Shih Tzu Breed Guide: Shih Tzu Pros and Cons

Choosing the right dog starts with understanding their personality, needs, and how they’ll fit into your daily routine. If you’ve been searching for a small, affectionate pup that’s big on charm, the Shih Tzu might be on your radar. Known for their sweet temperament and unique looks, Shih Tzus are a popular choice for families, singles, and seniors alike. In this guide, we’ll walk through the key Shih Tzu characteristics, plus the pros and cons, so you can decide if this breed is the right match for your home and lifestyle.

Key Takeaways:

• Shih Tzus are affectionate, loyal, and thrive on human companionship.
• Their grooming needs are high due to their long, flowing coat.
• This breed is well-suited for apartment living and lower-energy households.
• Shih Tzus can be great with kids and other pets when socialized early.
• They need regular vet care and a high-quality diet to stay healthy.

About the Shih Tzu Dog Breed

The American Kennel Club ranks the Shih Tzu 20th out of 197 on their most popular breeds list, and this is for good reason! These “affectionate, playful, and outgoing pups” pack a lot of personality into their small frames. They weigh between 9 and 16 pounds and are only about 10 inches tall on average. This makes them suitable for living in most environments including smaller apartments.

The average life expectancy for these pups is 10 – 18 years, this means your dog may be an almost two-decade commitment. So before you bring one into your home, ensure this is a responsibility that you want to take on.

Shih Tzu Breed Guide

The Shih Tzu is a small dog breed with a long history as a loyal companion. Originating from ancient China, Shih Tzus were bred to live indoors and keep royalty company, which explains their affectionate and people-oriented nature today.

Here’s a quick look at the breed’s basic traits:

Trait	Details
Size	Small (9–16 lbs)
Height	9–10.5 inches at the shoulder
Coat	Long, flowing double coat
Life Expectancy	10–18 years
Energy Level	Moderate
Shedding	Low, but high grooming needs
AKC Group	Toy Group
Good for First-Time Owners?	Yes, with patience and regular grooming

Shih Tzus thrive in homes where they’re treated like part of the family. They’re not outdoor dogs or intense athletes, they prefer short walks, lap time, and plenty of affection.

Shih Tzu Characteristics

Understanding a Shih Tzu’s core characteristics can help you decide if this breed aligns with your lifestyle. While each dog is unique, these general traits are commonly seen across the breed:

• Size & Build: Compact and sturdy despite their small stature.
  
• Coat Type: Long and silky double coat that requires daily brushing or regular grooming.
  
• Facial Features: Known for their short, flat muzzles and large, expressive eyes.
  
• Noise Level: Moderate barkers. They’ll alert you to visitors but don’t tend to be overly yappy.
  
• Trainability: Smart but can be a little stubborn. Positive reinforcement works best.
  
• Health Needs: Prone to certain issues like brachycephalic airway syndrome and dental problems.
  
• Dietary Needs: Do best with high-quality, portion-controlled diets—especially fresh food that supports digestion and immune health.
  

Because of their grooming needs and specific health considerations, Shih Tzus benefit from a consistent care routine, including dental hygiene, regular vet checkups, and premium nutrition.

Shih Tzu Temperament

Shih Tzus are often described as “affectionate,” “charming,” and “people-loving”, and those traits are no exaggeration. This breed was made for companionship.

Here’s what you can expect from a typical Shih Tzu’s temperament:

• Loving & Loyal: They form strong bonds with their family members and enjoy being in the same room, even if it’s just to nap nearby.
  
• Great with Families: Gentle and friendly around kids when introduced properly.
  
• Social with Other Pets: Usually tolerant and accepting of other pets, especially when socialized early.
  
• Adaptable: Comfortable in both apartments and houses. They don’t need a yard, but they do need your time and attention.
  
• Playful but Not Hyper: They enjoy interactive toys, short walks, and snuggling on the couch more than long hikes or rigorous games.
  
• Stubborn Streak: Training can take some patience. They’re intelligent but may resist commands if not motivated.

