The Shih Tzu is an affectionate lap companion bred to charm, known for its sweet, outgoing, and friendly disposition.
How the Shih Tzu coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
Caution: A Shih Tzu coat mats easily.
Fine or long hair tangles at the base of the coat, out of sight, where the mats tighten and pull on the skin. Brushing has to reach right down to the roots in sections, not just skim the surface.
Information: A Shih Tzu needs clipping every few weeks.
This coat keeps growing rather than shedding out, so it has to be trimmed every few weeks. Left to grow it mats down against the skin and traps moisture, dirt and heat.
A few of the Shih Tzu profiles members have added to United Pet Club.
The Shih Tzu is a small companion breed from Tibet with a friendly, affectionate nature. It typically lives 10 to 16 years and suits owners after a devoted indoor lap dog.
The Shih Tzu is a small toy breed developed purely as a household companion, not for work of any kind. Adults typically weigh between 4 and 7.2 kilograms and stand about 20 to 27 centimetres at the shoulder, placing it firmly among the smaller lap dogs. The long double coat and round, flat face give the breed its familiar look.
Temperament sets the breed apart more than anything else. The Shih Tzu is affectionate, playful, good natured and sociable, and it tends to bond closely with everyone in the household. Once properly socialised, it is usually relaxed around children, visitors and other pets. The breed was never bred to work or hunt; its whole purpose has always been to live indoors alongside people.
The coat takes real commitment, and the flat face means owners need to watch for breathing and eye problems. With consistent grooming and a moderate amount of exercise, the Shih Tzu settles happily into a flat, an apartment or a house of any size.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tibet |
| Size | Small (roughly 4 to 7.2 kg) |
| Lifespan | 10 to 16 years |
| Group/role | Toy / companion dog |
| Good with | Families, children, other pets, flat and apartment living |
The Shih Tzu suits owners who want a small indoor companion and are willing to commit to coat care. It works well for people in flats or apartments, families with children, and older owners who prefer short strolls over strenuous exercise. Anyone who cannot keep up with regular brushing or professional grooming may find the long coat too demanding.
The Shih Tzu originated in Tibet and was developed as a palace companion in China before reaching Europe, and later Ireland, in the 20th century.
The Shih Tzu traces back to Tibet, where small, long-coated dogs were kept as companions and occasionally presented as gifts to Chinese rulers. The breed as it exists today was shaped in China, where it lived mainly as a palace companion rather than a working dog.
The name is usually translated as "lion dog", a nod both to the breed's appearance and to lion imagery that carries symbolic weight in the region. For most of its history the Shih Tzu stayed within imperial and noble households and was rarely seen outside them.
The breed reached Europe in the early decades of the 20th century, and breeding programmes in England helped fix the modern type from a small founding population. From there the Shih Tzu spread to Ireland, North America and beyond over the following decades. In Ireland, pedigree Shih Tzus are registered with the Irish Kennel Club, the country's national body for pedigree dogs.
The Shih Tzu is now kept worldwide as a companion and ranks among the more common toy breeds. Its history as an indoor palace dog still comes through in how strongly it prefers close human company and indoor living over anything else.
The Shih Tzu is a small, sturdy dog with a long double coat, a short muzzle and a high-set tail carried over the back, and it comes in many colours.
The Shih Tzu is compact and slightly longer than it is tall, with a solid frame hidden under all that coat. The head is round, with large dark eyes set well apart, a short muzzle and a clearly defined stop. The tail sits high and curves over the back. The hair on top of the head often grows long enough to be tied up out of the eyes.
| Trait | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | About 20 to 27 cm at the shoulder |
| Weight | About 4 to 7.2 kg |
| Coat | Long, dense double coat, soft and flowing |
| Colours | Many, including gold, white, black, brindle and combinations |
| Eyes | Large, round, dark, set well apart |
The coat is double layered, with a soft undercoat beneath a long outer coat that has a soft rather than wiry texture. A wide range of colours and markings is accepted, including gold and white, black and white, brindle, solid black and liver shades. A white blaze on the forehead and a white tip on the tail are common and tend to be valued in the show ring. Owners can keep the coat at full length with frequent grooming, or have it trimmed into a shorter "puppy clip" that is far easier to maintain.
The Shih Tzu is friendly, affectionate and playful, and it is generally good with children, strangers and other pets once properly socialised.
The Shih Tzu has a warm, outgoing personality. It is affectionate and sociable, seeks out human company at every opportunity, and is happiest curled up on a lap. People often describe it as good natured and playful, with bursts of energy followed by long stretches of rest.
With its own family the Shih Tzu is typically devoted and gentle, which suits households with children who know how to handle a small dog calmly. It tends to welcome strangers rather than guard against them, so it makes a poor watchdog. Most get on well with other dogs and with cats, particularly when introduced while young.
The breed can be stubborn, and housetraining sometimes takes real patience. Some individuals bark for attention, though the Shih Tzu is not an especially vocal breed overall. Because it is bred purely for companionship, it does not cope well left alone for long stretches and can grow anxious if isolated for hours at a time.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 2 |
| Trainability | 3 |
| Vocalness | 2 |
| Shedding | 2 |
The Shih Tzu needs frequent coat care, modest daily exercise and a cool indoor home, since its flat face makes it sensitive to heat.
The Shih Tzu is an indoor dog through and through and settles well into flat or apartment life. Its short muzzle makes it sensitive to heat, so it needs a cool, well-ventilated space during warm spells and should never be left in a hot car or garden. Ireland's cool, damp climate generally suits the breed better than hot conditions do, though the long coat still needs a proper dry and a good brush after wet walks. The Shih Tzu likes to be near its people for most of the day.
