Shih Tzu Characteristics – Know Your Dog
If you look back on the ancestry of the Shih Tzu, you will not be surprised by the confident and (somewhat) arrogant posture of the breed. This toy dog that has always been a highly valued, prized companion should always carry his head well up, his tail curved well over the back and a level top line.
Size
Even though a large size variation can be seen within the breed, it has been declared the norm for the Shih Tzu to stand between 23 and 25.5 centimeters tall (never less than 20cm, or more than 28cm) and the dog should always be compact, muscular and carrying good weight and substance. A mature dog’s weight is ideally between 4 and 7 kilograms.
General appearance
A Shih Tzu should always appear in perfect proportion. The body should never be stationed too high or too low, making the dog appear ‘leggy’ or ‘dumpy’. It is important that none of its features are exaggerated, but rather, well-balanced.
Head
The head of a Shih Tzu is always broad, round and with a wide space between the eyes. Its size is perfectly proportionate to the body, not too big or too small.
Eyes
The large, round eyes look straight ahead and are dark in colour (ideally, no white should be visible in the eye). The eyes contribute to the warm, friendly and trusting expression that they carry.
Ears and muzzle
The ears are large, hairy and placed just below the crown. The cushioned muzzle is short, square and flat. It is never down turned and is usually no longer than 2.5 centimeters.
The nose, lips and eye rims are usually dark, but lighter coloured Shih Tzus may take exception to this rule. Although a slightly undershot bite with a broad/wide jaw is acceptable (and even a missing tooth or misaligned tooth line!), the teeth and tongue should not be visible when the mouth is closed.
Forequarters
The forequarters of the Shih Tzu comprise of shoulders that flow smoothly from the neck into the body and legs that are well boned, muscular and set slightly apart. The chest is broad and deep and should extend to just below the elbow.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters should be in perfect balance to the forequarters, with complimentary angles. The well-boned, muscular legs are well bent at the joint and appear straight when viewed from the rear. The feet, well padded and firm, point straight ahead.
Color and coat
There is a never-ending list of colours and colour combinations in Shih Tzus, therefore any colour is accepted. All that matters is that the Shih Tzu has a lavish double coat with dense, lengthy, graceful hair.
The Shih Tzu has a character like none other. It is spunky, alert and very courageous, like all dogs in the toy dog group. These pampered pooches are also excellent watchdogs that enjoy barking, but seldom do so without reason. The average life span of a Shih Tzu is 15 years or longer because they do not seem to suffer with any major hereditary health issues.
P.S.
If you want to find out more about the Shih Tzu feel free to opt into my thirteen day mini course. In the course I discuss various issues including training your Shih Tzu, reasons for tearing eyes, choosing your puppy and much more.
