Shih Tzu
Toy Group
Low-sheddingAKC RecognizedFamily-friendlyCan suit apartment life
📏 Size
Extra Small
⚖️ Weight
4 - 7 kg
🕐 Lifespan
10 - 18 years
🌍 Origin
China
🐕 Shedding
Minimal
✂️ Grooming
A few times a week
Energy Level
low
Exercise: About 1 hr a day
A guide for a healthy adult. Puppies, older dogs and flat-faced breeds in the heat need less.
Good to know
- Palace companions: bred to spend their days indoors with royalty, they're happy with short walks and indoor play and suit apartment living.
- Daily brushing or a puppy cut: a long coat needs daily brushing, and the topknot should be tied up or trimmed to keep hair out of the eyes; a short "puppy trim" is easier.
- Little shedding: the coat sheds very little, but that hair keeps growing, so regular grooming is part of life with a Shih Tzu.
- Charming negotiators: they're good at getting their own way, so be consistent and use praise-based training; harsh corrections don't suit them.
- A low-shedding coat. Some people with allergies find that easier to live with, but no breed is allergen-free.
Getting out with a Shih Tzu
They're happy with shorter, easy walks. Keep outings gentle in the heat.
Common health considerations
Inherited conditions to ask your vet about
- Brachycephalic airway syndrome
- Patellar luxation
- Hip dysplasia
- Eye problems (proptosis, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy)
Common issues
- Eye problems
- Respiratory issues
- Dental disease
- Ear infections
Not every Shih Tzu will have these. Good breeders screen for inherited conditions, and your vet can advise on testing and check-ups.
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