Are female Shih Tzu Puppies better than males?
As a Shih Tzu breeder, I often have clients tell me that they have heard that female Shih Tzu puppies are more affectionate than male Shih Tzu puppies. You may be asking yourself if there is any truth to this claim. Or, is this simply another myth that has been passed down over time? The best way to find out if there is any truth to this claim is by looking at the various myths circulating and seeing if there is any truth behind them.
The first thing I hear a lot from puppy clients is that female Shih Tzus are more lovable and make better lap dogs. I’m here to tell you that this is not true. I own quite a few adult Shih Tzus in my responsible breeding program. I raise my Shih Tzus as family members in my home. As a direct result, I get to see firsthand just how lovable and affectionate they are. I have both male and female Shih Tzus that behave like velcro dogs. Velcro dogs love nothing more than spending time cuddling with their favorite human. I also have both male and female Shih Tzus that don’t mind cuddling here and there, but also like alone time.
So as you can see both male and female Shih Tzus are capable of showing affection. The key lies in the Shih Tzus temperament, not gender! All of the male and female Shih Tzu puppies raised in my breeding program go through Temperament testing. I test for certain traits, one of them being human focus. If a Shih Tzu puppy scores high for human focus then he or she is more likely to be that perfect lap dog that clients are often looking for, regardless of gender.
That being said, temperament testing isn’t a guarantee. There are a lot of other things that go into an adult Shih Tzu’s personality. One must consider how the Shih Tzu puppy was raised, environmental factors, life experiences, etc. For example, if a Shih Tzu puppy is raised in a cage and never has time to bond with humans during the critical socialization period, he or she may coined as less lovable. In reality, this puppy wasn’t properly raised! You must get to know your Shih Tzu breeder. Make sure that your puppy is receiving plenty of love and human attention daily.
There is also the issue of bonding. Often a Shih Tzu will bond to a certain individual in a household regardless of gender. Many times this person is the primary caregiver. Or, your Shih Tzu may simply have a favorite human. Shih Tzus often has human preferences. There isn’t much we can do to control this type of situation if it happens.
Another old wives tale that I hear a lot is that female Shih Tzu puppies are easier to potty train. Once again, I’m here to tell you that this isn’t the case in most situations. My male and female Shih Tzus potty trained with equal success rates. The key was being consistent in potty training expectations.
One issue that may make potty training more difficult for a male Shih Tzu arises from not neutering the dog by the time he reaches sexual maturity. Some male Shih Tzus may mark their territory around the time of puberty. Not all male dogs display this behavior but some may mark. This situation can be avoided by talking with your veterinarian about the ideal time to have your male Shih Tzu puppy neutered.
I’ve also had clients tell me that they prefer a female Shih Tzu puppy because males are more aggressive. Once again, this isn’t a gender-related trait but is a temperament issue. All I can say is get to know your Shih Tzu breeder!
An aggressive temperament is hereditary to some degree
A responsible Shih Tzu breeder will not breed Shih Tzus with aggressive temperaments in the first place. Aggressive behaviors can also be brought on by negative life experiences and environmental factors. For example, if you take your Shih Tzu puppy to a dog park and another dog attacks your Shih Tzu, your dog may become aggressive towards other dogs.
Hopefully, you can now see that male and female Shih Tzu puppies can both make outstanding pets. Both genders are capable of affection and highly trainable under the right circumstances. If you’re looking for certain temperament traits like high human focus, work with a breeder that temperament tests puppies. Breeders that temperament test usually know which male and female Shih Tzu puppies are most affectionate. You should choose a Shih Tzu puppy that will match your lifestyle regardless of gender.
