: Up to 11 inches (28
cm)
Weight: 9 - 16 pounds (4 - 7 kg) |
Health Problems
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Prone to slipped
stifle and spinal disc disease caused by a long back and short legs. Also ear
infections, eye problems such as cherry eye and early tooth loss. Tends to
wheeze and snore and can have respiratory problems. These dogs gain weight
easily and should not be overfed.
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Living Conditions
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The Shih Tzu is good for apartment
life. These dogs are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard.
This breed is sensitive to the heat.
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Exercise
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The Shih Tzu needs a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot
of its exercise needs, however, as with all breeds; play will not fulfill its
primal instinct to walk. Dogs that do not get to go on daily walks are more
likely to display behavior problems. They will also enjoy a good romp in a
safe, open area off lead, such as a large, fenced-in yard. Do not overfeed
this breed or it will quickly become fat.
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Life Expectancy
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About 15 years or more
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Grooming
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These little dogs require a good daily grooming using a
bristle brush. When kept in a long coat a topknot is usually tied to keep the
hair out of the dog's eyes. Some owners prefer to have them trimmed to make
the coat easier and less time-consuming to care for. Keep the ear passages
and area around the eyes clean. Shih Tzus have sensitive eyes that need to be
kept clean. There are special drops you can buy to put in them if needed. Ask
your vet what to use on your dog. This breed sheds little to no hair and is
good for allergy sufferers if its coat is kept very well groomed, due to the
fact that they shed little skin dander.
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Origin
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Sixteenth century documents and paintings show dogs resembling
the Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu is said to have descended from crossing the Lhasa
Apso or Tibetan mountain dog and Pekingese, in the city of Peking in
the 17th century. The dogs were favorites of the Chinese royals and were so
prized that for years the Chinese refused to sell, trade, or give away any of
the dogs. It was not until the 1930s that the first pair was imported to
England, when it was discovered by English soldiers during World War II. The
Shih Tzu was recognized in Britain in 1946. The AKC recognized the breed in
1969.
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Group
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Herding, AKC Toy classed under the Non-Sporting Dogs category
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Recognition
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CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC,
ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, APRI, ACR, DRA, NAPR
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