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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Talk to me about Shih Tzu's

49 replies

PleaseStop · 14/09/2021 15:48

I've never had a dog before, only cats. After a lot of online research, these are my favourite - so can anyone who has one please tell me warts and all what they are like.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 14/09/2021 15:52

Stubborn and can be hard to house train. Too much grooming for me! Grin

Everythingmagnolia · 14/09/2021 16:01

I have one, she is almost 2.

She is lovely and very affectionate, great with kids.

She does bark quite a bit, and is very stubborn,.if she doesn't want to do something then she simply won't do it.

We still have to put a pad down for her overnight as she will wee on the carpet through the night, haven't been able to crack that one.

Obviously there is the grooming, she needs to be brushed everyday and have her face washed. We get her groomed every 6 weeks or so.

They are lovely little dogs if you like needy! We love her!

TheVolturi · 14/09/2021 16:03

Wolfie, do you have one?
We have a male shihtzu he's 9 months old. We have 3x young dc and he is absolutely amazing with them. He's playful but gentle. Was very easy to house train although we didn't bother with puppy pads, I constantly put him outside very very often. He sleeps all night in the kitchen, does not cry or fret. Eats James Wellbeloved dry food and has no tummy troubles. He loves to play and go for walks but is just as happy to chill and have cuddles, and he really does cuddle! He jumps into our lap and rests his head out our chest like a hug before he settles down. He can sit, lie down, fetch and knows wait and no. I clip him myself, around every 3 weeks at the moment but as its cooler now I will leave it way longer. It takes me about 40 mins. Apart from this he's easy to groom, he's bathed weekly and his coat is lovely and soft. So far he has no health issues, skin trouble, digestive/breathing issues.
We always had jrts before him and I didn't think I could be swayed away from them, but he was the best decision we ever made, he's slotted perfectly into our family.

icedcoffees · 14/09/2021 16:06

They seem to be very popular on here recently but they actually have quite a few health issues. They're brachycephalic (so can suffer from BOAS), are prone to hip dysplasia, ear infections, eye problems (including cataracts and injury due to their eyes bulging out of their heads) and liver conditions.

You really need to research your breeder properly and make sure your dog has excellent hip/eye/elbow scores and that the parent dogs don't have problems with breathing, snuffling or snorting.

AmItheonlyonehere · 14/09/2021 16:28

What @Wolfiefan said.
We've had one for 9 years.
He took ages to house train.
He has recently begun attacking the walls and doors and has ruined one of our kitchen units.
He barks non stop and we live very rurally so he's not barking at people or traffic just nothing
The grooming is never ending
He has cost a lot with various health issues
He is not at all playful, a grumpy old bugger
He is disobedient
He absolutely stinks despite the regular grooming
We think he's going a bit senile. His behaviour has definitely worsened.

On the other hand we have a jack russell who is so clever and playful and incredibly obedient and was trained in no time. We still love the grumpy arsehole shih Tzu but we'll never get another one.

Boobieboobieboobie · 14/09/2021 16:29

Yappy, nervous dogs

Justmuddlingalong · 14/09/2021 16:34

Hairy balls of barkyness.

PinkFootstool · 14/09/2021 16:37

Strange breed, nervous, bark a LOT, hard to house train, not that friendly - friend has a pair and I think she's mad. She's constantly stressed by the barking and the house peeing....

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 14/09/2021 16:47

I feel sorry for them with their brachy faces and weird weepy bulbous eyes that are just asking for an infection.

Original poster
PleaseStop · 14/09/2021 16:49

Oh my goodness - house peeing is NOT what I want. We really want a dog, it must be small, easy to house train, and unlikely to bite (I know that can't be 100% with any animal).

Any ideas for breeds to look at would be welcomed!

OP posts:
Mmmmdanone · 14/09/2021 16:50

My friend has 2 and although I'm not keen on the squashed noses they are lovely natured dogs. Not yappy at all. Maybe she got lucky.

Anothernamechange3 · 14/09/2021 16:51

I’ve got a dog that is part shih tzu, part Yorkshire Terrier and part Maltese. He’s a dream, v friendly and not really a barker. Don’t know what mix of what makes him so lovely but he’s fab.

Original poster
PleaseStop · 14/09/2021 16:57

Also - how do you actually go about finding the right dog? I'm nervous of adopting from a rescue in case the dog is badly behaved due to neglect or ill-treatment - not at all the dogs fault I know, but it would still be an issue I would have to cope with, and as a first-time owner, I don't have the experience. On the other hand it seems wrong to shop for a dog from a breeder when there are so many living in rescues looking for a home.

