The dog is the best friend of the human being. You have probably heard this statement in one way or another on several occasions throughout your life and, in fact, if you have been lucky enough to live with one you will have verified its accuracy. It is one of the animals with a stronger emotional bond with people for many reasons, but especially because of the affection and fidelity that it immediately has towards a person, who for society is their legal guardian or caretaker and, ultimately, Your partner.
However, it is important to know the characteristics of the different breeds to be sure that your lifestyle is compatible with their needs, since, to mention an example, there are some that need a very high daily activity and others that are more calm. In addition, the issue of knowing the breed is a general aspect, since the behaviors and some needs are also different in each canine, they are individual, so it is not only important to know the characteristics of the breed, but the key is to know well to your dog.
For example, in recent years, a breed that has gained popularity is the Shih Tzu and it is a very particular breed with origin in Tibet, something that many people who live with one probably do not know. In this oneHOWTO article we will delve into all its characteristics, solving doubts about how to tell if a Shih Tzu is pure and what are its characteristics to take into account to take care of it as well as possible.
Is it important for a Shih Tzu to be purebred?
The importance of purebred dogs is relative in all individual cases and in the case of Shih Tzu there is no exception. In practice, he will be the same canine friend with whom you will interact, you will teach him the basic commands so that he will listen to you and you will be able to help him learn so that he can further form his own character.
The link is the same regardless of whether it is pure or not, since the fidelity and affection that it will bring you has nothing to do with whether the animal is of a pure or mixed breed, but with how you treat it and what you teach it. That is why from UNCOMO we recommend that you do not take this factor into account when making the decision about taking a dog at home or not, since the treatment must be the same on your part. For yours, this part is always guaranteed: from the first moment you will be your great reference.
However, it is relevant that you know the purity of a Shih Tzu, like any other breed that you have in your care, to know in depth the basis of their natural behavior and physical characteristics that define it, because beyond the characteristics of a dog in general, there are breeds with some peculiarities that more affect their health or, sometimes, character. In this way, you can have greater certainty as to whether you are capable of adopting it at home and know how to cover all its basic needs.
In addition, we want to clarify that race is important in the case of legal breeders, with all permissions, and for Beauty contests and the like. Remember that simply raising dogs is not legal in all countries, in the vast majority currently you have to have permits that train you as a legal breeder of a specific breed, because you have to think about the large number of abandonments and mistreatments that there are and it is unethical to breed without taking this into account.
How to tell if a Shih Tzu is pure: standard of the physical characteristics of the breed
It is understandable that you may have doubts about how to know if a Shih Tzu is pure because on many occasions it is not as easy to discover as it may seem at first. But, for example, one of the ways you will achieve this is by observing his height. Taking into account the main physical characteristics of this breed, you can have greater security regarding the purity of your pet. So, this is the Shih Tzu breed characteristics standard[1]:
- In this sense, you should know that Shih Tzu are in the category of miniature canines, that is, as small dogs. Your weight oscillates from 4.5 to 8 kg and have a height of approximately between 20 and 27 cm. They reach the adult stage of their lives at 10 months, as is the case with most breeds.
- Their height is usually less than the length they have, with a large, round head in proportion to the rest of the body. His face stands out for some bulging eyes and a short muzzle. Regarding the tail, it curls on its back.
- Regarding the Shih Tzu’s coat is long and smooth. The double coat needs constant maintenance so that the hair does not bother you or cause you some problems. Regarding the color of the skin, it can have different tones, but the dark predominates, especially in the nose and eyes. On the other hand, the coat is dominated by white, black and brown, being more common a white or black base with spots of any of the other colors.
How to tell if a Shih Tzu is pure: breed character standard
Another aspect with which you can know if your Shih Tzu is pure it is by observing the character it has. It is a race to which he loves to play and whose joy infects the whole family. It is very sociable with people of all ages and with dogs in general. Therefore, its sweetness characterizes it.
Sometimes they bark to express themselves, which can be especially annoying for some people and in some cases because they can be very insistent. Still, he will always want to spend time with you doing anything, like going for a walk on the street or playing games.
Despite their agility, they need to move to maintain an adequate body weight, as they tend to pick up pounds easily if they do not exercise. This factor is another reason to go out with your dog for a good walk, since it will be beneficial in health and mental because, as has been said before, they love to share experiences with their human companion and be active. They also enjoy the process of positive education and they are Very intelligent, so you should not have great difficulties for your canine friend to listen to you when giving instructions.
Learn more about this Tibetan breed in this other article about what the Shih Tzu breed is like.
How to tell if a shih tzu puppy is pure
Do you host a shih tzu puppy And do you want to know if it is pure and can have Pedrigree? In oneHOWTO we give you the following instructions with which you can have a clearer idea:
- Physical characteristics: It is a breed with a small stature, with long, straight hair. The colors white, brown and black are predominant, with the dark tones present especially around the eyes, the muzzle and the ears.
- Character: his facility for relating to people and other dogs make him a very sociable dog. He has a passion for spending time with the family and playing games. In addition, it is easy to follow as long as you have spent time on positive education from day one.
To be absolutely sure if you need it because you are an official breeder, the only thing you can do is ask the breeder of the puppy to give you the pedigree document, which accredits the purity or originality of the two or three generations prior to the puppy and, therefore, yours.
In this other article we explain everything about How to care for a Shih Tzu, be it pure breed or mixed, never mind!
If you want to read more articles similar to How to tell if a Shih Tzu is pure, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.
References
- Shih Tzu Technical Data Sheet. FCI or International Cynological Federation: http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/208g09-es.pdf