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i have a 12-year old shih tzu, my mother has one, one of my good friends has one, her mother has two, and i've met many others over the years.
they are hypoallergenic, and they don't shed. but they do have lots of hair and require grooming frequently.
personality-wise, i'd say across the board, they are smart, loving, friendly, and good natured. but they can also be stubborn and opinionated. if you own one of these dogs, you need to start training early and frequently with them.
they love to learn new things and like variety in their schedules. and they can also be "talkative," grumbling at you when they're happy AND sad.
the shih tzus i've met are energetic, needing walks twice a day, but not hyper or overly bark-y. they are great guard dogs, though, and will bark at strangers at the door.
also, they are true lap dogs, loving to curl up next to you for a good nap.
sometimes they are listed as hard to housebreak, but none of the shih tzu owners i know have ever had this problem. also, i don't know how good they are with children...the shih tzus i know don't love kids but, at the same time, don't misbehave around them either.
healthwise, they are prone to ear infections and disc problems in the back because of the long back. you also would want to be careful with their eyes. one other thing is they are prone to heat exhaustion b/c of the short face and nose.
the main thing is, with these dogs, they are lovers, that is for sure. they will sometimes just sit and gaze at you like they will tell you a secret of the universe if you'll just slow down and listen.
really, i can't say enough good things about this breed! hope this helps!
And sorry to say, but NO dog is "hypoallergenic," particularly not a Shih Tzu. Some dogs are more tolerable than others, due to their human-like hair, but any dog can cause allergies (especially if it's the dander you're allergic to). A few "less allergenic" dogs in that size range would include Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Toy/Mini Poodle, Coton de Tulear, Chinese Crested, and possibly the Mini Schnauzer & terrier breeds. I would personally recommend the Bichon or Poodle, since they are usually very nice dogs... plus my best friend is allergic to dogs, and has comfortably owned 2 Bichons and 2 Poodle/Maltese mixes.
Definitely be cautious about "hypoallergenic" dogs
Quote:
Originally Posted by gizmo980
I fixed the title for you... LOL.
And sorry to say, but NO dog is "hypoallergenic," particularly not a Shih Tzu. Some dogs are more tolerable than others, due to their human-like hair, but any dog can cause allergies (especially if it's the dander you're allergic to). A few "less allergenic" dogs in that size range would include Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Toy/Mini Poodle, Coton de Tulear, Chinese Crested, and possibly the Mini Schnauzer & terrier breeds.
We have a Bichon and a Havanese. The husband and daughter of one of my friends are very allergic to dogs. Even when we only had the Bichon they had major problems in our house (especially if they were sitting on our couches where the dogs sit). Their reactions got much worse when we added the Havanese. One time I was watching my friend's then 4 year old and I did my best to keep her off the couches and the carpet, but within an hour of being in our house her face was red and swollen, her eyes were watery and itching and her nose was running.
We have a Bichon and a Havanese. The husband and daughter of one of my friends are very allergic to dogs. Even when we only had the Bichon they had major problems in our house (especially if they were sitting on our couches where the dogs sit). There reactions got much worse when we added the Havanese. One time I was watching my friends then 4 year old and I did my best to keep her off the couches and the carpet, but within an hour of being in our house her face was red and swollen, her eyes were watery and itching and her nose was running.
Yup... that's why I cautioned the OP, since even a Bichon can cause allergies. I'm allergic to dogs myself, but very mildly, so my shorthaired mutt is just fine.
gizmo, sorry to disagree, but the shih tzu does qualify as hypoallergenic. josci, just google "shih tzu" and "hypoallergenic" or "shih tzu" and "dander" and countless web sites will verify this info...or call your local vet, they'll also be happy to verify, mine did!
also, i can tell you from personal experience, a friend of mine who used to keep barnaby frequently and had terrible allergies NEVER reacted to him. in fact, she lived with us for awhile and had zero problems.
Okay, I probably wouldn't be so cautious then. Even hypoallergenic dogs aren't manageable for some people, but that doesn't seem to be the case for you (luckily). The shih tzu is on every list of hypoallergenic dogs I've seen.
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Definitely be cautious about "hypoallergenic" dogs
