Shih Tzu, Shih Tzu Puppies, Shih Tzu Breeders - Everything You Need To Know!

The Shih Tzu dog breed survived a tragic history to become one of the most popular toy breeds around today. Shih Tzu historical information reveals that the breed has roots in royalty.

The Shih Tzu originated as the pampered pet of Tibetan Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi, who bred the dogs prolifically between 1861, when she came into power, and 1908, when she died. Her successor disdained the little dogs and everything they represented. As a result, many dogs were killed after the Empress's death. Surviving Shih Tzus belonged mostly to foreigners and members of Chinese nobility, who had received the dogs as gifts from the Empress.

The breed first appeared in the United Kingdom during the late 1920s or early 1930s. North American soldiers who got to know the breed in Europe during World War II became fond of the little dogs and brought them back to the United States and Canada.
The Shih Tzu can be characterized as a lap dog with a pleasant personality and an eagerness to please the humans in its life. The dogs were bred for centuries to provide companionship, and they enjoy nothing more than lounging about in the company of humans. Their small size-nine to sixteen pounds-makes them a perfect pet for apartment dwellers and people who like to travel with their dogs.

Sometimes called "Tibetan lion dog," Shih Tzus were bred to resemble lions, with a flat face, prominent eyes, bowed front legs, and a fearsome facial expression. The breed is also known as the "chrysanthemum dog," because their wrinkled façade looks a bit like the chrysanthemum flower.

The Shih Tzu's coat is long and slightly wavy and requires careful daily grooming to prevent mats and tangles. The results are worth the effort, as the dog's silky coat enhances its elegant appearance.
The dog makes an excellent family pet but is equally content to be a companion for a single owner or a couple without children. The Shih Tzu is happiest when it is the center of attention, so families with infants or very young children are advised to wait until the children are a bit older before purchasing a Shih Tzu, to avoid potential problems with jealousy.

The British Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1935, and the breed continues to be popular in the U.K. and Europe. In 2006, the Shih Tzu ranked ninth in the American Kennel Club's rankings of breed popularity. This is a particularly remarkable accomplishment, considering that the AKC first recognized the breed in 1969. The little Shih Tzu has come a long way in the United States in just under forty years, and it is likely to continue to grow in popularity as more and more people discover what a delightful pet this breed is.

The Shih Tzu is a lap dog with a royal history. The breed makes an excellent pet, especially for a city dweller. Those interested in Shih Tzu information should consult a local breeder or conduct research at the library or online.

The Shih Tzu breed is a miniature dog that has a very lovable and warm personality. You will find that this dog loves company - whether this is from humans or other pets in the house. A great characteristic of the Shih Tzu's is that they live to please you. There is nothing that this dog would love more than doing something that gives you pleasure. This is why the training of this dog when done with positive reinforcement method, works like magic. At the same time you would find that this dog can be unimaginably stubborn if pushed into doing anything. If you ever want to get anything done from a Shih Tzu, never use anything else other than love and positive rewards.

The Shih Tzu loves to be the center of attraction and hate to share the limelight with anyone. They feel much neglected when children are indulged in their presence. Though they are basically very lovable and calm, they tend to show a tendency of jealousy and latent aggressiveness when attention is shifted from them to anyone else.
The Shih Tzu needs very little from you other than love. To keep your Shih Tzu happy, allow it to sleep on your lap, pamper it as often as you can and talk to it all the time. Grooming this dog needs special attention because of its long coat. You need to have it brushed with a hard brush to prevent matting of hair and remove the dust that accumulates on it. You need two separate types of combs - one long toothed for the overall coat on the body and another shorter and denser for the hair around the face and feet.

Have the nails checked and cut regularly as these dogs tend to grow long nails for lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle. In case you are not comfortable with the cutting of nails at home, visit your vet periodically to get the job done. This should be done as often as necessary.
People who live with Shih Tzus find these dogs completely adorable. They have a lot of spunk for their size and they carry themselves with great dignity and aplomb. This is one reason why many people call them royal dogs. They indeed look like royalty when they move around.

Temperamentally, the Shih Tzu is very warm and happy type of dog. They hanker for attention and hate it when it is stolen from them. This is one reason why these dogs do not live too well with small children, as they tend to consider them competition for the owner's love and can become aggressive.

They are very playful when they are young and seem to have a mind of their own. You will need to train your Shih Tzu very early in life or you could have major problems in handling it later on when it becomes an adult. The key to making a Shih Tzu the perfect pet is to have them trained very early in their life. Once they are trained, you could possibly have the best pet on this earth.

TheShih Tzu makes a great pet for anyone who wants a quiet and loyal companion. This article attempts to give you concrete overview and basic Shih Tzu information you always wanted to know about.

Shih Tzu dogs are interesting dogs to own and before you invest in a Shih Tzu dog you may want to do a little research into their primary behaviors and characteristics. There is a lot that is unique to Shih Tzu dogs and some of it good while some of it is bad. But just like any other pet, if you really love your dog take the time to get to know your dog and its behavior and habits then you'll both be much happier.

Shih Tzu dogs like it quiet and they do not react well to a lot of noise and a lot commotion. For this reason Shih Tzu dogs are not the best dogs to have around kids. Kids have a tendency to make a lot of noise and if they are young enough they can sometimes make too much noise for the Shih Tzu. One reaction a Shih Tzu has to noise is a nervous biting habit so you may want to talk with your breeder about mixing a Shih Tzu and kids.
Shih Tzu dogs carry themselves well and even the modern generations still carry themselves like the dogs of Chinese royalty that they descended from. They do love to run and play when they feel happy but they do not require a great deal of exercise at all. They are very dignified dogs that will usually walk very upright and carry themselves with a great deal of pride.

As much as they may look like a typical toy breed of dog the Shih Tzu dog is not known to be a vocal or annoying dog. They do not carry on like the other toy breeds do and they are certainly not known as yippy dogs at all. But they do snort a lot during the regular course of the day and they snore when they sleep so be ready for that. So if you want a toy breed that does not make a lot of barking noise the Shih Tzu may be for you.
Shih Tzu dogs can be very stubborn and they definitely like to think for themselves. Chances are that a Shih Tzu will not be bringing back the stick you throw for it because they just don't feel like it. This stubbornness can also translate into housebreaking issues and it could take almost six months to finally housebreak the stubborn Shih Tzu.

With their beautiful long coat that can come in many colors, and their playful disposition, Shih Tzu dogs can be great pets. Just know that they will need regular brushing of that long coat to stay healthy and they do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They require a lot of attention and care but they can also be the most affectionate pet you ever owned. So be sure a Shih Tzu dog is for you before you invest in one because there may be some things about the dog that you do not like and if you can find that out in advance then you may be able to save you and the dog a lot of hassles.

Before investing in a Shih Tzu you may want to read this article. There is a great deal of useful Shih Tzu information in this article.