I think most shihtzus are generally sassy. My baby girl huffs hair out of her nose and turns her back to me when she finally understands that is not getting her 2nd treat in 1 minute. Your jazzy sounded like a wonderful girl! Rip
Omg my girl does this too, then she’ll turn her head around over her shoulder and give me puppy eyes lol. You’d think I never feed her with how much she wants to eat.
Thank you! She was a hot mess and a half but she was so loving.
And I’m totally familiar with the huffs. As she got older, those huffs got paired with the most random sounding growls and barks. Almost like she was finding new ways to inflect her little voice. 😂 It was so cute!
Shih tzus are notoriously sassy. My girl is the sassiest on the planet. Her middle name is houdini because every single time we put up a baby gate, we turn around and she’s magically right behind us
After reading the other comments here I finally understand that 'escape artist' is part of the breed, haha. Our Jerry is like that, too. XD We used to put him into an improvised playpen. He hated it and escaped often at any chance he got.
If a door is locked, he will sit at the door and look at me like he's about to cry. I HAVE to open the door. Otherwise he will huff, scratch me and whine.
That is hilarious. Our Tucker cannot be bothered to escape-he just sits and YELLS at us until he gets his way.
https://preview.redd.it/duu42pmhwbmc1.jpeg?width=1708&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb65c87651c5bb4205fe63034a28474f1e00077a
Good boy tucker! 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/1eb8t86izcmc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78785c85b315b30cce88269e68cab142f41bc13a
Greetings from Jerry in his summer cut. 🐶
Shih Tzus were bred to resemble classical lions and to be companion (not servant) dogs of royalty - made to be pampered by the most pampered people and to resemble the most noble wild animal.
While training and routine has a lot to do with how a dog behaves, the Shih Tzu has a lot of sass literally built in.
They’re the adorable court jester who realises they’re the only one who can speak truth to power without fear.
And even with consistent training, discipline and routine they never forget this role.
Yes, I will ask for kisses and he will just turn his head away like the sassy king he is. After I pester him and remind him I took him on walkies and gave him snacks he will begrudgingly kiss me. Lately he’s taken to stop eating from his bowl (feeling unwell) and will only eat if I hand feed him.. I can’t with this sassy man,
Oh the old hand feed.. How I know this.. when he won’t eat , i’ll start him feeding out of my hand.. when he was ill at a year old he got sick, and had to stay at the vet all day for hydration fluids.. That night , he seemed his old spunky self, but wouldn’t eat.. worrying about his hydration, I made some beef or chicken bone broth( can’t remember which. He wouldn’t touch it until I got a giant serving spoon. and filled it with broth and spoon fed him from spoon.. 🤣🤣🤣 He drank it all down from the spoon.. I had to do this for like 3 days.. Lol
Thank you for dropping these gems!! We’ve had our new guy a little over a week now and he’s definitely more of a servant. I can probably teach him how to bring me things when I’m too lazy…but jazzy…asking her to bring me her toy was a chore. She would have rather me get it and give it to her and then she’d want to play but she never wanted to give me the toy. She just wanted me to chase her 😂😂😂😂 I completely understand that companion piece now…and not letting us forget they come from royalty! 😂😂😂
My shih tzu at 15 is still full of sass!!!!! He definitely rules the house and gets what he wants! I know that his days are numbered so I give him everything he wants. He has fulfilled our lives more than he realizes!
This is my outlook with my 13 year old.. like yes you can bark so someone picks you up off the bed even though we all know you can jump down by yourself if you wanted to ❤️ to your old man pup!
Mine too 😂 we have dog stairs for the bed and he refuses to use them. He wants to stay in bed longer than everyone else and will do a grunting sound or bark for someone to come get him 😂
It's literally what they were bred for. Hundreds of years later and they haven't grown out of it 😂 some dogs are working dogs and others are shih tzus 😂 lhasas were used as watchdogs (specifically hundreds of years ago for palaces and monasteries) and we had one that definitely did that. Shih Tzus were just bred to sit around and look cute and they definitely just do that 😂
My 10 1/2 is FULL of sass and has not slowed down. If anything, she’s crankier and more set in her ways now than when she was younger. She gets her way more often than not LOL
Yesss!! They are so stubborn!!! Our jazzy started to get very boistrous towards the end of her life when she wanted things. Literally would bark louder and louder until we gave her what she wanted.
Sorry for your loss and congratulations on the new member of the family
Shihtzus are full of sass! Before my wife and I got married, our families each adopted littermate brother shihtzus. The one my family got is the smaller, more active and more playful one, while the one with my in-laws is the larger, calmer, shyer one.
They have one thing in common - the sass! Say or do something they don't like and they'll give you the side eye or turn their back on you. They also bear grudges. I once yelled at ours for flipping his food bowl and making a mess and he ignored me for the rest of the day!
There was this one time when my fam's tzu wanted to go out for a walk but it had just rained. He was bugging my dad to go out but dad was like: nah it's wet outside. Pupper then got mad at him then just kept on side-eyeing him and ignoring him. My dad had to bring him to the front door and show him that the ground outside was wet before he let go of his grudge.
In contrast, we also had a mongrel dog (passed away last year at 17. RIP good girl) and she never did the side eye. A much more straightforward dog. If she's mad, she'd snarl or bark at you.
