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€1,150
Puppy Care & Health Information
At a glance
- Type
- Purebred, FCI No. 208, Group 9 (companion dogs)
- Height
- Not more than 26.7 cm at the shoulder
- Weight
- 4.5–8.1 kg; ideally 4.5–7.3 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–16 years
- Coat
- Long, dense double coat in any colour; sheds little when groomed
- Grooming
- Long coat: combing every day · Short clip: brushing a few times a week and a groomer every 4–6 weeks
- Exercise
- About an hour a day of gentle walks and play
- With children
- Good with children who handle him gently
- In an apartment
- Yes, one of the easiest breeds for a flat
- Cyprus summer
- Poor: a short-nosed breed; no midday walks in summer, a cool room at home
- Our price
- from €1,150
About the Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu was a palace dog. Its roots are Tibetan, but the breed as we know it was developed in China, where these dogs lived inside the imperial household and were never asked to work for a living. That background produced a companion with unusual self-possession — friendly, but with a mind of his own.
Owners tend to describe the Shih Tzu as easy company rather than eager to please. He is alert and sociable, greets visitors happily, and is rarely bothered by noise or bustle, which makes him a good fit for a busy family home. He is also independent enough that training takes repetition and a light touch; he will cooperate, but he does not live to obey.
Two practical points decide whether this breed suits you. The first is the coat: long, barely shedding and beautiful, and it needs daily combing to stay that way. Most owners in Cyprus keep it clipped shorter through summer, which is kinder to the dog and far less work. The second is the flat face. A Shih Tzu cannot cool himself as easily as a longer-nosed dog, so from June onwards walks belong to the early morning and the evening, and he should never be left in a car or on a hot balcony.
Manage those two things and you have an adaptable, affectionate apartment dog who asks for about an hour of gentle activity a day.
Origin, purpose and temperament follow the official FCI breed standard; exercise, grooming and family suitability follow The Royal Kennel Club (UK). Every puppy is an individual — ask us about the one you are considering.
Living with a Shih Tzu in Cyprus
A short nose in a hot summer. The Shih Tzu is a brachycephalic, or short-nosed, breed. Dogs cool down by panting, and his short airway cannot move enough air once it passes 35 °C, as it does most days in July and August. From June to September skip the midday walk altogether: ten or fifteen minutes at first light and after dark is enough, and the rest of the day belongs in air-conditioning or the coolest room in the house. Never leave him in a car. Loud, rasping breathing or gums turning dark red or bluish mean: cool him down and call a vet.
A summer clip. The floor-length show coat is not practical in Cyprus. Before the heat starts, ask your groomer for a short “puppy” or “teddy” clip of two or three centimetres. Do not shave him down to the skin, which leaves it open to sunburn.
Eyes. Large, prominent eyes catch dust, sand and glare, and damp hair at the corners leaves brown tear stains. Wipe them with a damp cloth every day, and keep the hair above the nose short or tied up in a topknot. A cloudy, red or half-closed eye needs a vet that day.
Sandflies, ticks and teeth. Evening walks coincide with sandfly hours, and from about May to October those bites can pass on leishmaniasis; plan a repellent collar and the vaccine with your vet. For ticks in a long coat, see our puppy care sheet. The short jaw crowds the teeth, so start brushing them early. Many Shih Tzus are slow, fussy eaters: give them time rather than a new food every week.
