Appearance:

They are around 7 to 11 inches tall and weigh about 8 to 16 pounds. They are small, cute and ting dogs. Their coats can be a vary of colors and patterns. They are longer than they are tall. They have a fluffy looking coat that consists of two coats. They can be trimmed in two different ways. A “puppy clip” is when they are trimmed with short layered fur that resembles a puppy’s coat. There is also a traditional cut where the fur is long and silky. Shih tzus that are shown must have this. It must be groomed daily to prevent tangles and matting.

Personality: 

They are alert and lively. They are not couch potatoes but do make good lapdogs. They were breed to be companions and nothing more. They do not hunt or protect, so you can expect them to perform these tasks.  They are friendly and wont attack guests or visitors. They aren’t very loud and obnoxious, ether. They get along with other pets, so even if you have multiple dogs or other animals, they will not cause much trouble. They can be nippy and bite. They do not have much tolerance for kids if they are really annoying. So it is best not to get one if you have younger kids. But some owners claim that if you get them as a puppy and raise them around kids they will be used to it and not attack. But its still good to keep an eye on them.

Origin:

The Shih Tzu is from Tibet. There they were sacred. They were given to Emperors of China dure the 17th century as a gift of honor. In China they were treated as temple dogs and carefully taken cared for.

picture from:

http://www.fancydancingshihtzu.com/-%20New%20Folder%20(2)/brendas%20stasha%20bella.JPG