Shih Tzus are dogs that make wonderful pets. They are dogs that we have had in our family since I was a young child. They are very playful, friendly and almost never bite. I don’t remember ever being bitten by one. So, that is one reason among many reasons that they are excellent with children as well as the elderly. My family has kept several dogs of this breed throughout my lifetime.
These are small dogs. They only stand about 10 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh about 10-15 pounds when full grown. They have long straight hair which can be a variety of colors. Many owners choose to clip their hair short, which is fine. In fact, this really reveals how small their bodies really are.
In my experience they do bark some. It is not excessive. It is not annoying to me, as I actually get a giggle when they bark. In hindsight, they love to make their presence known when someone knocks on the door or rings the doorbell. This is their way of saying hello. They welcome visitors.
Shih Tzus do require grooming.
Due to having long hair these dogs require more bathing, hair cutting and brushing than other breeds of dogs do. Secondly, I have also observed that as they get older they can have eye problems such as cataracts. I have also seen them lose their teeth, once again as they age. A normal life for a shih tzu is about 12 years.
In summary, these are great dogs as we sure have loved ours. You can come up with your own name(s). Maybe you already have your own dog. We even have a product to stop the dog farts!
