Shih Tzu care guide (Australia)
A Shih Tzu suits PetGuides.au readers who want a flat-faced lap companion and can commit to a professional groom every 4–6 weeks plus daily brushing. They live 10–16 years, can't be left to overheat in an Australian summer, and need their short muzzle, eyes and teeth watched closely.
By PetGuides Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-06-13. General information for Australian pet owners — not a diagnosis or a substitute for veterinary advice. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Shih Tzu at a glance
| Lifespan | 10-16 years |
|---|---|
| Grooming frequency | High — every 4-6 weeks pro groom + daily brush |
| Common health issues | brachycephalic syndrome, dental, eye issues |
| Temperament | Friendly, affectionate, lively |
| Species | Dog |
Is a Shih Tzu right for your home?
The Shih Tzu was bred to be a court companion, not a working dog, and it still behaves like one — friendly, affectionate and lively, but happiest sitting on or near a person rather than running a property. That makes it a genuinely good apartment and townhouse dog, and a sturdy, even-tempered pick for households with gentle older children or for retirees who want company without a high-energy workload.
It fits poorly in three situations. First, if the home is empty most of the day — this is a velcro companion breed that wants to be with you and can become barky or anxious when left alone for long stretches. Second, if no one will keep up the grooming; the long double coat is the single biggest commitment of the breed and it does not look after itself. Third, if you want a dog for jogging, long hot-weather hikes or all-day outdoor work — a short-muzzled breed simply can't pant efficiently enough to do that safely.
Know before you commit: every Shih Tzu carries the flat-faced (brachycephalic) build, so noisy breathing, snorting and heat sensitivity are part of the package, not a fault in your individual dog.
Living with a Shih Tzu in Australia
Heat is the Shih Tzu's defining Australian challenge. A short-muzzled dog cools itself far less effectively than a long-nosed breed, so an ordinary Aussie summer day (Dec–Feb) that a kelpie shrugs off can tip a Shih Tzu into dangerous overheating. Walk only in the cool of early morning or evening, never the middle of a hot day, and skip exercise altogether on very hot or humid days. Keep them in air-conditioning or in front of a fan through a heatwave, always with shade and water, and never leave one in a parked car even briefly.
Learn what heat stress looks like in this breed: frantic, laboured panting, very loud breathing, a bright-red or bluish tongue and gums, drooling, stumbling or collapse. A flat-faced dog can decline quickly — if you see these signs, cool the dog with room-temperature (not icy) water and contact a vet or emergency clinic straight away.
The upside is that their exercise needs are modest. A couple of short daily walks plus indoor play and a few minutes of training keeps a Shih Tzu content — they're built for companionship, not endurance, so apartment living suits them well. A folded face also means the deep nose wrinkle and skin folds trap moisture; wipe the facial folds dry regularly, especially after meals and in humidity, to prevent the skin underneath getting sore and smelly.
Grooming a Shih Tzu: what it really takes
Plan on a professional groom every 4–6 weeks plus a brush every single day — this is the real cost and labour of owning the breed, and the part most new owners underestimate. The Shih Tzu's long double coat grows continuously and tangles fast; miss a few days of brushing and it mats tight against the skin behind the ears, in the armpits, on the belly and around the bottom, where matting is painful and can hide skin infection.
Most Australian Shih Tzu owners keep the coat in a short 'puppy clip' rather than the floor-length show coat, precisely because the full coat is so demanding in a warm climate. Even clipped, daily brushing to the skin (not just over the top) is still needed.
The face is its own routine. Hair grows straight into the eyes and must be trimmed or tied back so it doesn't scratch the cornea, and the breed's prominent eyes weep, leaving tear stains down the muzzle that need gentle daily cleaning. Wipe the nose folds, keep the ears clean and dry (hairy ear canals trap wax and moisture), and keep the bottom and feet trimmed. Introduce brushing, face-wiping, the dryer and nail trims as a puppy so grooming stays low-stress for a 10–16 year lifetime.
Shih Tzu health: what to watch for
Across a 10–16 year lifespan, most of a Shih Tzu's health care is routine prevention plus close attention to three areas tied to its flat face and small size. None of the below is a diagnosis — it's what to watch for and what to raise with your vet.
