🐶 Chihuahua
Temperament
Bold, alert, devoted, vocal. Chihuahuas attach intensely to one person and can be wary or even snappy with strangers and other dogs without socialisation. They generally tolerate other Chihuahuas and small calm dogs better than large boisterous ones.
Exercise
20–30 minutes of gentle daily walking plus indoor play. Easy to over-exercise — joints are tiny.
Grooming
Smooth-coat: weekly brush. Long-coat: 2–3× weekly. Bathe every 6–8 weeks. Prone to dental tartar — daily brushing helps.
Health
Patellar luxation. Hydrocephalus (puppies — domed skull). Tracheal collapse (use a harness). Dental disease (small mouths). Hypoglycaemia in young/very small dogs. Heart murmurs.
Full Chihuahua profile →
🐶 Shih Tzu
Temperament
Gentle, friendly, slightly aloof, content. Shih Tzus thrive on company and dislike being left alone. They're playful but not high-energy, and generally good with children, other dogs and cats.
Exercise
30 minutes of daily walking plus indoor play is plenty. Brachycephalic features mean they overheat easily — avoid hot weather and strenuous exercise.
Grooming
Long double coat. Daily brushing if kept long; most owners choose a "puppy cut" every 4–6 weeks for ease. Hair around eyes needs daily wiping (eye discharge collects). Top-knot to keep hair out of eyes.
Health
Brachycephalic airway syndrome (mild). Eye issues (proptosis — eye popping out — in trauma). Patellar luxation. Hip dysplasia. Dental disease (small crowded mouths). Generally long-lived for a brachycephalic breed.
Full Shih Tzu profile →
