The Shih Tzu is a small, sweet-natured charmer that was bred for one job above all others: to be a companion. Often nicknamed the “chrysanthemum dog” for the way the hair radiates around its face, this little toy breed was developed as a pampered Chinese palace companion, not as a worker or a hunter. That heritage explains almost everything about owning one — the Shih Tzu lives to be with its people, thrives on lap time and affection, and asks for relatively little exercise. What it does ask for is real commitment to grooming, careful management of its flat-faced breathing, and patience with house-training. This guide covers the Shih Tzu’s temperament, its particular care needs, the health issues to watch, and a gentle positive-reinforcement plan built around a sensitive companion dog.
The American Kennel Club places the Shih Tzu in its Toy Group and describes the breed as affectionate, playful and outgoing — a dog bred purely for companionship that wants nothing more than to follow its favourite person from room to room. This is not a dog that needs a job in the working sense; it needs company, gentle handling and a clean, well-kept coat. Meet those needs and you have one of the most delightful, people-loving little dogs in the world.
Temperament: the affectionate palace companion
Shih Tzus are friendly, outgoing and charming little dogs that were bred for centuries to do nothing but keep people company. The result is a dog that genuinely loves people, is generally good with children and other pets, and would happily spend the whole day on a warm lap. They are alert and playful enough to be fun, yet calm enough to make excellent apartment dogs and gentle companions for less active owners. Because they were created purely for companionship, they form strong bonds and thrive on involvement — which has a flip side: a Shih Tzu that is left alone for long stretches is prone to loneliness and separation distress. This is a breed that wants to be with you, not parked in a yard. They can also be a little stubborn, especially about house-training, so patient consistency rather than firmness is the key.
Exercise: low to moderate, and never in the heat
One of the joys of the Shih Tzu is how little exercise it needs. As a small companion breed, a couple of short daily walks plus some indoor play are plenty to keep it happy and healthy. What matters far more than distance is restraint: because the Shih Tzu is brachycephalic, you must not over-exert it, and you must avoid exercise in hot or humid weather entirely. A flat-faced dog cannot cool itself efficiently, so a walk that would be nothing to another breed can leave a Shih Tzu dangerously overheated. Aim for short outings in the cool parts of the day, plenty of gentle mental enrichment, and a careful eye on the dog’s breathing. For more on matching activity to breed, see our guide to dog care fundamentals.
Brachycephalic concerns: breathing and heat
The Shih Tzu’s adorable flat face comes at a real cost, and responsible owners take it seriously. A shortened muzzle means a compressed airway, so snoring, snorting and noisy breathing are common, and some dogs have genuine brachycephalic airway syndrome that makes breathing a daily struggle. The same flat face makes heat intolerance a serious welfare issue: Shih Tzus overheat quickly and can suffer heatstroke in conditions other dogs tolerate easily. Keep your dog cool, provide shade and water, and treat hot, humid days as a reason to stay indoors. Crowded, crooked teeth are another consequence of the short muzzle, so dental care is especially important. If your Shih Tzu’s breathing is laboured, its gums turn blue, or it tires or faints on mild exertion, see your veterinarian promptly.
Eye health: large, exposed and easily hurt
The Shih Tzu’s big, round, prominent eyes are one of its most appealing features and one of its most vulnerable. Because the eyes sit forward and exposed, they are prone to injury — corneal ulcers and scratches are common, and in extreme cases the eye can even prolapse from its socket (proptosis). The breed is also predisposed to dry eye, and to inherited conditions including progressive retinal atrophy. Practical care matters every day: gently wipe the eye area to clear discharge, keep the long facial hair tied up in a topknot so it never rubs the cornea, and clean any tear staining. Watch for redness, squinting, pawing at the face or cloudiness, which all warrant a vet visit.
The coat: your biggest care commitment
If you take on a Shih Tzu, you take on its coat — this is comfortably the most demanding part of ownership. The long, flowing double coat is beautiful but grows continuously and mats with astonishing speed; left unbrushed for even a day or two it tangles to the skin, which is painful and can hurt the skin underneath. A full-length coat needs brushing right down to the skin every single day, plus professional grooming roughly every four to six weeks. Many owners sensibly choose the puppy cut — a short, even trim that keeps the dog tidy and comfortable with far less daily work, though it still needs regular brushing. Whichever you choose, the face needs particular care: a topknot keeps hair out of the eyes, the long ear hair needs checking and cleaning to prevent infections, and the facial and eye-area hair should be wiped clean daily. For the broader routine that complements all this, our dog grooming basics guide is the place to start.