- Brachycephalic (flat-faced) syndrome: the short muzzle means narrowed nostrils and a crowded airway, so noisy breathing, snorting and snoring are common. Early signs to mention to your vet are breathing that's loud even at rest, tiring or going blue around the gums on mild exertion, gagging or bringing up food, and poor heat tolerance. Ask your vet to assess the airway, whether weight is making it worse, and — for severely affected dogs — whether surgery to widen the nostrils or trim the soft palate would help. Keeping the dog lean and cool is the day-to-day management.
- Dental disease: small, flat-faced jaws crowd the teeth together, which traps food and plaque and makes the Shih Tzu prone to early gum disease and tooth loss. Watch for bad breath, yellow-brown tartar, red or bleeding gums, dropping food or chewing on one side. Ask your vet to check the teeth at every visit and advise on at-home tooth brushing and when a professional scale-and-polish under anaesthetic is due.
- Eye issues: the breed's large, prominent, shallow-set eyes sit exposed and are easily scratched or ulcerated, and stray face hair makes it worse. Watch for squinting, a held-shut eye, excess tearing or discharge, redness, cloudiness or pawing at the face — treat any of these as urgent and see a vet promptly, because eye ulcers can worsen fast. Keeping the eye-area hair trimmed and the face clean prevents many problems.
The real cost, and your first 90 days
The Shih Tzu's biggest ongoing cost driver is grooming — a coat that needs professional attention every 4–6 weeks for life adds up far more than most first-time owners expect, so factor it in before you commit. The flat-faced build is the second driver: brachycephalic dogs more often need vet attention for breathing, eyes and overheating, and any procedure requiring anaesthetic carries extra care for a short-muzzled airway. Crowded teeth also make dental cleanings a recurring, not one-off, expense. Use the tools below for current local figures rather than guessing — costs vary by city and clinic.
First 90 days checklist: - Book a vet health check and have the airway, eyes and teeth assessed from the start, and confirm the vaccination and parasite-prevention schedule. - Register and microchip per your council's rules, and update the microchip details to you. - Set up a daily brushing and face-wiping habit, and book a first groomer visit so clipping starts young. - Plan for summer now: a cool indoor space, cool-of-day walks only, and a clear plan if a heatwave hits. - Start short, positive handling of the face, ears, paws and mouth so vet and grooming visits stay calm for life. - Consider pet insurance before any condition appears, given the breed's breathing, eye and dental tendencies.
Common questions about Shih Tzus in Australia
Can Shih Tzus handle the Australian summer heat?
Poorly, and it's the breed's main risk here. A flat face means a Shih Tzu can't pant efficiently, so it overheats far faster than a long-nosed dog. Walk only in the cool early morning or evening, keep it in air-conditioning or in front of a fan on hot days, always provide shade and water, and never leave it in a parked car. Watch for frantic noisy panting or a bright-red tongue.
How often does a Shih Tzu need grooming?
A professional groom every 4–6 weeks plus daily brushing — non-negotiable for this breed. The long double coat grows continuously and mats tight to the skin within days if it's not brushed to the roots. Most Australian owners keep a short clip rather than the full show coat because it's far more practical in the heat. The face also needs daily eye-area trimming and tear-stain cleaning.
Are Shih Tzus good apartment dogs?
Yes — they're one of the better small-breed picks for apartments and townhouses. Bred purely as companions, they have modest exercise needs (a couple of short walks plus indoor play) and are happiest near their people. The catch is they dislike being left alone for long days and can bark or fret, so they suit someone home often. Daily grooming is still required regardless of home size.
Why do Shih Tzus have so many eye problems?
Their large, prominent, shallow-set eyes sit exposed on a flat face, so they're easily scratched, ulcerated or dried out — and stray face hair growing into the eye makes it worse. Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed or tied back and the face wiped clean. Treat squinting, a held-shut eye, redness, cloudiness or discharge as urgent and see your vet promptly, as eye ulcers can worsen quickly.
Do Shih Tzus have breathing problems?
Many do to some degree, because the short muzzle crowds the airway — that's brachycephalic syndrome. Snorting, snoring and noisy breathing are common and not always serious. Flag it with your vet if breathing is loud even at rest, your dog tires or goes blue-gummed on mild exertion, gags or struggles in heat. Keeping the dog lean and cool helps most; severely affected dogs may benefit from airway surgery.
Find Shih Tzu-aware help near you
How we research this guide
Written by PetGuides editors from the breed’s structured care record and general Australian veterinary guidance. General information only — not a diagnosis. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase — Pet care advice
- Australian Veterinary Association — Pet ownership and animal health resources
See also our sources and trust & data pages.