If you typed “why shih tzu are the worst dog” into Google, you are not here for cute puppy pictures. Maybe a friend’s Shih Tzu barked at you for an hour, or your own puppy just had another accident on the rug. Here is the straight answer: no, Shih Tzus are not the worst dog — but your frustration is real, and it comes from predictable problems that blindside most first-time owners.
“A Shih Tzu is not a difficult dog for a difficult owner — it is a demanding dog for an unprepared one.”
Below I break down every honest complaint — grooming, barking, stubbornness, housebreaking, separation anxiety, health issues, cost — and show which ones you can fix and which are simply the price of the breed.
Where the “Worst Dog” Label Actually Comes From
The common shih tzu complaints show up again and again across owner forums: daily brushing, yappy barking, slow housebreaking, and vet bills nobody warned them about.
People expect a cuddly lapdog. They do not expect a dog that needs hair care like a show pony, training patience like a terrier, and the emotional availability of a toddler. The gap between expectation and reality is unusually wide with this breed — and that gap is where the “worst dog” label is born.
Most pages ranking for this topic either list ten angry bullet points or get defensive about the breed. Neither helps you. What helps is understanding why each complaint exists, which ones are fixable with the right routine, and which ones should make you pick a different breed. Let us go through them honestly.
The Coat Is a Full-Time Job
A Shih Tzu’s long, double-layered hair tangles if you look at it wrong. Skip brushing for a few days and small mats form; leave those and they tighten against the skin, trap moisture, and can cause painful sores. The shih tzu grooming problems owners face are not about vanity — a matted coat causes real suffering, and fixing one often means shaving the dog down and starting over.
The realistic routine: brush down to the skin daily, bathe every few weeks, trim regularly, and watch the eyes, ears, and mouth area. A short “puppy cut” cuts the workload a lot — but it does not eliminate grooming, and professional grooming every 4–8 weeks is still a real recurring cost.
Owners of other small companion breeds face the same trade-off; people researching how much Havanese shed run into nearly identical daily-brush-or-regret math. Ask yourself whether you will still enjoy brushing a squirming dog at 10 p.m. on a Tuesday in February.
- Choose a puppy cut from the start if you are not showing the dog.
- Brush in layers — mats hide underneath, against the skin.
- Keep the face trimmed around the eyes and mouth, where moisture breeds tangles.
- Book the groomer on a schedule instead of waiting until the coat looks rough.
Stubborn, Not Stupid: The Training Reality
Shih Tzus are smart — that is exactly what makes training them maddening. Bred as companions for Chinese royalty, they still carry that mindset: cooperate when they see the point, politely ignore you when they do not.
The shih tzu behavioral problems people complain about — ignored recall, refused commands, melting into the floor mid-session — are almost always a motivation problem, not an intelligence problem. Your Shih Tzu learned “sit” in an afternoon; getting it to sit when guests arrive is a different project.
Harsh corrections backfire badly here — they shut down or sulk instead of trying harder. Short, cheerful sessions with genuinely exciting rewards work far better. Keep sessions under five minutes, end while you are winning, and accept that a Shih Tzu will never be a border collie. If you wanted a dog that lives to obey, that is on the chooser, not the dog.
Housebreaking takes longer than you think
This is the number one complaint about the breed for a reason: tiny bladders, a stubborn streak, and a deep dislike of rain or cold stack against you. Many owners report months of near-misses before things click, and even adults can regress during schedule changes or stress.
What works is boring consistency — out on a strict schedule, huge rewards for outdoor success, and enough supervision that accidents never become a habit. Crate training helps enormously, but only when the crate is introduced kindly and never used as punishment.
The Barking Problem
Shih Tzus are alert little watchdogs with big opinions about the doorbell, the hallway, and sometimes nothing at all. A bored or under-exercised one will narrate the entire day at full volume — and in an apartment, that gets old fast.
Most shih tzu behavior issues around noise come down to the same roots: an under-stimulated dog, or one accidentally rewarded for barking — even yelling “quiet!” counts as attention.
This one is genuinely fixable with consistency. Reward the silence between barks to teach a “quiet” cue, desensitize triggers in small steps, and give the brain work to do — puzzle feeders, training games, sniffy walks. A tired Shih Tzu brain barks far less than a bored one.