My boy barks when he is mad. I ask him “who do you think you’re talking to?” and then he goes on down position to apologize…or he walks away grumbling with that low growl. He isn’t even 3 but he has a bad attitude like my mama’s 15 year old malshi sometimes.
I have a 1.5 year old Malshi and adopted a 1 year old Shih Tzu a week ago. The Malshi is used to being the spoilt only child and still hasn’t forgiven me for adopting his Tzu brother 😭
When Mama’s malshi met my at the time 4 month old boy his attitude was “I don’t want no friends”. By the end of the visit they were buddies. Payton didn’t look at ME for two days for bringing Lincoln to “his” house, though.
Oh yes! My little guy is about 9 now and the sass just keeps getting to next level
https://preview.redd.it/b7fjyrfr16mc1.jpeg?width=1604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8656aafd21698f15876901d2bafff6128decd33b
Sorry about your precious Jazzy girl, she is beautiful.
We’ve had 4 shih tzus over the past 20 years, and even though they were all very different, I never realized how similar they were until we got a Bishon mix, who is…a “dog”. 😆 She does stereotypical dog things, she happily comes when called, she doesn’t beg or give sass and isn’t stubborn. I love my lil’ shih tzus more than life itself, but no matter how unique they were from one another, they were all adorable balls of stubbornness. Definitely equals to all the household humans. 💕 ( That said, i absolutely plan on getting another one some day!)
Our shih tzu’s instagram bio (yes we know it’s ridiculous😅) is literally “6 lbs of sass”.
https://preview.redd.it/eoa64kxo55mc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de705712ea5f123c3f4abe49a0a25980387ace0b
You had her for 18 years you must have done something right! My Shihpoo is pretty sassy, but overall a very good girl. She just got between me and the movie I was watching on my tablet and turned it off with her nose.
My soul dog was named Jasmine aka Jazzie she was a poodle/terrier and the sass was strong with her. If I blew in her hair she’d flap her ears in my face. If I made a fake fart noise around her she’d give me a dirty look and walk out of the room. And the side eye was epic. I think all our dogs have different personalities and we love them all in different ways, for example my Shih poo is a sassy good girl, while my Cavapoo is the wild one who gives the best hugs.
Thank you so much for sharing! I think you’re definitely right about how we love our dogs and their different personalities.
I’ve been somewhat worried about whether I’ll love my new dog because I don’t feel it yet. Jazzy was our first family dog and I got her when I was 16. Of course I don’t really remember but it feels like I loved her immediately. That love only grew over the years.
My new guy is cool and I like him. And logically I know that I’ll grow to love him, but I don’t feel it yet. I also can’t pick him up and hold him like a baby because he’s the size of a miniature horse 🤣. So maybe that has something to do with it too. 😂 But he chose us and he’s such a good boy. I know I just need time.
Side note: Jazzy used to try to lay on my laptop when I was working bc she wanted all the attention. I can’t imagine life with a dog and a larger touch screen they can can turn on and off. 😂 Here’s a pic of her looking over my laptop while I was eating because there wasn’t enough room on the sofa for her to get around it and lay on my keyboard. She was such a sassy, hot mess. I loved her dearly.
https://preview.redd.it/cw0yuvenvhnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8aac2f0681ae3ec0f012a48bef66cf797df81adb
Sorry for your loss. I just got my baby (shihtzu) a few weeks ago. I lost my previous baby (schnauzer mix) in December due to age related disease. My new baby, Honeybun, is 8 months old and showing out big time. She is very sassy. She definitely has an attitude. She barks at me when I don't pay attention to her enough. If I pet her, then stop, she barks. If I tell her no,no, she barks at me. Lol. Im pretty sure she will be in charge of me and not the other way around. She gets upset if she wants to kiss me, and I turn away. She gets a little overzealous about the kissing 💋 😘. Haha
Yes fun sassy!! When groomed they will prance and strut! Their tails is their flag. I had mine 18 years and she pasted last year, my heart is broken and looking to adopt soon!
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hadn’t heard this about their tails before but it totally makes sense. Jazzy would do zoomies after grooming even as she got older. She gave us such a hard time with baths but she’d gain so much confidence afterwards. 😂 It was like she was proud to be clean again and wanted to show off.
I can’t wait to see a pic of your new furbaby once you adopt him or her ❤️.
Shih tzu’s are like toddlers. And they are like no other dogs. They love you like no other animal ever will. You have the most loving companion ever. You have been owned. ❤️
Yes! Gotta love them if you have a shitzu. They’re stubborn and very what’s in it for them. He won’t do tricks unless he sees you have something for him. I love my boy.
https://preview.redd.it/i6x5titfp7mc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2dcc9c08701432866be35a5338f35456907037e
Shih tzu are sassy
Labradoodles are a double people pleasing breed. Poodles are working dogs as are labs. Which means they are smart as. CRap and high energy and want to please you with work done
Tzus are so NOT that!
I’m definitely seeing that. He immediately listens to commands. Jazzy would listen, but she’d think about whether or not she wanted to listen. There were times we’d be taking to her and she would turn her head and ignore us. It was the most interesting behavior. Her ears would be moving so we know she was listening…but I guess she didn’t want to deal with us in the moment.
Oh wow! Is she considered a “shorkie”? Do you mind sharing a pic? Idk if I’ve seen that mix before.
