Shih Tzu
A Shih Tzu is an affectionate, outgoing house companion bred to sit in laps, and it is genuinely good with children and other dogs. The work is the coat, which needs daily brushing or regular clipping, and the short face, which means no heat, no swimming, and a watch on eyes and breathing.
9-16 lb, 8-11 in
10-18 years
Long, dense double coat; sheds very little but mats without daily brushing or a short clip
Low to moderate; short daily walks and indoor play
Toy Group
Temperament and intelligence
The AKC says being cute is a way of life for this lively charmer, that the Shih Tzu is especially affectionate with children, and that its idea of fun is sitting in your lap while you watch TV. It rates the breed 5 of 5 for affection with family, good with young children and good with other dogs. VCA says the Shih Tzu makes both an affectionate lap dog and a fun-loving companion, is outgoing toward strangers, and is good with other dogs and pets. On intelligence, VCA says the breed learns quickly but tends to have a stubborn streak, and the AKC says it tends to charm its owner into letting it have its own way, which can produce a chubby, less-than-completely-housebroken pet that is difficult to groom. That sentence describes a lot of shelter Shih Tzus. The dog itself is easy to live with; the failure mode is an owner who never asked anything of it.
“Makes both an affectionate lap dog and fun-loving companion.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Exercise and training
The AKC says the Shih Tzu was bred to be a house companion and requires minimal exercise: short daily walks and indoor playtime satisfy it. VCA says a walk around the block once or twice daily meets its outdoor needs, that it still needs the mental stimulation of walking and sniffing outdoors even if physical needs are met inside, and that games and tricks provide needed mental exercise. VCA also warns that because of its short muzzle the Shih Tzu is prone to overheating in warm weather, and the AKC says the breed does not tolerate heat well and is not a good swimmer. Training should be reward-based. The AKC says praise-and-reward methods work best and harsh corrections should not be used; introduce new behaviors a bit at a time, be firm, and never give in while the dog is misbehaving. VCA says the breed does not do well with force-based methods, is very good with food or game rewards, and that housetraining can be more challenging than with many other breeds.
“Housetraining can be more challenging than with many other breeds.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Health and common conditions
The AKC says most Shih Tzu are generally healthy, and that responsible breeders screen for hip dysplasia, patellar luxation (a slipped kneecap), and eye anomalies including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, retinal detachment, and corneal dryness and inflammation from improperly closing eyelids. It lists no AKC-recommended health tests for the breed. The AKC also notes that because of their heavy coats and short faces, Shih Tzu do not tolerate heat well. The Merck Veterinary Manual names the Shih Tzu among the small breeds in which intervertebral disc disease, a degenerative spinal condition, is a common cause of spinal cord disorders. VCA adds two everyday issues: the breed is prone to periodontal problems, largely preventable with regular tooth brushing, and very small puppies are prone to hypoglycemia and need frequent meals. The AKC gives a lifespan of 10-18 years and VCA 11-14. For a shelter Shih Tzu, ask for a dental assessment, have the vet check the eyes and knees, watch for noisy or labored breathing in heat, and keep the dog lean to protect the back.
“Because of their heavy coats and short faces, Shih Tzu do not tolerate heat well and are not good swimmers.”
American Kennel Club
Grooming and shedding
This is the breed's main cost in time or money. The AKC says a Shih Tzu with a long coat requires daily brushing with a wire pin brush, layering the hair to reach the skin, a bath every three or four weeks, daily combing of the mustache and topknot, and gentle daily cleaning of the eye corners; the hair on top of the head should be trimmed short or tied up to protect the eyes. VCA says brushing and combing every other day is necessary to prevent mats. Shedding is the good news: VCA calls it below average and the AKC rates it 1 of 5. The AKC's practical alternative is a puppy trim by a professional groomer, which most pet owners choose; budget for a groomer every four to six weeks. Many shelter Shih Tzus arrive matted to the skin and are shaved on intake, which is nothing to worry about; the coat grows back.
Good with kids, cats and other dogs
The Shih Tzu is one of the more reliably social small breeds. The AKC says it is known to be especially affectionate with children and rates it 5 of 5 with young children and 5 of 5 with other dogs; VCA says it is playful and good with children, outgoing toward strangers, and good with other dogs and pets. VCA's one caution is size: children must be supervised because they could easily hurt such a small dog, and the AKC's health notes about prominent eyes and slipping kneecaps reinforce that. VCA's good with other pets rating and the breed's low prey drive (the AKC contrasts it with dogs that live to dig holes and chase cats) make the Shih Tzu a reasonable choice for a cat household, with the usual slow introduction.
“Playful and good with children, but children must be supervised because they could easily hurt such a small dog.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to know before you say yes
The ASPCA reports that 30% of 2025 shelter intake was owner surrender, with lack of veterinary access, pet-friendly housing and behavioral support among the main pressures. For this breed the specific drivers follow from the facts above: a coat that mats and costs money to maintain, dental disease that becomes an expensive extraction, eye problems, housetraining that never took, and a lifespan of up to 18 years that outlasts an elderly owner's ability to care for the dog. Shih Tzus are also common in puppy-mill and hoarding seizures. Ask the shelter: Why was the dog surrendered, and was it part of a seizure? Is it housetrained? What is the condition of its teeth and eyes, and is a dental already recommended? Was it matted on intake? How does it tolerate brushing and handling? Then plan for a groomer every four to six weeks or daily brushing, tooth brushing, air conditioning in summer, and patience with housetraining.