And keep expectations honest: they will bark plenty, but they will not back it up. If real protection is what you want, look at breeds built for it — the strongest bite breeds are working dogs, not nine-pound companions.
Velcro Dogs: Separation Anxiety Is Real
A Shih Tzu does not just like you — it needs you. Bred for one job, companionship, it takes that job seriously. Leave one alone all day and you may come home to howling, scratched doors, or a dog worked into a shaking panic. The biggest downside of owning a shih tzu for full-time workers is not the grooming or the training — it is the loneliness problem.
Some of this is manageable: crate or pen training, frozen stuffed toys, and teaching the puppy in tiny steps that your departures are boring and always end with you returning.
But be straight with yourself — if you are gone ten hours a day, this breed will be miserable, and no training plan fully fixes that. A dog walker or daycare is not a luxury here; for many owners it is the difference between a happy dog and a destructive one.
Health Issues I Wish Someone Had Told Owners Upfront
The problems with shih tzu breed health trace back to structure: a flat face, bulging eyes, a tiny crowded mouth, and short legs. None of it is the individual dog’s fault — it is anatomy. Here is what veterinary sources actually document.
Breathing and heat. The Shih Tzu is brachycephalic — the short muzzle means narrower airways, noisier breathing, and far worse heat tolerance. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes flat-faced breeds need special heat and exercise management and close monitoring for respiratory distress. Walk in the cool parts of the day, keep exercise gentle, never leave the dog in a hot car, and treat labored breathing as a warning sign.
Eyes. Vetstreet lists dry eye, corneal ulcers, ingrown eyelashes, and even proptosis — the eyeball slipping from the socket after trauma, a genuine emergency. Keep hair trimmed away from the eyes; treat squinting, redness, or sudden discharge as a vet visit, not a wait-and-see.
Teeth. A full set of teeth crowded into a tiny jaw, often with an underbite, makes dental disease almost a given. Vetstreet advises daily brushing. Skipped dental care here means painful gum disease and expensive extractions later — not just bad breath.
Knees, ears, and skin. Luxating patella (slipping kneecap) is common in small breeds; floppy, hairy ears trap moisture and invite infections; the long coat plus allergies can mean chronic skin trouble. The American Shih Tzu Club notes studies show most Shih Tzus avoid the severe airway problems seen in some other flat-faced breeds — so “generally healthy” is fair, but it is very different from “low maintenance.”
One myth to clear up: no dog is truly hypoallergenic — dander exists regardless of coat, so allergy sufferers should spend time around the breed first. The same applies to other small breeds, like whether wiener dogs are hypoallergenic. Test first, assume nothing.
Small Kids and Rough Play
Shih Tzus are gentle with family, but they are fragile — and that combination goes wrong with young children. A toddler who grabs or drops the dog can cause real injury, and a frightened small dog that learns to snap is not a bad dog, it is a scared one.
Most trainers recommend waiting until children understand gentle handling, and supervising every interaction until then. If young kids are a big part of your picture, compare notes with guides to the best small dog breeds for families before you decide — the right match depends as much on your kids’ ages as on the dog.
The Money Question
The shih tzu owner complaints about cost are some of the most consistent you will find: professional grooming every 4–8 weeks, quality food, dental cleanings, eye and ear care, and the occasional surgery. This is a small dog with a big-dog maintenance bill.
Pet insurance or a dedicated vet fund turns a crisis into an inconvenience — but nothing about this breed is cheap. Before committing, price out a year of grooming and routine vet care in your area, then add a buffer. If that number makes you flinch, believe the flinch.
Putting the “Bad Things” in Perspective
The internet’s list of bad things about shih tzus mixes genuine problems with nonsense. “Not good watchdogs” — true, and true of most companion breeds; nobody buys a lapdog for security. “Not good with other pets” — usually false; well-socialized Shih Tzus are famously friendly with other animals. “Short lifespan” — misleading; most live well into their teens, which is respectable for any dog.
Nearly every complaint traces back to grooming, training effort, or the owner’s schedule — all things you control — while the breed’s actual temperament is consistently described as affectionate and people-oriented. The breed is not badly behaved. It is badly matched, over and over, to people who wanted a decoration instead of a commitment.
