Shih Tzus are cute and cuddly, but there are some downsides to owning them as well. So, if you’re wondering, “What should I know about Shih Tzu dogs before I decide to get one,” here are all the pros and cons of Shih Tzu ownership.
All the Great Things About Shih Tzus
There are a lot of great things about Shih Tzus. I’ve owned them most of my adult life. Right now I have two older Shih Tzus. (You can learn more about Truman and Sammy here.)
Both have their own distinct personalities, but they are sweet little dogs.
If you’ve never owned a Shih Tzu you might be wondering what makes them so great. Here are some of their best qualities.
1. They Are Super Cute
There’s no getting around it. Shih Tzus are really cute dogs. This is especially true if you leave their hair long and they have the top-knot.
Even shaved or closely trimmed, their big oversized eyes and teddy bear faces can melt your heart.
They really are one of the cutest small dogs out there and if you have a Shih Tzu, everyone is going to want to pet it when you go for a walk.
They do draw attention.
Not to mention, they enjoy being the center of attention. They know they look good and want to show off and why not. As they say, if you’ve got it, flaunt it, and Shih Tzus live by that code.
2. They Will Be Your True Love
Shih Tzus are a one-person dog. While most Shih Tzus like most people, they will only love one and this will be a lifetime love.
If you’re looking for a pet that will see you as their total and complete world, look no further than a Shih Tzu.
Your heart will melt when they look up at you with their big eyes as they cuddle on your lap or next to you on the sofa.
A Shih Tzu will always want to be wherever you are. Some people say they are clingy. I say they are just love personified.
Your Shih Tzu will be your shadow following you from room to room.
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3. They Don’t Need a Lot of Exercise
Now some people enjoy going for long walks or hikes and they like to have their dog by their side. That’s great.
In my small town, the only people you see walking are those actually running for exercise, someone walking their dog, and then those you cross the street to avoid.
I always prefer to walk with my dog, so I’m not mistaken for a crazy person.
Even so, Shih Tzus really aren’t up for a long walk. About a mile or so is going to do them in. They aren’t great on hiking trails either.
This is great news for people who don’t want to spend hours a day exercising or walking or have mobility issues themselves.
A Shih Tzu can get all of their exercises from a short play session inside with you throwing a toy for them.
That’s nice as well when the weather is bad. I don’t like walking in the rain or snow and never does my Truman, so we are happy to play inside for short periods.
This makes them great pets for seniors who may not want to get out too much or may not be able to get out.
4. They Don’t Need a Lot of Space
Your Shih Tzu isn’t going to get two feet from you anyway, so they don’t need a lot of space. They are inside dogs. This means you don’t need a big fenced in backyard for them to play in.
They are perfectly happy in a small apartment.
And because they are small, they don’t need a lot of room to run around inside either.
5. They Are Great Lap Dogs
Shih Tzus can make great lap dogs. I know I always wanted a lap dog and when I got Truman I was excited because I figured I finally had one.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Truman never wanted to sit on my lap or even next to me. He was always happy sitting on the other end of the sofa from me, so that was a bit of a disappointment.
When Sammy joined the family, I finally had my lap dog.
There’s no place she would rather be than sitting on my lap.
It just goes to show that not all Shih Tzus are the same. Even so, most of them tend to be very cuddly and want to be near you or on you most of the time.
They were bred to be companion dogs, and they do make great companions.
6. They Get Along With Other Animals and Kids
Most Shih Tzus get along with kids and other animals. This is especially true if you introduce them while your Shih Tzu is still a puppy.
If you introduce them once your Shih Tzu is a little older, you may have some issues.
I know Truman was never around kids and other dogs as a puppy and he never really liked them as he got older. That was my fault for not socializing him in that way.
Sammy, on the other hand, was a rescue dog and she has always been fine with other dogs. She does like to chase bunnies if she gets the chance.
The point is if you socialize your Shih Tzu as a puppy with other animals and children they will do very well with them throughout their life.
Just keep in mind that because Shih Tzus are small dogs, they don’t like to be handled roughly and young children don’t always understand this, so there should always be adult supervision when your Shih Tzu is around children.
All the Not So Great Things About Shih Tzus
Of course, Shih Tzus aren’t perfect. There are no perfect dogs, so we should take a look at some of their less than positive qualities.
1. They Take a Lot of Grooming
All that beautiful hair Shih Tzus have takes a lot of grooming. That means combing them each and every day.
Otherwise, they will get terrible mats.
Daily grooming can be time consuming and kind of a pain.
You also have the choice of taking them to a groomer or having them shaved or keep them in a shorter cut which is what I do.
Of course, you lose out on all that pretty hair, but it does save time.
2. They Are Stubborn
While your Shih Tzu might be small, there is nothing small about their personalities. They have big personalities and at the core of those personalities is their stubbornness.
When they don’t want to do something, they aren’t going to do it.
If you’re out walking and they have, in their mind, walked far enough, they will stop, sit down, and refuse to continue.
I’ve ended up carrying Sammy many times when she decided she was done walking.
Because of this stubbornness, they can be difficult to train. Sometimes people mistake their stubbornness for stupidity, but they are wrong.
Shih Tzus are smart little dogs. They just have a mind of their own and aren’t afraid to show it.
3. They Are Really Hard to Housebreak
Maybe the most difficult aspect to deal with when it comes to Shih Tzus is how hard they are to housebreak.
Man-oh-man the battles Truman have had over the years could fill a book.
I really think it isn’t so much that they can’t be trained. I feel it goes back to their stubbornness. They don’t want to be trained.
Shih Tzus see no reason why they shouldn’t be able to go to the bathroom wherever and whenever they want.
It can be very frustrating.
Truman was crate trained when he was a few weeks old before he came to live with me, but it took me years to get him to stop going in the house.
Not to mention when we were outside we’d have to walk the whole county before he would actually go.
Frustrating indeed.
Related Questions:
Does a Shih Tzu Get Attached to One Person?
Yes, Shih Tzus are very much a one-person dog. They will like other people, but they will only love and want to be with one person.
To Sum it All Up:
Shih Tzus are wonderful pets. They are full of love and fun-loving. They will be your close companion and for the most part, only need your love to be happy. Of course, there are aspects of their personality that aren’t great. They can be quite stubborn and are tough to housebreak. Even so, the cons of Shih Tzus are always outweighed by the pros.
