Its face bears a flower’s name. The FCI standard speaks of a chrysanthemum face because hair on the nose bridge grows upwards, framing the head like a flower. Beneath it is a surprisingly sturdy little dog, the Shih Tzu, whose standard credits it with a distinctly arrogant carriage.
| FCI | Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 5 Tibetan breeds, Standard No. 208, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Tibet (China), patronage Great Britain |
| Size (height at the withers) | no more than 27 cm |
| Weight | 4,5 to 8 kg, ideal 4,5 to 7,5 kg |
| Life expectancy | median 12,8 years in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | long, dense outer coat, not curly, with moderate undercoat; slight wave permitted |
| Colours in the standard | all colours except merle; white blaze and white tail tip highly desired in multicoloured dogs |
Origins
The standard places its roots in Tibet; the breed developed in China, where such dogs lived in imperial palaces. Shih Tzus reached the West only after China became a republic in 1912; the first documented British import followed in 1931. It has been considered a distinct breed there since 1934, separate from other small Asian dogs.
Temperament
Intelligent, active and alert, friendly and independent: that is the standard’s description. It is a companion that likes being near you but does not follow every instruction immediately. Kind patience achieves more than strictness.
Exercise and activities
Daily walks at its own pace, sniffing outings and little search games suffice. On hot days, move walks to morning and evening.
Grooming
The long coat consumes time: daily brushing down to the skin is needed to prevent mats. The standard recommends tying up head hair so the dog can see clearly. Many owners have the coat cut shorter. Check eyes and ears regularly.
Health
A VetCompass study of 11.082 Shih Tzus found the commonest individual diagnoses were periodontal disease (9,5 per cent), impacted anal sacs (7,4 per cent) and ear disorders (5,5 per cent). By group, skin (16,6 per cent), teeth (13,3 per cent) and eyes (11,9 per cent) led. Median age at death was 12,7 years (Dale et al. 2024). The authors classify the short-muzzled Shih Tzu among brachycephalic breeds whose shallow eye sockets make eyes more vulnerable. The standard requires wide-open nostrils. Look for these and calm, quiet breathing in both parents.
Who suits the Shih Tzu?
First-time owners, families and older people seeking a cheerful, fairly calm companion, who allow daily time for coat and dental care.
Who is less suited?
Sporty people wanting a running partner and anyone unwilling to brush daily or attend regular groomer appointments.
To find out whether a Shih Tzu fits your daily life, try the breed quiz or explore further in our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Find more breeds with profiles based on FCI standards in the Dog Breed Encyclopedia.
Further reading
- Havanese: suitable for beginners does not mean undemanding
- Maltese: plenty of character, but grooming is a full-time job
- Pug: what a nose bred away means in daily life
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 208 Shih Tzu (fci.be, English version dated 06.10.2026, no German version available); Dale F et al., Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, Canine Medicine and Genetics 2024; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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