If there is only one thing that is prominent in Shih Tzus that makes them worse than other dogs is their ability to be overly clingy towards their owners. They can live in every type of condition that you provide them, but all they ask for in return is your undivided attention toward them.
Shih Tzus tend to develop separation anxiety as soon as they start spending time with their owners. This feeling comes to them naturally, and most people hate them for this trait.
Shih Tzus are very stubborn, and it is very difficult to get them to do anything, even if it is potty training, exercise, or learning new things. In order to make your Shih Tzu listen to you, you need a lot of patience because Shih Tzus make it as hard as they can for you to deal with them.
Shih Tzus being very small, is sensitive to a lot of things. You cannot even make them exercise over a specific limit, or they will overheat and can also have a stroke because of exhaustion. It is best to keep them indoors as the temperature is more suitable for them because the too-hot climate is not good for Shih Tzus.
Having air conditioners will be very helpful if you live in a very hot climate. Plus, having indoor activities is much better than outdoor ones. Shih Tzu requires a lot of grooming with its hair, ears, eyes, teeth, and its nails, etc.
Table of Contents
Why Shih Tzu Are The Worst Dogs?
Shih Tzus are the worst dogs because they are very proud dogs and are said to be very arrogant. Shih Tzu requires a lot of attention and comfort. It is very lazy and loves to snuggle in every warm and comfy place, such as your lap.
It is very difficult to handle a Shih Tzu if you are a senior citizen. Shih Tzus are very stubborn and do not listen when they don’t want to. They act like fools in front of you to get away with everything.
Because of their small size, they are usually getting away with all their bad behavior, and their owners have to do all the work they were assigned to their Shih Tzus before.
Why Does Shih Tzus Have So Many Problems?
Your Shih Tzus may be having the following health problems:
- Breathing problems
- Dental problems
- Ear problems
- Eye problems
- Joint and back problems
- Skin problems
- Liver and kidney problems
Are Shih Tzus Unfriendly?
Shih Tzus are very friendly and warm dogs who love people. If you compare Shih Tzu with other dogs, you will find its temperament much better than other dogs. However, Shih Tzus are also living beings and cannot be the same 24/7.
Some Shih Tzus are introverts, and they do not like to interact so much with people like extrovert Shih Tzus do. Sometimes, you may find them having a bitreserveattitude around new people or strangers, and they can also get mean if they do not get a good vibe from that person.
Why Does Shih Tzus Bite A Lot?
Shih Tzus tend to bite more when they are babies. Mouthing Shih Tzus bite a lot. They bite everything that they can see and reach. Along with biting, they are chewing as well. Sometimes, when they are mouthing, they bite you because they are looking for your attention or are exploring other things while biting them.
Why Does Shih Tzus Want So Much Attention?
Shih Tzus love attention and want as much as they can get. They will try their best to get your attention no matter what you’re doing. Also, they love the company of humans, and if they keep getting a lot of attention daily, their attitude will be spoiling.
They will be ready to do anything with you even if they are not allowed. These will follow you everywhere so that they can get your attention all the time. It is better to keep your Shih Tzu with kids when you are busy so that they can distract themselves by getting attention from the kids.
Do People Like Shih Tzus?
A lot of people love Shih Tzu because they are super friendly, adorable, and warm dogs. But some people do not like Shih Tzus usually because of their size because small size is not easy to handle. People usually question them for their intelligence and the level of temperament they have.
It is very difficult to maintain their hair. If you see a Shih Tzu with perfect hair, they get a daily brushing session. Shih Tzus also require high-quality food and tend to be a little stubborn from time to time. They are more like to get health issues if we compare them to other dogs.
Do Shih Tzus Bark A Lot?
Shih Tzus can bark all the time. They can bark when traveling, watching someone walk by the window or somewhere far, or seeing any visitors at the entrance door. It can be a problem for a lot of owners as they may only want to hear barking sometimes.
Shih Tzus also bark when they want to alert you about some danger or threats. They are trying to protect you. However, you can also believe that this is your Shih Tzus way of communicating with the rest of the world.
Is Shih Tzu A Lazy Dog?
Shih Tzus are very lazy dogs. They are known to be couch potatoes. Sometimes, your Shih Tzu will only listen to your command if it is active and is willing to do something. Shih Tzus usually give a dumb, clueless look to their owners when they ask them to do anything. Shih Tzus believe they can get away with anything by just being clueless.