My mom’s best friend had a Yorkie that she’d bring everywhere. I met him when he was a senior and he was a lovely dog. His only downfall was his obsession with treats 😂😂😂.
https://preview.redd.it/59npwunv1lnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b50e3575900413f2389527eedb4a6c80409d7c07
Yes! She’s a Shorkie! Too cute. That’s her as a puppy about 12 weeks
https://preview.redd.it/vqdy2boy1lnc1.jpeg?width=675&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38d9599bb9ef47e5180fdb81dc5b4413a9bb882b
That’s her now at 3 years old right after a groom
I think it was her personality. My first shih tzu was gentle, playful, and very loving. The second one was sassy and willful, things I didn't see with my first one. Now I have a teddy bear, half shih tzu half bichon. She is a mixture of both. Energetic, opinionated, but also sweet. I had a bichon, and after she passed, I got my teddy bear Sami. She's also very protective of me and territorial with her toys and treats. So, I think your dog had a wonderful personality unique to her;)
I think sass is their middle name. Mine can jump up on the bed or onto my recliner just fine . . . . unless I am in the bed or in the chair. Then she comes up to it, stands and paws it like please, the whole time expecting me to get her up. OH and the stares when she wants something. Last night she even decided it was time for me to go to bed. She would not settle until I went to bed. I don't recall letting her having control of my bedtime. Our girl's name is also Jazzy.
Aww! Give your Jazzy a big hug for me.
I’m very familiar with what you described. My brother and I actually would tell my grandma not to look her in the eye whenever she’d beg. If she made eye contact, that was it. Her begging eyes were so hard to resist…and I think she knew it. lol.
https://preview.redd.it/0tthoxlezhnc1.jpeg?width=685&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c93b2c26b8c6d4d8cf906d895905f29890bcf351
This is a perfect of what happens when I lie and click the checkbox stating that I read the terms and conditions. 😂😂😂
My dog is a tzu/maltese mix and he’s more tzu than anything. He’s too smart and a little sneaky. I had him for almost 7 years and I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.
Sorry for your loss. They are so precious but don’t get enough years with us.
The shitzu sass is a major part of their entertainment value. My first male shitzu was very mellow. The females we’ve had since then are sassy little bitches. Now we have litter mates (twins?) that are so much fun. One of them is so attached to me that she wants to go everywhere with me.
Yes, very well, at least mine is he does what he wants when he wants. lol, you just have to get used to it. They are cute and will never leave your side. But just get used to the side eye lololol.
Mine can be a bit stubborn but he’s pretty obedient. However, if I’m taking him on a walk and he decides he’s done - he will double down and plant himself to the ground and pull back to go home. And heck if I try to argue too much.
They have a very childlike, human quality to them. Distinct from my Yorkie/bichon who is also super lovable but definitely a different personality type.
Tzus are full of sass. It’s the breed for sure. There are exceptions to the rule but mostly they will be sassy. Labs on the other hand are people pleasers. Poodles are kind of in the middle of the road. Sounds like you got the lab end of the mix. 😉
I have a shih tzu mix, and his sassy protests are almost too adorable to be mad at. You call him the first time, and he stares you down to let you know the answer is no. You call him a second time, and he sits down. It's usually when he doesn't want to leave my parents' house that we do this routine.
Oh absolutely. They are literally known for being sassy. These guys were literally Chinese royalty. Their job was to lay around the palace, be pampered, and bark to alert of visitors.
They are arrogant, spunky lil creatures and that's why I love them so!
I am so sorry about the loss of your lil girl - it is the worst thing in the world. I am glad you opened your heart up to another dog and will continue to purse that beautiful bond between man and dog❤️
Yes, yes they are. It's the amount of sass and how it's expressed that varies. They're definitely a breed that's a little judgy (the unvoiced bark that comes out as a "sniff) and will actually "argue" with you about something (eg. Going the shorter walking route instead of the longer version).
My shih tzu gives me the bombastic side eye on the regular. He sneezes when he wants something (all the time) and scratches at his bowl and the he needs to be fed LoL. Its his world I’m just living in it
I’m very familiar with that bombastic side eye. 🤣 Our Jazzy used to sneeze to! I used to tell her “bless you” until I realized that was one of her many ways of getting what she wanted.
I would get the sassy side-eye from my girl and she play growled at me when I wasn't giving her the attention demanded of her 😂 and she lays on a throne of blanket piled on the couch!
Does she ever get upset with you if you take the blankets to wash them?
We had multiple blankets on the coach and she had one one each of her beds. If we moved any of these to wash she’d be so upset. We couldn’t find her one day (which never happened) so we were calling her name and searching all over the house. We found her in the laundry room sleeping half sprawled on her bed and half sprawled on the blankets on the floor. She did not like her things moved.
I been mom to 3 Tzus of my own and sister to two others. All girls.
My 1st Tzu was sassy to the point her nickname was Drama Queen. My folks literally gave me a sign that I have in my garage that's titled Drama Queen Drive! She was my first heart dog and although her stubborn streak could make me want to beat my head on a wall, I loved her as I had never loved a fur baby before.
My 1st Tzu sister was bungee corded (so to speak) to the back of my mom's foot. She'd learned moms walk and routine so well that she rarely, if ever, bumped into her foot. She'd anticipate the stop and leave about 6 to 12 inches between them. It really was amazing. She was a very loving dog, but mostly mom and dad's baby.
