Do shih tzu dogs shed a lot?
Do Shih Tzus shed? Yes, but minimally. You're not likely to find a lot of shed hair all over your carpets and furniture — the Shih Tzu is a light shedder and their double coat further reduces the amount of loose hair that comes off of them. Because of this, the Shih Tzu is considered hypoallergenic.
Brushing Their Coats Regularly
When Shih Tzus shed due to age or season, brushing their coats daily or at least twice a week can help control shedding. The best brush for your Shih Tzu should leave their long hair looking soft and healthy. Consider using a slicker brush with round pins and a bristle brush.
Shih Tzus are generally considered to be low-maintenance dogs due to their loyalty and eagerness to please their loved ones. Shih Tzus are incredibly affectionate and loving; they thrive on human attention. You'll often find your Shih Tzu wanting to cuddle up on your lap for hours on end.
What are the pros and cons of a Shih Tzu? Depending on the individual pet's personality, the pros and cons of a Shih Tzu can vary. They can be quite stubborn and mischievous but at the same time they can be less temperamental than other breeds and they don't require a lot of daily activity.
Although Shih Tzus can be stubborn at times, it's due to their strong sense of independence. With plenty of positive praise and attention, they'll pick up potty training relatively quickly. Just have a treat ready for them!
Experts recommend a bath at least every six weeks for this family pup. How often should you bathe a shih tzu? A Shih Tzu's thick, curled coat requires more attention than many other breeds. A shih tzu should typically be bathed every three weeks to keep its skin and hair healthy to prevent bad smells from developing.
Shih Tzu don't shed much and are sometimes referred to as a “hypoallergenic” dog. But no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, as skin and salvia still contain allergens. That said, Shih Tzu can be a good fit for some people with dog allergies.
Although an average lifespan of a Shih Tzu is between 12 to 15 years, they can suffer from certain health concerns throughout their lifetime.
The Shih Tzu is known to be especially affectionate with children. As a small dog bred to spend most of their day inside royal palaces, they make a great pet if you live in an apartment or lack a big backyard.
Shih Tzus are typically considered to be smart dogs and have even been to assist farmers and tradesmen in the past. However, Shih Tzus can also be stubborn at times. Shih Tzu's intelligence varies from individual to individual, but most people agree they are pretty good problem solvers.
What are common problems with Shih Tzu?
Common Health Problems
These little pups generally enjoy good health and a long life of between 10 and 16 years. However, Shih Tzu health problems do exist—including eye disease, ear problems and back pain.
Shih Tzu Common Behavioral Issues
They tend to bark at people and dogs passing the window, or off in the distance when walking. They love to bark at the front door when visitors arrive as if saying please pet me, bark. Barking while travelling in the car can be a problem that is easily rectified.
Litter box training your Shih Tzu puppy will be successful as long as you and your puppy are dedicated. You will need to show him or take him to the box often, pay attention to any signs he needs to go potty, and offer lots of rewards when he is successful. Eventually, your pup will go on his own.
Timing. Your Shih Tzu puppy should be able to hold his bladder only about one hour for each month he is old. This means if your dog is three months old, he can hold it for about three hours. Avoid making him wait any longer to go outside.
It's recommended that you feed your Shih Tzu at least three times a day when they are of adult age. If they are still a puppy, they may require 4-6 meals a day. This is due to the fact that this breed is susceptible to hypoglycemia. With such a fast metabolism, they lack the ability to hold much of an energy reserve.
As a general rule, Shih Tzus should be groomed every 4 to 6 weeks. That said, every dog and every coat are different. Factors such as the weather (how hot or how cold it is) and how quickly the dog's hair grows will influence how often it needs to be groomed.
Like us, it is best to brush your dog's teeth at least twice every day. For many dogs, once brushing becomes a part of their daily routine, they will begin to expect and enjoy it. Brushing three times a week is the minimum recommendation to help remove plaque and prevent tartar accumulation.
Shih-tzus can also experience skin allergies to perfumes, cigarette smoke, molds and other airborne allergens. While true food allergies are rare, common dietary intolerances for shih-tzus include wheat, corn, soy, particular proteins, eggs and food additives.
Shih Tzu are classified in the toy group in most countries, with a height of eight to 11 inches and weight of nine to 16 pounds (four to seven kilograms).
The most common food allergens in dogs are proteins, especially those from dairy, beef, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, or wheat gluten.
What is the most common cause of death in shih tzus?
Heart failure is a leading cause of death in older shih tzus, and 75% of the heart disease is caused by valve deterioration. If your dog has a heart murmur or physical signs that suggest heart problems, we'll do perform diagnostic testing to determine the severity of the disease.
Shih Tzus are known for their short snouts and large round eyes, as well as their long coat, floppy ears, and short and stout posture. They are well known for their playful personality and their calm and friendly temperament, and sometimes may bark at newcomers. They can adapt well to different situations.
Dogs need food and water to survive. However, if they are otherwise well, they can survive for around 5 days without food, as long as they are drinking. It's true that dogs have survived for much longer periods without food, but there is a great risk of irreversible damage to their organs and tissues, or death.
Their reputation of being one-person dogs is absolutely correct (often they choose who they love and stick to that) but when people depict Shih Tzus as aloof, snarky, or aggressive, then they're referencing a dog that either wasn't raised correctly, was a product of irresponsible breeding, or both.
- Don't let your Shih Tzu eat food additives or fillers.
- Don't give unfiltered tap water.
- Don't skip veterinary wellness checks.
