Shih Tzu in the UAE (2026): Grooming, Heat, Health and Diet
Everything you need to know about living with a Shih Tzu in the UAE: why a flat-faced dog needs extra care in the heat, coat care and summer clips, the eye, breathing and dental problems to watch for, feeding, running costs in AED, Dubai registration and adopting or buying responsibly.
The Shih Tzu is one of the most popular small dogs in the UAE. It is friendly, happy in an apartment and needs only modest exercise, but it is a flat-faced breed, and that makes heat its biggest risk here. This guide covers what a Shih Tzu is like to live with in the UAE: temperament, keeping it safe in the heat, coat care, health, diet, what it costs, the rules in Dubai, and how to adopt or buy responsibly.
Last checked 28 October 2026.
The Shih Tzu at a glance
A Shih Tzu is a small, sturdy, affectionate companion dog with a long, low-shedding coat and a short muzzle that needs careful heat management.
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Size | Small: about 4.5–7.5kg and around 27cm tall at the shoulder |
| Lifespan | Over 10 years, and many live into their mid-teens |
| Coat | Long, dense and low-shedding. Needs daily brushing and a clip every 6–8 weeks |
| Exercise | About an hour a day, split into short walks and play |
| Temperament | Friendly, people-loving and usually good with children and other pets |
| Watch for | Heat, breathing problems (BOAS), eye injuries and dry eye, crowded teeth, back problems |
Sources: PDSA breed guide; Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Personality: what a Shih Tzu is like at home
Shih Tzus were bred for one job, to be companions, and it shows: they are cheerful, affectionate and happiest close to their people. Most get on well with children, visitors and other pets.
That attachment has a downside. A Shih Tzu left alone for long days can become anxious, so build up time alone gradually from puppyhood. Short daily training sessions with small training treats keep a clever, slightly stubborn dog engaged, and a few chew toys help when you're out.
For apartment life the Shih Tzu is one of the easiest choices. It's small, quiet indoors and content with short walks. Our guide to the best small dog breeds for apartments compares it with similar breeds.
Keeping a Shih Tzu safe in the UAE heat
Heat is the biggest risk for a Shih Tzu in the UAE. Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, and a short, flat muzzle makes that much less efficient.
In a UK study of dogs seen by vets, flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds were about twice as likely to suffer heatstroke as dogs with medium-length muzzles. Heatstroke can kill within hours. Panting that won't settle, noisy breathing, a dark red or purple tongue, drooling, wobbliness or collapse mean you need a vet straight away.
- Keep it indoors in air-conditioning, with the AC left on when you go out in the warm months. Never leave a Shih Tzu in a car or on a balcony, even briefly.
- Walk only in the cool hours. From about May to September, that means early morning or after dark, and short, slow walks rather than long ones.
- Check the ground. Hold the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for paws.
- Use a harness, not a collar, so nothing presses on the throat of a dog that already breathes through a narrow airway. See our dog harnesses.
- Help it cool down. A cooling mat at home, a cooling scarf for short trips out and a travel water bottle all help.
- Keep it slim. Extra weight makes breathing and cooling even harder.
Read more in our guide to keeping pets safe in the UAE summer.
Grooming a Shih Tzu: coat, eyes and teeth
A Shih Tzu needs daily brushing and a professional clip every six to eight weeks. In the UAE most owners choose a short puppy clip, which is cooler and far easier to keep free of knots.
- Brush every day, right down to the skin, with a soft slicker brush and a comb. A detangling spray helps with knots. See all dog brushes and combs.
- Book a clip every six to eight weeks. Keep the hair around the eyes short, or tied up in a topknot, so it doesn't rub the eyes.
- Clean the eyes daily. Wipe gunk from the corners with a soft, damp cloth. Shih Tzus have prominent eyes that are easily scratched, so see a vet the same day if an eye looks red, cloudy or is held shut.
- Look after the teeth. A small mouth often means crowded teeth, which trap food. Brush several times a week with a dog toothbrush and toothpaste, and add dental treats.
- Wash every few weeks with a gentle dog shampoo, and check ears and nails at the same time.
Our dog grooming guide for Dubai covers salons and home grooming, and our summer grooming tips explain how to adapt the routine to the heat.
Shih Tzu health: what every owner should know
Shih Tzus are often long-lived, but their flat face, prominent eyes and long back bring a set of problems worth knowing before you buy.
- Breathing problems (BOAS). Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome comes from narrow nostrils and too much soft tissue in a short airway. Loud snoring, noisy breathing at rest and tiring quickly are warning signs. Ask your vet to check, as surgery can help badly affected dogs.
- Eye problems. Prominent eyes are prone to scratches and ulcers. The breed is also affected by dry eye, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy and retinal detachment.
- Teeth. Crowded or displaced teeth are common, so dental care matters from puppyhood.
- Back problems. Intervertebral disc disease can cause pain or weakness in the legs. Discourage jumping off high furniture and keep your dog slim.
