(Photo by Barbara Cunningham)
(Photo by Kathleen Snyder)
before returning to complete the exer- cise. Because Shih Tzu are such hams, when people laughed she just wagged her tail more. The Shih Tzu was developed in the Manchu court in China strictly as a com- panion dog. Shyness or aggressiveness is NOT characteristic of our breed and should never be excused in the ring or in a breeding program. I think a Shih Tzu would give a burglar a guided tour. Everyone, young or old, is a friend; as are other dogs, large and small. This is one of the qualities that makes a Shih Tzu a great therapy dog, a willing trav- eler and very adaptable to a new home at any age. While there are not a lot of sex-related temperament differences, many of us find males to be more affec- tionate than females. A friend once said that the boys snuggle up and say, ‘Love me please,’ while the girls toss their heads and say, ‘Of course you love me!’
In any case, this is an easy breed to live with. When you are ready to play or go for a walk, your Shih Tzu is delighted to join you. If you want to work or eat din- ner or chill out, he will not pester you. Instead, he will amuse himself or curl up and go to sleep, probably with his chin on your foot. The breed standard calls for Shih Tzu to weigh between 9 and 16 pounds and be solidly boned with good spring of rib. Slab-sidedness and fine bones are a serious fault, and there is no such thing as a special “teacup” or “imperial” Shih Tzu. While a reputable breeder might get an occasional tiny puppy, it may well have health issues. If you want a tiny toy easily carried around in your purse, you should get another breed. The biggest issue with this, or any other coated breed, is grooming. This is a double-coated breed that has hair, not fur. Like you, a Shih Tzu will lose
a little hair every day rather than shed- ding seasonally, and its coat will turn into a mass of mats if you are not will- ing to brush it daily down to the skin and bathe it often. Dirty coats mat. If you brush often enough so that mats do not form, grooming will be a pleas- ant time for you and your dog to bond. Even more importantly, if you want to keep your Shih Tzu in full coat like you see in the show ring, you must start with the nice sturdy coat texture that used to be very common in our breed but is becoming increasingly rare. It is almost impossible for a novice to keep up with a soft, cottony coat that mats if you look at it cross-eyed. However, there are many very cute clips that will make your Shih Tzu easy to maintain, and drinking water from a rabbit bottle will help keep the face clean and dry. For more information on our wonder- ful breed, go to the American Shih Tzu Club website, www.americanshihtzu- club.org. If you decide to share your life with a Shih Tzu, be aware that you will probably eventually share it with more than one. We often joke that Shih Tzu are like potato chips, so delightful that it is almost impossible to have just one! About the Author Jo Ann White is past president of the American Shih Tzu Club and the Shih Tzu Fanciers of Central Florida and currently serves on the board of both clubs and the Manatee Kennel Club. In addition to writing The Official Book of the Shih Tzu and several other books on the breed, she maintains the ASTC website and has been the breed columnist for the AKC Gazette since 1978. Jo Ann has bred and/or owned many champion Shih Tzu, including the winner of the 2010 ASTC specialty.
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