Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are one of the better choices for a family with children. Expect a small dog that is low-energy, barely sheds and needs professional grooming on a cycle. The big catch is running cost — this is one of the pricier dogs to keep well.

Source: American Kennel Club breed standard.

Shih Tzus lived in Chinese and Tibetan palaces for centuries, bred purely as companions for royalty, and the breed nearly vanished in the twentieth century — every modern Shih Tzu descends from a very small number of surviving dogs. Two thousand years of being a lap dog produced exactly what you would expect: an affectionate, unhurried, people-oriented animal with no working drive whatsoever, happy in a flat, and genuinely good with gentle children. The coat is the workload. It is hair rather than fur, grows continuously, and mats within days without daily brushing — most owners keep a short "puppy cut" and are glad they did. The muzzle is shortened, so heat and vigorous exercise need the same care as other flat-faced breeds.

Day to day. Low-energy — short walks and a warm spot to sleep suit this breed fine, which makes it one of the easier dogs to fit around a busy family. On noise, it is about average for noise.

The coat, honestly. This breed barely sheds and needs professional grooming on a cycle. That is the trade every low-shedding dog asks for: you are not vacuuming hair, you are booking and paying for a groom every few weeks, and brushing between visits or the coat mats down to the skin.

Being left alone. Fine alone for a few hours. A few hours is fine; a full working day, every day, is asking a lot.

Training. Needs an experienced handler. That does not mean badly behaved — it means this breed thinks for itself, and it will not do something just because you asked. First-time owners often find it frustrating.

• You want a dog with a reputation for putting up with children
• Your idea of a walk is twenty gentle minutes, not five miles
• You would rather brush and pay a groomer than vacuum every day
• You are short on space and want a dog that fits your home

• Nobody has budgeted for a groomer every few weeks
• You want a dog that does as it is told the first time
• A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year

Every animal is an individual, and plenty of Shih Tzus live long, healthy lives. This is here so nobody is surprised — ask a vet, and ask whoever you get the dog from what they have tested for.

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier dogs on our list) — because the coat needs a professional groom on a cycle, and that is the bill people forget, and the breed has known health issues that can mean extra vet visits.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Rescues do have Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.