In shortThe Shih Tzu was made for one thing: keeping company. He does it well, with quiet stubbornness and a flat face that complicates reading. In him, breath and gaze speak of anatomy first.
A Tibetan then Chinese palace dog, the Shih Tzu is affectionate, confident, friendly with almost everyone and not very interested in obedience. His short muzzle limits his breathing and heat tolerance, his large exposed eyes get injured easily, and his coat needs daily care. He is known for slow house-training, often from lack of consistency more than ability.
Coolness. No midday sidewalk, no car in the sun. Short games, water available.
A strict potty routine. Outings at fixed times, immediate reward outside, no punishment inside. He learns, but slowly.
Grooming as a ritual. Daily brushing, eye corners cleaned, hair kept out of the eyes. A matted Shih Tzu gets irritable.
As a puppy, house-training can take six months or more: patience and regularity. As an adult, watch weight, eyes, crowded teeth in a small jaw and breathing. As a senior, kidneys, back and eyes dominate. A Shih Tzu who bumps into things or hesitates in the dark may be losing his sight.
No. The breed is known to be slow, and most failures come from an irregular routine or punishments that teach him to hide to go. Fixed outings, reward outside, enzymatic cleaning inside, and time.
Common in short muzzles, but not harmless. If he snores while awake, chokes while eating or tires quickly, have his airways assessed.
With rewards, very short sessions and no restraint. The Shih Tzu was not bred to work; he cooperates when it pays. Pressure makes him shut down.
Mimo reads behavior. It does not replace a vet.
Ten seconds is enough. On iPhone. Android is in closed testing.