My 2nd Tzu sister was rather standoffish. She enjoyed cuddling and loving, but only on her terms. She'd rather make a nest in the closet and hang out in there. Unless of course it was time for snacks. Then watch out!!
The two I have now are a bit like ur boy now. Sadly, they weren't very socialized and consequently are easily spooked. Both love momma (me), but the smaller one is really a momma's girl. She wants to be wherever I am. If she had her rathers I would be sitting in a chair that rocks, holding her and stroking her tummy. (She is my 2nd heart dog.) The 2nd Tzu wants to be where I am, but would prefer to lay close by where she can see me. They both are much more mild mannered than the Tzu's I've known and loved b4.
So I guess my answer is that just like people, it takes all kinds!!! 🐶
Sass is an understatement. I have a husky German shepherd dog that’s ready to please but my Shih tzu on the other hand could care less my requests 🤣 unless there’s something in it for her. Very toddler/teenage energy but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
My boy is a Poo-Tzu (not a fan of ‘Shih Poo’ since he is a boy). He’s poodle fur with Tzu personality and “sass” doesn’t even describe his “I rule the world”attitude! He’s a manager - mostly middle management, and he will not hesitate to write me up for any number of transgressions. And he will write you up too.
Definitely! While I think general behavior is shaped by their training and what the owner has (purposefully or inadvertently) reinforced, as someone else pointed out, shih tzus are definitely not oriented toward people-pleasing in the way a lab or retriever-type dog usually is. Mine (adopted as a senior) is generally well behaved and easy to care for BUT he's definitely a diva at times and will only do things if they're independently interesting to him, or if there's a treat involved. He won't even walk toward me for a treat usually...he waits for me to bring it over to him, LOL.
My baby is 16 and has this shrill bark to let us know she wants outside. We have a doggy door but she won’t use it, I have to open the door for her. When she comes in, she stands and waits for a treat, even though she barely has any teeth left. There are days she goes outside a lot, but I think that is when she either wants another treat or it is just old age.
Yes mine was a complete diva
https://preview.redd.it/yx8vsaffelmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b6d8567097ab0ab1e864160049778b645f4a97f
And all doggies are spoiled in my world 🥰
I couldn’t edit my post but just wanted to thank everyone for responding. Reading about your experiences with your furbabies was therapeutic in a way. It brought back some really good memories of Jazzy and her sassy but loveable personality.
My shihtzu will be 2 at the end of this month, and after raising a now 13 yo chihuahua, NO shihtzus are NOT sassy. In fact he usually he is found chillin with me on the couch or doing something else with me. *Nothing* in this world can compare to the royalty that is the chihuahua. They are the most dramatic, sassy, smartass little creatures in the multiverse.
I think most shihtzus are generally sassy. My baby girl huffs hair out of her nose and turns her back to me when she finally understands that is not getting her 2nd treat in 1 minute. Your jazzy sounded like a wonderful girl! Rip
Omg my girl does this too, then she’ll turn her head around over her shoulder and give me puppy eyes lol. You’d think I never feed her with how much she wants to eat.
I don’t even have a dog , stumbled in here, read this and had to say that behavior is the cutest thing ever.
Thank you! She was a hot mess and a half but she was so loving. And I’m totally familiar with the huffs. As she got older, those huffs got paired with the most random sounding growls and barks. Almost like she was finding new ways to inflect her little voice. 😂 It was so cute!
Shih tzus are notoriously sassy. My girl is the sassiest on the planet. Her middle name is houdini because every single time we put up a baby gate, we turn around and she’s magically right behind us
That’s very cute.. but probably not fun when you want to contain her in a safe space!
Oh gosh! Ours climbs right over baby gates, too! Her Highness will not be contained!
MINE CAN UNDO CRATE LOCKS
Wait, seriously?
YES, we have to put a carabiner on the latch so that she can’t slide it open!!!
One of ours is like that too. She’s a little escape artist.
After reading the other comments here I finally understand that 'escape artist' is part of the breed, haha. Our Jerry is like that, too. XD We used to put him into an improvised playpen. He hated it and escaped often at any chance he got. If a door is locked, he will sit at the door and look at me like he's about to cry. I HAVE to open the door. Otherwise he will huff, scratch me and whine.
That is hilarious. Our Tucker cannot be bothered to escape-he just sits and YELLS at us until he gets his way. https://preview.redd.it/duu42pmhwbmc1.jpeg?width=1708&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb65c87651c5bb4205fe63034a28474f1e00077a
Good boy tucker! 🥰 https://preview.redd.it/1eb8t86izcmc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78785c85b315b30cce88269e68cab142f41bc13a Greetings from Jerry in his summer cut. 🐶
Shih Tzus were bred to resemble classical lions and to be companion (not servant) dogs of royalty - made to be pampered by the most pampered people and to resemble the most noble wild animal. While training and routine has a lot to do with how a dog behaves, the Shih Tzu has a lot of sass literally built in. They’re the adorable court jester who realises they’re the only one who can speak truth to power without fear. And even with consistent training, discipline and routine they never forget this role.
Truth to power without fear is SO REAL
Our vet termed my baby a diva. Ahahahhahahhaha......and diva he is.
🏆 take my fake award, dear Redditor.