Does Shih Tzus Recognize Their Owners?
Shih Tzus love their owners, and it is impossible for them not to recognize them. They love spending time with people they know but sometimes get a little mean and aggressive when around strangers.
However, if you feel like your Shih Tzu does not recognize you, it can be that your Shih Tzu is ignoring you. It usually happens when there needs to be more training relating to the obedience factor. If you are providing proper training to your Shih Tzu and have been doing it since a young age, they are more likely to be obedient and recognize you easily.
Is Shih Tzus High Maintenance?
Shih Tzus are not high maintenance all the time, but when it comes to grooming their hair, you can only think of high maintenance. Every six weeks, their coats grow again, and you need to get your Shih Tzus grooming done as soon as possible. It usually costs about $60 every size week, which makes $600 a year.
Shih Tzus tend to get more health issues than other dogs, which also requires a lot of high maintenance. You never know what is affecting your Shih Tzu, and you will have to take care of everything. You will have to take extra special care of their ears and eyes as they are more prone to get infections.
Why Is My Shih Tzu Misbehaving?
Shih Tzus are small dogs who tend to misbehave if things do not go their way. Your Shih Tzu may be very possessive about its toys, food, and other things that belong to it, so if you take anything away, it will misbehave and get aggressive.
ShihTzu also misbehaves because of their separation anxiety. When your Shih Tzu sees that you are not present, they do not like it and cannot do the work they were about to do.
Your Shih Tzu may also misbehave when they are afraid of you and feel like you are trying to scare them by punishing them. This feeling makes them go against you, and they end up misbehaving with you. Train your Shih Tzu with simple words, and when they learn them, then give them a treat.
Are Shih Tzus Bossy?
If your Shih Tzu lives with you, spends most of its time with you, and lacks social skills, then it is more like being a spoiled dog. And, if you do not enroll your Shih Tzu in puppy kindergarten, then you are right to worry because it will end up being bossy.
If you do not take your Shih Tzus actions, reactions, and attitudes into notice, then it may become very bossy, and it will be too late to teach it.
Why Are Shih Tzus So Fussy?
Shih Tzus tend to get fussy because of their food. If your Shih Tzu is too picky, it might be dealing with health problems such as tooth decay, tooth infections, or loss of teeth, etc. Your Shih Tzu may be dealing with a loss of appetite, making them fussy.
Making a Shih Tzu eat something can be a task because they are very picky when it comes to food. When they are babies, they eat three times a day because they get hungry.
But when they turn six and grow up, they become picky as they age.
They will avoid what you give them and ask for what you are eating. They will become so picky and stubborn that they can also go without eating. So, sometimes, Shih Tzu owners hand feed them, which makes it easier for their Shih Tzus to eat, but they are still very fussy.
Can Shih Tzu Be Left Alone All Day?
You cannot leave a Shih Tzu at home if it is still a baby of seven to nine months. Shih Tzus usually have separation anxiety and require proper training in order to stay home or alone. It is because if your Shih Tzu is not having training, it can ruin the complete house in the time you leave it for.
It is important that your Shih Tzu is at least a year old to stay at home. During this time, you can train it well enough that it stays responsible. Start leaving it for only a few hours, such as for lunchtime, mini breaks, etc.
With age, Shih Tzus learn about your expectations regarding their behavior. However, if you are changing to a new home or any new place, you need to give your Shih Tzu more time to adjust. Make sure to keep the surroundings comfortable and safe before you leave your Shih Tzu alone.
Conclusion
You can always avoid the negative traits of a Shih Tzu by going for an adult Shih Tzu that you may find from a rescue group or an animal shelter. Adult dogs are easier to handle than small dogs, especially small Shih Tzus. Adult Shih Tzus are very responsible and mature than small ones.
If you research the breeder and the puppy properly, you can find the right dog for you, and you will not have to face future problems. It will help you avoid all the negative traits of the Shih Tzu that you are looking for.
However, there are no completely bad dogs. You might need help finding the right one for you. Always decide what you are looking for and then select the dog you want because people adopt Shih Tzus and then give them back to shelters which affects the Shih Tzus very badly.
Shih Tzus move from one owner to another again and again only because people need to research better about them or the traits they are looking for in a dog. Shih Tzus become fond of their owners in a brief period, making them sick from moving back and forth from shelter to owner and then back to shelter.