LIVING WITH SHIH TZU
by JO ANN WHITE
I got my first Shih Tzu in 1967, before the breed had been grant- ed full recognition by the Ameri- can Kennel Club. In fact, my first Shih Tzu was also the first Shih Tzu I had ever seen, and most people I knew had never even heard of the breed. I had grown up with medium-sized dogs and was looking for “a big dog in a little package” well suited to life in a small New York City apartment. I did not want a dog that was fragile, nervous, high-strung, aggressive or yappy. In this breed, I found what I was looking for— a small, even-tempered, sturdy dog to share my life. I also found breeders who taught me to groom and encouraged me to go to dog shows, but that is a story for another day. A Shih Tzu’s expression is almost human. When a Shih Tzu with the proper large, round head, broad high- set, short, well-cushioned muzzle and
(Photo by Susan Kilgore)
full dark eyes looks up at you it is easy to see whether he is feeling happy, sad, loving or mischievous. We caution new owners, however, that they need to train their dog rather than let their dog train them. Training a Shih Tzu can be a challenge, because it will try to charm its way out of doing anything it doesn’t like. It will look up at you and wag its tail after misbehaving as if to say, ‘How can you be mad at me when I am soooo cute!’ At the same time, this is a breed that is very intelligent and eager to please. In terms of training, scolding elicits stubbornness. Patience, consis- tency and almost over-the-top praise for good behavior will eventually win the day, with perhaps a dollop of imp- ishness thrown in. I will never forget a Shih Tzu I worked with in obedience at an outdoor show on a very hot day. Trying to keep cool, she heeled in my shadow and inched on her stomach into the shade of the table during the long down. She also broke at one point to go over and say hello to a friend at ringside
(Photo by Alyce Kotze)
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