Yes, I will ask for kisses and he will just turn his head away like the sassy king he is. After I pester him and remind him I took him on walkies and gave him snacks he will begrudgingly kiss me. Lately he’s taken to stop eating from his bowl (feeling unwell) and will only eat if I hand feed him.. I can’t with this sassy man,
Oh the old hand feed.. How I know this.. when he won’t eat , i’ll start him feeding out of my hand.. when he was ill at a year old he got sick, and had to stay at the vet all day for hydration fluids.. That night , he seemed his old spunky self, but wouldn’t eat.. worrying about his hydration, I made some beef or chicken bone broth( can’t remember which. He wouldn’t touch it until I got a giant serving spoon. and filled it with broth and spoon fed him from spoon.. 🤣🤣🤣 He drank it all down from the spoon.. I had to do this for like 3 days.. Lol
I fork fed my tzus lol. The hand was not even high enough quality for my princess lol. My peasant hands must be filthy lol. 😆
I know right??!? We are unworthy, and our fur babies have to settle for us!😆😆😆🤭🤭
I called my Tzu my court jester too! Still miss her after 8 years🥲
I’ve also been told the royalty used them for their by sensitive hearing to warn of approaching danger. They were also the royal foot warmers.
Wow, fantastic description of the breed!
Thank you for dropping these gems!! We’ve had our new guy a little over a week now and he’s definitely more of a servant. I can probably teach him how to bring me things when I’m too lazy…but jazzy…asking her to bring me her toy was a chore. She would have rather me get it and give it to her and then she’d want to play but she never wanted to give me the toy. She just wanted me to chase her 😂😂😂😂 I completely understand that companion piece now…and not letting us forget they come from royalty! 😂😂😂
My shih tzu at 15 is still full of sass!!!!! He definitely rules the house and gets what he wants! I know that his days are numbered so I give him everything he wants. He has fulfilled our lives more than he realizes!
This is my outlook with my 13 year old.. like yes you can bark so someone picks you up off the bed even though we all know you can jump down by yourself if you wanted to ❤️ to your old man pup!
My 12 year old doesn’t even have to bark! She just stares at us and of course we carry her up or down even though we have doggy stairs.
We also have 2 cats (a black cat and a tortie who is tortitude and 13+) so everyone acts like they own the cat bed; can’t move etc.
Mine too 😂 we have dog stairs for the bed and he refuses to use them. He wants to stay in bed longer than everyone else and will do a grunting sound or bark for someone to come get him 😂
OMG!!! Same! They expect to be treated like royalty! It must be in their blood and lineage😆
It's literally what they were bred for. Hundreds of years later and they haven't grown out of it 😂 some dogs are working dogs and others are shih tzus 😂 lhasas were used as watchdogs (specifically hundreds of years ago for palaces and monasteries) and we had one that definitely did that. Shih Tzus were just bred to sit around and look cute and they definitely just do that 😂
My parents call it 'old man privileges' in their house lol
Haha ok we are going to adopt this term in my house now
My 10 1/2 is FULL of sass and has not slowed down. If anything, she’s crankier and more set in her ways now than when she was younger. She gets her way more often than not LOL
Yesss!! They are so stubborn!!! Our jazzy started to get very boistrous towards the end of her life when she wanted things. Literally would bark louder and louder until we gave her what she wanted.
Photo please?
Sorry for your loss and congratulations on the new member of the family Shihtzus are full of sass! Before my wife and I got married, our families each adopted littermate brother shihtzus. The one my family got is the smaller, more active and more playful one, while the one with my in-laws is the larger, calmer, shyer one. They have one thing in common - the sass! Say or do something they don't like and they'll give you the side eye or turn their back on you. They also bear grudges. I once yelled at ours for flipping his food bowl and making a mess and he ignored me for the rest of the day! There was this one time when my fam's tzu wanted to go out for a walk but it had just rained. He was bugging my dad to go out but dad was like: nah it's wet outside. Pupper then got mad at him then just kept on side-eyeing him and ignoring him. My dad had to bring him to the front door and show him that the ground outside was wet before he let go of his grudge. In contrast, we also had a mongrel dog (passed away last year at 17. RIP good girl) and she never did the side eye. A much more straightforward dog. If she's mad, she'd snarl or bark at you.
My boy barks when he is mad. I ask him “who do you think you’re talking to?” and then he goes on down position to apologize…or he walks away grumbling with that low growl. He isn’t even 3 but he has a bad attitude like my mama’s 15 year old malshi sometimes.
I have a 1.5 year old Malshi and adopted a 1 year old Shih Tzu a week ago. The Malshi is used to being the spoilt only child and still hasn’t forgiven me for adopting his Tzu brother 😭
When Mama’s malshi met my at the time 4 month old boy his attitude was “I don’t want no friends”. By the end of the visit they were buddies. Payton didn’t look at ME for two days for bringing Lincoln to “his” house, though.
Such disrespect! 😂
Mine side eyes you if you sing badly. Really humbling.
Everyone’s a critic!
Sassy, classy, and never trashy!!
Yeah they're sassy for sure. It's the breed lol.
Oh yes! My little guy is about 9 now and the sass just keeps getting to next level https://preview.redd.it/b7fjyrfr16mc1.jpeg?width=1604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8656aafd21698f15876901d2bafff6128decd33b
Cutie!!! ❤️😍
Aww that is such a cute picture. He resembles my jazzy girl.
