You will know the Shih Tzu dog by many names – the Pekinese, The Lion Dog, The Chrysanthemum dog and so on. The name ‘Pekinese’ was given to this dog because it was first found in Peking when monks gifted this breed of dogs to the Emperor of China way back in the 17th Century. ‘A rose by any name would smell as sweet’ – as Shakespeare said – no matter what name you use for this dog you will find it a very sweet and friendly dog.

The Shih Tzu was for a long time known as a royal dog in China where it stayed protected from the world for two centuries (17th to 19th Century). True to its name, this dog really moves like a king or emperor. While the Shih Tzu's are world famous for being friendly and adaptive to anyone in the home – whether this is an animal or human being – they are also known for their acute stubbornness when they are pushed into doing something that has not been coaxed out of them.
The Shih Tzu is a good-looking miniature dog that almost always carries itself with an aristocratic grace. They love to romp about outdoors, but they would be just as happy sleeping on your lap in front of the TV. The temperament of this dog is very sweet and friendly. They do not make too much noise and they accept new additions to the home and family with ease. If you want to ensure that your Shih Tzu grows up to be a good natured and sweet animal, ensure that you get a pure breed. The mixed breeds sometimes tend to be aggressive; especially towards those who inadvertently steal the limelight due to them. They especially resent small children, as their owners would tend to pay them more attention.

Watch out for separation anxiety signs in this dog if you leave it for too long alone. These dogs need your presence and love constantly. Other then this aspect, they are not pretentious about anything.
Shih Tzus are easy to train if you use the right techniques. These dogs can be very proud and stubborn, hence the training should be done only through positive reinforcement. As long as they get pampered and treated to tidbits in reward to their good behavior, the Shih Tzu's will do anything you ask of them. Since the Shih Tzu is very friendly and receptive, many people prefer to train their dogs themselves and find it is not difficult at all. Just be sure use a lot of patience and many treats.

Overall the Shih Tzu breed makes for extremely sweet pets that bring joy and happiness wherever they go. You need to keep one thing in mind when you bring home a Shih Tzu dog – they need your love more than anything else – and if you cannot give it to them by being there for them, it is better to choose another breed of dogs.


The Shih Tzu makes a great pet for anyone who wants a quiet and loyal companion. Are you looking forShih Tzu information? This article would answer all questions about this wonderful dog.