- Kidneys and hormones. Renal dysplasia (a developmental kidney problem) and Cushing's disease are also seen in the breed.
A yearly check-up catches most of these early. Find a vet in our guides to vets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and Ajman. Flea and tick protection matters all year in the UAE: see our flea and tick treatments.
What to feed a Shih Tzu
A Shih Tzu does well on a complete small-breed food, with small kibble that suits its short jaw, fed in measured portions.
- Puppies need a puppy recipe until about 10–12 months, such as Hill's Science Plan Small & Mini Puppy or Pro Plan Small & Mini Puppy. See all puppy food.
- Adults: a small-breed adult food such as Hill's Science Plan Small & Mini Adult. A little wet food mixed in adds water in the heat.
- Weigh the food and count treats. Small dogs gain weight fast, and a few extra hundred grams matters on a 6kg frame.
A breed-specific food isn't essential. A good complete small-breed food in the right amount matters more. Our guide to the best dog food in the UAE compares the main brands.
What a Shih Tzu costs to keep in the UAE
A Shih Tzu is one of the cheaper breeds to feed, but grooming adds up because the coat needs a professional clip several times a year.
| Cost | What to budget |
|---|---|
| Dry food | Roughly AED 1,150–1,800 a year for a premium small-breed food, depending on brand and bag size |
| Grooming | 6–8 professional clips a year, plus brushes, shampoo and dental care at home. Ask local salons for current prices |
| Registration | AED 10 for Dubai Municipality registration, plus an AED 20 knowledge fee, renewed yearly with the rabies booster |
| Vet and parasites | A yearly check-up and boosters, plus year-round flea and tick protection. Ask your vet for a quote |
| Adoption | About AED 260 in service fees through Dubai Municipality, or AED 1,250–2,950 through rescues |
The food estimate assumes about 90g of dry food a day for an adult, at The Pets Club prices on 27 October 2026. Check the feeding guide on your pack.
Registering a dog in Dubai and the UAE
- Dubai: dogs must be microchipped and registered with Dubai Municipality. Registration is AED 10 and the microchip AED 50, done at a Dubai Municipality veterinary clinic or through the DubaiNow or Aleef apps.
- Abu Dhabi: registering cats and dogs on TAMM has been mandatory since 3 February 2026, with a fine of AED 1,000 after the grace period.
- Vaccinations: Dubai Municipality lists rabies and DHPPi for dogs. Your vet will set the schedule.
- Out and about: dogs must be on a lead in public places, and aren't allowed in municipal parks or on public beaches. Our guides to dog parks in Dubai and dog-friendly restaurants and cafés list places that welcome dogs.
Adopting or buying a Shih Tzu in the UAE
Adopting: Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses do come up for adoption, often adults whose owners have left the country. Rescue fees for pure or designer breeds are higher: K9 Friends charges AED 2,250–2,950, for example. Our guide to dog adoption in Dubai lists the rescues and what they charge.
Buying: we haven't found a reliable published survey of Shih Tzu puppy prices in the UAE, and prices vary widely with pedigree and seller. What matters more than price:
- Buy only from a licensed seller. Breeding animals for sale in the UAE needs a licence, and vets have reported sick, underage puppies sold with fake passports.
- Look at the parents. Choose dogs with open nostrils that breathe quietly at rest, and ask about eye checks.
- Meet the mother if you can, and choose a confident puppy with clear eyes.
- Puppies should be vaccinated and microchipped, with a passport you can check with your vet.
Your Shih Tzu shopping list
- Puppy food or a small-breed adult food
- A soft harness and a lead
- A slicker brush, a comb and a gentle shampoo
- A dental care set and dental treats
- A cooling mat and a comfortable dog bed
- Flea and tick protection and poop bags
Shih Tzu FAQs
Is a Shih Tzu a good dog for the UAE?
Yes, for an apartment home that can keep it cool. Shih Tzus are small, friendly and need only modest exercise, but their flat faces make them vulnerable to heat. In the UAE they need air-conditioning, short walks in the cool hours and regular grooming.
Can a Shih Tzu handle the heat in Dubai?
Not well. Flat-faced breeds cool themselves less efficiently and are about twice as likely to suffer heatstroke as dogs with medium-length muzzles. From roughly May to September, walk only early in the morning or after dark, keep walks short and never leave a Shih Tzu in a car or on a balcony.
How often does a Shih Tzu need grooming?
Brush daily to stop knots, and book a professional clip every six to eight weeks. Many UAE owners keep a short puppy clip, which is easier to manage and cooler. Wipe the eye corners every day and keep the hair around the eyes trimmed or tied up.
How big does a Shih Tzu get and how long does it live?
An adult Shih Tzu usually weighs about 4.5 to 7.5kg and stands around 27cm tall. Most live well over 10 years, and many reach their mid-teens with good care.
Do Shih Tzus shed?
Very little, as the hair-like coat grows long rather than dropping, but it tangles easily and needs daily brushing. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, so spend time with a Shih Tzu before you commit if anyone at home has allergies.
