Is A Shih Tzu A Good Family Dog? 8 Reasons To Raise It
If you want to add a new member to your family, you might spend a lot of time researching the best breed for you.
There are a lot of things to think about, like the size of your family and where you live, to figure out what kind of dog might be best.
If you’re looking for a small dog, you may have come across the Shih Tzu. Find out more about these beautiful and friendly puppies to see if they would be a good fit for your family.
Do Shih Tzus Make Good Family Dogs?
The Shih Tzu might be a good dog for a family. Still, many things affect who they are, how they act, and how they feel. Depending on the breeder or rescue, some Shih Tzu may not be good for a home with young children, while others may be good for older children.
This is how the breed usually acts. But this isn’t always the case with any dog, no matter what breed it is.
Depending on their health, how they are raised, their littermates, their mother, and their environment, some dogs may not make good family pets.
Their behaviour and personality are perfect for a family, but this might not be true if they have been mistreated, haven’t been socialized well, or haven’t been trained.
Shih Tzus that have been adopted and then given back to the breeder or who end up in a rescue group may have behaviour problems that make them unfit for certain situations.
One of the most important things a person who wants to adopt a Shih Tzu can do is learn about the breeders in their area and choose one that uses the right methods for breeding. The people who raise these puppies care about every part of their lives.
They put a lot of work into breeding to make sure the puppies are healthy and fit the breed standard. They also pay a lot of attention to the litter of puppies, helping them get ready for life outside the breeder’s house.
They start making friends and watching how the puppy and its mother act. Good breeders care about the puppy as a whole, not just its body. They are worried about the puppy’s future and its mental, emotional, and behavioural health.
Breeders do a lot of research and look into the backgrounds of the dogs they breed to make sure that the puppies they make are healthy, have good personalities, and meet the breed standard.
So, they get to know a lot about each different puppy. They will find out if Shih Tzus do better in certain situations and if they have any problems, which can happen no matter how they were bred.
About the Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is the 20th most popular dog breed out of 197, according to the American Kennel Club, and for good reason! The small bodies of these “adorable, active, and outgoing pups” hold a lot of personality.
Most of the time, they weigh between 9 and 16 pounds and are about 10 inches tall. Because of this, they can live in a variety of places, even smaller apartments.
The average lifespan of these puppies is between 10 and 18 years, which means that you may have to take care of your dog for almost 20 years. So, before you add one to your family, make sure it’s something you want to be responsible for.
Appearance
The Shih Tzu is a strong breed of small dog that can weigh between 9 and 16 pounds. Their long, silky, luxurious double coat comes in 14 different colours and three different markings, such as black, black and white, grey and white, and red and white.
Most Shih Tzus have a small white mark on the top of their heads called the “Star of Buddha.” This is a very desirable trait.
Shih Tzus were made to be good family pets. Their friendly, outgoing personalities could work in any family, as long as they get all the attention they want.
Due to the way their teeth meet, Shih Tzus have a unique smile. A shih tzu’s lower jaw is a little bit wider than its upper jaw.
This means that when the dog’s mouth is closed, the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth. And the hair on their faces grows in all directions, including up from their noses. It needs to be trimmed often to keep it from falling in front of their eyes.
Some people say that the way they walk, with their heads up and their tails arched over their backs, makes them look proud.
Temperament
A shih tzu’s heart can be won with lots of care. When they are sitting on your lap, they are never happier. Shih Tzus were made to be friendly companions. They don’t have any instincts to hunt, herd, or defend themselves; they just want to be with their people.
Shih Tzus may bark at strangers at first, but they quickly make friends with everyone they meet.
They get a lot of attention everywhere they go because of how beautiful they are and how much they want people to love them. It’s not a surprise that so many people like them because they are friendly.
Living Needs
Everyone in the family loves and is charmed by Shih Tzus. If they are taught well, they are friendly and good with kids.
As with any breed, you should introduce your shih tzu to other people and make sure your kids know how to handle these small puppies so they can get along well. Children should not carry her around or poke at her big eyes.
Shih Tzus are prone to heat stroke because of their thick coats and flat faces, so make sure they have a place to cool off when the weather gets hot.
They like the breeze from a fan and would be glad to have air conditioning. Shih tzus can’t swim well because of their coats, so they won’t jump into water to cool off.
