The Shih Tzu was bred in the Chinese imperial court for one purpose: companionship. A thousand years of selection for affection, patience, and lap-leaning has produced one of the most easy-going small breeds on the planet.
They are excellent with children — patient, sturdier than their toy size suggests, and almost impossible to provoke. They do well in apartments, ask for short walks rather than long ones, and have a hypoallergenic hair-style coat that produces minimal dander.
The brachycephalic (flat) face means we recommend careful summer management — short walks in cool hours only, and air-conditioned indoor space during the hottest months.