What are the typical character traits of Shih Tzus?
Their long mane is of course the ultimate breed characteristic of this dog breed. Especially in summer the coat of these four-legged friends is often cut short. Typical for Shi Tzus is also to put a bow on top of their heads, which prevents their long hair from hanging over the eyes of these four-legged friends.
Shih Tzus do not only have a lush top coat, but also their undercoat is very dense. Therefore, regular grooming is absolutely necessary when keeping these dogs.
Look and coat of the Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus have a very compact physique. Their delightful hanging ears are mostly covered by their mane. These dogs are well coated across the whole body. The Shih Tzu can have many coat colours. The animal can be either unicoloured, multicoloured or spotted.
What size can a Shih Tzu reach?
This dog breed reaches a maximum size of 27 cm. As a general rule, that also applies to these dogs, the males can get somewhat larger and heavier than bitches.
How much does a Shih Tzu weigh?
The Shih Tzu reaches a weight of 4.5 kg to a maximum of 8 kg. Bigger males are of course a bit heavier than petite bitches. Since these dogs are very charming and also like to beg for food, there is a high risk that their owners are too generous with treats. But you are not doing your Shih Tzu any good with that. Please pay attention to a balanced diet and sufficient exercise with these little dogs.
How old can a Shih Tzu get?
If kept in a species-appropriate way, given they are fed a healthy diet and the Shih Tzu comes from a responsible breeding, this dog can reach an age of 12 to 16 years. Therefore, it is also important that you put your trust into a good Shih Tzu breeder.