Pros of Shih Tzus
1. Friendly
Most people don’t like dogs that aren’t friendly. The Shih Tzu is lucky because it is one of the best dog breeds. They have a great way about them as dogs. There will, no doubt, be Shih Tzu dogs that are mean.
It’s hard for every dog to be outgoing, but most of these dogs love people. They are wary of strangers, but they are usually not mean. Shih Tzus love their owners with all their hearts.
2. Playful
Shih Tzus are also among the dogs that are the most active. Most objective measures of playfulness give them high marks. Also, they tend to be active even when they are old.
The average lifespan of a Shih Tzu is 13 years, so you’ll have a lot of time to play with and enjoy your new puppy.
3. The Shih Tzu Personality Is Good Around Other Dogs
Shih Tzus usually get along well with other dogs if you already have some. They don’t fight with other dogs or animals very often, which makes them a great pet if you also have cats.
It’s important to know that Shih Tzus sometimes think they’re bigger than they are. So, if a big dog challenges them to a fight or if they want to fight the big dog themselves, they will. If you live with big dogs, you may need to stop a fight to protect your Shih Tzu.
4. They Like To Be Near Humans
Even though they are very active, these dogs like being around people. They hate being left alone more than anything. If you work long hours or plan to travel, you’ll need to hire a dog walker or have someone come over to walk the dogs.
If a Shih Tzu dog breed doesn’t see people for a long time, they will definitely start to feel neglected. When this happens, your dog may feel stressed, and you may notice that he or she is acting in a destructive way.
5. Caring For Your Dog
Taking care of your dog can sometimes be a full-time job. There’s so much to learn and so little time to do it!
At Petsmont, we have a team whose only job is to find the best ingredients for dog products. And because fleas and ticks are such a pain for dog owners, we made our own natural flea and tick collar for dogs. Fleas, go away! Your dog will be grateful.
Whether you live in the country or the city, you should protect your dog’s paws from hard surfaces, hot pavement, and even salted ice. Paw balm is just as important for our four-legged friends as it is for us.
We also made a USDA-certified organic paw balm for dogs because we only want the best for them. No more dry, cracked paws! You will see a difference after the first time you use it.
6. Shih Tzus Have A Pleasant Energy Level
The Shih Tzu is a great mix of these two types. You can keep up with these dogs. They aren’t too fast. They’re not so lazy that you can’t play fetch with them, either.
You can expect them to follow you around the house and want to go for walks with you. At the same time, your pet will probably enjoy relaxing outside on a warm, sunny day.
Having a dog with a steady amount of energy is very nice. The Shih Tzu’s personality is in the middle, which is another reason why this breed is so popular. Many owners have trouble with either side.
7. The Shih Tzu Personality Makes It Good Around Children
Shih Tzus are good pets for kids because they are calm, don’t get angry easily, and like to do small things. They also don’t have a drive to hunt, so as long as your kids are nice to the Shih Tzu, they won’t have any problems with it.
But because they don’t know how to connect with the dog in a safe way, these dogs may see very young children as a threat. If this is the case, you might want to wait to get a Shih Tzu until your kids are a little older.
8. Shih Tzus Are Charming
Shih Tzus are very cute dogs. This is a fact that has both good and bad effects. On the one hand, they’re cute. It is one of the cutest things you will ever see.
On the other hand, many Shih Tzus have tricked their owners into giving them poor training. Because of this, many dog owners don’t realize that their dog isn’t fully housetrained, which makes it hard for them to fix.
Be careful, because your Shih Tzu will try to get you to do something. But you must keep training.
Cons of Shih Tzus
1. Those gorgeous coats can be high maintenance
If a Shih Tzu has longer hair, it will need to be brushed almost every day. If you don’t brush them often enough, their fur can get tangled up, which can be uncomfortable or, if left for too long, can cause skin problems.
2. They need a high-quality food
These tiny puppies have special dietary needs and do best on high-quality, fresh, or home-cooked food.
There are a lot of Shih Tzus who come to Ollie. When word got out that our tasty recipes kept their appetites satisfied, many of these pups’ parents came to us to set up regular deliveries for their dogs.
Most of the time, we don’t recommend making your own food without first talking to your vet or a nutritionist, because if you’re not careful, you can cause nutritional deficiencies or imbalances.
