Your Shih Tzu Breed Selector Answers & Explanations

By Janice Jones     |Last Updated 05-04-2021

Here are our Shih Tzu Breed Selector Answers. 

No matter how many times you take quizzes such as this one, you are likely to get some surprising results. 

We’ve made this one short and to the point and based on Shih Tzu temperament and care needs that are typical across the board. 

There is no right or wrong answers on this Breed Selector Quiz Answers page, just more to think about. 

STOP, have you taken the quiz. 

If not, click here to get the questions

so your Breed Selector Answers will make more sense.

About Janice

Janice is the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu. Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, she served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.

Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master's in Mental Health Counseling.

She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu.

When not writing, reading, or researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, her husband, and her family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Small Dog Place and Smart-Knit-Crocheting.

Your Breed Selector Answers

There are a few questions to our Shih Tzu Breed Selector Quiz that are neither right nor wrong or equally True and False. 

Others have a more specific answer.  Look for the answers  in red for these types of questions.  These are the ones that are likely to reveal whether the Shih Tzu Breed is right for you.

I want a tiny dog that I can carry around in my purse.

TRUE:  You probably would do better with a smaller pet such as a Chihuahua, tiny teacup poodle or Yorkshire terrier.  Shih Tzu dogs are between 9 and 16 pounds and too large to fit into even the biggest purses on the market.  Besides, the Shih Tzu would probably insist on walking.

FALSE:  CORRECT; you understand the true size of the Shih Tzu breed.

I need a dog that is mostly hypoallergenic because I have allergies.

TRUE:  Shih Tzu dogs do not shed all over your furniture and are more hypoallergenic than most breeds.  The Shih Tzu dog would make a good choice for you.

FALSE: Lucky you!!—no allergies; The Shih Tzu would still make a good choice.

I want a dog that will make a good jogging partner for me.

TRUE:  You might want to consider a more active breed that can tolerate more exercise.  Small dogs, especially those brachycephalic dogs enjoy a good walk now and again, but don’t do well if forced into more exercise than they can handle.

FALSE:  Couch potato like me?  This is a good breed for you.  Your Tzu will lie next to you or on top of you as long as you remain in one place.

I want a dog that will be happy to live in an apartment.

TRUE:  This is an excellent breed for apartment dwellers.

FALSE:  This breed does as well in the city as in a rural setting, in a home, condo or apartment, with or without much room to roam.  The breed is very versatile.

I want dogs that will protective me from intruders

TRUE:  You need a guard dog such as a German shepherd, Doberman, or Rottweiler.  Shih Tzu dogs make good watch dogs, though and will bark if they hear someone at the door.

FALSE:  Shih Tzu dogs are likely to lead any burglar to the family safe.  Watch dog yes, but after a few barks, your Tzu is giving out kisses.

I enjoy pampering and grooming dogs.

TRUE:  Great! Shih Tzu love pampering and they need regular grooming.

FALSE:  Choose a short or smooth coated breed that doesn’t require so much attention.  A Pug or Boston terrier might be a good choice if you want a small dog.

I want a dog that doesn’t require much grooming.

TRUE:  A short coated dog is the breed for you.

FALSE:  Great!, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to groom to your hearts delight.

I have a lot of patience when it comes to training.

TRUE:  Great!  Shih Tzu are very intelligent and want to please, but they have a stubborn streak that points its ugly head from time to time and especially when you least expect it.  Gentle training methods work best with this breed and lots of praise.

FALSE:  Your Shih Tzu might begin to frustrate you.  Consider a puppy kindergarten class or a dog obedience class.  If your Tzu is really distracted, individualized training options might be the best choice for you.

I work long hours, but my Tzu can stay in his crate until I come home.

TRUE:  It is unfair to expect a dog to remain in a crate confined for hours on end.  The Shih Tzu has been breed for the last several millenniums to be a companion dog—nothing more and nothing less.  He knows his job and does it well.  If you are never around, he can’t do his job as companion. If you have hectic schedules consider hiring a dog walker or arrange for someone to come in and interact with your Tzu at least once while you are at work.

FALSE:  Great! You made a good choice on your breed selector answer.  Your Tzu is very devoted to you and misses you deeply when you are not there.  Shih Tzu do best when they are by your side.

I know I will still want my dog to be with me in 15 years.

TRUE:  Great!  There’s no guarantee your Tzu will live to be 15 years old, but many of them do and some even live longer.  If you plan for this eventuality when your puppy is small, your years together will be very special.

FALSE:  There are so many dogs that end up in shelters, some for good reason, but the majority is dogs whose owners had unrealistic expectations or little time to devote to their dog. 

The acquisition of a dog is a serious decision and not one to be entered into on a whim.  Add 15 years to your current age and fantasize what you’ll be doing then.  Will your new puppy fit into your life as a senior dog as well as he is now as a puppy?

I want a dog that will follow me around everywhere.

TRUE:  You have chosen a good breed.  If you develop a close bond with your Tzu, she is likely to follow you everywhere.  Not all dogs are as dependent and there are some that prefer more independence. 

Shih Tzu dogs make great family pets because they get attached to everyone in the household.  In this case, your Tzu will follow you, but might abandon you for another family member especially if that person appears to be doing something more interesting. 

FALSE:  If it is just you and you have developed a close bond, expect the dog to follow you around the house.  If this is not your “cup of tea” consider infant gates that confine your Tzu to various rooms of your house or choose a more independent type of dog.

The main reason I chose I Shih Tzu dog is so I could teach my children how to be responsible.

TRUE: The Tzu makes a wonderful family pet, but don’t expect your children to take care of the dog entirely on their own.  Anyone who decided to get a dog for this reason will tell you that the majority of the dog’s care was carried out by the mother or father of the household.

FALSE:  Children should be taught responsibility, but often owning a pet does not in and of itself teach this important life skill.

How are you doing on your breed selector answers?  We're almost through.

I don’t have much money for stuff like toys, premium food or vet care, but I will give a Tzu a good home.

TRUE:  You might be able to Love a Shih Tzu, but if you can’t provide for his basic needs, you can’t give him a good home.

FALSE:  Great!  You understand that the responsibility of dog ownership comes with some costs.  Providing a good home means more than loving a dog—it means providing a good diet, health care and all the necessities that dogs need to stay happy and healthy.

I have little tolerance for Stubborn Dogs.

TRUE:  Choose another breed; Shih Tzu can be stubborn and getting into a power struggle with a dog is like trying to win an argument with your teenage daughter. 

FALSE:  Great!  You understand the Shih Tzu mind.

I want a dog that doesn’t bark.

True: Shih Tzu dogs are one of the less yappy toy breed dogs, but they still bark occasionally.  If barking is an issue, investigate bark-less dogs or consider a cat.

FALSE:  You realize that all dogs bark to some extent but the Tzu is one of the more quiet breeds.

DONE

How did you do on your breed selector answers? 

Don't worry if you didn't get a perfect score, you might still be the perfect person to be owned by a Shih Tzu!

Please do not base your decision to own a Shih Tzu entirely on these breed selector answers.  For more information on the breed, check out the parent club.

American Shih Tzu Club