Information On Shih Tzus

A Guide To Shih Tzu Information

Welcome to my website.  I hope you find lots of great information on Shih Tzus here.  You may or may not have noticed but there is not plural for shih tzu.  Whether you are talking about just one shih tzu or a dozen, you still regard them as shih tzu, there is not word shih tzus.

I hope to update this website regularly with lots of great shih tzu facts and stuff.  Shih tzus actually come from China.  There were bred in the Forbidden City by the leading Dynasties of China. 

Information on shih tzus show that around 624 AD during the Tang dynasty the Kink of Viqur gave them a pair of dogs.  Other shih tzu facts show that there were bred and developed in China.

Whatever the facts, the Shih Tzu is on of America's all time favorite breeds.  But it took a while for the breed to arrive in America.

It first arrived in England after leaving China.  In 1930's England breeding of this dog breed began.  After World War II, American solders stationed in Europe brought these dogs home.

The Breed was not recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1969, which is also the first year the dog could show at AKC events.

The breed standard for shih tzus tells us that a proper shih tzu should stand between 8 to 11 inches tall

Breed to be a companion dog and a house pet by the Chinese Royals, this a great house dog to have.  It has a great temperament and gets along great with children.

It can be prone to behavior problems, like other dogs, if not properly trained.  Some people tend to treat these small toy dogs with a lot of affection, causing these dogs to assume that they are the pack leaders. 

Information on shih tzus tell us that you need to establish yourself as the pack leader otherwise Shih Tzus can become snappy.

Shih Tzus are great for people who have allergies.  They actually shed very little despite their hair coat.

Shih Tzus do have a double hair coat.  The inner hair coat actually sheds out into the outer hair coat.  Because of their thick hair coat, they should be brushed at least daily to avoid tangles and other matting of the hair.

Hair cuts are usually given at least monthly, and can be easily done with a good pair of scissors. 

Bathing Shih Tzu should also be done on a regular basis.  It is important to use a good shampoo designed for show dogs.  Using human shampoo or even baby shampoo can hurt the skin and dry it out.  Dog skin is different than human skin, so don't use human shampoo for shih tzus.

Overall Shih Tzus are pretty healthy although they can be prone to some health problems which you can read about in this website titled: Information on Shih Tzus.