So, Ollie has a veterinary nutritionist on staff to make sure that our recipes give your pet everything they need.
3. Can be stubborn
These puppies are cute and friendly, but sometimes they can be a little bit… bossy. If you don’t start teaching and socializing them early, they might do bad things with their cute faces.
4. Prone to health issues
As with any purebred dog, the Shih Tzu is prone to certain health problems. Hip dysplasia, patellar luxation (when the kneecap slides), ocular abnormalities like cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and retinal detachment, and corneal dryness and irritation from eyelids that don’t close properly are some of the most common.
Even though it’s not dangerous, you should know that because of their longer coats, many of these puppies don’t do well in hot weather and don’t learn to swim well.
Before buying a puppy from a breeder, ask about the health of the bloodline and if the breeder does any tests before breeding to make sure the puppy will be as healthy as possible.
Does training help make a Shih Tzu a better family dog if they have issues?
Yes, training can help any dog that has problems with its behavior. Training people is like going to school.
It teaches the puppy the skills it needs to live well at home. It teaches kids what to do in different situations and how they should act.
Most of the time, Shih Tzus get along well with both people and other dogs. But anything could happen, depending on their past lives and their health.
If they have problems when they join the family or later on, training will help them figure out how to deal with them.
How soon after adoption should I put my Shih Tzu in training?
How soon you should start teaching your Shih Tzu puppy after getting it will depend on how old it is.
Having said that, a puppy can start to learn passive training at this age. Passive training is already a part of their daily lives. For example, the puppy’s mother taught him and his siblings not to do certain things when they were still young.
If she didn’t like what they were doing, she would growl or bark at them to tell them they were doing something wrong. If she thinks they are in danger, she might grab them by the scruff and pull them away.
When the puppy first comes home, it may be important for their safety to keep them in a certain area.
This kind of training is called “passive.” Without taking any kind of action, passive training teaches kids what is and isn’t okay in real life.
As an example, individuals may enter a room where they are not permitted. The pet parent gently picks them up, leads them out of the room, and shuts the door. Time and doing the same thing over and over again will teach them that they are not allowed to enter.
Passive training takes a long time, but it works and is good for the dog.
Still, official training should start before the puppy turns one year old. When they come home from the breeder, it’s a good idea to start passive life training, give them a few weeks to get used to their new environment, and then start formal training.
It’s best to start serious training when the Shih Tzu puppy is between three and four months old, but this depends on when you bring the puppy home and how your home is set up.
It also depends on when you want to start training your child to use the toilet and do other things.
When the puppy is under a year old, training can start, but the sooner the better. Before starting this training, puppies should have a few weeks to get used to their new environment. When they are away from their mother and breeder, there is a lot going on in their minds and hearts.
Is a Shih Tzu a good first dog?
Yes, a Shih Tzu is a great choice for someone who has never had a dog before. Because they are friendly and want to be close to their people, they can be a good choice. Even so, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to raise and train these puppies.
As with any puppy, you should give it enough time and attention, stay away from behaviour problems, and make sure it gets the right food and medical care.
Whether you’re looking for a friend as a single person or your kids are finally old enough for their own puppy, a Shih Tzu can be a great addition to your family, no matter what that looks like.
Once your Shih Tzu is settled in at home, it’s time to think about meals. Shih Tzus are one of the five most popular dog breeds we sell, so we know a thing or two about how to feed and care for them (number four, to be precise).
Shih Tzu owners love our delicious recipes because they keep their dogs happy, healthy, and full of only the good stuff. They tell us all the time that their dogs love to see the big orange boxes arrive and eat the delicious food right out of our famous Puppy Carts.
Is a Shih Tzu a good first dog?
Shih Tzus are great family dogs because they are gentle and get along with almost everyone. The way they act and the way they were raised make them easy to love and live with, but this may not always be the case.
I have been working in animal shelter for the past six years and I have been raising the puppies of different breeds. I have had experience in training the puppies in obedience, agility, and other dog sports.
My main objective is to train the puppies to become good family pets. They should be well-behaved and trained to be loving, loyal, and obedient.
Contact me:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (912) 634-3631
Address: 102 Village Way Crk Saint Simons Island, Georgia(GA), 31522
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