Shihtzu puppy?

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My children have been nagging for a dog for a long time, we have two cats and my children are aged 2, 5, and 14. I recently came across a Shih Tzu belonging to a friend of my daughters who was gorgeous and since then I have been looking into the breed as a potential.

I'm not about to rush into anything so I am taking my time and from what I have read, a Shihtzu would fit well with my family. My two-year-old adores dogs and is very gentle with our cats, but my five-year-old is currently starting the assessment process for SEN so I obviously want to make sure that this is the right decision and a positive for him especially.

Can any Shihtzu owners give me any advice or am I completely mad even considering having a puppy? I have been advised that because of the noise etc a puppy would be a better idea, although of course I appreciate, that puppies are hard work. From what I have read housetraining can be a problem with shihtzus so I am wanting to find out as much as I can before I make a decision.

Any advice from Shih Tzu owners would be much appreciated.

I have a shih tzu. They are hard to train and hate to be left alone. Also you have to get them groomed regulary as they don't malt.

Why not look into a retired greyhound? Large but so, so gentle. Fabulous with children. Largely unshockable, don't need much exercise at all. Might have to wait for a cat friendly one, but they do exist. You'll need plenty of sofa space though

Go for it! I have a Shih Tzu boy, now 11 months, and I love him to absolute bits. Best thing I ever did. He is lying beside me in bed snorting and snuffling away. Brilliant with the children (they ADORE him), great with other dogs, the easiest first dog I could have hoped for. Happy to walk for miles (although as a young pup he wouldn't walk the length of himself!), or take as little exercise as you can offer on any given day. Non shedding, which is blissful. I'm pretty house proud and would hate to have doggy hair everywhere.

Can you tell I love him and think he's the best?!

Okay, here are the less than perfect points:

• I look back to his younger days and fucking shudder, shudder I tell you, when I think back to the toilet training. He wasn't reliably trained until 8 months old.
• they hate being alone, but Teddy's separation anxiety has got much better, I must admit. Forget the whole crate thing
• they 'aint the brightest, but make up for it in looks! Teddy has nailed the 'drop' command and will release whatever is in his mouth immediately when asked. However, I have given up on teaching him to give a paw, as it was absolutely beyond his comprehension
• the grooming. Teddy is off to the groomer's tomorrow, as he currently has the smell of a damp mop that's been left lying too long! It costs me £35 every 5 weeks or so, as his fur grows as fast as a bloody mushroom. He doesn't require much brushing though, once a week or so.
• contrary to what you may have read about them, Shih Tzus aren't always cuddly little lap dogs. Teddy certainly isn't. He likes to be near us, but not ON us. I've definitely met more outwardly affectionate dogs than the Shih Tzu, but they show their love with their stalker like tendencies!

Honestly, we absolutely love our Tzu to pieces. No regrets.

Greyhounds just don't do it for me at all. They always appear a bit characterless, but loads of people do rave about them.

We love our Shih Tzu but he is not good with small children and he nipped my grandson (he was teasing him ). He is beautiful but does sometimes smell like an old dishcloth and he snores!

I guess it depends who they're brought up with, sandgrown. Mine has been used to kids from the very start, as raised with them.

We have a shih tzu poodle cross and he is a character to say the least. He was house trained before he was eleven weeks old and he picks up commands and tricks in no time but suspect that is the poodle in him.
Eric prefers adults/teens but I think that's because that's our family make up. He gets a lot of fuss from children because he's small and cute but I watch him like a hawk because I don't think he'd appreciate being manhandled.
He loves company so wouldn't be happy to be left alone regularly for long periods and he's very vocal so he whines,growls,snorts,sneezes,yaps throughout the day and snores like an old man at night.
He's groomed every six weeks and he definitely isn't a lapdog he's too busy getting up to mischief to want to sit on anybody's knee for very long. He loves nothing more than being dirty,wet and stinking tbh.
He's a small dog who thinks he's a big dog though he'll walk and run for miles,he's great with other dogs he regularly plays with three springer spaniels and he's always the dog who has the stamina to keep up with them when the others have given up.

I have a whippet puppy who is 4 months old. My lo is 22 months old and they get on really well. He's incredibly loving and thinks he's a cat so tries to curl up on your lap. He can be very energetic in bursts but is also very fond of sleeping. I'd def recommend a whippet for a family as mine just loves everyone and everything. Can't comment on Shihtzu's but a friend has a very lovely Havenese who is utterly gorgeous :)

Just to add, we got our chap when he was 12 weeks old and because he was older toilet training wasn't too difficult. He slept through the night really early on and already knew to ask to go out. He's had a few wee's in the house accidently but no poo's as yet. If you get a puppy from a reputable breeder you should be able to request that they keep him/her until 12 weeks old rather than 8 weeks. I've heard that smaller breed pups do struggle more with toilet training due to the tiny size of their bladder.

Thank you all for your help, sorry it's been a while, had loads going on but after much consideration we decided to go for it! And here he is! He is only 3.5 weeks but is possibly the cutest dog I have ever seen. I love him so much already . I'm obsessively watching every Shihtzu video on YouTube and have been learning how to do clicker training. He just needs a name now.

We obviously haven't got him yet, I'm counting the days till he comes home. Just in case anyone thought I was going round nicking tiny puppies

Screeeeam!! He is so cute! You won't regret it. I luffs mine to bits, as if you couldn't already tell by my previous posts! They're the easiest wee dogs in the world, once past the toilet training and separation anxiety Good luck.

He's lovely isn't he? You convinced me Dieu. The poor breeder is going to be sick of me, went to see him twice last week (once to choose a pup and then with DD to put a deposit down) and have asked them to send me pics today. They are lovely though and happily obliged. Had a tough week this week and every time I think of him it makes me happy

Oh he's so gorgeous.. I want him..

Lucky you! My breeder was rubbish and if it wasn't for the fact that I had taken my children for the initial viewing/choosing, I'd have given up with her.
So happy for you. They're fab wee dogs and surprisingly sturdy and robust. Teddy turns 1 year old on Tuesday, and has only ever been to the vet's for his jags!
Enjoy and let me know how it goes ... and don't hesitate to PM me if you have any Tzu related questions!

Aw thanks so much that's really kind. will have to write a list of all my questions haha! Teddy is a lovely name, I would have gone for that but DS's best friend at school is called Teddy. Buddy is looking likely