| Shih Tzu essential | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Daily coat brushing | The long double coat mats to the skin within a day or two |
| Cool, short walks | A flat-faced dog overheats fast and tires easily |
| Topknot & eye cleaning | Keeps hair off large exposed eyes and prevents injury |
| Crate & toilet schedule | A small bladder and stubborn streak make house-training slow |
Health notes
Knowing a breed’s predispositions helps you stay ahead of them with your vet. Alongside the brachycephalic breathing and prominent-eye problems already covered, Shih Tzus are associated with orthopaedic issues including hip problems and patella luxation (a slipping kneecap), and with intervertebral disc disease affecting the spine in a long-backed little dog. The breed also has notable kidney concerns — renal dysplasia, an inherited developmental kidney condition — and can be affected by portosystemic (liver) shunts. Dental disease is common because of the crowded teeth. Responsible breeders health-test their dogs. Keeping a Shih Tzu lean protects its joints and spine, and routine vet checks catch many of these issues early. None of this predicts your individual dog’s health, and nothing here is a diagnosis.
House-training: patience over pressure
Shih Tzus have a deserved reputation for being slow to house-train. They are small, with little bladders that simply cannot hold on for long, and they can be genuinely stubborn about toileting where you would like. The solution is structure, not frustration. Use a correctly sized crate as a den the dog will not want to soil, keep to a strict toilet schedule — out first thing, after every meal, after naps and play, and last thing at night — and reward every success the instant it happens, outdoors. Take the dog out far more often than feels necessary, and never punish accidents, which only teaches a sensitive dog to hide and toilet in secret. With consistency most Shih Tzus get there; just expect it to take longer than with many larger breeds. Our crate training guide walks through the den setup that makes house-training click.
A gentle, breed-tailored training plan
A Shih Tzu plan works with the breed’s nature: this is a sensitive, people-pleasing little companion, so everything is built on positive reinforcement and patience. Harsh methods are entirely unnecessary and counterproductive with a dog this small and sweet — choke, prong and shock tools have no place here. It is also worth guarding against the opposite trap: spoiling. A doted-on toy dog that is never asked to learn manners can develop “small dog syndrome,” becoming demanding or snappy, so gentle, consistent training and clear, kind boundaries matter just as much as cuddles.
- Weeks 1–3 — foundation & handlingTeach name response, attention, sit and a hand target with small soft treats, and start gentle handling so grooming, eye-wiping and ear checks become normal and welcome. Begin the crate-and-schedule house-training routine.
- Weeks 4–6 — manners & habitsAdd “leave it,” a settle on a mat, and calm greetings to head off small-dog demanding behaviour. Keep house-training tight and reward every outdoor success. Build daily brushing into a positive ritual.
- Weeks 7–9 — calm in the worldPractise short, cool walks with loose-leash manners, gentle exposure to new sights and sounds, and being briefly alone to prevent separation distress. Keep sessions short and upbeat.
- Weeks 10–12 — polish & proofGeneralise the basics to new places, keep up grooming, eye care and heat-aware exercise, and confirm the house-training schedule is reliable before easing it.
Keep sessions short, kind and frequent, always ending on a win, and accept the Shih Tzu for what it is — a devoted little companion that gives back every bit of attention you put in. Pair this with how to socialize a puppy for confident early experiences, and if you are weighing up other flat-faced companions, compare temperaments with our French Bulldog guide or the brainier Poodle guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Shih Tzus hard to house-train?
They have a reputation for being slow to house-train — they are small, with little bladders, and can be stubborn about where they go. The answer is structure, not harshness: a consistent toilet schedule, a correctly sized crate, frequent trips outside and rewarding every success. With patience most Shih Tzus get there, but expect it to take longer than with many larger breeds.
Why does my Shih Tzu snore and snort?
The Shih Tzu is brachycephalic, or flat-faced, so its shortened muzzle compresses the airway and snoring, snorting and noisy breathing are common. Mild noise can be normal for the breed, but laboured breathing, blue gums, fainting or severe heat intolerance are warning signs and should be checked by your vet.
How often does a Shih Tzu need grooming?
A full-length coat needs brushing to the skin every day to prevent painful mats, plus professional grooming every four to six weeks. Many owners choose a shorter puppy cut, which is far easier but still needs regular brushing. The face, eye area and ears also need frequent gentle cleaning, and a topknot keeps hair out of the eyes.
How much exercise does a Shih Tzu need?
Low to moderate — short daily walks plus indoor play are plenty for this companion toy breed. Because it is brachycephalic, avoid over-exertion and never exercise it in hot or humid weather, when it can overheat dangerously. Gentle play and enrichment matter more than long, strenuous outings.
Sources
- American Kennel Club (AKC) — Shih Tzu Breed Standard & Profile
- ASPCA — General Dog Care & Positive Training
- AVMA — Pet Owner Preventive Care & Healthy Weight Resources