What Are the Traits and Care Tips for Shih Tzus?

Shih Tzu: a long coat that leaves sight and movement clear

The Shih Tzu’s FCI description combines a sturdy body, longer than its height, with long, dense outer hair and moderate undercoat. A slight wave is allowed, but the hair should not be curly or woolly. The standard also requires coat length to leave the dog able to see and move freely.

Choose the coat length with the daily work in mind

AKC’s Shih Tzu guide recommends daily brushing for a long coat, working in layers through to the skin, and daily attention to the moustache and topknot. It describes bathing about every three or four weeks and keeping head hair short or tied up. A professional puppy trim is another option for pet owners.

Those are useful choices to discuss with a groomer. The Havanese guide also offers a shorter pet trim, while the Maltese’s own care description focuses on daily gentle combing and conditioning.

Short outings and indoor play

The earlier UK guide lists daily grooming, up to one hour of exercise, a flat or apartment and a small or medium garden, in town or country. Havanese and Maltese have the same home entries but up to 30 minutes in the exercise category.

AKC’s Shih Tzu guide instead describes short daily walks and indoor play, without setting an hour target. Its health notes also flag difficulty tolerating heat with a heavy coat and short face. These are reasons to consider the conditions of an outing as well as the time available.

A height ceiling and two weight descriptions

The FCI height ceiling is 27 cm. Weight is 4.5–8 kg, with a narrower ideal of 4.5–7.5 kg. Type and breed characteristics matter alongside size in the standard. The narrower ideal sits within the full range; the figures are part of a comparison that also includes body type and coat.