Breed profile
Shih Tzu
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeSmall
ExerciseModerate
GroomingHigh
ChildrenGood
BarkingHigh
HealthHigh
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classSmall
Adult weight4.5 to 7.5 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelHigh
BarkingHigh
Grooming effortHigh
Health burdenHigh
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Good fit
- Alone tolerance
- Low
- Energy level
- High
- First-time owner fit
- Good fit
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 60 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- Moderate
- Trainability
- Good
- Grooming effort
- High
- Professional grooming
- Regular professional grooming
- Shedding
- Very low
Household fit
- Children
- Good
- Dogs
- Good
- Cats
- Moderate
- Prey drive
- Moderate
- Visitors
- Good
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- High
- Heat tolerance
- Very poor
- Cold tolerance
- Moderate
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Dry eye (KCS)
- Cataracts
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Retinal detachment
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
- Rostral bite problems
- Renal dysplasia
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Cushing disease
- Umbilical hernia
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Flat-faced conformation can affect breathing and heat regulation.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.