With a low energy level (2/5) and good tolerance of other dogs (4/5), the Shih Tzu doesn't demand athletic feats – just leisurely, joint-friendly walks. In summer, you must strictly limit heat and physical exertion because of its short airways. Never underestimate the grooming, which is at the maximum for this breed (5/5): the dense, long topcoat hardly sheds around the house (shedding 1/5), but without daily brushing it mats immediately. Many owners opt for a practical short cut ("puppy clip") for everyday life. The facial folds and the area around the eyes also need cleaning every day so no hairs rub on the cornea. In training (trainability 3/5), the former palace dog likes to show its charming stubborn streak – loving patience gets you much further here than strictness.
Your checklist for the first conversation with the breeder
When you visit, don't rely on verbal assurances – check the facts yourself. These are the specific points that matter with the Shih Tzu:
- Look at the clinical results: Ask to see the parents' written exam results for knees, eyes (for cataracts, PRA, KCS) and kidneys.
- Watch the mother's breathing: When you visit, check whether the mother breathes freely and silently and whether her nostrils are wide open.
- Ask about the line's history: Ask specifically whether cases of intervertebral disc disease, heart disease, familial nephropathy, hydrocephalus or dermoid sinus are known in the line.
- Check the puppies on site: Take a close look at the puppies' eyes (clear, without excessive discharge) and ask about the vet's report checking for cleft palates.
- Check grooming: A well-kept, mat-free coat and clean facial folds in the parent dogs show you straight away how seriously the breeder takes the welfare of their own Shih Tzus.
On HonestDog, a breeder profile only goes live once the breeder has completed sign-up: an identity check with ID and selfie, proof of club membership or a §11 permit (the breeding license under Germany's Animal Welfare Act) where applicable, a knowledge test on breeding and animal welfare, and agreement to the HonestDog breeding standards, which among other things rule out breeding with extreme-breeding traits. Health tests of the parent dogs that breeders upload are shown right on the profile; ask to see the original results when you visit. Your next step: compare the profiles of Shih Tzu breeders on HonestDog, look at the health records they've uploaded and ask directly about the next litter.
