| By :
Brent McCoy
The Shih Tzu first appeared in the 17th century with origins dating back as far as 10,000 years, and was first bred for the key reason of being companion dogs for the Chinese royal family. A number of their more typical traits are often seen in their playful and affectionate temperament as well as a non-shedding coat that comes in a range of colors - which essentially make the Shih Tzu a frequent dog as a pure companionship dog for apartment dwellers and even allergy sufferers. The Shih Tzu is well-known for their playful and affectionate nature - though sometimes they can become stubborn and develop small dog syndrome if not correctly managed. They are typically trusting with people they don\'t know, which along with their size can make them not very suitable as a guard dog. The Shih Tzu is not accepted to be highly intelligent - scoring 70th in comparison with other dogs when considering their capability to be taught obedience commands. The Shih Tzu is usually well-suited with other animals such as other dogs and cats if properly socialized. Grooming the Shih Tzu is a relatively demanding duty - though the effort required varies depending on whether their coat is kept long or short. They require regular brushing every day and complete grooming every 2-3 weeks along with weekly attention for their ears assuming their coat is kept long. The Shih Tzu takes pleasure in endeavors including playing with a favorite toy or running around an off-leash dog park. They possess a low to medium quantity of energy and this necessitates exercise each day in the form of short walks to inhibit behavior problems. The Shih Tzu could make the ideal breed of dog for families with older children, seniors or aspiring dog groomers. Although they can be to some extent out of place as a guard dog and with younger children, if you are able to meet their high grooming demands and be a little patient in training them then the Shih Tzu might make the best breed of dog for you.
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