Their gentle, loving nature makes them a solid choice for first-time dog parents, retirees, or anyone seeking a calm, devoted furry friend.

Shih Tzus Pros and Cons

Before you decide if the Shih Tzu is the perfect dog for your family, it can be beneficial to read the most commonly reported pros and cons of this dog breed:

Four pros of Shih Tzus

1. Have gorgeous coats

Shih Tzu’s can be found in a wide variety of colors. These include gold & white, red & white, gold with a black mask, black & white, liver, solid black, and brindle & white. These pups may also have blue eyes. Their coats can be kept long or groomed shorter depending on your lifestyle and preferences.

2. Affectionate with children

Shih Tzu’s are known to be affectionate with kids and make great therapy dogs due to their friendly nature and charming personalities. We always remind parents to supervise young children with dogs and teach children (age appropriately) to respect animals.

3. Happy to spend time indoors

While these pups can compete in dog sports like agility, most of them prefer to spend their time with you indoors. They were bred to be companion dogs so that is what they do best. Their idea of a great time is probably going to be crawling into your lap while you binge whatever’s on Netflix.

4. Great lapdogs

Since these pups were bred for companionship they really are the perfect lap pups. If you are older or considering a pet companion for a parent the Shih Tzu might be the perfect pup.

Four cons of Shih Tzus

1. Those gorgeous coats can be high maintenance

The Shih Tzu who is rocking a longer hairstyle will need almost daily brushing. If you can’t commit to keeping up with the brushing you risk letting their coat get matted which can be painful or if left too long can cause skin issues. Even if you do brush daily, you will need to get your pup to a groomer (or learn to DIY) on a regular schedule and the cost of all this grooming can add up quickly.

2. They need a high-quality food

These small pups have specific nutritional needs and they benefit from a high quality, fresh or homemade diet. At Ollie, many of our customers are Shih Tzus. Word got out that our delicious recipes kept their bellies happy and we’ve seen many of these pup’s parents reaching out to us to get their pups set up with regular deliveries. We generally don’t recommend going the home made route without chatting with your vet or a nutritionist as if you aren’t careful you can cause nutritional deficiencies or imbalances. That’s why we have a veterinary nutritionist on our team at Ollie, to make sure your pup is getting everything they need from our Recipes!

3. Can be stubborn

While these pups are charming and friendly they can also be a little … bossy. They can use those cute faces for evil instead of good if you don’t start with training and socialization early. When you bring home a puppy you will want to start house training and obedience training quickly to help your puppy learn how things work and help them bond with you.

4. Prone to health issues

Like any other purebred dog, the Shih Tzu is prone to certain health issues. The most common include conditions such as hip dysplasia, patellar luxation (a slipped kneecap), eye anomalies including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, retinal detachment, and corneal dryness and inflammation from excessive exposure to the air because of improperly closing eyelids.

While it is not exactly a health issue, you do also want to consider because of their longer coats, many of these pups don’t tolerate heat well and they don’t tend ot make good swimmers.

Before purchasing a pup from a breeder inquire about the health of the bloodline and any testing that the breeder does before breeding to ensure the best possible chance of healthy pups.

Is a Shih Tzu a good first dog?

Yes, the Shih Tzu can be a good choice for a first-time dog owner. Their friendly nature and desire to be close to their humans can make them a great choice. That doesn’t mean that these pups aren’t hard work to raise and train. Like any puppy, you want to make sure you are giving them enough time and attention, avoiding behavioral issues, and providing adequate nutrition and veterinary care.

Whether you are a single person looking for a companion or you feel that your children are finally old enough to have a puppy of their own, a Shih Tzu can be a great choice for your family – no matter what that looks like.

Once your Shih Tzu is settled in at home – its time to think about food. At Ollie, we know plenty about feeding and nourishing Shih Tzu’s because it is one of the top 5 most popular breeds among all of our pet customers (number four to be precise).

Shih Tzu parents find that our delicious Recipes keep their pups happy, healthy and full of only the good stuff. They tell us all the time that their pups love to see the big orange boxes get delivered and dig into the good stuff straight from our signature Puptainers!

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.