Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
- Sizevery small (toy)
- Weight4.1–7.3 kg
- Lives11–14 years
- Popularity in Mexico★★★★★
Character
Shih Tzu temperament
A very small (toy) dog from the companion (toy) group, in twelve traits from 1 to 5:
- Energymiddle of the road
- Affection with familyglued to you
- With kidsexcellent
- With other dogslife of the dog park
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Playfulnessmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctmiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
- Prey driveno data yet
Distinguishing features
Shih Tzu characteristics
- Ears
- drop
- Height
- 23–28 cm
- Weight
- 4.1–7.3 kg
- Muzzle
- flat
- Coat
- double coat
- Coat length
- long
- Colors
- any color
- Life expectancy
- 11–14 years
- Sheddingbarely sheds
- Coat caredaily brushing
Life expectancy
How long does a Shih Tzu live?
11–14 years
The breed sets the range; how long each dog lives depends on its weight, its exercise, its teeth and its check-ups with the vet.
The long profile
Long profile, in Spanish for now
The long version of this breed — character, care and origins, in Lord Chucho's voice — exists in Spanish and hasn't been translated yet. The hard data on this page (traits, features, lifespan) is the same in both languages.
Buying guides
What to buy for a Shih Tzu
What to buy, by what it needs:
What we'd give Choco
For a dog like this one
Affiliate links: it costs you the same. How they work (in Spanish)
AI image: the real product may vary FURminator for double coats
On double-coated breeds it pulls out loose hair by the kilo. Your couch will thank you more than the dog will.
AI image: the real product may vary Flat 2-meter leash
Two meters: enough to sniff with dignity, enough to keep it close when it matters. Neither retractable nor 50 cm.
AI image: the real product may vary Small donut bed
Small dogs sleep curled up with a wall around them: the donut is their castle. Washable, because it will smell like dog. It's the law.
AI image: the real product may vary Hard-sided carrier
The hard carrier works for the car, the vet and moving house. Buy it for the ADULT dog's size, not the puppy you have today.
What people ask
Frequently asked questions about the Shih Tzu
How big does a Shih Tzu get?
An adult Shih Tzu stands 23–28 cm at the withers and weighs 4.1–7.3 kg.
Does the Shih Tzu need a lot of exercise?
The Shih Tzu scores 3 out of 5 on “Energy”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “couch potato” and 5 is “marathoner”.
Is the Shih Tzu good with kids?
The Shih Tzu scores 5 out of 5 on “With kids”: excellent. On that scale, 1 is “better without kids” and 5 is “excellent”. Even with a 5, no dog should be left alone with small children: supervising them is the adult's job.
Does the Shih Tzu get along with other dogs?
The Shih Tzu scores 5 out of 5 on “With other dogs”: life of the dog park. On that scale, 1 is “lone wolf” and 5 is “life of the dog park”.
Is the Shih Tzu easy to train?
The Shih Tzu scores 4 out of 5 on “Trainability”: learns on the fly. On that scale, 1 is “negotiates every command” and 5 is “learns on the fly”.
Does the Shih Tzu bark a lot?
The Shih Tzu scores 3 out of 5 on “Barking”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “nearly silent” and 5 is “reports everything”.
Is the Shih Tzu a good guard dog?
The Shih Tzu scores 3 out of 5 on “Guarding instinct”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “not a guardian” and 5 is “born guardian”.
Does the Shih Tzu shed a lot?
The Shih Tzu scores 1 out of 5 on “Shedding”: barely sheds. On that scale, 1 is “barely sheds” and 5 is “hair everywhere”.
Can a Shih Tzu live in an apartment?
The Shih Tzu scores 5 out of 5 on “Adaptability”: settles anywhere. On that scale, 1 is “needs its space and routine” and 5 is “settles anywhere”. An apartment is fine, being shut in is not: every dog needs to get out every day.
Health
We only publish each breed's health topics after reviewing them carefully. We guide you, but we're not your vet: if something about your dog worries you, the internet doesn't replace a visit to the vet.