Toy · Tibet / China
Shih Tzutemperament, daily life and costs
Made to be a companion, and very good at it. Happy on a lap, happy in a small flat.
Origin & original purpose: Shih Tzus were bred as companions for the Chinese imperial court, with Tibetan roots, and the name means 'lion dog'. They've been lap dogs for a very long time.
- They usually live
- 12–16 years
- Roughly, per year
- €1100–1900
Life with a Shih Tzu
What people love about them
- Ideal for city living
- Friendly with almost everyone
- Sheds very little
- Doesn't need long walks
Things to weigh up honestly
- Daily brushing, or a short clip to keep on top of it
- That short nose makes heat genuinely dangerous
- Eyes need daily watching and wiping
- Housetraining can take real patience
What they're like
Some breeds shed less than others, which people with allergies sometimes find easier to live with. But no dog is completely allergy-free, and reactions vary from person to person.
A typical day together
- 07:00
Morning Routine
A walk of 10–15 minutes before the day starts properly. Not a dog that needs puzzles — company and routine matter more.
- 12:00
Midday & Independence
Midday is the hard part — they'd rather not be left for long stretches, so most homes need a plan for it.
- 17:30
Evening Energy Burn
A longer outing later on — 20–30 minutes across the day in total — then settling down with you.
- 21:00
Decompression & Care
Brushing most days, plus a groomer every 6–8 weeks
Estimated daily active commitment: ~0.5 hours
What they ask of you
- Exercise
- 20–30 min a day
- Your time
- 4–5 hours a week
- Walks, training, coat care and play together
- Space
- Content in a flat, provided they get out often enough
- Coat care
- Brushing most days, plus a groomer every 6–8 weeks
- Typical yearly cost
- €1100–1900
- Food, insurance, routine vet care and grooming. Illness and emergencies come on top.
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
- The whole of that time is the commitment, not just the puppy year.
What a year with this dog costs
An honest estimate, built from this breed's size and coat. Adjust the two things that really move the number, and you'll see the range change as you go.
Where you live
Insurance included
Professional grooming
- Food
- €215–€310
- Routine vet care and insurance
- €320–€465
- Grooming
- €340–€620
- Equipment and consumables
- €110–€185
- Buffer for the unexpected
- €120–€315
Your likely year
€1,105–€1,895
about €92–€158 a month
Real costs vary by country, by the size and appetite of your own dog, and by their health. Illness, dental work and emergencies can sit well above this range, which is why the buffer is here at all.
Best suited for
- Quieter homes and shorter, gentler walks
- First-time owners willing to put the early work in
- Family homes with children around
- Flats and town living
- Anyone who wants a dog close by, most of the day
Important things to consider
- Coat care is ongoing and adds a real cost each year
- Finds long days alone genuinely hard
- Struggles in hot weather — summer walks need rethinking
Health considerations
As a flat-faced breed, breathing and heat need care — heat risk is one of the welfare concerns the British Veterinary Association raises — and the large eyes, ears and skin under the coat need regular checks. The long coat mats fast, which is why many owners choose a short trim. Ask the breeder what health checks the parents had, and read the breed profile. General guidance, not a vet.
A poor match if…
- Regular grooming, or a short trim every few weeks, wouldn't fit your routine
- You live somewhere hot with no cool corner
- You'd like a dog that's quick and easy to house-train
Key trade-offs
- A cheerful, people-loving lap dog, with a coat and a face that both ask for daily care
- A stubborn streak inside the fluffy coat: patient, food-led training works best
Questions people ask before committing to a Shih Tzu
- Is a Shih Tzu good with children?
- Yes — a Shih Tzu is typically patient and easy-going with children, as long as the dog gets rest and children learn to respect it.
- Can a Shih Tzu live in an apartment?
- Yes — apartments suit a Shih Tzu well. Give it a fixed resting spot and reliable walks and the space itself is rarely the problem.
- How much exercise does a Shih Tzu need each day?
- Plan for around 30 minutes of real activity a day, split into more than one outing, plus something that uses its head — scent games, training, or a proper sniffing walk.
- Does a Shih Tzu shed a lot?
- Very little loose hair around the home. Expect regular trips to a groomer instead — low shedding almost always means more coat care.
- Is a Shih Tzu a good first dog?
- Yes — a Shih Tzu is a forgiving first dog for most people who can give it time.
- How long can a Shih Tzu be left alone?
- Around 2 hours at a stretch once fully grown and gradually trained for it. Longer days need a dog walker, day care or someone dropping in — and a puppy needs far shorter stretches at first.
- What does a Shih Tzu cost per year?
- Budget roughly €1100–1900 a year for food, routine vet care, insurance, grooming and everyday kit. Country, size and individual health move that figure quite a bit, and a single unlucky year can cost more.
These answers come from the same trait numbers used everywhere on DoggMatch — no marketing, no guesswork.
Read more before you decide
The guides that matter most for this breed, written in plain language.
Compare with similar breeds
Side by side on exercise, coat, time alone and cost — the things that decide how the week actually feels.
- Shih Tzu
Maltese
Yorkshire Terrier
Toy Poodle
Not sure yet?
Let us read this breed against your own days
Fifteen short questions about your home, your hours and your energy. You get a ranked shortlist, the reasoning behind it, and this page will start speaking to your answers.
Takes about three minutes. Your answers stay on this device.
