We all know that the dogs are fantastic all over the world for their loyalty.They are the most loved domestic animals known for their faith, obedience and human friendly nature.Today a large number of new dog breeds have been developed by crossing various dog breeds and each breed has its own characteristics that make it superior to the other breeds.If you’re looking for a small sized loyal and friendly companion for yourself then a European Shih Tzu could be a best choice for you.
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European Shih Tzu Overview:
It is a small sized highly energetic and playful dog breed known for its loyalty and faith.It is a very polite and loving dog having a human friendly calm nature.It has all the qualities of a good family pet and that’s why it would be a best choice for all kinds of families and owners even the new inexperienced dog owners may also choose it as their family pet.Here in this article we will have deep analysis of the European ShihTzu, its history, appearance, size, temperament and health conditions, etc.
Historical Background:
It is a small sized very friendly and affectionate dog breed.When we look back towards the history and origin of a European ShihTzu we will come to know that the Shih Tzu originated from Tibet but many people think that they originated from China and it’s not true.They were originated from Tibet and the Tibet people used to send Shih Tzu to the Chinese royalty as a gift and then these Chinese Crossed these Shih Tzus with the Pekingese to get the present day Shih Tzu.They were brought in Europe in the 20th century and they got significant popularity there and this is the reason that they are named European Shih Tzu.They were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in the 1969.
How does a European Shih Tzu look?
When we talk about the physical appearance of a European ShihTzu, the first thing that comes to our mind is its small sized body and long hairs present on the whole body.They have a more rounded head and a shorter snout as compared to the American Shih Tzu.They have a broad chest and a stocky build.They have a soft undercoat with a longer flowing hairs over it that may he wavy or curly.It may acquire any color such as black, white, gold, red, liver and silver, etc.
How big can a European Shih Tzu grow?
It is a small sized highly energetic and playful dog breed having a size of about 20 to 28 centimeters which is approximately 7 to 11 inches.The male Shih Tzus are naturally larger than the females and have a size of about 10 to 11 inches whereas the female Shih Tzus are smaller than the males and have a size of about 7 to 9 inches.
Now, if we discuss that how much heavier is a European ShihTzu then as a small sized dog breed the European Shih Tzu does not weigh so much and has a weight of about 9 to 16 pounds.As the male dogs are larger than the females so they may have a weight of round about 16 pounds whereas the female dogs being smaller than the males have a weight of about 9 to 14 pounds.Their weights may also vary with respect to their diet and fitness.
Temperament:
It is a very good natured, loving and playful dog breed having a sweet human friendly nature.It has a calm and lovely nature with everyone such a as:
With Children:
Unlike many other dogs that may be aggressive towards the children and may also harm them, a European ShihTzu being small sized cannot harm children because it is very sweet natured, playful and loving and that’s why it’s good for the families having small children.
Family members:
It is also very much playful and friendly with the other family members and loves playing with them and this is the reason that it is a suitable and most loved family pet.
Other dogs and cats:
A European ShihTzu is also quite playful with the other dogs and cats.It loves playing with everyone and this is the reason that it is loved by everyone.
Does a European ShihTzu require regular training?
Yes, a European ShihTzu require regular training for being healthy, active and energetic.Training is necessary making it a good and well mannered family pet.So, you should try to provide it a regular 30 mints training but the training must be easy according to the small size of the dog.
Health Issues:
It is a quite active and playful dog breed but may also acquire some of the most common health issues such a as:
- Patella Luxation
- Cataracts
- Cherry eye
- Brachycephalic Syndrome
- Teeth and Gums diseases
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Several skin infections and
- Several Food Allergies, etc.
Disease Prevention:
No one dog owner would like that his pet has any disease.So, if you have a European ShihTzu and want to protect it from all the above mentioned diseases then you will have to follow a few precautionary measures such a as:
- You will have to provide it with high quality and highly nutritious food that could easily meet its energy requirements of the day.
- You will have to provide regular training and exercise to your pet for making it a good, friendly and loving pet.This will help to keep your pet healthy, active and physically as well as mentally fit.
- At the last, you will have to provide a regular veterinary check up of your pet in order to prevent it from the diseases and in case your pet gets suffered from any disease, then you should contact the nearest veterinary clinic as early as possible for the timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease that would otherwise be life threatening.
Lifespan:
A European Shih Tzu has an average lifespan of about 12 to 16 years.
Conclusions:
From the above discussion we conclude that a European Shih Tzu is a small sized, very playful, active and human friendly dog breed having a sweet, lovely nature.It is a very lovely and calm dog breed and loves playing with everyone including children, owner, family members and other dogs and cats.So, if you’re looking for a good natured, loyal and friendly companion for yourself then a European Shih Tzu would be a best choice for you.