The Shih Tzu needs a measured, balanced small-breed diet split across two daily meals, with care taken to avoid overfeeding and toxic foods.
The Shih Tzu does well on a complete, balanced diet formulated for small or toy breeds. Because it is small and not especially active, portion control matters: extra weight can make breathing and joint problems worse. Small kibble or moistened food is often easier to manage given the short muzzle and crowded teeth. Fresh water should always be available.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (2 to 6 months) | About 1/2 to 1 cup, depending on weight and product | 3 to 4 |
| Puppy (6 to 12 months) | About 1/2 to 1 cup | 2 to 3 |
| Adult | About 1/2 to 1 cup | 2 |
| Senior | Reduced to match activity level | 2 |
Keep treats to around 10 percent of daily calories and count them as part of the total, not extra. A healthy adult on a good complete commercial diet usually needs no additional supplements. Talk to a vet before adding anything for joints, skin or coat, and cut back portions if the dog starts to gain weight.
The Shih Tzu typically lives 10 to 16 years but is prone to eye and breathing problems linked to its flat face, plus some joint and dental issues.
The Shih Tzu tends to be long lived, with a typical lifespan of 10 to 16 years. Most health concerns trace back to its short muzzle and large eyes. Responsible breeding and routine vet care cut down the risk and severity of many of these conditions.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Brachycephalic airway issues | Noisy breathing, snoring, poor exercise tolerance | Linked to the short muzzle; avoid heat and overexertion |
| Eye problems | Redness, cloudiness, squinting, excess tearing | Large eyes are prone to injury and dryness |
| Patellar luxation | Skipping steps, intermittent hind-leg lameness | Kneecap slips out of place; common in small breeds |
| Dental disease | Bad breath, tartar, loose teeth | Crowded small jaws need regular dental care |
| Ear infections | Head shaking, odour, scratching | Hairy ear canals trap moisture and debris |
The Shih Tzu is intelligent but can be stubborn, so it responds best to short, consistent, reward-based sessions, with housetraining often the slowest part.
The Shih Tzu is bright and tuned in to people, which helps with training, though it also has an independent streak that can come across as stubbornness. Short, upbeat sessions work far better than long drills. Housetraining is usually the hardest part and can take extra weeks of patience and a strict routine. Early socialisation with people, other dogs and everyday noises helps the breed grow into a confident, friendly adult.
Shih Tzu litters are small, usually two to four puppies, and the flat-faced build means breeding and whelping often need close veterinary oversight.
Shih Tzu females often reach physical maturity before they should actually be bred, so responsible breeders wait until the dog is fully grown and has been health tested. Gestation lasts about 63 days from conception, and litters are small, commonly two to four puppies.
Because the breed is brachycephalic and puppies can have relatively large heads, whelping difficulties are more likely than in many other small breeds, and some litters need to be delivered by caesarean section under veterinary supervision. Close monitoring of the mother through late pregnancy and birth matters a great deal.
Newborn puppies are tiny and need a warm, clean environment. They are weaned gradually onto solid food from around 3 to 4 weeks old, and most breeders keep puppies with their mother and littermates until about 8 to 12 weeks so they get proper time to socialise. Eye and breathing health should be checked early on. Breeding pairs should be screened for hip, knee, eye and breathing problems before mating.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sexual maturity | About 6 to 12 months (breed later than this) |
| Gestation | About 63 days |
| Average litter size | 2 to 4 puppies |
| Weaning | About 3 to 4 weeks |
| Go-home age | About 8 to 12 weeks |
Irish law wants every dog chipped and recorded; United Pet Club keeps your Shih Tzu's record free, current, and there for life.
Irish law has required every dog to be chipped and registered since the 2015 Regulations came in, and it expects the details behind the chip to stay current, not gather dust. A free United Pet Club profile does that for your Shih Tzu, for life. Registering your dog is a few minutes' work and costs nothing at all.
Lodge your Shih Tzu's fifteen digit number with United Pet Club and the chip finally earns its keep: free registration for life, every brand accepted, and a record the ISPCA or any warden can turn into a phone call. Microchip registration takes minutes, and the free account covers the profile while you're at it.
Set yourself up with a free United Pet Club account, key in your Shih Tzu's details and a photo, and save. The profile holds for the whole of his life without charge, and the chip number can be lodged whenever you have it.
Lodge the fifteen digit chip number in your free account along with your address and phone number. The lifetime plan covers the registration and every update after it, free, whatever brand the vet used.
It is. The 2015 Regulations require every dog to be chipped and registered, pup or rescue alike. Keeping the record current is the part that falls to you, and United Pet Club makes that part free.
Not a penny. Profile, chip record, and every amendment are covered for life, with no renewal ever.
Common questions about the Shih Tzu cover its size, temperament, grooming needs, lifespan, suitability for flats, and availability from breeders.
The Shih Tzu is a small toy breed. Adults usually weigh about 4 to 7.2 kilograms and stand around 20 to 27 centimetres at the shoulder.
Yes. The breed is friendly, affectionate and sociable, and it generally gets on well with calm children and with other dogs and cats, especially when socialised early.
Exercise needs are modest, but grooming is demanding. The long coat needs daily brushing and professional grooming every 4 to 6 weeks, or a shorter clip to cut down on upkeep.
The typical lifespan is 10 to 16 years, and good care alongside a healthy weight helps a dog reach the longer end of that range.
Yes. It is an indoor companion that adapts well to flats and apartments, though it needs protection from heat because of its flat face and does not like being left alone for long periods.
The Shih Tzu is one of the more common toy breeds and is widely available through breeders and rescues. Choose breeders who health test for eye, breathing and joint problems before breeding.