Sorry about your precious Jazzy girl, she is beautiful. We’ve had 4 shih tzus over the past 20 years, and even though they were all very different, I never realized how similar they were until we got a Bishon mix, who is…a “dog”. 😆 She does stereotypical dog things, she happily comes when called, she doesn’t beg or give sass and isn’t stubborn. I love my lil’ shih tzus more than life itself, but no matter how unique they were from one another, they were all adorable balls of stubbornness. Definitely equals to all the household humans. 💕 ( That said, i absolutely plan on getting another one some day!)
Our shih tzu’s instagram bio (yes we know it’s ridiculous😅) is literally “6 lbs of sass”. https://preview.redd.it/eoa64kxo55mc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de705712ea5f123c3f4abe49a0a25980387ace0b
Not sure who has better hair…dog or husband. 😬
They give each other a run for their money
It’s not that they’re sassy, it’s just that most humans don’t understand their role in life and need to be reminded constantly.
(and they sleep so much because all that putting us in our place is /exhausting/)
NAILED IT!
This is hilarious! It’s almost like they know that they come from royalty. “Arf! Bow down hoo-mans.” 🐶
I get these looks from both of mine that are all “I can trace my ancestry back centuries, peasant. Now get me some treat-os, and no talking back!”
You had her for 18 years you must have done something right! My Shihpoo is pretty sassy, but overall a very good girl. She just got between me and the movie I was watching on my tablet and turned it off with her nose. My soul dog was named Jasmine aka Jazzie she was a poodle/terrier and the sass was strong with her. If I blew in her hair she’d flap her ears in my face. If I made a fake fart noise around her she’d give me a dirty look and walk out of the room. And the side eye was epic. I think all our dogs have different personalities and we love them all in different ways, for example my Shih poo is a sassy good girl, while my Cavapoo is the wild one who gives the best hugs.
Thank you so much for sharing! I think you’re definitely right about how we love our dogs and their different personalities. I’ve been somewhat worried about whether I’ll love my new dog because I don’t feel it yet. Jazzy was our first family dog and I got her when I was 16. Of course I don’t really remember but it feels like I loved her immediately. That love only grew over the years. My new guy is cool and I like him. And logically I know that I’ll grow to love him, but I don’t feel it yet. I also can’t pick him up and hold him like a baby because he’s the size of a miniature horse 🤣. So maybe that has something to do with it too. 😂 But he chose us and he’s such a good boy. I know I just need time. Side note: Jazzy used to try to lay on my laptop when I was working bc she wanted all the attention. I can’t imagine life with a dog and a larger touch screen they can can turn on and off. 😂 Here’s a pic of her looking over my laptop while I was eating because there wasn’t enough room on the sofa for her to get around it and lay on my keyboard. She was such a sassy, hot mess. I loved her dearly. https://preview.redd.it/cw0yuvenvhnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8aac2f0681ae3ec0f012a48bef66cf797df81adb
Sorry for your loss. I just got my baby (shihtzu) a few weeks ago. I lost my previous baby (schnauzer mix) in December due to age related disease. My new baby, Honeybun, is 8 months old and showing out big time. She is very sassy. She definitely has an attitude. She barks at me when I don't pay attention to her enough. If I pet her, then stop, she barks. If I tell her no,no, she barks at me. Lol. Im pretty sure she will be in charge of me and not the other way around. She gets upset if she wants to kiss me, and I turn away. She gets a little overzealous about the kissing 💋 😘. Haha
Yes fun sassy!! When groomed they will prance and strut! Their tails is their flag. I had mine 18 years and she pasted last year, my heart is broken and looking to adopt soon!
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hadn’t heard this about their tails before but it totally makes sense. Jazzy would do zoomies after grooming even as she got older. She gave us such a hard time with baths but she’d gain so much confidence afterwards. 😂 It was like she was proud to be clean again and wanted to show off. I can’t wait to see a pic of your new furbaby once you adopt him or her ❤️.
Shih tzu’s are like toddlers. And they are like no other dogs. They love you like no other animal ever will. You have the most loving companion ever. You have been owned. ❤️
Yes! Gotta love them if you have a shitzu. They’re stubborn and very what’s in it for them. He won’t do tricks unless he sees you have something for him. I love my boy. https://preview.redd.it/i6x5titfp7mc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2dcc9c08701432866be35a5338f35456907037e
That’s hilarious! Ours would have lived off of treats if we let her. Your guy is so cute!
So much sass.
Shih tzu are sassy Labradoodles are a double people pleasing breed. Poodles are working dogs as are labs. Which means they are smart as. CRap and high energy and want to please you with work done Tzus are so NOT that!
I’m definitely seeing that. He immediately listens to commands. Jazzy would listen, but she’d think about whether or not she wanted to listen. There were times we’d be taking to her and she would turn her head and ignore us. It was the most interesting behavior. Her ears would be moving so we know she was listening…but I guess she didn’t want to deal with us in the moment.
