🐕Shih Tzu: gear and buying guides

The Shih Tzu is a small companion dog of 4.5 to 8 kg, affectionate and fairly calm, valued for its easy indoor lifestyle. Its long, continuously growing coat and short muzzle require a real grooming budget and gear suited to brachycephalic breeds. It is an ideal flat-dweller, not very sporty but deeply attached to its owners.

Profile : A small dog of 4.5 to 8 kg with a long, continuously growing coat, a short muzzle and moderate energy.

Species profile

Lifespan

12 to 16 years

Adult weight

4.5 to 8 kg

Size

20 to 27 cm

Temperament

An affectionate, fairly calm flat companion, not very sporty but always close to its people.

Health watch

breathing problems linked to the short muzzle · corneal ulcers and irritation

🩺 The health watchpoints on this page are for information only: only a veterinarian can examine your animal and make a diagnosis.

Shih Tzu gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  Allow around 80 to 130 g of kibble per day for a fairly sedentary adult of 4.5 to 8 kg. Its short muzzle makes picking up food harder: kibble shaped for brachycephalic breeds and a shallow bowl make mealtimes easier.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Daily brushing is essential if the coat is kept long, otherwise painful mats form, and the prominent eyes need regular cleaning with an eye lotion. A groomer visit every six to eight weeks, often charged 40 to 60 €, is standard, with many owners choosing the short puppy cut.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Not very athletic, the Shih Tzu prefers calm play: soft plush toys, small chew toys and lick mats suit it better than intense ball games. Simple treat dispensers keep its mind sharp without leaving it breathless.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A soft size-S bed in a temperate room suits it perfectly: heat-sensitive because of its short muzzle, it needs a cool spot in summer, possibly with a cooling mat.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  Use a harness rather than a collar, as its breathing is already limited by its short muzzle. Avoid travelling in the heat of the day: like all brachycephalic dogs, it is highly vulnerable to heatstroke, and many airlines refuse these breeds in the hold.

• 🧰 Accessories

  Its typical kit includes a size-S harness, a pin brush, a metal comb, eye lotion and bands or a clip to keep the topknot out of its eyes. A slow-feeder bowl can help dogs that eat too fast.

Guides to read

• No-pull front-clip harness for dogs: what does the science actually show?Accessories

  Front-clip no-pull harness for dogs: what a recent study measured on pulling force, compared with a plain collar and a prong-style collar.

• Why does my dog eat grass? What the research actually saysCare & grooming

  Dog eating grass: what two studies show about how common the behavior is, its link with vomiting, and the cases that should raise concern.

• Reflective vest vs light-up collar for dogs: what's the real difference?Accessories

  Dog visibility at night: what pedestrian-conspicuity research reveals about the real gap between a reflective vest and a light-up collar.

• Anxious dog in the car: motion sickness or real fear of the ride?Travel & safety

  Dog car travel anxiety: what a veterinary study shows about the signs of travel-related problems and the factors that explain them best.

• BARF raw diet for dogs: what are the real benefits, what are the real risks?Food

  Raw BARF diet for dogs: what studies actually show about the claimed benefits, bacterial risk, and real nutritional balance.

• Separation anxiety in dogs: what does research show, what actually helps?Care & grooming

  Dog separation anxiety: what a veterinary study reveals about how common it is, its risk factors, and the solutions that actually work.

• Mental activities for dogs in winter: which indoor games actually work?Toys & enrichment

  Winter mental enrichment for dogs: what a study shows about scent games and indoor activities that make up for shorter walks.

• Microchip or tattoo: which ID actually gets a lost dog home?Travel & safety

  Dog identification: what a study shows about return-to-owner rates depending on whether the dog is microchipped or not.