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 14/09/2021 16:58

@PleaseStop

Oh my goodness - house peeing is NOT what I want. We really want a dog, it must be small, easy to house train, and unlikely to bite (I know that can't be 100% with any animal).

Any ideas for breeds to look at would be welcomed!

What are your exercise requirements?

I would have a look at breeds like border terriers, cairn terriers, bichon frisé, miniature poodle, whippet or staffy.

Personally I don't understand why shih-tzus are so popular. They're not great with other dogs, yappy, hard to train and have numerous health issues.

Kindleandacuppa · 14/09/2021 17:02

Our girl died at the start of the year, we had her for 15 amazing years. She really was one of the family and such a character. However, she was a nightmare to toilet train. Grooming was a nightmare although she didn't cast so that was a plus. The last 5 or so years her snoring was a complete nightmare she woke up half the night snoring and nothing could help, being almost flat faced caused the snoring.

As much as I loved her I would never choose another Shihtzu.

TheVolturi · 14/09/2021 17:16

Wow. Looks like we really got lucky with ours. Its like he's the total opposite of what others have described? Definitely not nervous he's a plucky little thing. Loves to say hello to other dogs.
Just goes to show that no matter what breed you never know for sure what you are going to get.

Dingdongdo87 · 14/09/2021 17:49

I have 2 shitzu x Lhasa apsos. 2 completely different characters but equally lovely! They are SO loving and cuddly, I wouldn't be without them.
The first was quite hard to toilet train but the second was a dream. The first is a very nervous and timid dog but the second is really friendly. I'm a first time dog owner so nothing to compare them to but I love them to bits. Grooming is every 6 weeks or so.

MintyGreenDream · 14/09/2021 17:55

My parents freinds have a llasa Apso.Cuddly,small and not yappy apparently

Jaffapaffa · 14/09/2021 17:55

I have a Shih Tzu and would definitely get another.
Affectionate, loving, playful. Loves nothing more than a cuddle, and especially likes to sit jammed up against someone on the sofa. Seems happy to be picked up as well.
Was reasonably easy to train. No toilet issues, apart from when he's eaten something that he shouldn't have.
Grooming is straight forward. He doesn't get bathed - he goes to a groomer every 6 or 8 weeks for a wash and trim.
He's 8, and the only health issues have been dental.
He does like to sit in the window and bark at the postman and any passing cats. And he's not keen on going for a walk - after about 30 minutes, he tends to sit down and refuse to move anymore. But that's about it.

Wolfiefan · 14/09/2021 18:22

Puppies bite @PleaseStop. Any breed. Needle like teeth that may well tear clothes or make you bleed. Shock

JanetandJohn500 · 14/09/2021 21:55

Ours is 15 months old. We're first time dog owners but he was easy to train - both toilet train and to do tricks- and is brilliant with the kids. I completely trust him with any child.
He doesn't need grooming everyday and goes to the groomers about every 9 weeks.
He isn't always thrilled to go on a walk, is happy to be left home alone and only barks when he's playing with us (or at the window cleaner today) but it's a very tame bark.
He is a darling and we wouldn't be without him... he's more like a cat really 🤣

TheVolturi · 14/09/2021 21:59

I am so glad to read that there are some other lovely shitzu's!

Schmooo · 14/09/2021 22:04

Mine is 10 years old and a grumpy bitch, literally! Definitely top dog! She's more cat-like than dog; likes affection on her own terms, likes sleeping all day and pretty lazy 🤣
But I love the grumpy moo.

k1233 · 14/09/2021 22:15

What traits do you like in the shih tzus? Could you google those and look at similar looking dogs like the Lhasa apsos mentioned above?

Long haired dogs need grooming. It costs a bit, but isn't hard to do yourself. If you get a long haired dog and plan to keep it shaved short, save yourself some money and look at short coated breeds.

Personally, I have a westie and he is everything I wanted in a dog. I'm very much a terrier person though and their cheekiness isn't for everyone. I also have a cocker (she's a rehome). She's a nice dog too.

kissmelittleass · 14/09/2021 22:57

Like you I've always had cats we own two and my dd also desperately wanted a little dog so eventually I gave in and we got a rescue dog this summer a shih tzu cross Maltese.
He's four and the most loving gentlest dog, he's generally quiet doesn't bark much apart from when he sees his lead and knows he's going on a walk!
The only stubbornness I've seen from him is when we are walking he will refuse to budge if he wants to go a different direction to where I'm going!!
As a virgin dog owner in a similar situation to you having only owned cats I'd say go for it, I know our dog is a cross with a Maltese so I don't know if that makes a difference but we love him and wouldn't be without him now.

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