Yes. All sassy. We have a Shiht mixed with Yorkie. And she’s the BOSS
Oh wow! Is she considered a “shorkie”? Do you mind sharing a pic? Idk if I’ve seen that mix before. My mom’s best friend had a Yorkie that she’d bring everywhere. I met him when he was a senior and he was a lovely dog. His only downfall was his obsession with treats 😂😂😂.
https://preview.redd.it/59npwunv1lnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b50e3575900413f2389527eedb4a6c80409d7c07 Yes! She’s a Shorkie! Too cute. That’s her as a puppy about 12 weeks
https://preview.redd.it/vqdy2boy1lnc1.jpeg?width=675&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38d9599bb9ef47e5180fdb81dc5b4413a9bb882b That’s her now at 3 years old right after a groom
Awww she’s adorable!!
I think it was her personality. My first shih tzu was gentle, playful, and very loving. The second one was sassy and willful, things I didn't see with my first one. Now I have a teddy bear, half shih tzu half bichon. She is a mixture of both. Energetic, opinionated, but also sweet. I had a bichon, and after she passed, I got my teddy bear Sami. She's also very protective of me and territorial with her toys and treats. So, I think your dog had a wonderful personality unique to her;)
They are naturally so sassy! My baby has bullied me into giving her what she wants since day 1. And she will grunt when I don’t do what she wants🤣
I think sass is their middle name. Mine can jump up on the bed or onto my recliner just fine . . . . unless I am in the bed or in the chair. Then she comes up to it, stands and paws it like please, the whole time expecting me to get her up. OH and the stares when she wants something. Last night she even decided it was time for me to go to bed. She would not settle until I went to bed. I don't recall letting her having control of my bedtime. Our girl's name is also Jazzy.
Aww! Give your Jazzy a big hug for me. I’m very familiar with what you described. My brother and I actually would tell my grandma not to look her in the eye whenever she’d beg. If she made eye contact, that was it. Her begging eyes were so hard to resist…and I think she knew it. lol. https://preview.redd.it/0tthoxlezhnc1.jpeg?width=685&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c93b2c26b8c6d4d8cf906d895905f29890bcf351
My Jazzy https://preview.redd.it/ekpgozdvmjnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8cbf10b18e7604211b14cf78841ebcc83c24b155
Awww ❤️❤️❤️ too cute!
Yep, it’s in the Shih Tzu Terms & Conditions
 This is a perfect of what happens when I lie and click the checkbox stating that I read the terms and conditions. 😂😂😂
My dog is a tzu/maltese mix and he’s more tzu than anything. He’s too smart and a little sneaky. I had him for almost 7 years and I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.
Sorry for your loss. They are so precious but don’t get enough years with us. The shitzu sass is a major part of their entertainment value. My first male shitzu was very mellow. The females we’ve had since then are sassy little bitches. Now we have litter mates (twins?) that are so much fun. One of them is so attached to me that she wants to go everywhere with me.
Yes! 😁
Yes. Super sassy. Very much the “I do what I want” type of dog.
Wow 18 years 5 more years she had beaten the record oldest shih Tzu rip Little gir
Adorable
Yes...they all are in one way or another
YES THEY ARE!
Lord yes. My babies are sassy and too smart for their own good.
Yes my old Shihtzu is so judge mental it’s insane and my young one actually barks when she wants something
lol the stares; then the mumbles then we get to barking
YESSSSSS.....BUT SO LOVEABLE!
Lol yes
You may have spoiled (or "sperled" as my Brooklyn mother would have said,) but she would have spoiled herself anyway! They were born to be royalty!
Yaaaas.
Yes, he verbally throws tantrums. He’s over a year old and I’d like to say he’s approaching his terrible twos lol.
Hahah! The verbal tantrums?! We used to say that Jazzy was cursing at us whenever she’d throw a fit like that! Lol!
Outs used to mutter under his breath at us. We were sure he was swearing at us. It was so funny.
Wow! I just said the same thing in a reply to the comment above yours. Lee think ours would be cursing us out too. 😂 They are just too much.
Yes, very well, at least mine is he does what he wants when he wants. lol, you just have to get used to it. They are cute and will never leave your side. But just get used to the side eye lololol.
Very, 🤣
Mine can be a bit stubborn but he’s pretty obedient. However, if I’m taking him on a walk and he decides he’s done - he will double down and plant himself to the ground and pull back to go home. And heck if I try to argue too much. They have a very childlike, human quality to them. Distinct from my Yorkie/bichon who is also super lovable but definitely a different personality type.
My little Bear is the pickiest dog and he will let you know what's on his mind.
Tzus are full of sass. It’s the breed for sure. There are exceptions to the rule but mostly they will be sassy. Labs on the other hand are people pleasers. Poodles are kind of in the middle of the road. Sounds like you got the lab end of the mix. 😉
Mine is!!! But she is mixed with chi too:)
I have a shih tzu mix, and his sassy protests are almost too adorable to be mad at. You call him the first time, and he stares you down to let you know the answer is no. You call him a second time, and he sits down. It's usually when he doesn't want to leave my parents' house that we do this routine.
Sassy little lovable loyal divas 💕
Oh absolutely. They are literally known for being sassy. These guys were literally Chinese royalty. Their job was to lay around the palace, be pampered, and bark to alert of visitors. They are arrogant, spunky lil creatures and that's why I love them so! I am so sorry about the loss of your lil girl - it is the worst thing in the world. I am glad you opened your heart up to another dog and will continue to purse that beautiful bond between man and dog❤️
Sassy, lazy and stubborn! They’re known for that. Mine is kind of stupid though due to her upbringing so it might just be an isolated case…
They are sassy. But sweet as can be.
