Temperament of the breed

Shih Tzus have many admirable qualities, one of the strongest being their personality. They are generally happy, affectionate, outgoing, friendly, well mannered, dignified and trusting towards everyone.Having been bred as companion dogs Shih Tzus love people. They make friends easily and are very adaptable, they are happy to sit patiently and watch you while you rest, play with you when you are willing and even don’t mind travelling. This is not to say that they don’t require attention as there is nothing they love more than their owners love and attention.

Due to their trusting, friendly and affectionate nature they easily accept strangers as long as they are accepted by the family and also make wonderful companions to children, although they do at times have a jealous streak. Shih Tzus also get along with other pets and generally love to meet and greet and play. This can at times be dangerous for them as they are so trusting and fail to see immediate threats from other dogs.

Shih Tzus are predominantly an indoor pet and are suitable to any style of living whether it be in the country, or city, living in an apartment. It is important to remember that they do at times like to wander, mainly due to the fact that they love to meet new people and animals, therefore they should always be walked on a leash and live somewhere with an enclosed yard.

Exercise wise, Shih Tzus do enjoy occasional walks but they do not require a lot of exercise as they tend to tire easily. They are however active and alert and can make good watchdogs. They like to bark but not excessively like other small dog breeds.

Shih Tzus are very intelligent and can be trained for obedience and agility ring competitions. However they can be stubborn at times and therefore training requires patience and perseverance. This also applies to house training them. They do not like punishment so training needs to be gentle and motivational.