Shih tzu

[Lostmyself86]

Tell me about your experiences with shih tzus. Good, bad and the ugly.

Thank you

We have a 14 month old shih tzu x toy poodle and she is the best decision we ever made. And that’s with a 2.5 year old who likes to ride her! She is so patient and loving and will do anything for a tummy rub. She’s also happy to be left alone for 5/6 hours during the day and just sleeps or watches the world out of the living room window. She does need grooming every 6/7 weeks though as she gets matted quite quickly even with daily brushing as she loves to run through mud, long grass and water!

I've walked one and we have one in the family.

Positives - affectionate, love being fussed and loved, not particularly aggressive or reactive as a breed.

Negatives - brachycephalic, so can have trouble breathing - I wouldn't describe them as a particularly healthy breed, tbh. They're also prone to eye and dental problems due to their head shape. Make sure you get good insurance! They're also prone to barking and need regular grooming.

Personality-wise, I think they're lovely little things but their health issues would really put me off. Personally I could never get a brachycephalic dog no matter how nice the personality. There are much healthier breeds.

@Libmama - don't let your child ride your dog. You're asking for trouble. Not fair on either of them.

@Libmama - don't let your child ride your dog. You're asking for trouble. Not fair on either of them.

I don’t actually let him ride her I’m not completely stupid.

I have a shihtzu and just about to get a second. I love them. My girl is so chilled out and affectionate. She was tricky to toilet train initially but now she is great. She is happy with only a short walk and generally just cuddles and sleeps.

We have a shih tzu. He is the happiest little being and so friendly to everyone he meets. He is 14 months old and happy to play with the kids or be left alone.
Perfect family let!

Watching eagerly, I love Shih tzus and wonder what they're really like.

In my experience they're cleverer than people give them credit for and enjoy learning (it helps that they tend to be very food motivated).

@Happenchance

In my experience they're cleverer than people give them credit for and enjoy learning (it helps that they tend to be very food motivated).

We have managed to teach ours quite a few tricks. He picked up on wees and poos very quickly and has some very cute party tricks!

We just got a rescue male shih tzu cross Maltese age four years and he's an absolute delight, only have him ten days but he is so good so gentle and affectionate we just love him .

I’ve had two - same parents different litters. Girl had the sweetest nature however was a nightmare around food. You couldn’t eat a meal without her barking constantly! She lost both her eyes to ulcers when she was 4 which I was was devastated about at the time but she coped amazingly. She died aged 15 having had no more health problems the rest of her life. Her brother however was also the sweetest dog but had psycho tendencies. He’d be cuddled up to you one minute and the next you’d move the wrong way and he’d bite. Hard! I was constantly on high alert and had to separate him from visitors. My son was a toddler at the time. It was hard work and I tried everything - formal training (he bit the trainer), vet checks, loads of exercise, calming pills, diffusers, every type of different food. Just couldn’t work out his triggers. Him and his sister got on perfectly but he was reactive to other dogs. A typical big dog in a little body. I adore shih tzus as a breed and have a really soft spot for them but they were much harder work than my current mixed breed rescue.

We have a shih tzu cross jack Russell. She is six now and a wonderful little dog.
Perfect little lap dog who also loves a good run around with the dc.
She does bark a fair bit, but only if there’s someone new coming in the house.
She is also a terror around food!
She gets groomed every six weeks to stay on top of her coat, otherwise she’s a tatty mess.
She doesn’t like birds or small animals, although I think this is more the terrier side of her.
She’s a sweet dog, follows me about the house and just curls up beside you when she’s tired.

We have a male shih tzu and he is the happiest wee thing ever. He is 8 now and so far no health problems. He is great with my two nieces who are 2 & 3 and he loves being lazy and getting cuddles.

He is obsessed with food so we have to be strict with treats etc. He goes to the groomers every 6-8 weeks.

He has brought so much joy to our family as as a pp has said, they are very clever and great fun!

My Mum had a shih Tzu cross when I was growing up. Best dog ever. No faults, lovely temperament, fab with kids.

We have a 9 year older male. I love him but I will never get another one.
He barks non stop, at everyone and everything.
He has become very badly behaved recently.
He pees wherever he wants despite being trained since he was a year old and having constant garden access.
It took AGES to train him.
He is slightly psychotic.
He needs to be groomed every 6 weeks and only one groomer will take him because he is so unpredictable.
He has snapped at both my husband and I.
He does not obey any sort of request or command.
He has ruined a door frame in our utility room by scratching it.
He never stops looking for food

On the plus side he can be a lovely pet when he wants to be. He loves our son, he had never chewed up any of our sons toys.