If we think of man’s best friend, the image of a dog will surely come to our heads. Today, there are many more dog breeds than we can imagine. Each of them has specific characteristics and a temperament. Among the small dogs, one of the breeds that have been most highlighted and valued in recent times has been the Shih Tzu.
Shih Tzu dogs, of Asian origin, have earned the recognition of thousands of caregivers for being animals that adapt easily to any setting, providing affection and sympathy to the family. As we will see, living with a Shih Tzu is very easy. Discover what is the temperament of the Shih Tzu before adopting one of them and you will know if it is the perfect companion for your lifestyle and personality.
Sociable
One of the defining characteristics of the Shih Tzu’s temperament is its friendliness. They are very sociable and friendly with people, whether they are known or not.
The Shih Tzu they take loneliness very bad and the absence of his family at home. Although in the day to day they do not require much attention of pampering or caresses, something that can be interpreted as that they are lonely, the truth is that what this breed enjoys the most is the company of its family. If you are thinking of adopting a Shih Tzu, you should not spend a lot of time away from home or you could suffer from anxiety and even depression.
Suitable for small spaces
Within the temperament of the Shih Tzu, one of the aspects that have made it stand out the most is its enormous degree of adaptation to all types of spaces. While it is true that, like any other dog, they enjoy having a wide space to run and play, Shih Tzu they can be happy in small spaces, like an apartment in the middle of the city.
Due to the character of these dogs, it is more important to satisfy socialization and curiosity, than the tranquility and spaciousness of a country house. Owners who have this breed of dog in a small house, will only have to worry about take it out three times a day so that you can enjoy your leisure time and have quality playtime.
Child friendly
Another characteristic of the Shih Tzu breed is its great affinity with children. In general, these dogs really enjoy interacting with all the people in the house, but among all of them, due to their size and predisposition to play, they prefer the company of children, whom they will protect as one more.
However, being a small dog, attention should be paid and take care that children do not disturb the dog or hurt the dog while playing.
Intelligent
The Shih Tzu is very intelligent. He stands out for his curiosity about new things and his wit. However, their attention is shorter than that of other breeds of dogs so, despite the fact that teaching and educating him will be an easy job, You should do the training in short sessions so that he does not get bored. Thus, the lesson will be able to penetrate the dog and he will learn it.
Shih Tzu tend to respond well to training, so a peaceful, respectful, and sociable dog can be easily achieved. In addition, for keep your mind entertained and strengthen your relationship, it is recommended to teach him tricks and games.
You must bear in mind that these temperament characteristics can vary according to the experiences that each dog has had, especially in the case of those that are adopted as adults. Also, we are talking about the temperament of the Shih Tzu breed and these dogs can be mixed with other breeds. In this other article we give you more information on How to know if a Shih Tzu is pure.
For all this, the character and temperament at the end are something individual for each dog, so what we indicate is generic and common in this breed, but it does not mean that they are all like that.
Little heat tolerant
Although all the above characteristics make the Shih Tzu dog the dream pet, there is one aspect to take into account if you are going to adopt or care for a dog of this breed, even if it is not its temperament, it is an important trait to know. It’s about its low tolerance to heat. Thanks to their long and lush coat, Shih Tzu they tolerate cold temperatures very well. However, in hot months we must be careful with high temperatures.
Due to the selection they have gone through, these dogs find it difficult to regulate their body temperature to adapt to the heat, so they can suffer panting and have difficulty following us on the walk. In the hottest hours they can suffer from heat stroke. During these months, if we live in cities with hot climates, to avoid heat stroke to the dog, we must ensure that they always have cold water, shade and cool areas at home at their disposal, avoiding going out in the hottest hours .
Now that you know what the temperament of the Shith Tzu is like, if you decide to adopt a dog of this breed, we recommend that you review the care it needs first. This way you will know if you can satisfy all their needs. Take a look at this other article to learn how to care for a Shih Tzu.
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