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| The Shih Tzu has been around for a very long time. In the countries of Tibet and China, these little dogs were given to Chinese Royalty as gifts. The words "Shih Tzu" mean lion dog in Chinese. | ||
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Shih Tzu were, and still are, the perfect companion or lap dog. Being a house pet is the perfect job for a Shih Tzu. Nowadays, Shih Tzu are still wonderful lap dogs. They also can compete in conformation and obedience, and participate in agility. Shih Tzu can also make a good therapy dogs. |
Shih Tzu are small, sturdy dogs. They grow to be nine or ten inches in height, and weigh nine to sixteen pounds as an adult. Some people think that Shih Tzu look like Lhasa Apsos, and they do look similar. But the Shih Tzu is a smaller dog. Well-bred Shih Tzu have good, strong muscles and are athletic. They are alert and will let you know when someone arrives. Shih Tzu are very friendly and get along with well children and other dogs. |
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The Shih Tzu's coat has two layers: the beautiful, luxurious hair you can see that falls to the ground, and a hidden, second coat called an undercoat. There is a lot of hair around the face of a Shih Tzu, so many people tie it up into a bow to keep it out of the dog's eyes. Shih Tzu look adorable with their pretty bows. This picture shows what a Shih Tzu looks like when he is well-groomed and doesn't have his hair cut. Beautiful, isn't he? |
The Shih Tzu's coat comes in many different colors and combinations of these colors: black, white, blue (grayish), brindle, gold, liver, red, silver, and black. Shih Tzu are a real rainbow of colors! Which do you like best? This is a picture of a puppy Shih Tzu. How many colors can you see? |
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(A Chrysanthemum is a flower.) |
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| Shih Tzu love to play. It doesn't take much coaxing to get them interested in doing fun things. They enjoy games, playing ball and doing tricks. They love doing things with you. Shih Tzu are smart and they have lots of energy, so giving them things to do is a very good thing and will keep your Shih Tzu happy and content, and hopefully out of trouble. |
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Like
any puppy, a Shih Tzu must treat be treated
carefully and gently. Rough play with a puppy or even a full
grown dog can be harmful. |
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Grooming Your Dog You will need to brush or comb your Shih Tzu every day, or the hair will become tangled and matted. If you can't groom him that often, your family may want to have a professional groomer do it, or even cut his hair shorter so that it's easier to handle. Start practicing when your dog is a puppy so he gets used to being handled. |
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but they should not lay around the house all day long. |
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Your Shih Tzu might like a walk every day. It's healthy for him to get out and move his muscles. Even though Shih Tzu are lap dogs, exercise will keep your dog's heart strong so that he lives for a long time. |
Going to a dog park, the beach, a mall, or to a friend's house is a great way to visit other dogs, and meet new people. This is called socializing and it helps your dog become a good citizen. If you go to a dog park, be sure you have your dog play other small dogs. Big dogs may play too rough for your little one. |
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Know Your Breed The Shih Tzu has a short, somewhat flat face. Because of this some Shih Tzu snore, breathe heavily, snort, or make other weird noises during the day and night. Not all will do that, but you should know that some will make little noises. Some people think the sounds a Shih Tzu makes are cute, but others believe it to be annoying. Would funny noises from your dog bother you? |
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Special Summer Care Shih Tzu are very sensitive to hot weather. Bring your dog inside during the summer or make sure you give him lots of shade and cool water. Keep an eye on your dog when there are long stretches of hot days. He may need your assistance more than some other breeds of dogs. |
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Often,
Shih Tzu need the corners of their eyes cleaned with a cloth.
This helps
keep the mucous from building up and causing problems with their eyes.
There's a Little Something on Your Face A Shih Tzu's face frequently gets dirty when he eats. That's because his nose is short and his face is close to the food. Have a towel handy so that you can clean his face after he eats or drinks. |
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Shih Tzu like to be social. That means that they like to spend their time with others, people or dogs. They get very lonely when left alone too much. Dogs that are left alone a lot can become destructive and bark too much. This is called separation anxiety. Try to make sure that your Shih Tzu has lots of company. |
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Because Shih Tzu are small, they make great dogs for condos and apartments. They like to live in the city or the country. Some dogs are a little difficult to housebreak. But if you are kind, patient, and persistent, your dog will learn. Remember that your Shih Tzu puppy is like a baby and he needs time to learn. |
All About Shih Tzu |
"A
bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog,
when you are just as hungry as the dog." -
Jack London
Updated 11/24/08
My
Shih Tzu is cinnamon and white, he is a little over a
year old, and loves
to cuddle and play with me or my cat!! :) He also
likes to steal my food
or my mom's food....So that means I have to
keep a special eye on him
when we eat!! :P I love my puppy.
Oh, and my dog's name is Digby (Digg.bee.).
I sometimes call
him Diggy! Marci,
age 12, USA
Hi,
I am Alex. My Shih Tzu is 8 weeks old and her name
is Momo. She still drinks
milk from her mom and she loves to play.
She is black and white and she
plays with my three other dogs:
Fergie , Bobo, and Wags. Fergie is a Pug,
Bobo is a Lhasa Apso,
and Wags is a Papillon. Love, Alex ( I'm a girl),
age 15, Florida USA
Silverman
is the name of my Shih Tzu. He loves to run and play
with squeaky toys.
He only barks if someone comes to the door or he wants
to eat or go
outside. He is 6 years old and black and white. I love him
so much! Chanel,
age 11, Maryland USA
I
have a girl Shih Tzu name Sophie. She loves to kiss me
on the face and
Sophie loves to play. Sophie loves walks too! Sophie
is white. Naomi,
age 9, Ontario, Canada
I
love my new dog. He is good. He is a lot of fun.
When there are dogs
at shows, he barks at them. He is brown,
black, and white. Leasya,
age 14, Louisiana USA
My
puppy, Max, loves it when I get his towel, wet it,
then put it in the
fridge so when I take it out, it's cold and he
chews on it. Jose,
age 13, California USA
Shih
Tzu's are my favorite kind of dog because they
have big eyes. My dog
Penny has the cutest face in the world.
People can't resist it and
they love her very much. Her name is
Penny Pooh Lane! Tianna,
age 7, Florida USA
Hello
there, my name is Taylor and I just got a new
Shih Tzu pup three days
ago and he is wonderful, but we still
have some training to do! Oh, and
his name is Cosmos. He came
out of a litter of six puppies and he was
the last one to come
and he is pretty fat too!!! LOL Your friend, Taylor
Taylor,
age 13, Kentucky USA
I
have a Shih Tzu named Molly. She is black
and
white. She loves to kiss
me on my nose and she
sleeps
in my bed. Molly is my best friend.
Melanie,
age 8, Toronto Canada
My
Shih Tzu, Boomer, is a lot of fun. He likes to
play
fetch and he eats
crumbs on the floor when we eat
supper.
When there are dogs on TV, he
barks at them!
Boomer is the best! Marcos, age 10, Texas USA
Kids,
tell us about your Shih Tzu!
Fill out the form below, and then we'll post your answer on this page.
There are many Shih Tzu around the country without homes. Have your parents call a Shih Tzu rescue to adopt a warm, loving Shih Tzu just waiting for a home. You'll be doing a good thing. |
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Do you want to know more about Shih Tzu? Click on a link below. When you're finished, just close the window and you'll be right back here! |
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Some Famous Shih Tzu Wicket,
dog of Isaac, Taylor, and Zac Hanson |
Want more Shih Tzu? Click here to teach your Shih Tzu some tricks. Click here to train your Shih Tzu. |
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