01/10/2021
Have you ever seen the stickers on the back of some vehicles bragging about their honor student? Well why not brag about your dog? Here at the Shih tzu Brothers Store, we try to bring in items that are breed specific. I know personally, I love wearing my Shih tzu t-shirt. It not only adds to the conversation but opens up the door to a conversation, even with somebody I have never met. So in order to buy that breed specific item, you need to know about your breed. Of course, I have to start off with the Shih tzu!
My two Shih tzu’s are named Doobie and Charlie and if you’ve ever had a Shih tzu, you know how they can be and these two fit the characteristics to a “T”. Even though I call them brothers, they biologically are not. In fact, they are complete opposites of each other. Doobie is very energetic and loves his tennis ball. He has a tendency to wear out anybody that plays ball with him. In fact, he is grunting at me now to throw him his ball.
Charlie, however, lays around and barely plays. His typical day is sleeping it away and chewing on a bone from time to time. Both of my boys came from the same breeder so it is really amazing how different they really are. Well now that you know a little about my two guys, lets find out what the breed is all about!
The Shih tzu Origin
The Shih tzu is originally from Tibet, however, China is also a claim to fame as this breed was well-known to be raised by Chinese emperors. These emperors referred to the breed as the Lion Dog. Regardless of which country they originated from, the Shih tzu is one of the oldest breeds. Even though the breed has been around since the mid1600s, they were not present in the United States until the early 1900s. In 1951, the breed was finally accepted into the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Description of a Shih tzu
How’s the best way to describe a Shih tzu? In my opinion; short, fast, rambunctious, very fluffy and loyal. However, the AKC has their own standards. The Shih tzu comes in multiple colors, stands between 8″ and 11″ in height and weighs between 9 and 16 pounds. Now I know that is a large gap in the weight but there are actually two types of Shih tzu’s…Normal and Imperial. The Imperial is the smaller of the two.
One characteristic is cuteness and boy does this breed know it! They are also a very affectionate breed and a great lap dog. They are the perfect breed for anybody living in an apartment or lacking a backyard. The Shih tzu’s life expectancy is mid teens so expect this breed to be around for quite a while.
Training a Shih tzu is pretty simple as this breed loves to learn new things as well as please their owners. My experience with training was great! I was floored at how quick they pick up on things, especially my Doobie. My 8 year old niece has even taught him how to play hide-and-seek with his tennis ball. And let me tell you, he finds it every time she hides it! I also potty trained my two to use a “piddle pad,” as we call it, in just a short time.
Grooming a Shih tzu
As most people know, the Shih tzu is very well-known for their long, flowing hair. I say hair as the breed does not have an undercoat like other breeds. Therefore, making the breed all but shed less. As shed less as they may be, they do require a considerable amount of care. In fact, most Shih tzu’s are groomed every 4 to 6 weeks. Grooming can cost between $25 and $40 depending on length of hair and type of cut. Luckily for me, I learned how to groom while working at the kennel!
Most groomers use a 5FC blade when trimming a Shih tzu and scissor trim their face. It is very important to trim around their eyes as this breed is notorious for having “eye boogers” that end up with an infection right below their eyes. Brushing out a Shih tzu can take 10 to 15 minutes a day in order to keep them from developing knots in their hair.
If you have a Shih tzu or any other breed, leave me a comment and let me know what your pup is like.