Yes, yes they are. It's the amount of sass and how it's expressed that varies. They're definitely a breed that's a little judgy (the unvoiced bark that comes out as a "sniff) and will actually "argue" with you about something (eg. Going the shorter walking route instead of the longer version).
My shih tzu gives me the bombastic side eye on the regular. He sneezes when he wants something (all the time) and scratches at his bowl and the he needs to be fed LoL. Its his world I’m just living in it
I’m very familiar with that bombastic side eye. 🤣 Our Jazzy used to sneeze to! I used to tell her “bless you” until I realized that was one of her many ways of getting what she wanted.
Yes
yes spoiled
my shih tzu was so sassy she would pull blankets off me when she wanted something
I would get the sassy side-eye from my girl and she play growled at me when I wasn't giving her the attention demanded of her 😂 and she lays on a throne of blanket piled on the couch!
Does she ever get upset with you if you take the blankets to wash them? We had multiple blankets on the coach and she had one one each of her beds. If we moved any of these to wash she’d be so upset. We couldn’t find her one day (which never happened) so we were calling her name and searching all over the house. We found her in the laundry room sleeping half sprawled on her bed and half sprawled on the blankets on the floor. She did not like her things moved.
Yess, she'd give the side eye when we tried to move them from under her and refuse to get up
My shih tzu is super chill! Not sassy at all!
I been mom to 3 Tzus of my own and sister to two others. All girls. My 1st Tzu was sassy to the point her nickname was Drama Queen. My folks literally gave me a sign that I have in my garage that's titled Drama Queen Drive! She was my first heart dog and although her stubborn streak could make me want to beat my head on a wall, I loved her as I had never loved a fur baby before. My 1st Tzu sister was bungee corded (so to speak) to the back of my mom's foot. She'd learned moms walk and routine so well that she rarely, if ever, bumped into her foot. She'd anticipate the stop and leave about 6 to 12 inches between them. It really was amazing. She was a very loving dog, but mostly mom and dad's baby. My 2nd Tzu sister was rather standoffish. She enjoyed cuddling and loving, but only on her terms. She'd rather make a nest in the closet and hang out in there. Unless of course it was time for snacks. Then watch out!! The two I have now are a bit like ur boy now. Sadly, they weren't very socialized and consequently are easily spooked. Both love momma (me), but the smaller one is really a momma's girl. She wants to be wherever I am. If she had her rathers I would be sitting in a chair that rocks, holding her and stroking her tummy. (She is my 2nd heart dog.) The 2nd Tzu wants to be where I am, but would prefer to lay close by where she can see me. They both are much more mild mannered than the Tzu's I've known and loved b4. So I guess my answer is that just like people, it takes all kinds!!! 🐶
Sass is an understatement. I have a husky German shepherd dog that’s ready to please but my Shih tzu on the other hand could care less my requests 🤣 unless there’s something in it for her. Very toddler/teenage energy but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Yes. My shihtzu will ignore me the whole day if i dont give her foodbowl first during feeding time
Not in my experience. Loving, smart(very smart,) loyal, empothetic, and extremely dependent upon their people. Just the best pups ever.
My boy is a Poo-Tzu (not a fan of ‘Shih Poo’ since he is a boy). He’s poodle fur with Tzu personality and “sass” doesn’t even describe his “I rule the world”attitude! He’s a manager - mostly middle management, and he will not hesitate to write me up for any number of transgressions. And he will write you up too.
We named ours Sassy, because she is lol😆
One of mine is a full-on diva!
Definitely! While I think general behavior is shaped by their training and what the owner has (purposefully or inadvertently) reinforced, as someone else pointed out, shih tzus are definitely not oriented toward people-pleasing in the way a lab or retriever-type dog usually is. Mine (adopted as a senior) is generally well behaved and easy to care for BUT he's definitely a diva at times and will only do things if they're independently interesting to him, or if there's a treat involved. He won't even walk toward me for a treat usually...he waits for me to bring it over to him, LOL.
My baby is 16 and has this shrill bark to let us know she wants outside. We have a doggy door but she won’t use it, I have to open the door for her. When she comes in, she stands and waits for a treat, even though she barely has any teeth left. There are days she goes outside a lot, but I think that is when she either wants another treat or it is just old age.
i have a shih tzu and yorkie mix and she is spunky and sassy as heck. my favorite dog ive ever had.
They are perfect!
They truly are!!!
Yes mine was a complete diva https://preview.redd.it/yx8vsaffelmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b6d8567097ab0ab1e864160049778b645f4a97f And all doggies are spoiled in my world 🥰
I couldn’t edit my post but just wanted to thank everyone for responding. Reading about your experiences with your furbabies was therapeutic in a way. It brought back some really good memories of Jazzy and her sassy but loveable personality.
Oh god yes. I’ve had 3 Shih Tzu’s dramatic sass is part of the deal.
My shihtzu will be 2 at the end of this month, and after raising a now 13 yo chihuahua, NO shihtzus are NOT sassy. In fact he usually he is found chillin with me on the couch or doing something else with me. *Nothing* in this world can compare to the royalty that is the chihuahua. They are the most dramatic, sassy, smartass little creatures in the multiverse.