Pros and cons of Shih Tzu breed

Shih-tzu dogs for many years lived exclusively with the Chinese emperor, it was strictly forbidden to take them outside the country. Over time, the prohibitions weakened, and pets won the hearts of people around the world. Some evidence suggests that a dog of this breed was the favorite of the Buddha. Nowadays, getting a shih tzu is pretty simple. The main thing - to weigh all the pros and cons of the breed.

Aristocratic and graceful dogs are distinguished by a harmonious and proportional physique.

International standards of the Shih Tzu breed are as follows.

1. With a weight of 4-6 kg the dog grows 20-25 cm at the withers. Boys are always bigger than girls.
2. Short and strong legs. Pet bones are strong and muscles are well developed.
3. The round head looks rather large in relation to the body. The short and flat muzzle is covered with long hair, like the whole body.
4. The eyes are set wide and closed with hair that falls from the forehead and eyebrows. Usually it is collected in the tail, so as not to spoil the vision. The iris has a dark color.
5. Big ears hang, however, because of their long hair they are almost invisible.
6. The tail is often compared to chrysanthemum. It is completely covered with thick hair and bent towards the back.
7. The hair of the representatives of the breed is very long and thick, going down to the very bottom.

Color Shih Tzu can be absolutely anything. The most common dogs are white with gold locks. Black color only colors the nose. Silver and white are rare and unusual colors. The spout can be not only black, but also dark gray.

Breeders of the breed talk a lot about the positive qualities of small dogs. Pets have a sharp mind, devotion. Due to the small size of the dog can be maintained even in a small apartment. Pets easily get used to the tray with a filler, so they do not need a regular and long walk. Shih Tzu can be a suitable companion for retirees.

The main advantages of the breed are as follows.

1. Dog hair does not cause allergic reactions in humans.
2. Natural cleanliness and love of water procedures. Dogs do not have a specific smell.
3. You can feed both dry food and natural food. Dogs are unpretentious and have a good appetite.
4. Dogs almost do not make sounds, do not have the habit of barking loudly.
5. Easy to train due to innate intelligence and ingenuity.

Representatives of the breed very quickly become attached to their family. Devotion is expressed not only in relation to the owner, but also to all people who live with the dog. They enjoy participating in human activities, love to play and frolic. Dogs have a keen sleep, they are always ready to wake up to spend time with the owner.

In the latter case, the dog is able to become the best friend for the baby. Surprisingly, shih-tzu are more interested in people than other animals. You can keep these dogs with pets of any size, they will not cause any special emotions in Shih Tzu.

Breed, like any other, has negative sides. Breeders and owners distinguish such major disadvantages of Shih Tzu.

1. Security qualities are absent. Dogs are good to all people, do not divide them into "their" and "alien". Leaving such a dog as a guard does not make sense. Moreover, it is worth ensuring that strangers do not take away the pet itself.
2. Pet needs a lot of care and attention from people. In the absence of owners begins to yearn.
3. It is necessary to carry out water procedures quite often. The dog needs both combing and grooming. For the latter, it is recommended to invite professionals.
4. The dog needs protective clothing while walking. This is especially important in spring and autumn, when there is mud and water on the street. Be sure to buy overalls and rainwear. Some owners even teach pets to shoes.
5. Allergic reactions are possible. for products for the care of wool and some food. Health in this breed is a weak point.
6. Dogs do not understand the difference between adults and small children.so babies play can be pretty dangerous.
7. You can not walk with shih-tzu in the summer heat. The heat is very harmful to the dogs.

Dogs usually live about 15-17 years. There are quite serious diseases, so the pet needs constant monitoring and prevention. Some diseases are quite difficult to treat, and they can not only worsen the quality of life of the dog, but also lead to death.

The weak points are as follows.

1. Short paws in combination with an elongated body give a large load on the spine of the dog. Restless and playful behavior can lead to injury. It is necessary to ensure that the dog does not fall from a height and does not hit.
2. Otitis occurs in Shih Tzu quite often. It is necessary to clean the auditory canals regularly. The hair on the ears must be cut during grooming.
3. The teeth of dogs are threatened due to the flat structure of the muzzle. There are quite serious diseases of the oral cavity and the loss of teeth. If dogs develop tartar or plaque, you should immediately contact a veterinarian for treatment.

Most owners claim that the representatives of the Shih Tzu breed are quite affectionate, loyal and loving. Be sure to wash the dog after a meal, if you feed it with natural products. Representatives of the breed have a habit of smearing the entire muzzle in the food. The peculiar smell of a dog is only from the muzzle, the dog itself does not smell.

Combing wool is necessary daily. If you skip a couple of procedures, the mats are formed. Dogs shed heavily, so this manipulation is necessary in order to protect furniture and things from wool. Many owners trim their pets in the head in the summer to make it easier to care.

Breeders assure that dogs are really unpretentious when choosing food. Dogs often "cheat" and pretend to be hungry even after feeding.

The owners note that some members of the breed eat their own excrement. In most cases, the dog can be easily weaned from such an unpleasant habit.

In this video you will learn all about the features of the Shih Tzu breed.