The Shih Tzu Personality

There are active Shih Tzus and docile Shih Tzus. Some may be stubborn and others are very sweet-natured and cuddly. I have owned six Shih Tzus in my lifetime. Currently, I own two male Shih Tzu canines. One has a black and white coat and the other is tan and white.

Panda is the eldest and is very affectionate. When I hold him like a baby in my arms, he's perfectly content to stay there. Teddy, on the other hand, is very stiff when he is picked up and doesn't want to be held, though he tolerates it for a few moments. Other than that, he's a very affectionate friend.

Panda has never chewed up anything except a dog toy. Teddy, however, was more difficult to house train. In fact, he still wears a dog diaper in the house. Since there is another male in the house, he likes to mark the sofa and bed area. Even though he has been scolded for such behavior, he continues to "forget" the rules.

The most wonderful thing about the breed is their friendliness. They love to be with people. They stay inside individual crates during the day. The crates are large enough for them to turn around in. I keep a clean, soft towel on the bottom of the crate, to keep them comfortable. I am usually away from them for about 11 hours a day. When I return home each day, they are so excited to see me they howl like wolves. They are not in a hurry to go outside and relieve themselves, but would rather give me kisses or play with a toy.

Shih Tzus are very intelligent and it's easy to teach them tricks. I taught Panda to say "food". He does it by shaking his head slightly and making sort of a sneezing sound. After Teddy joined the family, he quickly learned the trick by watching Panda.

The most negative thing about this breed is hair maintenance. Most people may think the long hair is conductive to shedding hair. This is not true. The Shih Tzus hair sheds less than some short-haired breeds. The reason the hair of the Shih Tzu is challenging is because the longer it is, the easier it is to mat. When their hair is long and they scratch a lot, mats are pulled out and they are what is vacuumed from the carpet. It is best to keep your Shih Tzu pet trimmed short. They are more comfortable and it also keeps hair out of their eyes.

I have decided I will always have a Shih Tzu in my life. They are very entertaining. Teddy is obsessed with licking my cat's ears and makes me laugh every day. Panda knows he's my dog and is very protective of me. He is also my shadow because he always wants to be with me.

Dogs of this nature are easier than children to take care of and best of all; they don't talk back or ask you for money. They just love you and enjoy being loved in return.