The Shih Tzu is a small, long-coated companion breed from the Chinese imperial court, established in Britain from 1930. It is friendly, lively and adaptable.
The coat needs daily brushing or regular clipping, and eye problems are the commonest health concern.
The Shih Tzu is a small, sturdy companion dog with a long, flowing coat and a short face. It is friendly, outgoing and adaptable, and one of the most popular small breeds in Britain.
The breed was developed in the imperial palace of China from small Tibetan dogs given as gifts to the emperors. The name means "lion dog". It came close to extinction after the Chinese revolution, and every modern Shih Tzu descends from a small group of dogs taken to Britain and Scandinavia from 1930. The Kennel Club recognised it as a separate breed in 1940.
The Shih Tzu stands no more than 27 cm at the shoulder and weighs 4.5 to 8 kg. It is solid for its size, with a broad, round head, a short, square muzzle, large dark eyes and a tail carried over the back. The coat is long, dense and straight, with a good undercoat, and the hair on the face grows upwards from the nose in a pattern compared to a chrysanthemum. All colours are accepted.
Shih Tzus are affectionate, lively and sociable, and generally good with children, visitors and other pets. They were bred purely for company and like to be with their people. Half an hour to an hour of exercise a day is enough, taken gently in hot weather.
The full coat needs brushing every day, and most pet owners have it clipped short every six to eight weeks. The hair over the eyes is tied up or trimmed, and the face is wiped daily.
The typical lifespan is twelve to fifteen years.
The Kennel Club places the Shih Tzu in the Utility group, not the Toy group. It is widely crossed with poodles and bichons.