Shih Tzu: temperament, training and care

At a glance

Temperament

• Affectionate and outgoing
• Happy indoors
• Hardly sheds, needs daily brushing

Training tips

Keep training light and fun: food is the best motivator.

Shih Tzus can be independent thinkers. Find what your dog will really work for, keep sessions short and fun, and expect to repeat things more often than with an eager-to-please breed.

Start with a marker word, sit, come and leave it. For a puppy, see the puppy training guides.

Exercise and energy

A healthy adult Shih Tzu typically needs around 30 to 45 minutes of activity a day. Mix walks with sniffing and short training games: mental work tires dogs as much as running does. Puppies need much shorter sessions while they grow.

See how much exercise a dog needs and our games and enrichment ideas.

Health to watch

Things the breed is known to be prone to. Ask your vet what to check for your dog.

• Breathing and heat. A short nose makes cooling down hard: walk in the cool of the day and stop at heavy panting. See: Heatstroke.
• Eyes. Prominent or sensitive eyes: see the vet the same day for squinting or a cloudy eye. See: Eye Injuries.
• Teeth. A small mouth crowds the teeth: brush them a few times a week.