Who Should Think Twice
The reasons not to get a shih tzu are clearest for a few specific people: if you work long hours away from home with no plan for company or daycare; if daily grooming sounds like a chore you will resent within a month; if you want a hiking partner or jogging buddy; if you have very young children and no time to supervise; or if your budget has no room for regular grooming and vet care.
Any one of those is a legitimate dealbreaker, and recognizing it now is kinder than rehoming later. Dog breeds are tools for lifestyles — a hammer is not a bad tool because it is bad at being a screwdriver.
Weighing the Trade-Offs Honestly
I recommend weighing the pros and cons of owning a shih tzu against your real life, not the life you wish you had. Plus side: a deeply affectionate companion, great for apartments, modest exercise needs, a dog that genuinely wants to be with you.
Minus side: daily coat care, slow housebreaking, barking that needs training, separation anxiety that needs management, and bills that never quite stop. If the minuses feel heavier, there is no shame in looking elsewhere — learning how big Cavapoos get and how their care compares is a sensible next step. And if the pluses win, go in prepared: pick a reputable breeder who health-tests, budget for grooming from day one, and start training the week the puppy arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why shih tzu are hard to train — is it stubbornness or something else?
It is mostly motivation, not intelligence. Shih Tzus learn quickly but cooperate only when they see the point, so keep sessions short and cheerful with rewards they love. Harsh corrections backfire — this breed shuts down.
Why are shih tzus so stubborn?
Independence is baked into the breed — they were royal companions, not working dogs. That stubborn streak means they weigh every request against their own interests. Consistent positive reinforcement beats frustration every time.
Why shih tzu are difficult for first-time owners?
Because three hard things arrive at once: slow housebreaking, daily coat care, and a dog that panics when left alone. None are unfixable, but juggling all three without guidance overwhelms most beginners. A trainer for the first few months makes a real difference.
Why people hate shih tzus — is it really about the dog?
Usually it is about mismatched expectations. People expect an easy lapdog and get a high-maintenance companion that barks, needs daily brushing, and hates being alone. The dislike targets the surprise workload, not the breed’s affectionate temperament.
Are shih tzus high maintenance?
Yes — among the highest-maintenance small breeds. Daily brushing, regular professional grooming, slow housebreaking, dental care, and near-constant companionship add up to a serious commitment. The cute photos never show the 10 p.m. brushing sessions.
Can shih tzu separation anxiety be prevented?
Largely, yes, with early work. Practice tiny absences that always end well, introduce crate or pen training kindly, and never make departures dramatic. But if you are gone most of the day with no backup plan, even great training cannot fully fix the loneliness.
How bad are shih tzu housebreaking issues really?
Bad enough to plan for. Tiny bladders, stubbornness, and a hatred of cold or wet weather make this one of the slowest breeds to housebreak — think months, not weeks. A strict outdoor schedule, big rewards for success, and constant supervision finally get it done.
What shih tzu health issues should I ask my vet about?
Ask about breathing and heat tolerance, eye care (dry eye, ulcers, injury risk), dental crowding and daily brushing, luxating patella, ear infections, and skin allergies. Raise these at the first puppy visit so you leave with a prevention plan, not just a reaction plan.
What are the shih tzu pros and cons?
The upsides are real: deeply affectionate, apartment-friendly, modest exercise needs, and a true companion temperament. The trade-offs are equally real: daily coat care, slow housebreaking, barking, separation anxiety, and ongoing grooming and vet costs.
Are shih tzu barking problems fixable?
Mostly, yes. Reward the silence between barks to teach a “quiet” cue, desensitize triggers gradually, and provide mental stimulation — puzzle feeders and training games cut barking dramatically. Expect improvement and management, not total silence.
So, Should You Get a Shih Tzu?
Here is my honest bottom line. If you are home a lot, daily grooming sounds satisfying rather than dreadful, you have patience for months of housebreaking, and your budget covers grooming plus vet care — a Shih Tzu can be one of the most loving dogs you will ever own. But if you read this article nodding along with every complaint, trust that feeling. The “worst dog” label was never about the Shih Tzu. It was always about the mismatch.
