Many people may think of Shih Tzu as fierce simply because it means little lion, but they are not as their name implies. They are loving, outdoing, and happy pet dogs; they love their owners’ companion and enjoy following their owners from one corner of the house to another. 

Most people think Shih Tzu dogs are hypoallergenic and are among the non-shedding breeds of dogs. They are a better option for pet dogs but concluding that they are entirely non-shedding dog is not accurate.

Does Shih Tzu Shed?

Unlike other dog breeds, Shih Tzu has a very long fur that most people prefer calling their fur “hairs” because of its length and delicate texture. Once they get to the terminal point of the growth cycle, their hair falls off. You may not notice their hair dropping immediately on the floor, bed, or couch, as they are trapped in their long coat.

You can notice your dog shedding after you have cut their hair, as the outer coat becomes shorter and incapacitated to trap the falling hairs.

This simply implies that your Shih Tzu shed, but due to her long outer coat, it becomes un-noticeable as compared to other breeds of dog.”

If you do not cut their hairs , you can easily brush out the hair that falls on the outer coat.

Is Shih Tzu Hypoallergenic?

They are hypoallergenic, meaning they are good companions for people with an allergy to canine fur. Unlike other breeds of dogs that shed a lot, Shih Tzu doesn’t shed, or they shed a bit, which makes suitable for allergy people. The hairs released to the air as a result of shedding cause allergy for allergic people, and Shih Tzu doesn’t shed (really shed). Now you see why we said Shih Tzuis hypoallergenic.

This dog may not be big shedder but tends to fill the floor or couch with their hair as they shake themselves due to flaky and dry skin. To help keep your pal skin from drying, stimulate their oil glands by grooming and brushing her coat regularly and add omega oils to her meal.

You should consider seeing your vet if the skin problem continues, and you have tried the recommended options.

Lifespan

On average, a smaller dog has a longer life expectancy than larger dogs, and Shih Tzu is a small dog, which indicates that she is expected to live longer.

Shih Tzu’s expectancy life ranges from 13 years to 16 years.

On average, Shih Tzu has a longer lifespan than other dogs’ breeds as they live for 13 years and other breeds of dog live for 11 years on average. 

There are some factors such as genetic and health issues that determine the lifespan of your dog; these factors need to be considered if you want your dog to live longer. 

Shih Tzu are liable to heart disease, skin problems due to their long hair, hypothyroidism, progressive rental atrophy (PRA), hip dysplasia, among others (NCBI)

Shih Tzu price

Before purchasing a Shih Tzu puppy, you need to consider the actual purchasing cost and the breeder you are buying from other re-occurring costs such as the cost of maintaining their long coat, among others.

Depending on the breeder and your region, in the USA, the price for a Shih Tzu puppy ranges from $600 to $1,100 on average. However, purchasing them from a high breeder will cost you around $3,000 to $9,000. Depending on how the dog was breed, and it will cost you about $400 to $600 to adopt one, including vaccinations and registrations.

Shih Tzu vs Shih poo 

Shih poo is not a purebred but a hybrid, whose parents are Shih Tzu and poodle. This dogs inherited half their mother’s personalities & appearance and half their father’s personalities & appearance, such as; their relaxed nature and long hair from their Shih Tzuparent and their energetic nature and tight curly hair from their poodle parent.

Shih poo is not Shih Tzu due to the fact that they are not purebred. Their parents are different breeds of dogs. Shih poo is likely to be hypoallergenic because their parents are both low shedders and hypoallergenic. Shih poo enjoys the game of tug of war and fetches as they also love it when their owners cuddle them.

Final thoughts

Not that no dog is allergy-free to those that are allergic. But if you search for the best breeds of hypoallergenic or non-shedding, Shih Tzu is one of the most preferred options.

Since you are a fan of Shih Tzu Dog, you might also be interested in Australian Shepherds.