[Greatmum]

Thinking of rescuing a Shih Tzu who is 1-2 yrs are they good with kids? What are their pros and cons?
thanks

[HerringToMarmala...]

Is it mixed? I've got a shih tzu x maltese. She's sturdier than you'd think for a small dog, and very patient with getting patted, ears pulled, squished hugs etc. She sleeps a lot, but will run around like crazy as soon as there's anyone to play with. It will need to be groomed semi-regularly, their hair grows long and can get matted.

[Greatmum]

No not mixed. How often would you need to brush or get hair trimmed?

[soontobegran]

I have a Shih Tzu/Maltese cross but is obviously more Shih Tzu than Maltese and she is the most amazing, placid and child friendly dog ever.
She is so very patient with all my grandbabies who have at some time pulled her tail or her ears, tried to ride her and given her squishy hugs. She has never growled, she waits for them to go and quietly retreats under the bed for peace and quiet. She doesn't shed hair at all and she doesn't smell like dog unless she is wet.
She sleeps for most of the day but loves walks and a play in the back yard.
Can't think of any cons except she needs her hair cut every couple of months and perhaps that she is yaps a bit when someone comes to the door but I think that is poor training on my behalf rather than a character flaw. Her hair gets brushed about once a week and her hair cut more often in hot months than winter.In autumn/winter it gets done maybe twice, in spring/summer it is probably double that but I have it cut very short for the hot weather.

[causeway]

My childhood pet was a male purebred shih tzu. I agree with everything STBG says but would add that our dog was very single minded. If he decided what he was going to do, there was very little you could do. They love to be with people so would suggest that if everyone is at work and school during the day then you might need to find them some company! Beautiful pets!

[*Ker*]

I've taken them in resuce. They are stubborn little buggers!!! As PP said, VERY single minded! Think they're big dogs in a little dog package.

Their hair is the pits! It's fine and fluffy and tangles quickly. The ones I had, I had to brush every couple of days. I used to have them professionally groomed by a dog groomer friend. She'd clip them off for me so it was a lot easier to cope with. I'd say they'd need clipping every 6 weeks - 2 months if you didn't want a lot of grooming.

[gmc88]

Hi OP,
I have a shih tzu x maltese and let me tell you he is soooo full of attitude but I love him to pieces. I find they are quite territorial dogs and they like to let others know its their home & they are in charge!
They will love and protect their owners at all times and their snoring of a night time is just precious!!!
I have mine groomed every 4 weeks and his hair has never been a problem (we live in Qld though where it's constantly warm).

[Apageintime]

Can someone tell me why there are so many Shih Tzu x Maltese around.

I see them on petrescue all the time and wonder why so many show up there?

Were they just bred as part of the small white and fluffy craze - or do they make a fun contraction (like Shihtese or something) that I missed the craze on?

[HerringToMarmala...]

I've taken them in resuce. They are stubborn little buggers!!! As PP said, VERY single minded! Think they're big dogs in a little dog package.

Its true, but in an adorable way. I've also found her to be very intelligent, she's picked up a whole lot of commands and visual signals that we never taught her, and our other dog never learnt.

I have mine groomed a few times a year, depends on temperature and how she's going. We just get a full clip every groom, costs about $60, so we don't often let her hair grow long. I have to clip around her face pretty often but that's easy enough to do.

And yes, I cannot sleep without her snoring in the same room, its just so comforting

[Peanut]

My parents had a female and now a male. The female was a Shih Tzu crossed with Lhasa Apso and the male is purebred Shih Tzu. As has been said before, very determined dogs but generally fine with kids. Both had to be clipped regularly as the fine hair gets matted quickly unless you brush it every day. The hair on the head does cause problems with their eyes which is why they usually have it pulled into a topknot to keep it out. They also can have trouble with their jaws and the soft palate, which is where the snoring comes from!

They are very loyal though and are good guard dogs in that they will bark if anyone comes near to the family home (which could be a bad thing too, depending on where you live!).