The Shih
Tzu is a wonderful miniature dog; abut 8 to 11 inches in height
and 9 to16 pounds in weight. The look of the Shih Tzu is extremely
beautiful. It has a double coat – one long-haired luxuriant coat
and the other soft and wooly. The hair on its head is usually
combed into a top knot to keep it from falling into its eyes.
The Shih Tzu or the Small Lion (the Chinese meaning of its name),
as it is popularly known, originates from Tibet. When learning
about the history of the Shih Tzu, we see that it was a favorite
pet of the Emperors of Manchu Dynasty of China around 19th century
where they flourished. They reached China as gifts from Tibetan
monks to the emperors of that time. Since they looked like lions,
they were named as the Tibetan Shih Tzu, or the Tibetan Lion.
These dogs reached England around 1930 and from there they were
brought to US by American soldiers. The breed was instantly accepted
by people there because of the breeds’ beauty and friendly attitude.
What Do People Love about the Shih Tzu?
The Shih Tzu is a people’s dog. They love to be with people and
around people. They are basically dogs who need to be around someone
and often become destructive and cranky if left alone for long
periods of time. They are calm and sweet by temperament and go
along with everybody - people and/or animals - without any effort.
It is however not advisable to leave them around small children
lest anyone be harmed.
The Shih Tzu puppies and adult dogs need a lot of grooming since
it has two coats of hair – one short undercoat and one sweepingly
long. The hair has to be combed daily to keep it from tangling
and matting. They need to be bathed often and they fall easily
sick if exposed to high humidity content in the air, hence should
be brought to live in climates, which are not too humid. Their
teeth need special attention since they have a tendency of falling
when the dog crosses into middle age (9 years old and onwards).
Reading about the physical appearance of the Shih Tzu reveals
that their short, flat face interferes with their breathing and
you might find them snoring loudly and breathing with a wheezing
sound. They are prone to obesity and should not be overfed. They
tend to become and behave like spoiled brats easily.
The Shih Tzu breed is basically stubborn and hence they could
be difficult to train. House training has been a problematic aspect
in many cases – and it takes a lot of perseverance to get them
do what you want. They learn only through positive reinforcement
and patience; harshness has no positive effect on these dogs.
These dogs are indoor dogs and they are happy to live in apartments
and small-enclosed places. They do not need too much exercise
as such. However, they love outdoors and enjoy games. In order
to understand this breed better, you will need to know as much
about the Shih Tzu as possible. A good place to then start is
with the history
and origin of the Shih Tzu.
Attention: To discover how
YOU can have the Happiest, Healthiest and Best Behaved Shih Tzu,
get a copy of this Shih Tzu Guide
NOW!
